Comet’s First Ride Under Saddle!

Hello everyone! I know it's been a while. My life has been crazy between starting a new job and everything else I manage here with the horses. But I am back, with an exciting update! I have begun starting Comet under saddle.

He knows the saddle... He knows the bridle... He knows the voice cues for the different gaits... He's has me on his back bareback while a friend led him around... And we finally put everything together for the first time!

Comet’s first steps in walk in his first ride.

He did AWESOME! So calm, thinking on his feet, and it only took me about 3 mins prior to this to help him understand that leg on = walk on. So beyond proud of him and I, and all the hard work we have put in over the past two years to make this first ride look this easy.

I just went with him wherever he wanted to go, as long as he stayed walking!

All hail the groundwork! Most training starts before you ever get on the horse. Most problems originate and can be addressed more safely on the ground.

Below you can also see from the very beginning of the first ride just how calm he is. We’ve already taken plenty of time working on standing at the mounting block, and all the other pieces that go into mounting up for a ride - so all that was added to his first ride was the actual rider getting on.

Comet is steady and calm for the first time I mount up onto his back with the saddle.