Do Horses Actually Like Being Ridden?
Do Horses Like to Be Ridden?
Personally, I think that Major, my horse, enjoys being ridden quite a lot. When I get the saddle, he goes to the area where I usually place the saddle on him. He will stand there while I put the hackamore on him and button it down. Usually, I will take the lead-line portion of the hackamore, lay it over the fence, and then place the pads and saddle on his back and cinch the saddle.
Major never moves, but when I am finished with saddling, he will lift his left front foot so I can clean it. He then relaxes on his left rear, which I pick up and clean, we go to the right side, and the same thing happens. When his feet are cleaned, I get on, and we take a few turns around the round pen and head for the gate, which is a cowboy gate. I pull the gate to the open position, and he moves around the gate to the outside but close enough that I can easily close the gate and latch it.
Major is trained in Western pleasure, reining, trail, and roping. He is definitely an all-around horse for cowboys! When we head down the road, he watches his surroundings and does not appear to get scared at much of anything.
We Take a Leisurely Ride
We usually ride for an hour, then I will get off and loosen the girth and allow him to graze, which is easy since I use the hackamore. When he is done (or in an hour), I will tighten the girth and re-mount, then head home. Once we are home, we go to the round pen, and he walks up to the gate so that I can open it from the saddle. He moves through the gate and comes to the area where I can once again close the gate and latch it. Then I dismount and clean his feet again and remove the saddle and pads. Now he gets brushed, and he really likes that. I brush him all over and comb his mane and tail. He likes all of the attention that he receives.
Major has even learned that we are going to do some riding if I am wearing my cowboy hat. He will nicker quite loudly when he sees me wearing it! Sometimes we just go around the round pen and practice walking, trotting, etc., and certain tasks like the opening and closing of the gate while mounted.
