Process Analysis

 First Ride of the Season

            Waking at 5:30 a.m. on a Saturday isn’t for everyone.  I raise my head from the pillow take a look out the window and the sun isn’t even up yet.  It’s a brisk morning in the early spring / late winter.  The snow has melted away and the ground is just losing its frost line.  Most would crawl back under the covers at this point.  I however, am on a mission on this day.  After showering and getting dressed, I head for the fridge to find a bite to eat.  By nature I’m not a big eater in the morning but today I better pack a snack also.  Grabbing my cooler bag I head for the downstairs to find a coat and a pair of boots.  The clothing at this point is needed for the warmth in the morning and evening, mid day is warm enough to wear a thin shirt.

            Pulling my boots on and packing my saddle bags are important part of the morning.  Loading the truck up with saddles and saddle pads, bridles and lead ropes, oh don’t forget the halters. Standing there going thru my mental check list I feel like I’m forgetting something.  Yes, the brushes and combs.  Its spring and you never know what they might have done to themselves the day before.  Drive on out to the barn and start to unload everything according to what goes on which horse. 

            Walking out to the field empty handed is not a good idea.  First there is the morning grain for everyone.  Two Pepsi scoops, per horse, in their buckets and a scoop of vitamin supplements.  Bring along the halters and lead ropes, too.  On occasion it is easier to put these on while they are eating.  My big guy is sixteen two hands high (that is sixty-six inches at the front shoulder); I on the other hand am only five foot tall.  When they drop their head you put the muzzle thru the smaller opening of the halter and bring the strap around the back of the ears.  I usually put all the halters on and then hook a lead rope to them.  Mine tend to walk fairly smoothly together, so I walk them all at once to the barn.  I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t know the horse, even walking two can be scary.  Bringing the buckets with me, they walk right to the hitching post where I tie them.

             Feed buckets get exchanged for a bucket of brushes and back out to the boys I go.  Each one gets the spa treatment before a ride.  Manes and tails get combed and braided if need be.  The rest of the body gets a good brushing, especially since they are shedding out from the winter.  Feet even get a brisk brushing and a good picking clean.  When the weather warms a little more they will get a bath, too.  It’s now going on 8:30 a.m., the guest should be arriving.  A couple good friends go with me on our first ride of the year.  The boys are a little anxious and so are we.

            First goes on the saddle pad.  Making sure that there was nothing stuck to the side that goes on the horse.  A picker in the pad makes for a very naughty horse.  Saddle second, setting it to the front of the horse more than to the back.  You don’t want the cinch around the belly; you want it to go just behind the front legs.  The cinch is a padded strap to hold on the saddle.  Some saddles have a bucking strap and that is toward the back legs and goes on loosely. This is for, if the horse bucks he doesn't throw the saddle over his front.  The cinch is pulled tight; it is a good idea at this time to walk the horse around so he will breathe to let out the air he sucked in.  Then snug the cinch one more time, one doesn’t want to end up under the horse.   By this time my boys know what is really going on and they start to show off a little.  Before putting the bridle on and taking off the halter and lead, I like to lunge them.  This is to let them work off the extra energy they have before getting on. I can usually tell if they are going to be a handful at this time or not.  I don’t want to put someone on a horse if they can’t handle them getting a little spirited.  Safety is our first concern, not just for the rider but the horse, too.

            Our last step before getting on is putting the bridle on. Warm the bit (the metal piece) in your hands a little. You wouldn’t want a cold chunk of metal in your mouth.  Slowly place the bit at the front of the lips of the horse.  Pulling the top of the bridle towards the ears of the horse hold the bit in place.  Horses are not always in a hurry for this part so take your time.  If they won’t open their mouth for the bit, slide your finger in between their lips at the cheek.  Natural instinct is that they want that to stop poking them and they open their mouth.  Slide the bit into their mouth and the bridle around the ears at the same time.  They should have a small smile at the cheek, just one wrinkle.  This tells you that the bit is in the right position.  The reins get draped around the tree (horn) of the saddle and you are ready to remove the halter and lead rope.  We put these in our saddle pack so they go with us, just in case.  Okay tie your saddle pack on the saddle and your ready to go.

            Getting on can be a bit tricky sometimes.  If one is having a hard time asking someone to hold the horse can help.  Step one foot into the stirrup and swing the other over the horses back to put yourself in the saddle.  You want to be looking in the same direction as the horse.  Once everyone is saddled up and ready to go, just one reminder – look where you want the horse to go.  He can feel your weight shit in the saddle so if you are looking behind you he is going to turn around.  Also this is the first ride out of the arena this spring – pay attention. 

            Everyone single file and out the arena we go.  We are heading for the trail about a mile and a half down the road.  This is a two lane paved road and we have to be careful of traffic.  As everyone eases into the saddle we are headed off road.  The best part of off road is the feel of a nice gallop.  Hold him back a little or he will head full speed for the hills.  Both can get hurt, too.  The boys are a bit jumpy to the surrounding noises but settle in nicely.  The day comes on to noon in no time and we are all out having a great time.  We are a small family in our own way.  We like to ride for the company and for the quiet.  Nothing like getting away from the busy life of mobile phones, traffic, and the kids needing something.  Brings a smile to my face every time.