Mud Run!

What can I say?

Mazy l.o.v.e.s. Mud.

And puddles. ALL the puddles....

She will literally lay down and roll in them

And then look so proud of herself for doing it

While looking for more water and mud to play in

Of course showing off the whole time

Giving everyone the Mare Stare. Such a big personality

I'm HOOKED!

Literally.

Shafts thru the tugs, traces hooked to the singletree and everything.

Annnnd we're walking!

The pics only show us going to the right, but we went both directions.

This was Friday night. Saturday I was able to sit on the cart and Sunday we picked up a trot for a few strides. Looking forward to more driving!

More pic's II

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.

More pic's

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* 

Switched

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.