What is the wonkiest of all f'ed up and wonky shots you have gotten of your horse? The kind of pic that pops up on your screen and makes you say- What? The? F_____???
Normally people don't share them, let alone post them online, but why not? If you've been reading this blog since the days of Izzy, you might remember the pic of her bucking in turnout.
This one- the one where she looks like a cow. Yeah that's pretty weird. But a while back I got a pic of Mazy that really looks bizarre. I mean the kind of pic where it looks like she was all put together wrong, using spare parts from various breeds and the end result is all kinds of jacked and whacked.
This one is just so weird. No it is not photoshopped and to that I would ask WHY? Why would I need to alter a pic to make it look super strange when my pony clearly is not built like that. She just happened to look all crazy pants at that particular moment on that particular day.
Although Mazy had finally given in to long and low work under saddle, had learned to round her back and work more from behind when being ridden, there have also been days when she regressed in training. Times when she just powered into and thru everything without relaxing into the gaits and giving only 100% instead of 1,000%.
She didn't do this in long lines, just under saddle when being ridden. Mazy was making it clear that something wasn't right and that she is much more comfortable and happy in harness, without anyone on her back. With the new farrier and bodywork being done- she was sore in her left shoulder from all of the under saddle work. When I had been driving her more- this all went away.
For the betterment of the horse- we will go with driving more for a while. It's not often we sacrifice things we would like to pursue more (dressage or jumping) to do things the horse is better at or more comfortable doing. Even more rare when the trainer can adapt and do things equally as well in another discipline altogether. Mazy and I are blessed.
Most trainers here in Houston are focused on one discipline or another. A lot of them offer their services for Western horses with a strong background for rodeo events- roping, barrel racing, but there are also a lot of cutting horses and working cow as well as reining. There are also a fair share of hunter/jumper and dressage barns in the area and fewer still- trainers that offer driving. Throw in a handful of breed specific barns and you can see why it's a luck of the draw that I could have found someone that can easily adapt to the discipline that best suits the horse.
I bought the new bit kind of as a fluke. It was a- WTH I'll try it and see what happens, sort of thing. I have never used one before so I was taking a chance on it. The price is right and for $12 if it didn't work 1) I'm not out much and 2) I have another bit to add to the growing collection as we play the game of "Let's try this one next..."
Obviously it turned out to be a good choice since my Boss Ride post spells out how it went. But you might be thinking- Why this bit? What is the reasoning for the choice here?
As much as my friend helping me train Mazy prefers a typical plain snaffle or even a French link- my pony abhors both just the same. Mazy despises and loathes a French link. She works better in a loose ring snaffle with a thicker mouthpiece, until she puts her tongue over the bit and it all goes south. My friend L thought back to the days of her first CDE when a big name trainer called out her pony for doing the same thing- putting his tongue over the bit- and recommended a mullen mouth bit to put a stop to that shit.
She dug thru her collection an found an old Pelham she had from a different horse, long ago, far away and with a whole different set of issues. Guess what, yo? Mazy couldn't get her tongue over it and when the curb rein came into play she changed her attitude from "I'm not gonna" to a more submissive and cooperative- "Yes ma'am!" We also found a mullen mouth liverpool for driving. Since the snaffle rein option was getting used most on both bits- why not try this bit?
Another friend in the group asked how a mullen mouth bit could still be considered a snaffle? Doesn't it have to be jointed to be a snaffle? I had thought so too for what little I knew about bits until reading an article a while back about the difference between direct pressure and leverage bits.
Snaffles are in the category of direct pressure bits. Pretty straightforward- rein contact = pressure on the bit. These are your typical loose ring, eggbutt, D-ring, half and full cheek snaffle bits among others. There is no axis point, no rotation going on- what you see is what you get.
Leverage bits on the other hand... Typically there is movement on an axis point- the mouthpiece- and the bit rotates in the mouth putting pressure on the poll and the curb chain, essentially squeezing the horses jaw between the two. This would be your shanked bits- curb bits, correction bits, tom thumb, kimberwicks, pelhams, butterfly's, liverpools, and some extent of gags. Some people refer to these as go or No bits. There's not a lot of room for light pressure in between.
If you have ever wondered what it feels like, put the bit on top of your arm, curb chain/strap underneath and rotate the bit. It doesn't take near as much pressure as you would think to inflict pain. Imagine how that feels on tour horse's tender jaw?
Below is a video I seen on YouTube about choosing a bit. Quite enlightening and although it is geared more towards the English crowd, it is good information to be considered.
As one of the comments says- I like the way he chucks them over his shoulder... Lol
While entertaining and informative, he states *paraphrasing here* "A training barn should have a bunch of snaffles and otherwise mild bits in use." While many of us may agree, he also shows bits that are a bit more harsh and explains "This was used on one horse...." and sometimes explains why. He was also putting the bit & reins in experienced hands. The most severe bits can be mild in the right hands while even the most mild bits can be used harshly with severity in the wrong hands.
And for everyone pushing bitless bridles and hackamores- these too can be just as harsh and severely painful to the horse. Don't think so? The video in the following link will help explain why-
Mazy's 13th drive went off without a hitch. No pun intended. In fact she worked better than A-Mazy-ing so Yay!
In prior drives we have worked on some of the prelim level stuff and this time we worked on it a bit more. She has given me a collected trot in the past and yes we do need to revisit and expand on that, but one of the things she excels at and really seemed to enjoy and do well- the lengthened or extended trot. She's going to be Tough to beat in that catagory....
When I say she has a lot of power and she's not afraid to use it.... She has a Lot of power and she is definitely Not afraid to use it! Mazy was cruising along in a working trot and as I slowly let her have more rein and pushed for a little more- she responded in spades. Mazy was rocking it like the Badass Boss pony that she is. No complaints here.
Coming down the long side of the arena at a strong, ground covering trot like hers is an exhilarating feeling. It is an adrenaline rush to feel all of that power literally in your fingertips. When I asked her to slow things down and come back to a regular working trot, it was about as fluid as it comes.
This pony is really turning out nice. If I can get a friend of mine to video her in harness soon, I will. There has been a Lot of interest in her recently but then I have had several people who are well respected in the horse industry tell me, "She's a really nice pony and those are not easy to find." "Save your money, buy a marathon carriage and show her yourself." and my favorite- "Don't let this one slip away. You've made her what she is and yes she belongs at the top, but so do you. She can take you very, very far."
Last night I had one of those "Breakthrough" rides on Mazy. The one where it's like all of a sudden everything just clicks into place, all of the cues suddenly make sense, leads and diagonals are nailed. Softness, lightness, straightness and rhythm are all acheived without effort or discussion.... You know- all the things happen like it should and feels perfect. Yeah that kind of ride.
So what changed you might ask? I found a different type of bit and took a chance on it. I also went into the ride thinking I would change a few things on 'how I am asking' for this or that.
Mazy has never offered, let alone given me long and low work. Trust me, I have tried and it just never happened. Guess what I got? A lot of long and low work. On a loose rein nonetheless. Never happened until now. Now I let her have the reins and she swings along, thru the back, coming up under herself behind, reaching and rolling along in the front, head down and all that... Just wish i had pics of it....
Oh wait. Let me dig thru my screenshot file.....
Yep. Looks long and low to me.
Long and low there too
Still there
A little more active and forward
I wish this one was a little closer and more in focus but still a nice shot
Yep still has it goin' on
I had to throw this one in because my friend "L" is always saying "She has too much knee action!" Sometines it's because Mazy likes to rock back on her rear end and really Lift the front end. While another friend of mine told me, "When you first got her, Mazy had a Lot of action up front while her ass end seemed to trail along in the dust. Now that she has learned to move properly and is balanced, she has just as much action coming from behind. Well done!"
That was so nice to hear. Also the saddle seems like it fit. With Mazy reaching out and down, her back isn't shortened or hollow so much as a little bit- making the saddle 'bridge' on her front to back. Hopefully we can keep the mojo going...
The new farrier came out last weekend. We had drive #12 before he got there. Didn't work too long or too hard, just enough to go over a few things and then turned her out with her pony friend.
Gotta say I'm super impressed with this guy. Although Mazy apparently doesn't grow much hoof (and is now on supplements) the last guy had her angles off. She was tight and also sore in the shoulders, especially the left one. Which explains a few things.
This guy also does Equine Flexion Therapy so Mazy loves seeing him. Last trim he addressed the soreness in the left shoulder and also the right side of her neck and right hip from compensating. This time around he kept saying- she is so much better and I see so much improvement! A little bit of body work and she's Gucci now. As he is working on her, Mazy is rolling here eyes, chewing, licking her lips and putting her muzzle on him every chance she gets. She clearly adores him.
The prognosis- she had a series of what he called honeycomb abscesses in left front hoof. They were all small and dried up already but they were there. This adds the the column of- that explains a few things. Lol
In the train of thought where everything is tied together and "that explains that....." Last time I had been riding more prior to the trim and Mazy was coming off having bad angles - the kind where none of her feet matched- and since I didn't spend much time looking at her feet, figuring that I was paying for someone to do their job and do it well... Yeah, no. He wasn't.
Although the abscesses (5 of them all in a row) never presented as soreness or lameness, they may have in a different way that I just wasn't see or feeling. Another woman from the old barn came over the other day to watch her work. She noticed Mazy wasn't "slapping the ground" with her front feet like she did at the other place. "She moves more freely here". This would be because the arena has better footing. Barn owner is also talking about bringing in more sand and working it in. Yay!
With the series of abscesses in the left front hoof, the tightness in her shoulder and issues with saddle fit, I explained to farrier J that it all made sense now that going to the right, I have nothing on the outside rein. No contact in my left rein. She just wasn't there. I'm not really sure how else to explain it. Switching over to driving and staying off her back while she continues to grow and change just seemed like the obvious choice. Without saddle fit issues, without anyone on her back, without footing issues.... there is now contact in the left rein when we're going to the right.
There may be a little bit of residual tightness in a few places but for the most part, Mazy is loose and relaxed, feet are now balanced with the correct angles and she is working like she should. Because all things are right in her world- shes a much happier pony.
The other night I drove Mazy again. As we were going around and around, I started asking for smaller circles, tighter turns, more lengthening in the trot and more serpentines for straightness and response from her instead of her trying to anticipate anything.
What we didn't work on was any of our collected gaits. Gotta say this. Girlfriend seems to enjoy driving far more than being ridden. Maybe it's just the fact I'm not on her back trying to make sure all of My body parts are where they need to be, cues subtle and correct with perfect timing.... Easier said than done. *sigh*
As we were finishing up, one of the other boarders showed up to feed. Talking to him later when I explained that Mazy has only been driven a handful of times he said, "I never would have guessed. She looked really good out there."
As we were finishing up, Mazy was moving along in a very bold and forward working trot. A gait she probably could have done for miles with ease. What happened next was beyond awesome. When I gave the cue the stop was coming next, Mazy dropped her rear end like a reining horse going into a slide, her body folded up like an accordian and by the time I said 'whoa' she had planted all four feet squarely on the ground. It was definitely something I'll never forget. I heaped on the praise as I reached forward to scratch her on her gorgeous butt.
That was a good place to stop working so I asked her to walk around a little and brought it back to our spot where I put to and unhitch. She stood like a rockstar as she does and never flinched until I had removed the cart, harness and finally removed her bridle. She deserved her time in turnout after that. Proud pony momma moment!
After some time off, a move and a bit more time off... It has been a month since Mazy has been worked at all. No lunging, long line work, riding or driving and yet for a young impressionable pony like she is- she has taken it all in stride and picked up where we left off.
Mazy hadn't been working since the little rat at the barn had been doing everything in her power to disrupt everyone's schedule and inconvenience everyone and anyone, every way possible. It was just easier to turn her out and wait for the move. My friend had found a different barn in a more pleasant part of town, our ponies would have more turnout, they had a smaller arena with better footing and it was covered. The drawback was the cost was a touch more, but well worth it. We would also be sharing feed and tack rooms with all of the other boarders.... Not sure how well that would work.
As the end of the month drew near, plans fell thru and it looked like we would be stuck dealing with the drama another month. 😞 Then things changed for the better. Another woman who had left the barn called to ask if we were still moving and could she have our stalls when we did. Where she was at was too far away for the 2 trips a day to feed... That barn happens to be closer for us and as it turns out- literally swapping stalls at the two barns worked out well for everyone. Yay!
With the new stalls came a private feed and tack room per stall. The arena is good sized for riding and driving and while having the jumps out there may not happen, the footing is good and there are no mosquitos. It isn't covered but it literally poured last night for probably 20-30 minutes and yet we were able to drive Mazy when I got there.
For the purpose of keeping everyone safe in the process, Mazy was lunged before harnessing up. She needed a brief reminder to mind her manners and walk a few laps before trotting or cantering but quickly acquisced and worked like she should. Harnessed up and ready to go, I walked Mazy back out to the arena where the cart was waiting. She stood like a rock while I put her to and again after our drive while I unhooked and removed the cart and harness. She literally did not budge. Love that about her.
Since we are in a new arena I wanted to be sure our steering and brakes were both functioning so I put the reins on the lowest hole of the curb settings on the bit. We started out at a walk, turned both directions making big circles and then started to work our way around the entire arena. At one point Mazy got a little worried about something outside the fence, but a little reminder to move on and words of encouragement to relax her, brought her focus back to her job and that was that. When the neighbor stray showed up and was barking along the fence, she raised her head in concern, but again- a few words and a reminder to ignore it and she moved on.
All and all it went well and for her 8th time being driven, Mazy is doing exceptionally well. Enough so that there has been some outside interest in her and I need to get video. Mazy has been a project pony all along and it may be time for he to move on soon.
It is so much easier to get good pics of Mazy more and more since she is moving correctly almost all of the time now. That must mean things are starting to click in her mind and she's getting it.
Mazy has learned a lot since I got her. She has a lot of reach in her step, fluidity in her gaits and a whole lot of presence.
I love her neck in this shot. It has really come a long, long way in development since she got here.
She can set it on cruise control and seems to glide over the ground
Step it up a little and make things fancy
And then find another gear within the same gait and show off a bit more.
Powering on in her work
Is she just fun to look at or what?
She has also become a lot more flexible in the gaits in the lines meaning we have more extension, collection and regular working gaits too.
As well as being forward...
As always, one of the best pics for last. With nothing next to her for scale, she looks like such a big horse. She is really quite the pony.
I found a pair of the Roma open front splint boots online for a good price with free shipping so I ordered them. It took a while and although I was a little impatient- they finally arrived. While Mazy is still pony size, measuring 14.1h she is rather stout and thick in her build.
She actually wears full horse size boots and size Large bell boots to go on her big ol' feet. Her other 2 pair of SMB's have recently been cleaned after getting loaded with some kind of crappy weed seeds from when we rode out in the pasture. Getting them clean was a chore so you may understand why I was glad to find these with their hard shell and nothing to stick to.
Ms Mazy started out nice enough and I'm happy with the way her new boots fit and show off the color of her legs.
Her head is starting to come up a little here and back hollowing out as a result of that, but a half halt with the outside line brings her back to where she should be.
I really like the way she has started to move with the Pelham. While I thought it is not allowed as a driving bit, apparently it is. I am still looking for a more traditional driving bit though like either a Liverpool or a butterfly.
These last three pic's are just such nice shots of Miss Mazy. She's working like she should be, coming up under herself in a nicely balanced frame.
She's using her big, beautiful hind end and lifting her shoulders.
And again I picture her in dressage tack moving like this.... *sigh*
I promised pics and here are a few... Trust me- there are a Lot more to come.
Going to the left is her better direction and this allows me to get a lot more pics because I'm not having to help her stay steady in her work.
Pushing off from behind and while not on the vertical, she is on the bit, quiet and soft.
Moving in a balanced frame, alert and the ear is soft while listening for the next cue
Starting to fade a little and slip out of the frame we're going for, but a minor correction or reminder and we have this->
Which gets her a ton of praise as always. Picture her in tack with a rider... Which is why this is one of my fave pics.
Changing directions and while Mazy gets a little out of sorts now and then
Before long she's back to working like she should
and rocking that big badass look she has going for her. While she was in the lines this night, she was super chill and just rolling along, working as if everything was effortless. When we were done I stripped all her tack and let her loose to roll and enjoy some time out.
Let me tell ya, she got everyones attention and Held it! She started to rip and tear around in such a big way. She completed several laps of the arena at a full gallop and there was just so much raw power in the way she rolls.... She looked as if she was a 16h warmblood. All I could think was- thankfully I'm on her good side. If this pony ever wants to lose someone- they won't stand a chance.
Sometimes it's tough when you have a very talented horse or pony, to focus on one thing. Way back when I first got Mazy, a friend of mine told me that she felt this pony has a lot more potential than the last one Izzy. This came a short time after I had finally uttered the words to another friend that I didn't think Izzy would have ever been a driving pony and if she was- it would've taken a lot more to get her there. Mazy on the other hand, seems to take everything in stride and enjoys her job- whatever it may be that day.
Therein lies our problem. One of our biggest hurdles is finding a saddle that fits her for longer than a day or 1 ride. Mazy is 5 and still growing some and with her work and recent diet change (I scaled back a few things) her back seems to change from day to day. We started out with a focus on dressage before turning to jumps- which she really enjoys! In an effort to make all of her experiences positive- I decided to switch things back to driving for a while, let her finish growing and top out (hopefully still under 14.2h) before we take another whack at it under saddle.
I also changed bits. Wolf teeth had been pulled over Christmas break so that hasnt been an issue but Mazy did not seem to like a French link at. all. She did ok with a simple snaffle and an eggbutt snaffle, did better with a thicker mouthpiece but still not great.... and then I noticed she started putting her tongue over the bit. Well that needed to stop! I looked thru the assortment of bits available for my use at the barn and tried a Mullen mouth short shanked Pelham. At first she did not like this bit either but once she figured out it is to be respected and not ignored, she settled right down into her work in a way she hasn't before.
I also like to ground drive any horse in a new bit before climbing on. Self preservation much? I would like to remain safely on the ground while we both feel things out and see how it will go. The horse can focus on learning to be comfortable and carrying the new bit, while I can suss out how much rein pressure is needed to get them carrying themselves properly and can watch them while they go. I can see if they're sucked back behind the bit and afraid of it- too much bit for them, or if they blow thru the bit ignoring it and my rein cues- not enough bit, and adjust accordingly before saddling up again.
Mazy worked okay with the lines on the snaffle rings. Going to the left was as good as ever. Going to the right she became a little resistant and would bring her head up, hollowing out her back and getting heavy on the fore. I stopped her and switched the reins to the curb setting. The shorter shanks mean less leverage action, but still enough to get her attention and get the point across. When I make contact, she was to soften and bend to the inside, come up under herself in the rear and work thru her back and top line.
Once that was established and the praise heaped on for doing things right, I stopped her and put the reins back up on the snaffle setting. I am able to get the same results now just by closing my fingers on either hand. Mazy is incredibly soft in the bridle and I'm itching to get back on her. In fact I did get on her with the surcingle the other night. She did so good and I could really feel the difference in her walk and jog.
That's another thing we are able to work on in the lines- elasticity in the gaits. Collection, regular working gaits and pushing for some extension. Part of this is also teaching Miss Mazy that the normal working walk is not a race to cover ground. She can relax and chill. The trot can be more relaxed and fluid as well and when it all comes together for a few strides or more- it is such a beautiful sight to behold. I was able to get a couple of short videos and take screen shots going frame by frame. I will share those in the next post. I think you will all be pleasantly surprised.
Somebody needs to work on her tying and patience skills... After a quick rinse the other day, she got to stand in the aisle while I cleaned her stall and got everything sorted out.
She's getting to be such a good looking baby moose.
Her neck has really changed since the first days she was here. And that Shoulder!
I like how this shot shows her topline. She has changed so much in the past year.
Tonight when I rode we worked on straightness and more importantly self carriage on a loose rein. These are things the baby moose pony struggles with.
And moose pony Nailed it all of course. With her relaxed and working on a loose rein, she was also round thru the back and so much easier to ride. This saddle actually fit her too. At least for now. Win!
