Bareback is best

I needed to see her. It was almost an impulsive trip considering the temp hadn't even broken 30. I wasn't going to ride, just brush her out a bit.

I went out to catch her. I walked across the pasture and thought it was more like a frozen tundra. The earth crumpled beneath my feet in ice bound lumps of clay. The wind whipped through the wind tunnel of this small town where the mares' were grazing. I found comfort in the cold.

She was reluctant to leave her fellow ladies, even though I was trying to lead her to a warmer place. Eventually we found our footing and made it into the barn. I began to brush her out, admiring her thick coat she'd grown to stay warm for this season.

I brushed her out, letting the dust fly up into the bitter air. She spooked for the first time since I've known her, and I did not know why, but I comforted her through the moment. Moving on, I put on her cooler and lead her to her stall.

While she happily chomped on hay, I decided to put together a spare bridle and try her in a full cheek snaffle. My fingers froze as I fiddled with the bit to make sure it was on right. As numbness set in, I slowly worked my way towards success. My saddle was at home, but that didn't mean once I was done lunging her I couldn't ride around.

Off to the indoor we went. She was reluctant to work. The biting wind started to burn my ears in seconds, even with my hood up. Her cooler flew up, becoming pointless and I wishing I had a safety pin for it.

Once in the indoor, I took my time putting things together. The bridle on the hook, the cooler on the side of the ring, my helmet resting on top of it. It was a delicate balance placing all of those things there.

We began our dance. First, walking serpentines in hand. Then turn on the haunches, and turn on the forehand. From there it was our hardest movement, shoulder in. It's frustrating for her because naturally she does not want to move this way, but with gentle guidance we were able to get there.

Time to begin our lunge session. She obediently walks away. Her neck is stretched down and out, with her nose almost on the floor. How well will she listen to me begin so far away? I ask for a trot, then a walk, then a trot, then a walk. Now it's time for a canter. Usually, she bucks, rears and snorts. I brace myself in hopes not to get drug away again. I ask, she not only gives, but it is beautifully executed. I beam. I ask her to slow down to a trot, and again she listens.

Now for the other direction. We begin the same way we did in the other direction. It is the same. Beautiful. Now for the moment of truth. This is her worse direction for the canter. When I ask for it, I slowly begin to lose control.

She starts out smooth and graceful, but then she begins to build up her speed. Her tail goes up, and her hind legs begin to hop. Rather than comfort her as I've done before in the past, I yell at her. Knock it off! You know better! She settles into her smooth canter. Now I am glowing at our success.

I think to myself next time I have my saddle around I might try doing this while mounted. Now it's time to slip her out of her halter and into her bridle. The piercing temperature is in her bit. I place it under my clothes next to my warm belly because she deserves this kind of respect. I adjust the buckles so it fits her just right. Everything is level so we head out for round two.

It's the same thing. Two circles. Opposite directions. Hoping for the desired behavior when asked for it. She is wonderful, but starting to get tired. This time there is more refusal of the canter in the bad direction than the first time we tried it. I dig my heels in, and hold on to the lunge line, pushing down on it in a half halt gesture. I tell her to stop, that it's not okay to behave that way. She goes calmly forward into her canter.

I remove the lunge line and place it on the side of the ring. I fix my hair and put on my helmet. Bringing her over to the mounting block, I realized how tall she was. This wasn't going to be easy, but I was going to get on.

We walked, we trotted, we circled. She began to round. She started going straighter. Now it's time for the shoulder in. I place my leg on her side, pushing her body weight onto my other leg. My muscles cramp. She stiffens, but we push thorough the pain to get to our desired result.

There is synergy in this moment. We have bonded. At least I can do that with animals.