Finally rode Dante bareback!

[Sol]

Have felt like trying it for days, so finally plucked up the courage! (May also have been prompted by catching him in his bridle as I left his headcollar in the car and mum drove off!)
He was a star!! Seemed a little bit confused at first but wandered around quite happily, so I braved a little trot... then a longer trot... then would have kept working him except my dad arrived to take me home!
Got him to take a photo quickly though...!

Never really thought I'd trust him enough to ride him bareback, but he's grown up so much recently it seems!

Might as well share a few of the lovely photos my boyfriend took on wednesday too (I knew they had uses! xD) - please excuse the lack of hat, I only removed it for a few minutes for these shots as it kind of didn't look too great, and I was fairly certain of my ability to remain in the saddle as the second photo shows! Didn't even realise that the horse bucked...

And last but not least! A photo my YO took of me riding her Fell stallion Vader the other day

Have just started to jump Vader too and we're both loving it! Hopefully more pics of him soon!

That's all anyway, just needed to share general happy thoughts!
*pringles & chocolate cake for all*
Sol x.

 

[ridersince2002]

I LOVE riding bareback! I went through a phase where I always used to ride the pony bella in my sig in from the field bareback to feed her and then ride her back out bareback. she didnt need to come in to be fed, I just liked riding bareback and I jumped bareback with just a leadrope round her neck once, I felt like I could actually jump without a saddle, and she normally gets so strong jumping, but she was good as gold and we had a fab time my mum took some pictures, I think I almost ride better bareback than wit a saddle lol. bu I would be much to scared to jump bareback now! bareback ftw

 

[Sol]

I LOVE riding bareback! I went through a phase where I always used to ride the pony bella in my sig in from the field bareback to feed her and then ride her back out bareback. she didnt need to come in to be fed, I just liked riding bareback and I jumped bareback with just a leadrope round her neck once, I felt like I could actually jump without a saddle, and she normally gets so strong jumping, but she was good as gold and we had a fab time my mum took some pictures, I think I almost ride better bareback than wit a saddle lol. bu I would be much to scared to jump bareback now! bareback ftw

I know what you mean! I used to ride my Welsh A bareback more often than with a saddle, and rode a fair few other ponies bareback in the past although it's a long time since I've jumped bareback! Maybe one day I will again!! I have missed it!!

 

[eva]

ooh how cool! that pic with the buck is scary though! I sort of feel too bony in certain areas bareback? how do you cope?

 

[HopesnDreams]

Gorgeous pictures. :0)

 

[Sol]

ooh how cool! that pic with the buck is scary though! I sort of feel too bony in certain areas bareback? how do you cope?

Thanks! haha, it looks worse than it felt though - he never feels like he bucks, more just hops a bit!
I find bareback is fine tbh, never had a problem with it, even on some very bony ponies! (not sure how, given that most of my friends protest violently if they don't leave me a seat and I happen to use one of them as a chair! Apparently I'm a little too skinny? )
I'm oddly surprised by how comfortable Dante is actually, and how strangely uphill he feels! It's a very bizarre feeling xD

 

[Sol]

Gorgeous pictures. :0)

Thank you!