Cob Jockey

There is finally peace in our time.

Grazing muzzle time.

Connor has needed a grazing muzzle ever since he moved to this farm in 2017. I left him un-muzzled for the first three weeks just to see what would happen, and he quickly turned into a blimp shape. We've been using GreenGuards ever since, with brief, completely unsuccessful attempts with the Flexible Filly and Best Friends muzzles in there too.

Keeping the muzzle on him, though, has been a full-time job. He's a serial killer that I try to stay one step ahead of, but usually feel one step behind. He'd poke his nose out of the corners, break straps, step on it, get it off over his head, destroy scissor snaps, and no matter what I did, would bash the thing so hard into the ground, the sides would snap. I've had to buy a new one every year because he's so hard on them, and yes, if you just did that math, that's closing in on a THOUSAND DOLLARS IN MUZZLES since 2017. Thanks, buddy.

GG halter, leather GG insert, cheapo Amazon Tough 1 halter fleece, GG Houdini strap and corner twine, because the GG velcro isn't strong enough to keep his schnoz where it's supposed to be

This year, Disco got muzzled first, and I let Connor go as long as I could without one. This immediately cut down on shenanigans of all kinds, with both boys coming in with no marks for the first time in a while. And maybe Connor was grateful for that, because when I finally did muzzle him, he was...fine.

Who...is this horse?

No bashing. No getting it off. No shock-denial-anger-acceptance trying to rub it off on the ground. Just...polite grass nibbling. I haven't even had to replace any straps yet. I am SHOCKED. Stunned. Still in disbelief every time I see him politely nibbling with his GreenGuard unmolested on his face.

Not only that, he suddenly became easy to catch, too. Usually if you want to lead both boys in at the same time, you have to catch Disco, put Disco outside the gate holding the lead rope over the gate, then Connor will baaaaaaaaaaarely let you get close enough to throw a lead rope over his neck and catch him.

Morning bring-in at sunrise. Pink so I can find the bodies, I mean, boots.

After they were both muzzled? I catch Disco (who am I kidding, Disco catches himself. Walks straight up to me and waits every time he sees me. Is this real life?), ground tie him, then walk two steps over to where Connor is waiting and snap his lead rope on.

Like I said - peace. Unexpected, delightful peace.