Last week was an interesting experience as I rode bareback for the first time in years and years. Murphy (I wouldn’t do it on anyone else, I think) had a very comfortable walk and trot, though I wasn’t able to canter as much as I would have liked. It was a little too jarring and I didn’t trust myself to stay on if I got too tired. The most amazing part was being reminded of, now that I know more than I did when I last rode bareback, how much contact with the horse that the saddle blocks out. Also, I think riding bareback would be excellent for curing me of my habit of coming over too far to one side.
There won’t be any riding this week because of the holidays, though we’re starting up next week again. Usually there’s a longer break, with some special lessons and such offered, but that hasn’t worked out so well the last years so instead we get regular lessons more quickly again. Unfortunately, our lesson has been moved an hour and a half later, and I am not sure I’ll be able to stick with that time for very long. But for now, it will still be Tuesday lessons, starting next week.