Riding Nick

Late last month I rode Nick! He's the Belgian gelding that used to be named Ben.

Because I was a bit rusty at riding and Nick had some hip issues, he merely plodded along at a walk. Which was awesome. It was a bit funny - even though he's a colossal horse (standing at 17hh), when I was on his back he seemed normal height. I'm presuming that's because I haven't ridden a normal-sized horse for over a year.

We didn't have much ground to cover, so I worked on serpentines, posture, and plow-reining. Plow-reining is turning by pulling the rein the direction you want to go, with your hands as low as your arms allow. This does make for sore shoulders. You'll only steer a horse in this manner when it's a harness horse. In harness, the reins are down near the shoulders, so you hold the riding reins accordingly.

It was entirely awesome. To be on a horse is amazing, and even more so to ride a draft! I've admired draft horses for a long time, and riding one is just as fun as I had imagined.

Finally way up there. :) 

Pretty boy.

Alrighty, this is me! I apologize for looking ferocious in both pictures - I seem to do that when I'm concentrating! At this point in the ride he didn't want to stand still for me.

This one's a little better. :)