Why western?

You might be wondering, why all of this western tack? I'm a pretty fancy looking pony and I should be better suited to prancing around in English tack and going over jumps as a Hunter Princess, am I right? The barn I was at before coming here to this new place- that was the plan. I was to be a Hunter/Jumper pony....

Then one day I was turned out with a couple of horses, a small mule and a Pony. At first we were getting to know each other and making introductions. 

Then we all started racing around, riping and tearing it up and my person was taking pic's of it all. 

This little guy is a Rock Star from what I'm told. He pulls a cart and competes in driving. He told me he really LUVS! the Cones part of it when he gets to run super fast! 

Since he was showing off a bit, I did too. That's when THIS happened->

LOOK. AT. ME!!!! 

That was Soooo Cool! I look like a Big horse. My person sent that to a lot of her friends and she got a Whole Bunch of compliments on both ME and the photo in general. 

My person? 

All she could think was REINING!!! 

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

My person has been working me a lot with the lines and I can feel my body starting to change.

I am getting stronger and it feels like I can work a little longer every time. I can also feel the way I move has changed too.

My body is lighter and my legs swing more freely. My stride has also become a little longer and I have a little more hang time in the air.

I'm also getting some really good food too. Lots of yummy goodness and I don't have to share. 

I'm in a stall by myself and I can take my time eating it. Heck I can even walk away and leave some for nibbling on later if I feel like it.

 I am really moving forward in my work and I like doing it.

Getting to work

When we were playing Dress Up and I got to try on all the pretty things, I made it clear to my new person that I had never worn a bridle thingy or had a bit in my mouth. She has always been kind about putting it on and taking it off, making sure to follow a routine of sorts and waiting for me to open my mouth to either put the bit in or take it out. This helps and I know what's coming so I don't get hit in the teeth by anything.

We had been going out to this round pen to work, rather I was the one working(!) and my person was putting these ropes thru the stirrups and up to the bit. Somehow she could stand in the middle and as I went around she would tug on one line or the other and get me to move differently. I could speed up, slow down and she even could make me stop or turn. Weird.

I began to notice the way I walked and trotted started to feel differently. There was more swing in my steps, my stride is getting longer and I am more relaxed in my work. Each time I do something a little differently, when it pleases my person I hear a lot of good sounds come from her. I like it when she tells me I'm such a Good Girl. If I don't do things right, she has me slow down a little, she asks a little differently and makes it easy to get things right, pleasing her and she makes the happy noises again. I hear those a lot and I'm really getting the hang of things. 

Also when she's putting saddles on me, she takes her time to place the pads, set the saddle on rather than flopping it down with a Thunk and snugs the girth up just enough to where I can feel it but not worry about anything. She always gives me a chance to sort thru things in my mind and figure out what to do.