Pretty A-Mazyng

I take a LOT of pictures of my new baby horse. Why not, right? I have also encouraged others at the barn to do the same. I mean let's face it, it's nice to see her progress and what changes their bodies go thru as they become more fit, learn to use their bodies properly and advance in their training.

And it helps when we get pictures like this. It also helps us see when and how things are going right and even when they aren't. Thankfully we have digital cameras now and we can snap literally hundreds of pics in a short amount of time and don't have to wait for them to develop.  

In this pic above Miss Mazy is starting to resist a little before she gives to the bit and bends to the inside in the pic below. This is part of the softening work that can also be done under saddle.   

In the pic above, Miss Mazy is starting to give to the bit and bend to the inside. She is relaxed, working off her hind end with her shoulders lifted and quiet in the bridle. 

Although the pic above and below look like they're the same pic (and I almost left one out because of this) the fore and backgrounds are different, showing she is moving consistently in the lines.

More green underfoot behind her here. Lifting and really striding out. 

Sometimes they may not move as fancy as other times. But moving fancy all of the time, takes exactly that- Time. They need to build up the muscles to be able to not only lift and carry themselves IN the correct frame, but they need to be able to maintain it too. After all- ballerinas don't take one lesson and know how to be up on their toes from there on out. Body builders don't go to the gym and work out once a week and look sculpted and ripped in a month. Our horses are no different so we need to be realistic in our expectations of them and what they physically can and cannot do. 

While I have only had Miss Mazy less than 4 months, she has seriously started to turn heads and make people take notice. The girl that sneered at her when she came in- is really starting to rethink things. The biggest thing about it all- is that I use mild bits, no extra equipment and I'm not out there beating the snot out of the horses. Mazy is proof that it can be done.    

All the pretty things

In my closet there is a mirror that has a tag I kept off of one of my shirts that says- Made for Me to Look Amazing! Every so often I need a small reminder. Especially in the mornings. lol

I have 2 of the breeching straps and all of the attachments. This is the smaller of everything and seems to be closest to fitting her. I may need to punch a few holes in things. 

Harness saddle and the shorter of the 2 back straps and crupper, that I have. I had bought a harness for Miss Izzy the Wonder Pony and while we hadn't quite dialed in the fit on a few of the pieces, there it was, waiting to make some lucky pony look A-Mazyng.  

Then there's the breastcollar and all of it's attachment gear. I have 2 of everything again. This is the larger of the two. Looks a bit large.

Going with the smaller size looks better. Still may need to either punch a few more holes or get a different size piece holding things up.  

No the bridle was not immune either. I have 2 of these also and 3 nose bands. The crown piece on this one needs to be swapped out, as well as the browband. Both are too close to the ears and will rub if I'm not careful.

Once I quit trying everything on for size, I took Mazy out for a spin with the harness. I had not put the crupper on her in the barn as a safety measure. I didn't know how she would react and there is not enough room in the aisle way if she decided to flip out, or over. Once outside, I rubbed her near the tail, lifted it up and slid the crupper into place. Mazy acted like she couldn't be bothered. 

I attached the lines and went about ground driving her in the arena. We did a lot of walking and stopping while I waited for some level of reaction to the crupper. She did wiggle a little when it slid side to side a touch as the reins passed over her back when changing direction.

Then I started working and Mazy was business as usual. The photo above, she's really using her hind end and pushing off.

Then in this photo she's keeping the front end light and starting to really reach out and cover some ground. I can just picture her with a cart and how lovely that will be. 

Here she's a slight touch heavy on the fore, but soon to balance herself out. 

Lovely uphill motion again although she is a little off kilter still. Notice how her front right and left hind are not quite parallel. Her hind will touch down briefly before the front hoof. She's a baby horse and still learning everything though, so this isn't a big deal at the moment. 

Lovely long and low movement here. Mazy is relaxed, bent in the direction of travel, reaching deep up under herself and starting to cross her hind legs over and looking like she may start to overreach a bit- making bell boots a way of life in her future. 

After all is said and done, she gets to stand and relax as a reward for her effort. She's learning to square herself up in the stop. This always helps the dressage scores!