It’s been a difficult Fall with the loss of my beloved horse Dollie, and with my other riding horse Derby’s lameness issues. Not many rides and no riding adventures to chronicle. Yesterday however that changed. After a fun holiday party the night before with one of my horse gal groups, and lots of conversation about riding, I decided it was time to get on the broodmare in the pasture.
When my friend Barb and I purchased Lucky the broodmare in foal in 2021, we were told she didn’t stay sound under heavy riding. We weren’t planning on riding her as we both had other horses to ride. We purchased her for the foal she would have and the ability to breed her back to a stallion of our choosing. So here was Lucky, standing in the pasture, post baby, post rebreed that didn’t take, eating and enjoying life.
Lucky is a big mare. Her size – 16 hands – is the size of horse I loved to ride when I was younger. Now a fall from this height if it should occur, gives me pause. Enough so that I really didn’t think I would get on her. Plus, I had two others to ride, not anymore.
Yesterday after not riding for yet another month I decided to put on my big girl pants, cowgirl up and get on the big black mare.
In her previous life Lucky was used on a rental string while carrying her foals. The hilly, rocky terrain at the base of Yosemite National Park where she carried riders on scenic trail rides became too much for her to stay sound. The good news is that she is very broke and has many miles under her cinch, even if she hasn’t had a saddle on her back in a while.
I started out by longing her, then I groomed her and then I put the saddle on. Saddling was a feat in itself due to her height. I used the mounting block to get a bit higher up before slinging it over her back. She didn’t move. I used the lightest saddle I have. One that I ride in on my 14.2 hand gelding. It looked like a kid’s saddle on this big girl. I longed her again just to see if she would buck with the saddle on after not wearing one for such a long time. She moved out a bit quicker but that was it. After a few circles, I got Dollie’s bridle and adjusted it for Lucky. I headed back to the mounting block, this time to get on.
Lucky stood perfectly still as I mounted and when I was ready, she walked off like a queen. I rode her around my property at the walk and then I did a few circles at the trot. She’s a handy girl this horse. I backed her, turned her over her haunches and neck reigned her like she hadn’t missed a day. I had no fear. Being on this big horse felt natural, like I’d been riding her all along.
I think I’ve found a “new” horse to ride. Fingers crossed she stays sound for light riding.
