I rode again yesterday, every time I get in the saddle it feels more like home. I love it I can’t explain the joy I get from riding. And since being on him a few times I look at Nas in a whole new light he is no longer one of the things I shovel shit up after. He is now one of the things in my life that makes me extremely happy.
Sure I still have my reservations about hurting him, like I said he isn’t as fit as I wanted him to be, this has a knock on effect to his overall performance and despite knowing that the tricks he pulls with me, falling in at the corners, a lack of impulsion in the walk trot these are all things he does with other people.
I’ve said it before but whoever started Nas did an amazing job with him he knows his stuff and how to work properly, even though he will give some a little bit of leeway if you don’t know what you are doing, as a general rule he’ll make you work up a sweat and still not do what you are trying to ask. Basically you need to know what you are doing, or he’ll be cheeky.
I don’t know what I’m doing anymore, obviously the basics are still there and a general idea of what I need to do, but for some reason the execution is a little bit harder, I suppose some of it comes from balance and lack of fitness. I have cheated the last couple of times and used a schooling whip. You might have noticed in the first video I was trying to chase him up and then collapsing.
So yesterday was my 2nd ride in as many days, I’m trying to get a gauge on if I am making him sore or not. So far he has showed no signs of struggling with me, even when walking around the field and he stumbled he was fine he was also a lot more flighty out there, I could feel the energy underneath me. My only concern was that if he spooked or tried to get me off I would actually end up taking him down with me.
I don’t know how quickly I could sort myself out, the strength and range of motion I have is not really adequate. Every time I ride it all gets easier and more natural. Hence why I am upping the times I get on him. I also want the energy and strength to be able to mount alone without someone holding the other stirrup for me all the time.
So I have a few things to work on, I’m dismounting better each time and now the nerves I had before getting on are easing. In fact I would go so far as to say there aren’t any. Nas is one of the three best things to of happened to me in the past 6yrs and I’m so grateful for having such a genuine boy in my life.