Well, this happened just the other day. I went for a 4 mile trail ride, in the woods. It was 60 degrees, finally. Out first nice warm day in a long time. I was on a 17 Hand horse, Willie, bareback. My 2 friends came with me. One other friend was bareback, the other in an English saddle. We all have years of horse/riding expierence. This was my first time galloping,bareback, outside of a ring, with tons of distractions. All three horses weren’t listening, they would trot when they wanted, but Willie, my horse would NOT stop when I asked him to. The thing to remember is you HAVE to be balanced on the horse, sit up nice and straight, have your shoulders back,legs nice and relaxed around the horses barrel, and be ready to shift your weight forward or back going up or down hill. We were on our 3rd mile. We had been through snow, muddy roads with other cars, gone by a few scary logs and a snow mobile. The horses were fine. BUT, when it came to the last leg or the last mile or so, my friends horse just took off! Into a gallop! Then Willie took off following. Full out, 30 MPH, bareback GALLOP! It was pretty scary, because I hadn’t asked him to do it, and he isn’t suppose to Gallop because he has issues with is legs. I tried giving some half-halts over and over. Not happening. Then I was still balanced, and pulling on the reins, still not happening. So, since we were coming to the pavement and a well traveled road, we decided to get off, and try an emergency dismount! I held onto Willie’s neck, my face inhis mane. And I fell head first to the muddy dirt. MY friend Maureen, did the same, she was thinking, that Lucky wasn’t going to stop either, so she HAD to get off! No today I’m in pain. I sprained my back, ankle, stomache muscles, neck. But, if I didn’t fall, I could have gotten trampled. Or, I could have turned Willie in a circle, but because I was bareback, my balance was comprimised. I was tired by that time….Oh always wear a helmet on the trail or with a horse you don’t know… I ALWAYS wear my helmet!! I just got this Charles Owen helmet for $200, and thanks to it, My head doesn’t look like it…. 4 years ago

my horse, Sequoia, passed away.

It’s a funny feeling, even now. She’d been with me so long, and then she was gone. I suddenly had no more horses. I wouldn’t have to make sure her blanket was washed for winter, and I wouldn’t have to buy hay or grain for her.

Last week, I was walking through Wal-Mart and passed the electronics department, and all of the tvs were playing a clip from some nature type tv show. This clip was of semi-wild horses being herded by two guys on horseback.

Wow, did that ever hurt me. Like take my breath away, make me swoon kind of hurt. I just stood there til the clip faded off the screens. I miss riding and I miss my girls so much. 4 years ago

I think my quest to lose weight is actually moving me closer to this goal. I’ve been doing Tae Bo and dance aerobics, and I’m stronger and my balance is improving. Maybe those things will help me stay on at a gallop. 5 years ago

I need to actually RIDE my horse. I realized I haven’t ridden in 2007, and it’s been two years since I went on a trail ride or cattle drive. Some horse lover I am. Maybe I can get Sawyer home with me instead of at my parents’ place next spring. 5 years ago

I’ve owned horses most of my life – 4 of them – Sugar, Jet, Hawk, and Sawyer – 2 wonderful, 2 not so much, and only one is still with me – but I’ve never had the courage and/or balance to ride bareback at a gallop. I did canter/lope a few strides on my Sugar bareback, but she’s gone now, and Sawyer’s flightier and I have yet to ride him either at a canter or bareback. Someday I will, maybe not Sawyer or the next horse after him, but someday… and if I can combine it with my wish to ride horse on the beach, so much the better. 5 years ago

I had horses and ponies throughout my life – and it’s one of the biggest joys I’ve had.

First was Brandy. She was not a joy. She was stubborn and lazy, and sometimes downright mean. We sold her, and I wasn’t so sure I really did want a horse after all. Everyone told me “they’re all that way”.

Eventually, we did get Comet, a blind pony gelding my sister and I shared. He completely reversed my opinion on equines, being the sweet, gentle, loving creature I’d understood horses and ponies were.

Then came a variety of other ponies. I trained a few and sold them. I loved them all, but eventually children grow out of ponies.

Willow and Sequoia entered my life just before I turned 15. They were old, retired thoroughbred mares that were perfect for what I was looking for. I only wanted to ride. Showing had never been my thing.

Although Sequoia has outlived Willow, Sequoia is now retired completely and I don’t ride her any more.

Willow was my soul mate horse. She was a 15.3 big, bay beauty with a star. I loved galloping Willow and I always hoped I could gallop her bareback, but she was SO strong and SO fast, I couldn’t. (Oddly, she only won a single race in her career… and she was by far the fastest horse I’ve ever known, even faster than the quarter horses my friends rode. I think she hated her groom or her jockey, and that she had a bad experience, because she was always afraid of crowds, loudspeakers, and would freak out if I tried to tie her to groom her.)

But one day, I’d like to own horses again, and be able to master bareback riding, by going at a full gallop with no fear. 5 years ago