Tuesday, December 27, 2011

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!

12 comments:

  1. Wonder if the theived treats had her feeling ornery in the field? :)
    From what I've gleaned using stirrups with a bareback pad isn't the best idea. Apparently rather unsafe. A simple shift of your weight from one side to another could cause you the undesired affect of being under rather than on top of your horse. I'd just ride in it as you ride bareback. Mounting the same way as well.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I bought a pad similar to the one u pictured. I recently rode in it back in Oct on our trail ride, but I agree; I DON'T use with stirrups. It's too easy to roll around and have you get stuck. Especially on a Haffie tummy/back ;) I took the stirrups off completely. The pad itself is super cushy and comfy, but my girth just is like a big buckle and nothing complicated. When mounting; YES, it's a bit tricky b/c the sticky suede like texture grabs you. I find something tall (for us it's usually a picnic bench) and lucky Laz tolerates me swinging up like a monkey!
    Isn't a nicker the best? I'm forever trying to record w/ my phone to set as my ring tone but still haven't been able to capture a great one in time.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I can just picture all of this Alison; too funny.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Agreed. I would NEVER use a bareback pad with stirrups. They're just not designed for it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm so glad the pad didn't end up in a real disaster!
    I also had a pad like that, years ago. I remember thinking the stirrups would be wonderful... and they weren't. I agree with everyone - I think you are better off without them.
    It sounds like you had a great ride, though! Congrats!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yeah. . .you live, you learn. I think I will return that pad and find another one. No stirrups and some time of gripping bottom. . .that is my goal for the day.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have a bareback pad somewhere... Cheap one, not much use... It didn't even come with stirrups which is just as well. I ride my big boy Shylo bareback and he's so round and comfy I don't need any extra padding!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I've never used a bareback pad, so I can't really help, but Shyloh sure looks cute munching her sweet tarts!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I like riding bareback, but I've never done it before with Jack. Apparently stirrups are not a good idea because, aside from the above reasons, you can hurt the horses back? I don't know if it's true or not, but I've heard it a few times.

    The great thing about small horses/ponies is that you can fall off and it doesn't hurt. Sunny, the little rescue mare I got was about 13.2hh and I came off her a few times - it just felt like I was sitting on the ground, even when I landed on my head (as is usual, for me).

    I love it when horses nicker to you as you walk up to them! It makes me feel happy to know they are excited to see me =D

    ReplyDelete
  10. Awesome that she came back to you and nickered! So cute! That's definitely good progress in the trust department. I don't know if you've read back through Chrome's blog, but he played hard to catch when I first got him too. :)

    Sorry the bareback pad didn't work out better. Did you try looking on YouTube for a video of how to adjust the buckle? I look on YouTube for everything lol. I'm thinking of getting a bareback pad too, but was warned against getting the ones with stirrups because they slip too easily.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will go back and look through the blog to find that. I am still trying to find the smiling video you mentioned.

      Delete
    2. Here is the smile video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ququCfJm5SI It's easier to find from my YouTube page then trying to go back through the blog. The part about him playing hard to catch should be at the beginning of the blog. I'll go back and find it. Hmm this is the post I first mention it in. http://rdxhorses.blogspot.com/2009/10/chrome-galaxy-video.html I talk about it some more in the ones following it, but it doesn't really say anything more than what I mentioned in my comment. There's a cute video though if you want to read it anyway. :D

      Delete

Share your thoughts or comments, I love to read them!

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.