Show-pony Maz!
Yay! I had a lesson today, (thank you so much Sophie!) and I am so happy with mine and Maz’s confidence. Sophie agreed the beach ride has built up some more confidence, and I have to say, despite being a little nervous about cantering, I exceeded all my expectations today. Originally, I wasn’t even supposed to be riding today – Sophie asked if I’d like to come over and help her clip Maz! And…well, who can say no to clipping such a handsome boy? 😁
So I met her and Maz at 9.30, and Sophie had already started bathing Maz, so I helped with that, and also did his mane and tail, because I’ve always wanted to give him show-pony plaits and clean his tail, and Sophie was really nice and said of course! So we gave him an in-depth bath, and while he was drying in the sun, Sophie showed me how to plait his forelock, or at least, she tried. Maz was throwing his head around impatiently, it was kind of cute, but kind of annoying at the same time! We managed a few plaits along his crest, and then tied him up by the fence and started clipping his neck. Sophie did the outline, which we agreed would match Zion’s, (I’ve forgotten what kind of cut it was, but it has a name) and I cut everything in the middle. It was SO SATASFYING, and I’ve found that there are actually a lot of satasfying things about horses. Maybe not scooping up dung, but shedding ponios and clipping them is ULTRA-SATASFYING, especially when the hair flops off in one clump! Sophie did all the tricky parts like the girth area and face, and I did everything in the middle. We didn’t get time to, but Zion has an icon on his bum that’s an Ace Of Spades, and I wanted to do one for Maz, but we forgot 🙂 Sophie said we can do it next time though! It took a lot less time than Sophie thought to clip him, and we were done by 12.15, leaving us some time to have a short ride!
While Sophie was clipping Maz, I plaited his mane and tail! I was so happy I could’ve squeaked like a mouse with the little show-pony buns, and Maz looked pretty chuffed with his new style too, not going to lie 😁We undid his tail plait though, because when he flicks his tail it cracks like a whip and could hurt him. Maz thoroughly enjoyed his makeover, though he did get impatient sometimes, and then we led him over to the stable and tacked him up. I did some laps of walk and trot, and Maz moved great under me, and seemed very perky too! Sophie asked if I felt confident enough to canter, and OBVIOUSLY I said yes, because tough beans if I fall off, I’m determined after our beach ride to improve my cantering abilities so next time we go anywhere where everyone else wants to canter, we can keep up and not have a rearing fit. Anyway, I CANNOT believe how confident and well I rode Maz’s canter, and how well he behaved too! We started just warming up at the canter with short stretches, but eventually we were doing full circles! Sophie explained that since Maz rocks like a rocking horse more than other horses, I should push my hands forward with him when his head goes forward. It’s kind of hard to explain, but it WORKED so well, I was very happy! We had lots of fails trying to canter over a little pole, but none of it was Maz’s fault at all, it was mine because I was so focused on moving with him I didn’t squeeze him to keep going, and usually we just slowed to a trot. But when we did get it right, it felt like we were flying! Rocking my hands forward with him definatly helped, and I’m keen to try it next time! Then Sophie suggested we try cantering over a raised pole, and since I wasn’t getting the turn to the non-raised pole right, I said ‘okay!’ and we tried it! Like before, the first few goes we didn’t get it right, but twice or three times we aced it! Sophie was so kind and took lots of videos for me, and I was so proud of Maz’s plaits and clip I took some pictures myself, because as I told Sophie and Maz, he’s the star of my blog! I might be seeing Maz again on Thursday, but Sophie said her family is going away on holiday over this school holidays, so we probably won’t have that many lessons, but that’s A-OK! Anyway, I am so so happy with today’s achievements, and thanks for reading! Thanks Maz, for being the bestest pony in the world (sorry Zion, Max & Ellie!) and thank you Sophie for having me so often and teaching me all this stuff!
Byeee!!
(Eeek he’s such a pretty boy!)
17 Comments
Sophie
This is so awesome today was great and I’m glad you had fun!!
stellaslittleworld
Thank you sooo much!! I had so much fun and learnt so much!
Maaike & Justin Bendall
Maz looks amazing! Love the video of you two together too, that’s some very graceful cantering 😊
Stella
Thank you! I was surprised by my own relaxation that ride! 🙂
Pop
This is such a nice blog. It really come through how you feel about horses in general and Maz in particular. If I was a horse I’d want you as my owner!
Stella
Thank you – I’m very happy with how this blog is coming along too!
Tess
Woooohoooo! Im sooooo happy for you. What do you think of him: https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/sports/equestrian/horses-ponies/ponies/listing/6123159682
stellaslittleworld
Thank you! He sure is lovely, except he’s half arab, and arabs are known for being really high strung, so he’d probably get scared by someone running or shouting or sudden movements unless he was really desensitised. He also has ‘basic handling’ which means he hasn’t been ridden before, either. If he was saddle trained, I’d probably reccomend him if he wasn’t spooky or flighty!
Mum
🥰 I’m so happy you know what you love and you get to experience it. I’m so proud of you Stella!
stellaslittleworld
Thank you so much – our cantering has improved in leaps and strides over the last week – I’m so happy!
Tess
Do you think I could still saddle train him and would it be impossible for me to have a highly strung pony? Also how much would you offer? I really like him
stellaslittleworld
It’s not impossible for you to have a highly-strung pony, but because he’s so sensitive your siblings could accidently scare him or something, and also because neither of us are very experienced horsey people, we’re both prone to making mistakes that could turn really bad with a sensitive horse. He could pick up on a mistake like being to scared to canter, or leaping back if he pins back his ears, and then learn he can do that and you’ll leave him alone. Sophie and everyone else I’ve asked for horse-buying advice says that for a beginner like you and me the horse or pony should be at least over seven years old. He’s lovely though!
Tess
I’ve fallen in love with the filly ahhhhh: https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/sports/equestrian/horses-ponies/ponies/listing/6119828584
Also what does this post mean, I don’t entirely understand it: https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/sports/equestrian/horses-ponies/ponies/listing/6103501158
stellaslittleworld
Oh the filly is gorgeous! She’s only one year old though, so probably has only learnt how to wear a halter! The second listing I’ve seen before. Mello is lovely and I’d totally reccomend him for you, except he’s going for an On-site lease, which means you go to his owners’ property and pay for everything. He’s basically your own, but you haven’t bought him, you’re just paying for his care and tack and stuff. The only issue with him is that he’s at the TOP of the north island!
Tess
Also I found Goldie’s itchy spot it’s behind his ears
Stella
Yay!
Tess
Im soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo obsessed with the filly, I LOVE her! Yes I do know about halter stuff with her. Ahhhhh