bareback pad disaster

It finally came! 

My bareback pad! 

I was so excited to get my package the day before Christmas; it had been on back order for weeks. It had stirrups that I could remove if I did not want to use them. It was blue. It seemed perfect for my needs. 

Simple, like this bareback pad, but blue

I got to the barn Monday to feed and muck stalls. I patiently waited all day to try this new thing on Shyloh. By the time I got done with everything, the barn was busy! But, being so excited to try this new piece of "tack", I moved forward. I groomed Shy because she was a little muddy from being outside. I put the pad on. Hmmm. . .what was this odd buckle contraption?  I could not figure it out, so I called in reinforcements. Kathy also had difficulty figuring out how to secure the buckle. Finally, I got it. . . sort of, kind of, maybe. 

The arena was busy! Notch was in there doing showmanship type stuff with Jaime, Dannon was being lunged, and someone was shooting guns nearby. Remy was getting tacked up to come into the arena, too. There was a lot going on, and I usually ride by myself. In fact, I've only ever rode with another person once. But, my enthusiasm to use this bareback pad persevered. 

I knew I would have to get on and off Shyloh a few time to adjust the stirrups to the correct length. We walked up to the mounting block. I swung a leg over. . .and I was stuck. The mounting block isn't tall enough for me to sit down on Shy, I have to swing myself over. If I got on like normal, the saddle pad would re-adjust itself crooked. So, I stood there, with one leg swung over Shy's back and the other leg on the mounting block, wondering what I should do. 

Shyloh decided for me as she walked off! I hung on for dear life (because a drop from 13.3hh is soooo far), while half hanging on the side of her until she stopped. It seemed like forever, but in reality it was probably only a few steps. I slid off of her and checked everything out. Apparently my sort of, kind of, maybe girth adjustment was not right. The pad was massively off-center. . .I fixed it, I think, then started over. 

This time I got on Shy but the stirrups were way to long. I got off and adjusted. I got back on. Too short. I got off. Adjusted. Got back on. One stirrup was decent , but the other was way off. By now, I was annoyed, so I threw the saddle pad over the arena wall (and I may or may not have been cussing at it), and hopped on Shy like I always do. We did a few laps around the arena. 

Shy was great, even with all the commotion! She stopped frequently to check things out. If a giant horse was running in my direction, I might stop and let him pass, too . . .just to be safe. She listened perfectly, even though I could tell she wanted to GO! She was very forward and at one point almost broke out into a trot. Whew. . . I am not ready to trot bareback. My balance is not there, yet! Soon I dismounted and led Shy back to her stall. Even though we had a short ride, it was a good ride. Better to be short and successful than to push her and have something unfortunate happen.

While I was getting that d@#ned bareback pad from the arena wall,  Shy thought she deserved a something delicious and sugary for her good behavior, and took it upon herself to provide herself with a treat. 

Jackpot!!

Notice the destroyed SweetTart box. . .

Maybe it was not a terrible disaster. . .It could have been much worse. But I was very disappointed with the bareback pad. I will work on it and try to figure out this buckle and attempt again.

And news in the Shyloh trust and progress department! I thought that since Shy was going back outside, she would return to her wild self, refusing to come inside, and everything else that she used to do.

Wrong!

I went to go get her and Ryleigh today from outside. Ryleigh was a gentleman, as always, but Shyloh thought it would be fun to play her signature game, Catch Me If You Can. I did, for a minute, then just took Ryleigh inside. As soon as we were out of the gate, Shy trotted up to the gate. She was still there waiting when I went back out to get her. She saw me and nickered! Then she flung her head a few times. I went in the gate and she trotted away, but I called her and she trotted back to me! First time ever! That and the nicker she gave me made my day!