Had my first ride! BAREBACK & BITLESS!

[Baroque]

I finally had my first pony ride on Zeus this week. He is now 5yo and has grown up nicely, so tis time to look at breaking in.

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Watch this space...

[Baroque]

No I didn't ride him on that day, he'd just come back into work and was throwing a bit of a tanty and looking at the guy working on our new shed foundations with his grinder so I sensibly opted to stay on the ground that day.

I hopped on him this week after he'd done some work, we practiced getting on and off bareback while my trainer held him for me, then I sat on him and we went for a little walk, tried the brakes and turning [both of which work fine bitless] before asking for a few sideways steps and finally a small reinback.

He was perfect. And he felt FANTASTIC!

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It's been a long wet muddy winter and all of my horses have been outside in the mud and loving it!

[piedmontfields]

Look at that little mouth on him and thoughtful eye. Stunning fellow. Please share more updates and stories.

[Chisamba]

look at the cutie pie ears too. hope all goes just so well as you move on forward

[Sunshine2Me]

His look says "No big deal - I was great!"

Congrats on your ride!

[Flight]

He is very cute! That's great the first ride went well

[Baroque]

Thanks for all the lovely comments.

Had a short pony ride on him again on Monday, he was a bit more distracted this time due to my giant 18mth old PRE filly galumping about in the paddock behind the arena and yelling to him the whole time, (suspect she is in season again ) her friend was more interested in eating that nice spring grass!

But no issues with getting on or off him and walking around, he feels like he's going to be a fairly energetic chap under saddle and he's got the moving sideways idea off a nice light leg touch well sorted.

Again he was bareback with a roller and saddle blanket and I used the reins attached to the serreta with my handler holding on as well with a long rope in case he decided to misbehave (he didn't).

I'm leaving the riding the next couple of weeks as the men are building our new implement shed and about to lift the roof on with a big crane which I think will be far too exciting and dangerous to be working right next to.

[Anne]

Congrats Baroque, energy is good! Can you remind me, is Zeus still entire - are you planning to stand him at stud? And what is his breeding, just curious, in my distant memory I seem to remember he might be by Jaleador? We have a lovely gelding by Cancionero, and very much like the breed.

[Baroque]

Congrats Baroque, energy is good! Can you remind me, is Zeus still entire - are you planning to stand him at stud? And what is his breeding, just curious, in my distant memory I seem to remember he might be by Jaleador? We have a lovely gelding by Cancionero, and very much like the breed.

Hi Anne
Yes he is still entire, and yes he is by Jaleador. We love the breed too

Zeus will be going off to Equibreed in a few days for AI training and collection and I plan to AI a couple of our mares to him this season as well as freezing some semen for later... He will only be available by AI to a small number of mares.

I have his gorgeous PRE sister by Cancionero and also bred a lovely 2ndX by Cancionero a few years ago who I now regret selling as I lost her wonderful half brother earlier this year to colic and would have loved to still have her to ride as she was a fantastic ride.

[TeresaA]

Oh he's so cute.