Hope's first time to ride a human 

 

This was the first time I rode Hope (our PRE rescue mare), she had been used as a breeding mare and never been ridden. Usually when preparing a horse to be ridden in Traditional riding, a lot of equipment is used and the horse is over loaded with information and over worked, which makes it nervous and resistant as it struggles to flee which is what horses naturally do when their life is in danger. I have been a victim of this kind of training when growing up, but with time and understanding you realize that 'less is always more in the long run'. In this video I only use a rope and prefer to mount a horse for the first time, bareback, so that I can truly connect with them. Using only my breath and keeping my body relaxed but synchronized to the horse's foot steps we can move with fluidity. Like this I can direct Hope's energy and remain balanced over her back. This makes it easier for her to engage the hind quarters to flex her back and neck and support my weight, making the experience a comfortable one.