A damn good ride

This boy.

He has been worth all the struggle in the past. He is just a damn great horse.

There was something in his eyes, years ago, that told me how sweet he was/is. More so, IS.

He has turned to be very loyal, trusting and loves to seek loving affection.

A far cry from the antsy, nervous, dancing pony I had even just a few years ago.

Patience is key. And turnout ;)

Tacking up for a much needed ride in the pasture

Laz just ground ties like a champ. I never use cross ties with him. Not that I can't, but he doesn't need it and it's great to not be limited to one section of the barn area.

Him just being curious and turning around to smell/touch things. Love him

Standing still as a statue for him as I mount up, lazy ears

Our sun bleached hair matches...what can I say?

Just loving on this guy

He has been so sound and fluid lately, it's great!

Stretching/snorting during a trot

This is why I ride with crazy long reins, I love to allow him to stretch down and release his back muscles

Opening up his trotting stride 

I love how Laz doesn't care if the other two are out grazing while we ride. In fact, he's focused and happy

Working on our canter a bit. I love his neck below. I hate how I curled up like a perched frog lol

My forever bad habit below, leaning forward, pulling knees up. UGH.

Good boys get good pats!

Definitely need to lower my stirrups a hole...

but look at my beautiful chunky boy

It was a lovely, relaxed ride for us both. Just what I needed and I think, him too

Not bad for an OTTB who took his momma and his future brother (I'm 5 months pregnant) on a fun little ride

I'm so lucky to have this ponyface boy and so is our future baby.

I can't wait to have him give pony rides as well as trail ride again (next year).

I've got some girls (that I trust immensely) lined up to ride Laz this Fall for when I get too big so he can still go out and enjoy trail rides.

Thrush B Gone-Review #3 and Riding

This past Monday evening, I visited Laz due to the two days of HIGH winds we had here in Midwest.
A couple years ago, during a storm like that, he ended up bashed on his forehead so I was nervous but thank god, he was totally fat and fine.

I groomed him, fed him, and decided to treat both his rain rot with listerine again and treat his hooves with Thrush B Gone  It typically only should take 1-2 treatments but with his aggressive white line disease they recommended dosing a few more times to help.

Here is his RH before the 3rd treatment (which you just squeeze onto a clean hoof)

 The hoof wall before treatment.

I think the results will show more as his hoof grows out and hopefully more connected

The toe was shortened a bit more at his last trim to help with heel height and overall comfort

 Now, below is his LH which is after 3rd dose. I probably didn't need to treat again, but I did!

Here is what I noticed; his central sulcus (the valley in the middle of his frog) prior was stinky and he was sore when I put my hoof pick in it. On Monday, no foul smell and he wasn't at all sensitive, and I wiggled my pick around a bit. I treated it again for safety reasons but as far as I can tell---FIXED. 

No more thrush there as well as in his club foot. I'm anxious to see how those hoof cracks grow out as well

I'm really excited about this product...the proof will be better in RH as time goes

Now, as Laz has filled out (ahem not just fat) I've been really thinking his Crosby is too narrow on him.
I feel really pitched down forward when I ride and I feel that I'm needing to pick him up to balance him.

He seems so short strided and has been super choppy in that saddle. I switched to my Barefoot treeless which seems to fit him OK, but for me, the seat is way too big and I feel sloppy in it. GRRRR

BUT...J9 had a dream saddle that I sat in that I just fell in love with last month. 

Fast forward to within two weeks I had found a STEAL for almost brand new version of what I wanted.

Meet my new saddle 

 I had my Parelli trainer out to fit it to Laz and it's perfect.

I got to ride in it for an hour to really test it out and it's dreammmmmmmy and I feel centered in it and Laz really moves out and stretches in it. WIN WIN!! 

and like I said, I stole it ;)

This past Saturday, it was so beautiful out that I was determined to ride.

I got to the barn and these two had other ideas

zzzzzzzzzzz

 

Look at sweet Pito's face and lips...aww he's like a little baby pegasunicorn

 Laz was all "Yous wantz to do whatz?? Ima seepin"

I tacked him up and we rode. Mr. Sleepyface went into a fiesty mood of "OK let's RIDESSS" and did not want to trot, but wanted to canter canter canter canter. So, instead of having to fight him, I decided "GREAT IDEA" and we cantered and circled and used transitions to bring it down to a trot, then back up and down to a walk, etc. He loved it. After about 20 minutes of that and a lot of snorting and blowing out, he was re-connected.

Here a little video--no GoPro darn it, just  my iphone in right hand while I ride with left:

and then after playing in the field for a bit, I wanted to 'reward' him with walking away from the barn area and onto the road with our steady eddie, Mason

Here's a video of that:

Love this saddle!! I felt so secure in it and Laz was offering such great strides. I really want to get it on video--I'll need to get Hubby out to the barn soon before mega winter hits.

OOFff that belly!!! I really want to lose it and build up his top line this winter if possible.

Below is our mid week workouts, usually after work or on my lunch breaks, 2x to 3x a week

I'm literally RUNNING behind him as fast as I can, lol

Both boys with their tongues hanging out

 And I'll leave you with this at IKEA

Are you kidding me?! 

A bin of starred Lazs' for sale?! YES PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!