Really happy!

Udex in his private run.

Happy Udex.

  My dear little Udie-Bear has been so extremely happy in America. Maybe he knows all the bad that's ever happened to him is on an entire different continent- or it's just that he's been treated like royalty here. He's gaining so much weight!! In just a week or twos time I can already see a massive difference. In Europe Udex was such a hard keeper, now I can't even label him as that. As I said before- He's getting treated as if he's royalty. The owner of the barn, Stephanie, made Udex his own little place outside so he can enjoy the good weather too! He's turned out in the morning away from other horses in his little pen, enjoys beautiful scenery, receives his feed and hay and then gets taken in for the night. I couldn't have done better for him myself. I'm so, so, so pleased with the way he's being treated at Platte Ridge.

Udex is smiling too.

The beginning of a leg yield.

   I've decided to pitch the saddle... Well, at least for now anyways. My saddle won't arrive until sometime later this summer. To me, that's just too long to go without riding. The solution is simple! Bareback!! Stephanie was so kind as to lend me her bareback pad and bridle until I can buy one of my own. Now I'm able to ride just as I was before!! I actually prefer riding without a saddle now, it's so much easier. I can feel my horse underneath me so much better than with a saddle, and he can feel me better as well. I decided on a little plan that I hope I pull through with. Udex is still a bit underdeveloped in his topline area, his withers have no real definition. Because of his flat, skinny withers it's almost impossible to fit a saddle correctly to him. I have a special pad that I put under my current saddle, but even then it doesn't fit totally right. One thing I realized while riding bareback was that Udie didn't turn into a giraffe or throw his head like before. While trotting with my happy round horse I thought "Why would I want to put a saddle on him when it will only cause him pain? Riding without a pinching saddle he's coming down with his head very calmly and happily." If I ride him without a saddle until the end of summer then he should have enough definition to his withers to fit a saddle correctly and comfortably. I think if I continued to ride him with a saddle it would do neither of us any good- he'd continue head tossing and never develop the right muscles.

Walking back to the stable.

  After Udex is a bit more defined I will buy a custom fit saddle for him and I. Until then I think it's a lot more fun, easier, and accomplishing riding him without a saddle. I'll even see about taking dressage lessons bareback. I'm so excited to go out and ride! It feels so good being able to have fun with my horse, and not having to stress over his head throwing or llama like behavior. I have a feeling this is going to be a very fun and successful summer for both Udex and I.

"Rollkur opponents care for horses. Rollkur proponents care more for success."