Denny's first ride in........ (picture overload)

Okay, so I got the urge to challenge myself today and went out for a ride on Denny. It was the first time that he had been ridden in over a year and the first time I used a saddle and bit in more than 2 years. I had kinda forgotten what a bear he could be to ride. He is extremely hypersensitive to every cue (he has always been that way. I think it is because of the abuse when he was a colt) and pretty hot. Him being hot is my fault because I was young when I trained him and was more concerned with speed than anything else. Other than being horribly fat and out of shape, I think he still looks pretty good under saddle. I just wish that he traveled a little smoother. He will beat me to death at a long trot or lope.

Without further ado.



Lovely picture of his big old butt.













In this picture, he was walking toward me so I was walking backward trying to keep him in the picture.







After the ride. He was so fat that even a little bit of a "leisurely" ride made him all kinds of sweaty. Of course, I had to do quite a bit of correcting so that he would walk instead of jig. Lots and lots and lots of one rein stops and tiny circles.

Haha, he's very handsome! And he doesnt look all that fat!? =) maybe its just because my mare is on the heavy side...im just used to it. Ha

How come he hasnt been ridden in over a year? Or 2.. can't remember what one.

He's very pretty though! Congrats on getting him back under saddle!

I agree, Denny is a very handsome boy.

I'm glad you got back on, do you have any future plans for him?

Hahahaha it took me a minute .. I was going "I don't remember posting a thread titled..."
He's a very handsome boy!

He looks great! Are you retraining him now?

What a handsome baby! How come he had to have such a long layoff?? Glad you got to get back on though!!

Thank you all, he is definitely my baby and I had to let out every stinking buckle and cinch to get everything to fit right.....silly fat thing. LOL

Jillyann- I just haven't had the time for him and he is so hard to ride. Between his rough gaits and touchy nature, he works better as a bareback, halter, alone type horse.

Paintedhooves- No plans really just had a hankering for him and missed riding his stubborn butt. LOL. I need to start using him on cattle again, oddly enough, he is a crackerjack roping horse that is skittish about the rope. {:) Strange right?

JDI- I thought about that after I posted and wondered how many people would get them confused. LOL.

FGR- Kinda, I work on re-training him every time that I ride but I just haven't had the time for him and he has been enjoying his semi-retirement. I really should find him a home as a team roper or barrel racer but he would need a very advanced rider and I am afraid that he would end up in a killer pen being 15 with no papers and such a tough temperment. I think I will start working with him again now that we have cattle again and I have been helping my brother work calves alot. Maybe more riding and less good food will improve his disposition some. ;)

he is so handsome and I love his big build!!

What a gorgeous boy. You can see the personality in him. Lol

Beautiful boy. Your saddle looks comfy, too.