Throw a leg over

A while back a trainer friend of mine got a horse in that was very reactive and could be super jumpy at times. When she sat on the horse the first few times, she does it bareback so the horse can feel her without the saddle getting in the way. At night when I turn Casey and Mazy out, Casey will come stand beside the fence asking me to scratch her. 

Sometimes she stands closer and makes it easier for me to reach the spots she wants me to scratch.

I usually stand on the rails and scratch her back and down her sides while she makes faces showing her appreciation.

I have been throwing a leg over her back but sometimes she will step away from the fence. Sunday night I changed things up a little and put the halter on her. Put her back by the fence and proceeded to sit on her next to the fence. I scratched her all over and told her what a good girl she is since that's as close as I have gotten to being on her. I wanted her to just stand there and relax and understand that nothing was going to hurt her. She did really well

Of course I stuffed her face with cookies when I brought her in. She definitely deserved it. When I had tried getting on her before with the saddle she reached around trying to bite me. Ears pinned, teeth bared - she meant business. This was completely different. She was relaxed and comfortable.

I have tried it a few times since then except without the halter. She is instantly back to stepping away from the rail. She might be a decent little riding horse at some point but I'm not going to force the issue. There's no telling what kind of trauma the previous owner has caused and for now she's doing really well driving. 

I may try out an English saddle on her at some point - and see if any of the collection I have access to will fit her.