We began with a little groundwork just getting her to listen and respect us and to give her some basic understanding of voice commands like ‘woah!’ Then we saddled her up a few times which she wasn’t phased by at all. Since she has no reason to fear anything she has a pretty laid back attitude to new situations!
Then we did our ‘leaning over, to sitting up’ session! This requires at least two of us but the best bet is three. So of course Kate and I, and we recruited the help of our friend Brit. One leads, one legs on and one is the crash test dummy. We do it this way as Hope knows Brit and trusts her so she can be up front keeping her calm, and Kate will leg me on whilst she is moving. This is because with the balance change if you get on from a standstill the weight shift as they attempt to move can be really unnerving. If they are already moving it tends to be a smoother process and then once they have adjusted we can then try from a standing start.
We also always do it on a confined area of hardstanding as it makes sure they can ‘feel their feet’ so they’re less likely to have a moment! This one stems from Drifts rodeo days; a great lesson! We’ve developed our own little way of starting them now and it seems to work a treat. We’ve started all the four baby mares this way and all have responded brilliantly.
Having a strong bond first also helps to make it a pretty straightforward process. Hope took to it all like a duck to water and we couldn’t be more proud of her! We bought our little lady when I had just come out of hospital following spinal surgery and she was my Hope; a promise to myself I would be riding again and possibly one day eventing!!
I have to say it was a pretty emotional day that first sit on her :)
And in true EL style she had her first hack a few days later and we took her straight to our local for a pint!
And you’ll never walk alone ...
