Ultimate shoulder rides

checkmateguy · 2012-04-04 19:38:55

And what is that? Shoulder-riding, of course! That's what I've been doing today - riding my good steed Ali2121. We met up at 11am this morning (04 April 2012) and had a four-hour shoulder-riding session. It consisted of lots of short rides lasting about 5 minutes at a time. I got on Ali's shoulders from one of the many fallen tree trucks which were lying about in the forest (that's the New Forest, Hampshire, England - by the village of Minstead).

The weather was great - dry, sunny, no wind and not cold either. At 12.30pm we walked up the narrow forest road (about a five minute walk) to a lovely olde worlde New Forest pub and for lunch had battered Haddock, chips and peas + a drink of real ale... ummm - nice! Who would want to be anywhere else in the world today but England?

After lunch, Ali and I resumed the shoulder-riding. Ali is a great pony. He's amazingly strong even though he's shorter, lighter and older than me. How does he do it??? Am I riding him into the ground? Maybe! If he was a real pony I'd have the animal welfare charities breathing down my neck - LOL!

Gotta say though that riding around astride Ali's shoulders is, as I said, the perfect way to spend a few hours. Gotta say too that I fell off TWICE today! That's the first time that has happened. I ride Ali about every 2 or 3 weeks (he lives a 2-hour drive away from me) and I've been doing that since the beginning of this year and today is the first time I fell off. Luckily, the ground was covered in thick leaves and the ground was soft and, anyway, I landed on my bottom. The second time I landed on my side. But no bruises at all - yes, I was lucky. Yet it's probably good to fall off sometimes because you learn how to land safely. So I guess shoulder-riding can be a slightly dangerous activity. But the enjoyment outweighs the danger.

Finally, I'd just like to say that it feels fabulous to sit there astride a guy's shoulders and ride him along the grassy forest tracks until his strength slowly give out and he's forced to lower his head so that I can slip off him - so exhilarating!

louie_sr · 2012-04-05 01:04:23

Let me ask you how it happened that you fell off? Were you unstable on top, if so why?

Gregoryan · 2012-04-05 01:55:03

It is great that someone is getting - and reporting some rides.
I'm always looking forward to reading a WoM report from a member [ or more ideally, yet rare, a WoW report].
Hopefully i will have the opportunity to write a report for this community soon, as i have someone in mind to offer a ride to!

ali2121 · 2012-04-05 12:16:06

Louie-sr,I have to admit that I tripped on both occasions! perhaps we were lucky with the first three meetings,but on this occasion,I fell foul of a couple of the New Forest's tree stumps,the sort that lurk underneath the leaves!But happily,there were enough leaves to break our fall on both occasions!

checkmateguy · 2012-04-06 20:14:18

hi louie_sr. Confidence is absolutly necessary when shoulder-riding another person. Ordinarily that comes naturally because if you are a rider then you are really keen to get astride a pony's shoulders and ride him/her. So any fear or worry about falling off should disappear because the rider's mind is full of thoughts about getting on the pony's shoulders and having an enjoyable ride. As an adult, maintaining your balance can be difficult when you first start shoulder-riding a pony particularly if you haven't done it since you were really young. As an adult too, you are heavier than you were as a child. So sitting astride a pony's shoulders with your weight as an adult feels more difficult and dangerous. Obviously, it must be difficult for a pony-guy or girl to have to carry a fully grown adult on his or her shoulders. When ponies carry an adult on their shoulders, they need to walk slowly and carefully. A human-pony cannot run around like kids do when they carry other kids. Personally, after having lots of shoulder-rides astride ali2121's shoulders since the beginning of this year, I feel very confident and relaxed riding him - he's a great pony, maybe one of the best. It feels good being sat there up astride his shoulders. He carries me around in some style and I have a great view of the forest from high up. I can get on his shoulders really easily by mounting him from a fallen tree trunk. Once that is done, ali2121 sets off walking slowly and steadily. He can carry me for quite a long way. Each ride can last for 4 or 5 minutes and sometimes a little longer. When he gets tired and has to stop and lower me down, he dips his head down and I slip off slowly... that feels good too!

equidum · 2012-04-07 09:46:34

Thank you for your great reports checkmateguy. It seems you have found a very good pony, strong and dedicated, living not too far from your home, and close to a beautiful riding area. ALL members in this forum must be jealous of your incredible luck !!!

You say that an adult pony carrying and adult rider cannot "run around like kids do when they carry other kids" ... I'm not sure you're right, there. In fact I tend to believe that the weight difference between your pony and yourself is the main reason why ali2121 doesn't really run around. If you were lighter than he is, he would do a lot more in terms of gaits, and last even longer than he does, although he is already doing fantastically well in that area !!.

You didn't tell us how you "drive" him ?! Being in public, you probably won't use reins and bit ! How do you make him understand what you want and where you wish to go ?

Thanks again for these very interesting reports !

namaegaaru · 2012-04-07 13:34:38

Questadit People are crazier than anybody en Francais?

equidum · 2012-04-07 17:30:49

Hi, Sam

Long time no read !

I'm not sure I understand what you mean ... My problem is the word " questadit" ... ? Could you tell me more, or perhaps another way ?

ali2121 · 2012-04-07 19:13:13

Nice to hear from you,Sam.
Can you give me a call on alistaireden@hotmail.co.uk.
P.S.No reins were used!We are really quite normal people!

Ultimate shoulder rides

#1 2012-04-04 19:38:55

The perfect way to spend a few hours.

#2 2012-04-05 01:04:23

Re: The perfect way to spend a few hours.

#3 2012-04-05 01:55:03

Re: The perfect way to spend a few hours.

#4 2012-04-05 12:16:06

Re: The perfect way to spend a few hours.

#5 2012-04-06 20:14:18

Re: The perfect way to spend a few hours.

#6 2012-04-07 09:46:34

Re: The perfect way to spend a few hours.

#7 2012-04-07 13:34:38

Re: The perfect way to spend a few hours.

#8 2012-04-07 17:30:49

Re: The perfect way to spend a few hours.

#9 2012-04-07 19:13:13

Re: The perfect way to spend a few hours.

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