Well today was the big video day for Lexi. And wow! I know its always exciting seeing these horses under saddle for the first time, but with Lexi it was even cooler, because the change to her FEET with the shoes has been amazing! She almost looks normal! Just that little bit of support from the shoes has not only made her more comfortable, but she is straighter in her entire leg and her front feet are no longer rolling inwards. You can see that it has given her relief — the tendons in her front pasterns that always looked stretched and bulgy are now normal looking as well. Our shoer spent a long time with her — looking at her, watching her move, reshaping the shoes, and did a really nice job. I am stunned at how much straighter she looks!
And then under saddle, wow! They have been working only in the indoor arena, but they are in the middle of redoing the footing in the indoor so Lexi went in the outdoor for the first time today. Andrea started out with long lining her as she has been doing instead of lunging, so that Lexi does not do a lot of extra circles and does frequent changes of direction interspersed with straight lines so that again, she doesn’t get a lot of strain on her front legs.
After that Sharon, her working student got on Lexi and Andrea was on Sharon’s trusty steed Dakota whom you have seen in some of the other videos being a lead horse. Lexi had a few issues at the start as she was insecure in the outdoor arena but just getting her front end moving got her unstuck and once she started going forward she was really super good. She’s still a little fussy in the bridle — less at the trot then at the walk. She likes to express herself by shaking her head. But she looks so amazing under saddle and is SUCH a cute mover! I mean, really nice!
So without further ado, here she is! The lovely, completely transformed ex-slaughter-bound pony with the screwed up feet, turned fancy dressage horse with almost straight feet!
And a video:
