Cooper's fifteenth month!

[Whatanejit]

Just thought I would do an update a few days early as I have a few nice photos.

This is the end of the fourth week of him being in work again after his last flare up.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/April14th3.png

We havn't hacked him out much - in fact only 3 times in four weeks as the weather and/or company hasn't been ideal. After him chucking me off that time we weren't going to take any chances.

We have moved up to an hour of walk now but have a little trot added to a 20 min schooling session to try and waken him up a bit :)

Our RI is great in that she spends some of our lesson on her horses practicing exercises with poles and cones that would be suitable for Cooper.
When only walking it makes it so much more stimulating for both of us to have objects in the school.

I have already updated you on our clicker training and the arrangement with May which starts next week :)

Another bit of news is that we have another horse to ride - yip another one!

A gorgeous mixed breed that has Clydesdale, Shire, Thoroghbred and Arab in him!!
His mum is always offering him to me as she doesn't get to ride him a lot with her shift work and young daughter. She has a sharer but the sharer is a teenager who is loosing interest.
OH and I would jump at the chance to share him as he is big enough for OH to ride.

This is him and Coops.......
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/LlamandCoops.png
The three best boys on the yard!

Clam is 16 and a real bombproof ride - he is Cooper's role model. Check him out here with his mum's daughter........

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Llam1.png

So the weekend that I don't have May we are going to try and arrange to have Clam so that we can ride out with Coops in ideal company.

Cooper's roomies are back..........

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Birdsareback.png

The babies are soooo cute.

Do you remember them from last year?

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Roomies2.png

[Whatanejit]

We are also thinking of getting him a stable mirror. He was fascinated by the one in the RDA last week.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Hellohandsome.png

and so was May

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Hellogorgeous.png

I havn't changed him around to the nightshift yet as I am waiting for a few things to finish in work. Despite that he has been on the grass for about 14 hours most days in the last two weeks and my has he grown. Definately not fat but once again he has widened.

I noticed on Weds that he walked away from me when I lifted the saddle to put on his back - he doesn't usually - when he did it today again I had a good old look at it and it was perched more than 5 fingers high on his withers!

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Todayshack3.png

Not a great angle but the above photo was from last Sunday on our trip to the RDA.

Anyway, we got Clam's mum to give a second opinion and it definately doesn't fit.
I phoned the saddler immediately and she can't come out until the 23rd June!

We have our Trec training on the 10th June.

No probs though as we kept our Treeless Trekker Talent that we had originally bought him when he first arrived.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/saddle.png

I thought it would come in handy one of these days. Without the knee rolls we won't be hacking far but it will definately help us to keep schooling him and hence keep the fitness programme up until the saddler comes to change the gullet.

It is only 4 months since the last change!

And just because it is cute I thought I would post this pic again.

Awwwwwwwwwwww.........

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Weeme1.png

Thanks for reading:)

[NicP]

Great pics - a friend of mine used to have swallows in the stable and her mare used to get bird poo on her bum most mornings!

Love the mirror pics.

[Sammii]

What a great month! This is Red's 11 month...next month's the biggun :D
Great pictures, hope Cooper's back is OK :)
Good luck with the Le Trec aswell!!
xx

[kirstie]

Great piccies he's looking lovely.

"Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who's the most Handsomest gelding of the all" :p

[domane]

Oh what a lovely piccy of your fave 3 boys.... that's one for a frame!!!

Congratulations on your new "acquisition" - Clam looks LOVELY - and sounds a great role model for hacking Cooper out and restoring your confidence (he sounds like another Cherry).

The mirror shots are great - May is checking herself out in such a girlie way ;)

Glad it's all going well for you all Dee :)

xxx

[Clare-22]

Oh Clam is gorgeous! He looks a lovely role model for Cooper :)

Glad to hear he is coming back into work well, thank goodness you have the treeless in reserve and don't have to wait until the 23rd :eek:

Freezemark is looking good, how long did it take for the white hair to come through?

[Faerie Rider]

Oooh lovely photos thank you for sharing!:D
Cooper is such a cutie
lol
FR
x

[monique]

Lovely update as always. Persevere with the treeless, I actually jumped in mine the other day and i haven't jumped for about 10 years:eek: and I didn't fall off admittedly syd is only 13.2 I haven't tried jumping the big guy yet:D

[Rips]

Great update - that last picture is the sweetest ever! Awwww!

[Tots N Dots]

glad he is doing well after his last flare up, have they got to the bottom of what is causeing it yet? (sorry if you have posted elsewhere)
great photographs, I do love having a digi camera, went to watch OH fall off his motorbike the other day at Cadwell, got home to realise I had taken over 100 pictures off all the bikes that day :o

[Ptaty70]

It's always great to see how well Coops is doing, Dee! you must and SHOULD be very proud! Having posted on here, it is easy to see your whole journey and I think that is important as small improvements now can be put into perspective when you see what it was like 6 months ago, when you were in hell!

looks like you have an image conscious teenager on your hands. You need a mirror so he can put the gel in right to woo his laydeeez!

Good news about the new horse. Great for you and the human and horsey men in your life!!!

I agree that the pic of the three of your men is one to be cherished! lovely!!!!

I would love to come and meet your clan one of these days, seeing as we are so close!! feel like I know you all! ;)

[VickiGG]

Great pics as usual - don't pictures help tell a story so well....

I love your leg mobile phone holders - I have one for my arm and hate it - might see if it fits my leg!

I just love the way Coops talks to other horses - so cute - esp the little scary ones.... :D

[Whatanejit]

Nic P.:)

The bird nest is just above where I put his hay on the floor. It is strategically positioned as a trampoline because last year one of the babes fell out. His water bucket is dangerously close too so we have moved that to a different part of the stable. So far no pooh on his head!

Sammii :)

Thanks. Looking forward to Red's update!

Kirstie :)

Cooper of course!!

Jane :)

Thanks = a lucky shot that one. I'm running out of wall space at the moment with all of these photos!

Clare :)

The Freezemark still isn't perfect but the white has been through for about 6 weeks or so. They said it would take about 3-4 months. I thought it would be ugly but it doesn't bother me at all. We have had the travellers IN THE YARD and caught by YO! The Derby is next weekend.
Fingers crossed and watch out all!

FR :)

Thanks - me thinks so too.

Monique :)

Good to hear that about your treeless. We really found it comfortable but Coops was such an unbalanced baby when we got him that we found we were all over the place in trot - the treed helped our balance therefore helped him. I've been dying to try it again now that he is more balanced and so are wee - so this gives us and excuse to.

Any pics of you on yours?

Rips :)

Thanks - hope you are doing ok.

Tots 'n' Dots :)

Yeah - the cameras are brilliant - I have missed some great opportunities by not having it on me but I think I have done ok.
Poor OH - is he ok?

Ptaty 70 :)

Quite a journey our story - should help to give hope and patients to others. yes we must arrange a meet over the summer - that would be great!

Vicki GG

The leggy holders are great as they are handy to get at when you are out. I found the one on my arm kept slipping down. They are only about £5.00 or so.

[Bay Mare]

He's gorgeous http://enlightenedequitation.com/ee/boards/Smileys/classic/wub.gif, I love the one of him admiring himself in the mirror :D

[Est]

The stable mirror pics are fab! :D
I'll be interested to hear how you get on with the treeless, please can you do an update for that too?
Best of luck with the gorgeous Clam! Hope you all have some wonderful summer hacks together (although it's raining here right now which makes it all seem a long way off :( :D )

[Montana]

Great update Dee, it's good to see him out and about again. And Clam is another handsome man isn't he:) ? Good luck with the saddle 're-fitting'.

[coverblown]

Dee, I just love Cooper's updates - hes IS looking well. Lovely coat and he looks so alert. Fantastic.

And gorgeous pics, your boys look great. Clam seems a delight, he is so well matched with Cooper, it will be lovely to share riding them both with OH.

Super stuff, as always. Thanks

Anne x

[Imp]

You are such a horsey pair aren't you? :D

I just love the updates, I particularly love the shot of Coops and Clam, it looks like a shot from Horse & Rider mag :D

luverly :p

[Chinarider]

Great update, WOW 3 gee gees to play with , you lucky girl ;)

[cazrider]

Great update as usual Dee. :D

So... remind me, just how big is he now?;)

Clam sounds lovely.. what is it short for?

[NoviceNic]

Phew how do you find the time Dee?????:) Nice horsey though. Hopefully he will be featured more on NR approved by him Mum.;)

Cooper is growing up now. He doesnt look so babyish. Filling out and maturing....Still as gorgeous as ever and how do you manage to keep his mane and forelock so white...:cool:

[Whatanejit]

Baymair :)

I think he does rather fancy himself. The ones of him looking straight at himself were very funny but very out of focus. Also OH looked like Igor from a Hammer Horror film due to the distortion of the mirror so he wouldn't let me post them

Est :)

Thanks. I'll let you know how we get on with it - with this rain all we managed to do was try it on him again and try the girth out for size.
Hopefully, I will have a pop on him in the school tomorrow night.


Montana :)

It is amazing how time flies - one minute he is off work the next he is on - still we make the most of the gorgeous big boy whether he is working or not.



Pepsimaxrock :)

Thank goodness for a horse for OH to ride. With Coops being so young and with dodgey health it has been blessing for me to have May but poor OH had to make do with lessons. We don't have Clam a lot of the time - we would definately consider sharing him if he came up again for share. He jumps, loves cross country, will be a great le Trec horse, is the most comfortable ride ever - a bit like May. Not your average dressage horse but definately one to have fun on.

Imp :)


Hi! How are ya! We are due an update from you missus! Hope all is well.


Chinarider :)

You have 3 now too, don't you? And here was me worried about having 2!

Cazrider :)

(cough) 16.3hh. When I am grooming he really does seem huge as I can't see the top of his bum to check for grooming. When I am on him, however, it really doesn't make any difference. It is a few seconds longer to dismount, though.

I've p'med you re Clam :)

Novice Nic :)

Definately have the time as we don't have kids. Our elderly dog has enough after 15mins and we used to walk the two of them for hours at the weekend.

What else would I be doing? T.V, housework :o , DIY? This is much more fun.

Coops got a bath the day before his inhand le Trec on 18th April and since this his forelock is turning a creamy colour rather than white - fortunately, like Captain, it still looks good in photos. Homemade mane and tail must help too.

[Skib]

Coops got a bath the day before his inhand le Trec on 18th April and since this his forelock is turning a creamy colour rather than white -

Dee this may be out of order but was talking to OH about the washing the other day about white bedspreads turning yellow in the sun. How he had used the wrong sort of Persil for my white blouse? But it didnt matter.
I wonder what did you wash Cooper's forelock in?
And did it contain a brightener for "white hair"
The theory is that optical whiteners look fine on the day but then turn yellow in the sun. But it is the coating left by the dergent that turns yellow, not the fabic itself. So a good wash in a normal detergent will return it to white again.

Unless it is a known thing that horse's hair turn cream coloured in daylight and sunlight, your description of Cooper's forelock going creamy after his special bath, reminded me of this. I know nothing AT ALL about horse shampoos, but a normal (non brightening) horse shampoo or human baby shampoo might possibly turn it white again?

Silly suggestion really. Forgive me, but I used to worry about my Parisian bedspreads too.

[Chinarider]

That is just a wicked rumor Dee :eek: Two is enough for me ....

I am NOT repeat NOT going to take on any of those new scraggy ponies, even if I have bought a nice blue Barefoot Cheyenne to be used on them ;)

[Whatanejit]

Skib :)

I can see why you would think that Skib but the yellowing / creamy colour is due to the mud :D . The boy loves to roll to scratch around his ears and when you brush the forelock that is the colour it turns.


Chinarider :)

Don't worry, I won't tell anyone! :p

[Jill_H]

A fantastic update, as usual, Dee.

What a fine addition to your horse collection Clam is. He is gorgeous. You are so lucky!!!