Bareback or saddle?  

It's much warmer without a saddle :-)

It's interesting the Sinterklaas rides a horse in Holland. When I was in Vienna straight before Christmas I read a St Nikolaus versus Santa Clause discussion, and one person said that as Sinterklaas is the Dutch version of St Nikolaus and was turned into Santa Clause when he went over the pond, they're really the same person. Except St Nikolaus walks, Sinterklaas rides and Santa Clause has those weird looking reindeers.

wmmm. interesting, I remember writing a response to that effect here in myLot actually about what you just said..the good tales that get passed on..They still have SinterKlass dag in Holland.. gets the gifts out of the way before Christmas.

Very very nice white horse he has also!!

A friend of mine always wanted a white horse, now she has one and always goes on how annoying it is to have a white horse! They get very, very dirty, but Sinterklaas would have had at least one good helper to brush it while he finished the last presents.

hahaha,, yes.. I am sure that must have been another of Zwarte Piet's jobs!! and not so bad as it was but for one day of the year. I always thought he and Sinter Klaas looked like they prominent dressed in the 16th century.. this is quite educational, is it not.. you and I discussing this not so well known bit of culture from other lands and times..
Otherwise, I hope your day was really fine.. the weather a little milder too, perhaps??

Yes, we are indeed very cultivated and cultural and civilized :-) The rest of Europe might think us a bunch of uncivilized, drunken Vikings, waving our swords at this and that after having had too many of the wrong mushrooms, but we're proving them wrong!
:-)

what?? You mean it?? well ( huff) wait till I get my hands on ‘the rest of Europe!!.. just need to get my sword sharpened and swig down my cute little pink mushrooms with a Norrlands Guld or two.. or five..
um.. Torunn. what the heck is the Capital city of ‘the rest of Europe’?? you know.. in case they ASK.. I wanna look really smart!

Hej Torunn! It has been a very long time since I was here and it is indeed a nice surprise to have been awarded best response by YOU!
I wish and hope the very best for you.. and that I see more of you now that I have a little time and 'lust' again( the English word escapes me)

So you have one of those too! My horse (gelding, old and grumpy) was a riding school horse for several years before I bought him so he knows all the tricks to drag out the time before you can start. He'll breathe in and he'll also somehow widen his mouth so you have to tighten both the saddle and the bridle. Then he'll do his best to run off once you put your foot in the stirrup, normally I'm around the corner before I can find the other stirrup :-)