I thought I would try to ride Teddy bareback but wasn't sure if he'd had the experience before. So yesterday he followed me to the crush area, which has a section I can seal off into a small yard, and I closed the gate behind him and gave him a good brush. He loved it.
The crush area is not big enough to ride in but he can spin around in it if he likes so I thought it would be a good location to see how he feels about someone getting on him without a saddle. At least he wouldn't get far if he tried to nick off and that he wouldn't feel threatened as the enclosure wasn't too small that he couldn't move.
After loving me for brushing him, I bridled him up, got the steps out and put him along side them. I began by just rubbing him on the back. And what a big back it is. The boy is chunky still. Slowly I added more pressure to the rubs and I could tell he was tentative about it because he would accept it for a moment then step away. Each time he accepted the touching of his back I would take the pressure off of him and praise him. We did this for a while until I was able to drape myself across his back. This was the real test. He only accepted this for a second before stepping away, and I slid off each time he did, but I praised him for accepting it in the first place.
We did this little game for a while and he was very well behaved. I could see his confidence building. I could tell he didn't know what to make of it and I left it on a good note to build him up to it over time.
Definitely slow steps with this one.
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