So Mattie has been retired and unridden for about 4 years. Since Ziggy died, I have been taking him out for regular walks, which he loves. He is a complete gentleman in every way - when he was ridden he went in a sidepull bridle and was a sensitive, obedient ride.
Today we were out as usual with his headcollar on and my 12ft rope. I was wearing shorts and Go Walk sneakers - no hat, boots, gloves etc
I was leading him up a steep gully. He's 15.2 but the gully has really high sides. I just got a devil in me and I stopped him, clipped the lead rope to one side of the headcollar, tied its little leather thingies to the other side, put the makeshift reins over his head and used the gully to slip on to his back.
I was very surprised by his reaction. He'd been dawdling along behind me. As I sat down he lifted his neck, lifted his back - I felt it - and both ears came to sharp attention. Then he marched on up to the top of the gully!
It wasn't even 100 yards to the top. When it flattened out I put down my seat bones and twitched the makeshift reins and he stopped dead. I slipped off him (it was a long way down) and he gave me a big bump with his head.
I know it was bad and dangerous, sorry. But could he possibly have missed being ridden?
He was really comfortable by the way...
Today we were out as usual with his headcollar on and my 12ft rope. I was wearing shorts and Go Walk sneakers - no hat, boots, gloves etc
I was leading him up a steep gully. He's 15.2 but the gully has really high sides. I just got a devil in me and I stopped him, clipped the lead rope to one side of the headcollar, tied its little leather thingies to the other side, put the makeshift reins over his head and used the gully to slip on to his back.
I was very surprised by his reaction. He'd been dawdling along behind me. As I sat down he lifted his neck, lifted his back - I felt it - and both ears came to sharp attention. Then he marched on up to the top of the gully!
It wasn't even 100 yards to the top. When it flattened out I put down my seat bones and twitched the makeshift reins and he stopped dead. I slipped off him (it was a long way down) and he gave me a big bump with his head.
I know it was bad and dangerous, sorry. But could he possibly have missed being ridden?
He was really comfortable by the way...