The First Ride

[Thy Cream Cheese]

Carolyn

I free lunged Tango with the saddle on her back. Soraya was watching from outside the pen. I had a feeling that today Tango would be able to be ridden. "Whoa." I said to Tango and she halted. "Come in." Tango slowly walked into the middle by me. "Good girl." I patted her neck.
I went over to the side of the pen and grabbed Tango's rainbow rope halter and put it on her head. "What are you doing now?" Soraya asked me. "You just started working her. You're not ending this soon, are you?"
I shook my head. "I think she's ready to be ridden." I thought for a moment about how I would have loved to say that I've been the only one to ride Missy, and an idea popped into my head. "And I could use your help. Are you up to it?"
Soraya nodded and climbed the fence into the pen. "Well duh! I'd love to! What do you want me to do?"
"You are going to ride Tango." I told her with a smile.
"But what if I screw her up by doing something wrong? Besides, aren't her owners paying you to train her, not me?"
I shrugged. "I think they'll be fine with it. Now c'mon, I'll give you a leg up."
We went to the side of Tango and I knelt and Soraya stepped on my leg, climbing onto Tango's back. I held a firm grip on Tango's halter, and tied both ends to the halter and threw the makeshift reins over her head up to Soraya.
"What now?" She asked. I didn't have time to answer because right then Tango turned into a bronc. Soraya hung on for her dear life.
"Pull her head up and then to the side and just hold it there!" I told her, backing away. Soraya did what I told her and Tango wasn't able to buck anymore. Both her and the horse were breathing heavily. I approached Tango calmly and started to soothe them. "Are you ok?" I asked Soraya.
At first she didn't answer and of course I thought the worst. Then her mouth turned into a huge grin. "That was awesome!"
I laughed and relaxed. "Really? Want to try her again? I think she's gotten her jitters out, and is good to go now."
Soraya nodded. "Now, what do I have to do?"
"Just give her leg pressure and click to her. Right now she knows verbal commands from lunging. Try not to have her on the rail for the whole time." I told her and Soraya did just as I told her.

[Kacie]

Lief

I worked Green into the round pen and lunged him for a while. After a little bit, I told him 'whoa' and he came to me. I smiled and rubbed his neck before chasing him around a bit. After a while I watched him canter around, and I ran upto him and boosted myself onto his back. I held my hands out wide and cued him with my legs.

[Thy Cream Cheese]

Carolyn

"Ok, now try to back her. if she pulls her head down pull it back up again. once you back her up, jog then lope her both ways." I instructed her. I watched as she backed Tango with a little bit of trouble, but overall theatre was used to the pressure of the halter. As I watched her jade a metal note she would probably do well with a mechanical hackamore.

"Trot." Doraya told Tango using leg pressure as well. I watchd her go around two laps at a trot then one at a lope. then she reversed and did the same.

"Ok that's good enough for today. She hasn't been fooled with much so we don't want to overwhelm her." I told Soraya when she trotted Tango up to me.

[Kacie]

Lief

I made Green halt, back up, turn on the haunches and lope the other way.

[Thy Cream Cheese]

Carolyn

I watched as Soraya dismounted and patted Tango affectionately. "How did she feel?" I asked.

"Super smooth at the walk and lope, a tad bit bouncy trotting."

I nodded. "Well, it didn't seem as though you were all over the place so that's good.

[Kacie]

Lief

I got Green to jog, then Walk, and I put my hands on my hips giving out a sigh.