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Less Is More Horsemanship Forum
Welcome to the Less Is More Forum. This forum is to post questions, comments, suggestions, ideas, principles, concepts and ideas regarding Natural Horsemanship and more importantly, the philosophy of "Less IS More". This is a place where like-minded people can come to throw away all the old traditional ways of training, and riding, and begin to experience a new FREEDOM in their relationship with their equine partners. Whether your goal is to learn more about natural horsemanship, get support for your own personal Less Is More belief, find solutions for problems that are hindering your relationship, begin a journey of discovery or healing, this is your home. Regardless of what the current "fads" are in traditional circles or natural horsemanship circles, I encourage you to think 'outside the box'. Feel free to post a message.
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| Viewing Page 1 of 1 (Total Posts: 10) |
| Author | Comment |
Lisa Phillips
Mar 25, 07 - 8:06 AM |
Bareback riding
Hi Michael and anyone/everyone else who might have an answer or any input. As most of you know I had a hip replacement May, 2006. I still don't have the best range of motion in the hip but it is sure better than feeling like I have broken glass in it! ha ha ha ha. Anyway, I have had a real weird fear regarding riding since my surgery. What am I afraid of you might ask? Well, I am scared to death of getting my foot hung in a stirrup. I have never felt that way before. I still guard that leg like crazy and the feeling won't go away. Because of the range of motion issue I have a real hard time mounting and dismounting so I think that may be where the fear is......fear I'll have a mishap during those very vulnerable times and get hung up. My horses stand for mounting and dismounting quite well, but you all know that is always when the neighbor's dog runs over, the truck backfires, etc. You know what I mean. I so enjoy riding bareback but until I get better at it, any suggestions for what to wear on my big ol' butt that I don't feel like I'm sliding so much? I have a parelli bareback pad that I picked up off ebay last year and I like it but still would rather have nothing on their backs. I'm not looking to make a fashion statement! ha ha ha ha. Michael, I've seen you with chaps on for bareback rides. Do those help you feel less slippery while riding bareback? Anyway, any thoughts would be appreciated. I plan to build a mounting block/platform as soon as I can as the 3 step mounting block I have still isn't quite high enough. I'm only 5 feet tall!!!! ha ha ha. Thoughts? 
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Connie
Mar 25th, 2007 - 2:14 PM |
Re: Bareback riding
I know that when my dad had his total him replacment he was not to fall for fear of breaking the cement that held the procecess in place hip joint that they replaced, for a full year after surgery. lisa here is a little trick I learned for a slpipery saddle. I took and bought the same color as my saddle in shoe polish, yep shoe polish. Put it on the part of the saddle seat and buffed it off. Bingo it grabed my jeans and I wouldn't slip. I have a mounting block that my hubby made for me out of 2x4's it is heavy. you can see it at http://new.photos.yahoo.com/flyinghooves/album/576460762322397017 Connie |
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Michael Gonzalez
Mar 25th, 2007 - 7:40 PM |
Re: Bareback riding
HI.... Yes...my chaps are old but they are some cheap suede chaps I bought off of someone because i wanted to have some....I did find that if I had no pad at all on my horse, that the leggings actually did sort of hold me in place. If I use the chaps AND my bareback pad...well...a tornado couldnt knock me off of my horse!!! Hang in there...it may still be early yet for you....also, at some point, you are going to have to turn loose and let go of your fear and begin to TRUST your partner again. Nothing has changed except the slight limitation in your body and of course...FEAR. Now dont get me wrong...please DO NOT go out riding bareback tomorrow nad cantering because I said you had to turn loose. There will be a time to finally trust again. You and your partner will know when that time is. Until then, always err on the side of safety. Now, if you dont have complete trust in your partner, then we have different issues to discuss and work on together before we turn loose. YOu have to know in your heart of hearts that you trust your partner riding through the flames of hell and back together. If you dont, then let's focus on those things first and help you learn together with your partner how to trust each other. Your partner cant turn loose, until YOU turn loose....your partner cant trust in you until you trust in them. People where I used to board my horses used to whisper behind my back and thought I was absolutely friggin' crazy because I took a young 3 year old horse bareback and bridle-less out on the trail. They did not understand that even though she was barely started under saddle adn wouldnt even had made a good 30 day trained colt, we had absolute trust in each other. Period. It was a time of "turning loose" for bnoth of us. The result? Well, you have all seen those pictures of our first bridle-less outing. Me and my little mare "Desi" cantering all over the trails and open fields bareback and bridle-less with absolute control. (the pics with me wearing the chaps)This did not happen because I am some sort of magical horse whisperer, this happened because I have open COMMUNICATION with Desi and we TRUST each other wholeheartedly. These two things are FOUNDATION of our partnership. I dont know if some of you saw the pics of Desi and I riding bridle-less through the snow last month...but after not riding her since Thanksgiving, I literally just put my horseman's string on her neck, climbed on and went tearing through the snow drifts without a care in the world. She and I had 40 minutes of pure fun. For a little while, we just "turned loose" and trusted eachother. Know what? She still isnt a finished horse at age 5. This year we will begin refining a lot and doing a lot of real work, and it should be a breeze. But then again, if we dont get it done this year, well, there's always next year. Hope that makes sense.... Always Yours In Horsemanship... Michael |
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Connie
Mar 25th, 2007 - 9:10 PM |
Re: Bareback riding
Michael remember the old saying sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. I got to thinking that you know it dosen't matter what other think it is what I am happy doing and doing with my horses. I use my horses as demos at all of my clinics. A lot of people from the boarding place I used to board don't even know how much my horses are used to teach other people. I know I am proud in that you came a long way and never gave up. That is the main thing you never gave up on any of your horses. Well I need to get my bible study done for this week , That and hit the books for my test for school. Connie,keeping it natrual. |
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Lisa Phillips
Mar 26th, 2007 - 7:13 AM |
Re: Bareback riding
Connie, thanks for your reply. I will sure take a look at your mounting block. I truly believe that a way to mount that would avoid my hanging in mid air for so long trying to coax my leg over my horse's back would sure help me in my feeling more confident in mounting. Dismounting is almost as difficult but usually goes quite a bit easier. I'll keep working on it. Thanks! Michael, I know I have partnership issues as well as letting go issues. You are right on. I believe the fear will fade with time. I know last year closer to my surgery I was talking about how I was able to spend grooming and snuggling time with my babies initially and then I've been doing simple ground work since then. I've ridden some but not alot as I have a promise in place to my husband that I will not ride when he is not home to assist me. Not only is that a promise I made to him for his peace of mind and my safety, it is a good idea overall and I realize that. I must admit I long for the days I could (and did) just spend time with my horses however and whenever I wanted. I waited so many years to have them at home and then not long after that, the health issues starting getting in the way. Anyway, I'll keep plugging along. God is good and I continue to be thankful for this new hip, count my many enormous blessings, and nip any grumbling in the bud! ha ha ha My partnership issues are in my opinion 99% buddy sweet issues. I am working on that by taking my horses for walks. It is going great. And I truly believe my fear may be fading because when I called them in for dinner yesterday, my oldest mare was bringing up the rear. As she came in she broke into the prettiest sweetest little relaxed lope and I actually said to myself out loud "man, I wish I were on board to enjoy that with her". ha ha ha. I will keep on keeping on. My partnerships are ever changing in ways I am not sure I can explain. It's all good. There is a tenderness they exhibit to me that I can't really describe any other way. My farrier was out the other day and complimented them all as well. The vet always does too. I really appreciate that people can see how much I care for them reflected in the way they respond to me and people who are with me. It's not a show off thing either, I don't mean it as a "look how nice my horses are". I mean it simply as evidence that perhaps I AM indeed going the right direction and hopefully these two guys who are NOT into our philosophy and methods can truly see in time what a huge difference it makes. Thanks again folks. I love this forum! There's no other place like it on earth! |
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SonomasGal
Mar 26th, 2007 - 8:51 AM |
Re: Bareback riding
"If I use the chaps AND my bareback pad...well...a tornado couldn't knock me off of my horse!!!"  I have to get me some chaps! I might get those equi-suede 30$ cheapies of eBay.Great advice everyone! |
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Lisa Phillips
Mar 26th, 2007 - 9:32 AM |
Re: Bareback riding
$30 cheapies? I may have to check those out!!!!!! |
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SonomasGal
Mar 26th, 2007 - 2:36 PM |
Re: Bareback riding
They are alway on eBay! http://cgi.ebay.com/Equi-Grip-Synthetic-Suede-Show-Full-Chaps-Sand_W0QQitemZ120101566320QQcategoryZ137007QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem |
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Michael Gonzalez
Jul 13th, 2007 - 3:33 PM |
Re: Bareback riding
Lisa.... Any updates on the bareback riding? How are things going? Michael |
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Lisa Phillips
Jul 14th, 2007 - 10:31 PM |
Re: Bareback riding
I'm making progress! Thanks for asking! I now have an incredible 4 step mounting block and some breakaway stirrups I got from a website a friend of mine pointed me to called freedomrider.com. Sure has helped. I can now mount alone!!!! I have not had a chance to ride much lately due to our flooding. I don't have any covered riding areas. We have been soaking wet for 5-6 weeks. It's just been dry enough to ride this week. Unreal. But I did ride the other day and it felt great! I rode with my saddle though. I still have a long way to go to overcome my fear but I'll plug away! |
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