How To Have A Good First Ride On An Unbroke Horse

Tiza’s first day with not one, but two riders on her back 😜⁣
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Meet Tiza! She’s a 4 year old Andalusian mare that just came into my training program to be properly started under saddle.⁣
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This ride is after much ground work to prep her mentally and physically to accept someone on her back. ⁣
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A friend loaned me “Buddy”, rider number one. There’s a first time for everything right? It was nice knowing she was good with the awkward weight and height that she would catch in her eye. I personally am the first one in the saddle usually, but it was definitely comforting to see her handle Buddy so well before getting on her back. I would not let the horse go loose with this awkward, lifeless body on her, since it could possibly scare her to the place she’s seeking someone’s feel and direction and won’t know how to come back without that. That’s more stress on her and could potentially make her lose the confidence in the rider that comes next...me. I worked hard to gain that confidence up until this point and planned to keep it. Managing her close for the “Buddy” ride, allowed me to keep her mind and focus to stay grounded. ⁣
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The first ride is very monumental in their riding career. It sets the tone in how they will view their rider-will they trust or resent. That obviously isn’t just a first impression thing but a lifelong, ride to ride goal to achieve as the person in the saddle. It will make a difference for that first experience of “what the heck is on me” timeframe.⁣
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Be patient. There is no hurry in this process. As you can see, there’s the initial half seat idea for an opportunity to mount and unmount numerous times for them to realize they survived the situation...you’ll want that option handy. Trust me.⁣
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Then there comes the time to commit and swing that leg over; landing softly in the saddle and reassuring them all is fine. Plan for lots of petting and calm talking (even if internally you’re freaking out 😅) ⁣
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Having a trusted, experienced friend there for that first date is helpful for them to monitor and diffuse wrong reactions that may occur. It also helps the horse keep there mind present, because it can go so many places very quickly. I have broke a horse without this step many times but as I get older and wiser 😜 why not make it as positive as possible.⁣
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Nothing major needs to be discussed this first ride. You have nothing to prove. And in fact, someone on their back is a big enough mental disruption in their life that I’m pretty sure would be helpful to let them digest that to realize they will be ok. On the flip side, you swing that leg over, you better have a plan to kick them forward and diffuse the situation in the case they panic. Always have a healthy plan for your safety and for the horse’s fragile mind in this experience in order for you BOTH to come out the other side successful. ⁣
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KNOW THIS: there does NOT need to be a buck it out session. That would be a rare situation if the horse your on panics. Your prep work should carry through if done right in most cases.⁣
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It’s a good day to wrap it up with getting on, walking, halting, patting, talking, incorporating a little inside leg to an open rein for the initial idea of turning, and smoothly swinging that leg back over and onto earth. 🙌🏻 Side note: I still proceeded this experience with the ground work she was accustomed too. Watch my previous videos to see what I mean.⁣
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I will be positing her progress under saddle, so stay tuned for Tiza’s growth.⁣
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Slow and steady wins the race. ⁣
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𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼: @𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗵𝘁 ⁣
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