So, I got the bright idea to ride alone today. Well, that would have been fine but..... I got Lily and tied her to the trailer and did my awkward left handed grooming job. Then, I thought surly I could get her saddle on if I was standing on my 3 step mounting block. From there I wouldn't really have to lift up, just lift it over onto her back. I got the mounting block and set it in place next to Lily, I got my left arm under the saddle to hold all the weight and just held the back of the cantle to steady it, climbed up on the block and made my move. I started to reach forward with the saddle and very quickly realized I couldn't do it, nor could I stop as now I was off balance and I slammed that saddle right into Lily's side and was leaning up against her. Bless that mule's heart she never moved an inch. Just stood there like a rock. If she had moved, I'd have fallen off the mounting block onto my face! I did manage to shimmy the saddle up her side and onto her back with my left arm but again, only because she stood still and tolerated it. GOOD MULE! No more saddling on my own for a while.
Mounting is ok as long as I'm standing on something. Dismounting is what hurts for some reason. So, I'm avoiding any unnecessary dismounts right now. Lily was very good today and we had a nice relaxing ride of about 9 miles. I went out to Initial Tree than over to Double M by way of the Wagon trail and then home on Trail 184.
No comments:
Post a Comment