Horseback Riding

Joe got a half price horseback riding session for me at Vista Farms. It's on the west side of Bangerter.

I haven't ridden in over 30 years. It was a relief to find that I could still do this.

First I went to the outside corrals and put a halter on the horse I'd be riding.

Then I brought him into the barn and brushed him.

I brushed and brushed. There was a lot of hidden grime on this little pony.

Eventually I got him somewhat clean:

I saddled my own horse and led him into an indoor ring.

Luckily he wasn't too big and I was able to get myself into the saddle:

I'm up!

First I walked around the ring a couple of times.

On the next couple of 'go rounds' I was instructed to rein him in a little circle when I reached each corner of the ring (no problem):

My instructor put the horse on a lead and had me trot and gallop in circles. She needed to test me.

She made my day when she said that I was very good (hooray).

All we got for this exercise was a blurry photo. The video wasn't too hot either:

Really fun!:

Warm up:

This was an older horse with a touch of arthritis, but he was a hard worker:

I got to carry my saddle to the horse, throw it over his back and tighten the cinch. I needed a little guidance with the cinch part:

At the end of the session I led him back into the barn and took off his saddle. I'm sure he was relieved when I climbed off his back (poor little horse):

Pulling off the saddle:

Carrying the saddle back to the tack room and putting it away:

Outside after my fun time with a horse:

We stopped at Yogurtology at Jordan Landing for a treat:

Here are some video's of me walking the horse around. One sort of shows the little reining practice thing: