Colt Starting - Shimmering Princess - The First Ride [Slideshow]
After 2 weeks of preparations on the ground and having accepted me on her back at a standstill, Princess was ready for the first ride! What do I expect on a first ride?
- that the horse discovers that it can walk and trot with a rider on its back
- that I can bend the horse to a stop and ask for forward
- that the horse does all this with understanding
I usually go in a small enclosed environment so that the horse is less distracted and can feel safer.
Click through the slideshow to learn how I set it up so that Princess could make a nice experience for her first ride.
The Preparation paid off
I repeated these basic communications several times in each direction. I quit once she started to respond with understanding. All she needed to learn today was to walk, trot and bend to a stop with a rider on her back. All in all, it took 15 minutes while riding.
The first ride was, thanks to all the preparation she had on the ground, a real non-event for Princess. It all happened with softness, understanding and - most importantly - with her full agreement.
Read more about Shimmering Princess
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