One loop in the back woods, solo, bareback. We’ve done pretty much no work back here this year, and no solo work since December. It’s maybe a third of a mile total?  She went out without a fight (just a gentle push), trotted out beautifully, and reminded me why I don’t condition her bareback. I can ride a 5mph trot bareback without too much work. I suspect we were at 6-7. She’d break to walk periodically, not confident that she was really supposed to be trotting along at speed in the woods alone without a saddle on.  When asked, she went back to it.  Zoom!

The pony is not broken, has not requested immediate retirement, and still wants to do a big trot on the trails.

OK then.  We’ll start our conditioning rides back up.