Casey A recently put the first (at SAFE) rides on Mabel, and has been riding her since. Here’s what she has to say about how it’s going:
“Mabel’s restart under saddle has been going quite smoothly. She is comfortable with a rider, though she does have some anxiety that seems to stem mainly from changing eyes, made more challenging with her blind eye. She gets a lot of comfort with support that brings balance, and she has been quick to change with a few well-timed releases. It does seem like she was previously ridden in a leverage bit that was used to control speed. This comes out in a head tilt when asking to bend, active mouth, and stretching her head to the ground. We ride all of our horses in a simple snaffle, so it seems like all of these behaviors are investigative, and will quickly clear up as she gains confidence and balance. Overall, I think she is going to be a quick-study and a super fun ride, and it doesn’t hurt that she has such a sweet demeanor.”
