Tacking the Tilly

Once the beauty parlor had nothing else to offer the now perfectly groomed (but still shedding) Tilly, it was time to play. 

Did someone say playtime?

One of the best things about horse friends is that I can send a text saying, "Tilly needs XYZ, anyone have anything I can buy or borrow?" and inevitably Marissa shows up with Tucker's old saddle, baby bits, and a bridle from Jess. Huzzah! I'm of the mindset that before I spend good money on things, I'd much rather borrow from a friend - guarantee she's going to outgrow whatever we put on her now, and I'll be happy to invest in nicer stuff once she's at a point where it makes sense to. Anything I can't find through friends I'll happily go comb through our local consignment shop which is how I landed baby's first dressage girth to complete her first outfit. 

I've had a saddle on Tilly before. Not long after she came home, my friend had a tiny old flat jump saddle that I threw on her while on crossties without thinking about it. She just stood there happy to play whatever game her silly human was up to, no biggie. She's worn a surcingle a few times, and I regularly lunge her in a bareback pad - easier to throw on her than the surcingle and she gets used to wearing something and having it move around on her back. 

Suspicious of the girth

Marissa makes her look huge. She's only 15.1! 

Marissa's old saddle is perfect for what I need at the moment. It fits her well enough that she can get used to wearing it to lunge and understand the moving flaps aren't scary, though it doesn't fit her well enough that I think it's a good candidate right now for someone to actually ride her in when she gets started. Not worried about that yet, part 1 is just letting her get used to tack. I'd say mission accomplished.

This was a VERY windy day, and aside from one corner of the arena where the gremlins live, she was pleasant and well behaved for her auntie. 

More to come on lungeing her in tack, but spoiler she was GREAT.

As this situation's passenger princess, I just sat on the bench and watched Marissa tack the baby horse, and as I was chatting with my friend I didn't even realize she'd slipped the bit and bridle on Tilly, too! Because I'm the worst, I have no pictures of it but Tilly was great, didn't mind it too much, and it's something we can keep playing with and work up to her lunging in a bit (with the line attached to her halter to start) and then eventually long lining. Her caps are starting to fall off and she's had a bloody tooth here and there so I'm not overly concerned with rushing that piece of things, but I'm glad she had another first!

 

I can eat snacks and wear this stuff? Fine by me!

I find myself so sentimental about some things as it relates to Tilly and connections to Goose. She lives with Zena, who was Goose's bff adventure pal. Now she gets to wear Tucker's saddle, who was Goose's best friend in the world. Thankful for great friends who support this baby horse adventure in so many ways, to the best baby horse, and to Goober who would have been 21 this spring.