> What I -really- want to learn how to do, is that cool 'vault' into the
> saddle that they do in the movies. Richard Gere did it in First Knight,
> and Brad Pitt does it in Legends of the Fall. You know, stand next to
> horse holding reins in left hand and facing rear of horse. Then swing
> right leg up and over and land in saddle?! Anybody know how to do that
> one or how to learn?
Our net friend Karen can do this---bareback!! I watch her with envy!!
No way, could I ever make my body do that! She does it with such
grace and ease....totally puts me to shame!! Maybe she'll give us a
few pointers....
Leslie (who likes picnic tables) and Cherokee (will she EVER learn
how to "mount"?? Sheesh, I'm only 14.2....)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leslie Murgatroyd <murgnme@pacific.net> Kelseyville, CA
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Why thankee Leslie, I take it I am the Karen you are refering to?
Of course, these days the horse I mount bareback is only 14.1 hands!
I learned how to do it on a little horse when I was 14, then adapted
it when we got a horse that was 16.2h. I was pretty proud of that.
But with Ashley, well, my legs are half way to the ground anyway...
But here is how I do it. I grab a hunk of mane with the left
hand. Facing the rear of the horse, I back up, until I am about
at horses nose. Then I do a skip and hop (sort of), and twist
and throw my right leg up over the back, as my right hand then
pulls on the withers towards me. Then I hitch myself up forward
real fast because at this point my mare is heading off in a hurry!
This is the only way I can do it.
My friend in high school had another method. She would just jump
and throw her body over the back like a sack of potaoes. Then
rotate her leg over. I was never comfortable doing that. It's a
killer if the horse has a sharp spine!
Just so no one gets real envious, I am almost 6 ft. But it's not
too shabby for an old hag of 40!
Oh, one more catch. YOu have to "believe" you can do it! You have
to visualize the movement.
Karen
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