I don't get to see the pretty girl today (sad, but I do have to write a dissertation if I'm going to be able to get a job and support her in style). So I thought I'd share some of the pictures and videos I have of her from when she was at the vet school.
But before I do that, I want to give a big shout-out to Sprinkler Bandit. Not only does she write one of my all-time favorite horse blogs (I read all the way back to the beginning - she's a great writer!) but she's been incredibly supportive of this blog and of Lex. If you ever come to Florida, Madame Bandit, you've got a place to stay and some horses to ride!
Like I said in an earlier post on Lex, I found her when the vet school was trying to re-home a bunch of thoroughbreds. I went down to see if she could be a resale project. (HA! I'm never letting her go.) With that in mind, I closely evaluated her conformation and took video of her running on the treadmill. I had never seen a horse run on a treadmill before, so that was fun.
These are just some of the pictures I took of her.
This is the picture I couldn't stop staring at while I was making up my mind. That look will raise the rafters.
Pretty good shoulder for a jumper!
A back end that balances the front end pretty well, I think. That tail is driving me bananas.
Also, she has this soft, pleasant expression all the time, even when she's mad about flies.
This is my good friend Sophie, who is not a horse person. Lex loves her, as you can see.
Find me a person who wouldn't love that face. I dare you.
And now, Lex on the treadmill. YES, she wings bigtime, especially her left front. I think she does it less when she's not on a treadmill and now that she's had good farrier work done. She also breaks over correctly and her footfalls are even, so I'm not really worried about the wing. But let's be honest: she handles being on a treadmill way better than I do. I start having a temper fit after about five seconds. Or I did, back when I tortured myself and went to the gym.
Sorry for the quality. I didn't go to film school for a reason, y'all.
The paddling might keep her out of the A hunter ring, we'll see. But that's no biggie, because that still leaves open the options of eventing, the jumper ring, fox hunting... we'll be okay. I used to ride a big grey gelding named Jack who paddled like a swimming dog at the trot but he cantered straight and jumped perfect and won every hunter division we rode him in. He was also the horse that I could ride around the HITS showgrounds bareback with a halter and lead rope. Perfect horse. (AND an OTTB!)
And please do take me up on the offer of lodging! I love house guests, especially horsey house guests, and MOST especially horsey house guests who I'd trust to ride my green bean mare!
Paddling makes horses special. ;) Cuna paddles on both fronts.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I have been known to take people up on their offers of lodging, so consider yourself warned.
The paddling might keep her out of the A hunter ring, we'll see. But that's no biggie, because that still leaves open the options of eventing, the jumper ring, fox hunting... we'll be okay. I used to ride a big grey gelding named Jack who paddled like a swimming dog at the trot but he cantered straight and jumped perfect and won every hunter division we rode him in. He was also the horse that I could ride around the HITS showgrounds bareback with a halter and lead rope. Perfect horse. (AND an OTTB!)
DeleteAnd please do take me up on the offer of lodging! I love house guests, especially horsey house guests, and MOST especially horsey house guests who I'd trust to ride my green bean mare!
I would be so nervous to put my horse on a treadmill
ReplyDelete