Now that I have Zum home, I am practicing all the many techniques I learned while riding Zum in the round pen everyday. Some things I have to start over with Zum. For example, Zum will not stand still for saddling anymore. So I am working with him again, from the beginning.
I am so happy that Zum willingly chooses to follow me when he is free in the round pen.
Zum completes me. He is still very affectionate towards me which brings me amazing joy!
Buddy rode his horse in the round pen, trotting ahead of me. It brought back the memory of Zum bucking me off when a girl trotted by me on a horse. I couldn’t breath, my heart started to pound and I had a panic attack. I wanted to get off Zum but Buddy talked me through the fear, helping me to breath as I sat on Zum and Buddy sat on his horse. Buddy later told me the experience I had is called deep fear therapy. I got through it and I was elated that I survived. Buddy keeps telling me that anything before this present moment is ancient history. I need to look around me at the birds, the sky and the desert. Keep my mind in now by focusing on what is happening at this present moment.
Buddy never wants me to kick Zum for forward motion. Many natural horsemen don’t believe in kicking a horse. Instead, I use the end of my rein on Zum’s hip. I also make a kissing sound even though Buddy doesn’t believe in voice commands.
Buddy wants me to never yank on the reins to control Zum. Instead, I need to use the reins with a light touch.
Buddy teaches me that when I want to stop Zum, I can let Zum know ahead of time when I sit back in the saddle, drop my ribs and exhale.
Buddy wants me to ride Zum with separate reins draped on either side of Zum’s withers. I am holding both reins between my pinky and ring fingers, gathering or releasing my fingers up and down the reins as I use them.
Buddy wants my chest up and hips forward in the saddle when I want Zum to move forward.
Buddy also wants me to have my heels, knees and shoulders in a straight line as I ride.
