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.

http://i551.photobucket.com/albums/i...g?t=1242410796

Lovely picture of his big old butt.

http://i551.photobucket.com/albums/i...g?t=1242410824

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

http://i551.photobucket.com/albums/i...g?t=1242410976

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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.

http://i551.photobucket.com/albums/i...g?t=1242411082

http://i551.photobucket.com/albums/i...g?t=1242411172

Haha, hes 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.. cant remember what one.

Hes 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. ;)

what a gorgeous boy. You can see the personality in him. lol