The wife asked me a week ago if I could help her with her business today, I said sure, so she really booked customers, wow! I rode 5 different horses today, taught a riding lesson, took 3 groups on trail rides, and gave a horse logging demonstration to a group, using my biggest boy to skid trees. I sadled my wife's trick horse, and rode her on 1 of the trail rides, to give her a mental break from the arena, and go ride in the bush where i think that horses belong. She can do amazing things, but is easily spooked in the forest, so I ride her on some trail rides to give her a little practice on the trails, and stop being spooked. She is so small compared to my big horses, but has spunk and agility. Its funny how she over jumps everything, from a small log to a creek, and its fun doing spins as i ride along down a trail. But walking through a creek makes her nervous, steep hills are a reason to worry, and a stump that could be confused with a bear from far away, makes her stop and try to turn around and run. I don't let her though, today i hopped off her, and held her tight and walked in front of her right to that stump and kicked it. The group of young girls i was taking for a ride all laughed. My own horses are pretty much bomb proof, even the fillies i don't actually ride yet, but bring along to just follow me and get them out of the yard, and used to trails. My 1 year old filly, she has no fear of anything, but a lot of curiosity, and makes me laugh. I took all 6 of my horses on the 1 ride today, not even tethered, just called them to follow me, and they came along with me and the family I was taking for a ride. The teenage girl in that family asked me if my big boy could be ridden, when I said yes she asked to try, but he had no saddle and is 18.2 hands high. So i showed her how to ride him bare back, then i boosted her up with me for a minute and said just hold his mane, he will just follow me on my horse, and stop when i do to, since he doesn't even have a halter on, forget a bit and reins, or saddle. He is so gentle and calm. She actually finished out the last 45 minutes riding him bare back, while the horse she was on originally just followed us. Wife cringed when we returned home and that girl was riding him with nothing to control him. I lifted her off my big boy, and she hugged me, said that was the best ride of her life. He is 2 normal horses in size, and yet wouldn't hurt anyone. My legs are hurting tonight, I rarely ride 8 hours per day.
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