05/13/2026
Eli and I went out for our first ride in the woods, today.
Let me preface the video…
This is the 7th time in the saddle for us.
BUT, I’ve done my ground communication on lead to prepare. Critically important; I spent time with him in the pasture, at liberty, over feed (hay and oats) and have established myself as a ‘leader’ by integrating what I refer to as ‘herd-dynamic interaction’. (I’m not trademarking anything)
Aside from our interaction, he sees the regard given by the other herd members
from the top down. I have eleven horses and mules in the herd and move among them daily…not as a human food delivery system but as a herd member…the #1.
They learn by observation as well as individual interaction. This is a PART of prepping for the first ride. He’s comfortable in my presence. Comfortable taking direction from me and has not had anxiety built into him but trust.
I would be disappointed in myself (lack of preparation) if we had a ‘rodeo’.
No reason to give them a bad experience in the process. I’ve been told I’m not ‘cowboy’ or ‘flashy enough’. That might be but I won’t compromise the animal OR risk my neck for anyone’s opinion.
To sum it up, he followed, lead, stopped, waited pretty well and managed both me and the trails very well.
