Whatanejit
30th Apr 2006, 07:59 PM
Cooper’s 7th Week.
Monday
The Boy was groomed to within an inch of his life tonight. I know I say it all the time but he is sooooo sweet.
As it was so warm and grooming him gives me an upper body work out better than any indoor gym I took my fleece off and placed it on the wall beside his head where he is tied up. Bless him, as I was curry combing his rump with vigour I turned around to look at his face and noticed that he was mutually grooming my fleece as I was grooming him.
Awwwww.
Green goo on my fleece on the way home wasn’t that attractive, though.
There was a lot of ginger hair flying around - thank goodness for dry bright evenings for outdoor grooming.
We still having a problem on occasion picking up his back feet. The effort of picking out his feet is improving my bicep tone no end!
I had planned to ride but didn’t in the end as OH was working late – lots of deadlines this week.
I just don’t have the confidence to tack him up and head into the school by myself in the evening. I don’t mind so much during the day because there are so many people around. It isn't that I don't trust him or myself. I don't think I would do it on my own with any horse as you never know what may happen.
Anyway, RI is coming tomorrow night to put him through his paces.
I enjoy the grooming as much as the riding at the moment.
Tuesday
RI came to ride. She feels that the new bit is working for her and him.
The session went really well. So much so that I was absolutely shocked at her comments at the end of the session.............
‘He was absolutely brilliant – I am so impressed’.
were only some of many.
What a good boy!
.
Impusion in trot is consistent, more balanced. Canter transitions improving even more and the downward transition results in an active trot not an omg thankgoodnessthatisover collapsing dollop (another few words for the NR dictionary).
Shallow loops are coming along nicely where he is moving away from the leg. Then, for a few minutes down each long side, he came onto the bit!
We still need to work on rounding his back and engaging hind quarters so there wasn’t a whole lovely outline but he went on the vertical, head down with a rounded pole.
Oh he looked lovely. I was so proud.
Can you believe I didn’t have my camera with me to capture it – will have it poised next week.
I think that she is delighted that he is listening, giving and learning, bless him.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Cooperstretch.png
We do carrot stretches with him every night now back in the stable.
He also had his nails done today again and got a new set of shoes – more than his mother has got, I tell you!.
Wednesday.
OH got home on time so we tacked the boy up and headed into the school for about 20 mins. I am definately getting used to his trot and am able to keep my hands a lot stiller. I am still rising quite high but will work on that eventually. He was really good - no whinneying and appeared quite relaxed through the session.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Cooperconcentrate.png
Thursday
No riding, just grooming tonight. Lots of slobers on my fleece again. I must admit I am letting him groom my fleece as at least he is getting to know my smell = and gosh am I getting to know his!
Payday tomorrow - thank goodness! We are both off Fri, Sat, Sun and Mon! Decided to head to the pub and treat ourselves to a pub dinner as a payday/bankholiday treat.
Friday
OHs turn to ride. Planned to do 15mins in the school then head up the track for a hack with me on foot to see how far we got. We met Gina's mum who asked us could she come with us and take Gina inhand as she had not been
back to the scene of Easter Monday's accident since.
We were delighted with the company. So I headed off on foot as lead mare (I've been called worse), Cooper was grandpa horse with OH on top and Gina and mum were behind.
Well, we went for miles - 3 miles in fact when I used my map measurer on return! On occasion I dropped behind to talk to Gina's mum which meant that Cooper was leading the ride. He did very well. Occasionally, he noticed and stopped and I had to trot on in front but he seemed quite content then.
We had several trots - me running like my user name suggests with Cooper trotting behind me and Gina and mum bringing up the rear. Gina and her Mum are doing an in-hand trec on Sunday so she needed to practice her trotting in hand anyway.
1.5 hours later we ended up back at the yard safe and sound!!!
A well earned drink.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/cooperdrink.png
We were so proud of Cooper, so delighted to be able to return the nanny favour as Eve has been so good to us and I was shattered with all that running. Remind me to take the bike next time.
Saturday.
No nannys available today. My turn to ride the big boy. As usual we headed into the school for 15 mins for a warm up and then up the track down to the traffic lights, beyond the golf course and into the park. Yee hah - this was just with OH on foot beside us and no other horse. Just as we were heading up the track there was some shenanigans with a couple of crows and then 2 herons, or should I say Pterodactyles (not sure of spelling) flew into the bushes by a body of water.
He was doing so well up to this point but this unnerved him a bit and it was only then he realised that he had no other horsey mates. He didn't whinney but just napped a bit to turn back. We made him go forward for a few metres and then turned left down a track that he hadn't been on before which we knew took us back to the sand track and our way home. It also took us through the scarey area with the monster bird life.
A pose for the photo means quick steal some grass! No!
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Cooperhacksat.png
We were still delighted with him. This was the furthest we had come without a nanny horse. A braver rider would have pushed him on and ridden through this but we really don't want to overdo his little mind.
By the time we arrived safely back at the yard we had been out about 1hr.
Yeah! Fantastic! We were so pleased.
Sunday
May isn't lame anymore so we made a date with May's mum for 3pm. OH played with Cooper in the school while I helped tack up May and get to know her a little in the stable. May was lead nanny horse with Mum on top, OH on Cooper and me - whatanejit - on foot again!
We decided to head up via the road this time as it had been weeks since we travelled that way - you remember the scarey flag? He was a good boy again and was only a little bothered by the different colour and textures of the pavement for the visually impaired. Strange.
We were out for 1.5 hrs - mostly walk with a little trot.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/4959caaf.png
When we got back I sat on May and circled her on both reins, had a little trot away from Mum and walked her back again.
OMG! I have never sat on a pony with such a comfortable trot! Especially after Cooper, bless him.
The share with May starts this week! Her Mum says I can ride her whenever I want during the week and we would liaise with each other over the weekends. She is busy at the moment trying to sell her flat, has recently got engaged and often stays at her partners house so said that I could have May for the whole weekend every now and again!
Fingers crossed it will work out ok.
Went a bit mad with plaiting this weekend = the tail - getting better don't you think?
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Coopertailsat.png
Also, I fancied plaiting his mane for the western look.
I really fancy the idea of western riding. Also, Cooper was just born to star in a cowboys and indians film - with him being the Comanche chief's horse.
What has she done to my hair?
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Cooperplaithack.png
You can tell I never had a pony to play with when I was a kid!
Oh I think I'll just sleep while she get on with it........
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Cooperplaitsleep.png
Another end to a fab week with our new boy.
By popular demand - a little vid with my friend riding - You are famous Liz!!!!!!!! Hee hee.
http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/?action=view¤t=CooperLiz.flv
Monday
The Boy was groomed to within an inch of his life tonight. I know I say it all the time but he is sooooo sweet.
As it was so warm and grooming him gives me an upper body work out better than any indoor gym I took my fleece off and placed it on the wall beside his head where he is tied up. Bless him, as I was curry combing his rump with vigour I turned around to look at his face and noticed that he was mutually grooming my fleece as I was grooming him.
Awwwww.
Green goo on my fleece on the way home wasn’t that attractive, though.
There was a lot of ginger hair flying around - thank goodness for dry bright evenings for outdoor grooming.
We still having a problem on occasion picking up his back feet. The effort of picking out his feet is improving my bicep tone no end!
I had planned to ride but didn’t in the end as OH was working late – lots of deadlines this week.
I just don’t have the confidence to tack him up and head into the school by myself in the evening. I don’t mind so much during the day because there are so many people around. It isn't that I don't trust him or myself. I don't think I would do it on my own with any horse as you never know what may happen.
Anyway, RI is coming tomorrow night to put him through his paces.
I enjoy the grooming as much as the riding at the moment.
Tuesday
RI came to ride. She feels that the new bit is working for her and him.
The session went really well. So much so that I was absolutely shocked at her comments at the end of the session.............
‘He was absolutely brilliant – I am so impressed’.
were only some of many.
What a good boy!
.
Impusion in trot is consistent, more balanced. Canter transitions improving even more and the downward transition results in an active trot not an omg thankgoodnessthatisover collapsing dollop (another few words for the NR dictionary).
Shallow loops are coming along nicely where he is moving away from the leg. Then, for a few minutes down each long side, he came onto the bit!
We still need to work on rounding his back and engaging hind quarters so there wasn’t a whole lovely outline but he went on the vertical, head down with a rounded pole.
Oh he looked lovely. I was so proud.
Can you believe I didn’t have my camera with me to capture it – will have it poised next week.
I think that she is delighted that he is listening, giving and learning, bless him.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Cooperstretch.png
We do carrot stretches with him every night now back in the stable.
He also had his nails done today again and got a new set of shoes – more than his mother has got, I tell you!.
Wednesday.
OH got home on time so we tacked the boy up and headed into the school for about 20 mins. I am definately getting used to his trot and am able to keep my hands a lot stiller. I am still rising quite high but will work on that eventually. He was really good - no whinneying and appeared quite relaxed through the session.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Cooperconcentrate.png
Thursday
No riding, just grooming tonight. Lots of slobers on my fleece again. I must admit I am letting him groom my fleece as at least he is getting to know my smell = and gosh am I getting to know his!
Payday tomorrow - thank goodness! We are both off Fri, Sat, Sun and Mon! Decided to head to the pub and treat ourselves to a pub dinner as a payday/bankholiday treat.
Friday
OHs turn to ride. Planned to do 15mins in the school then head up the track for a hack with me on foot to see how far we got. We met Gina's mum who asked us could she come with us and take Gina inhand as she had not been
back to the scene of Easter Monday's accident since.
We were delighted with the company. So I headed off on foot as lead mare (I've been called worse), Cooper was grandpa horse with OH on top and Gina and mum were behind.
Well, we went for miles - 3 miles in fact when I used my map measurer on return! On occasion I dropped behind to talk to Gina's mum which meant that Cooper was leading the ride. He did very well. Occasionally, he noticed and stopped and I had to trot on in front but he seemed quite content then.
We had several trots - me running like my user name suggests with Cooper trotting behind me and Gina and mum bringing up the rear. Gina and her Mum are doing an in-hand trec on Sunday so she needed to practice her trotting in hand anyway.
1.5 hours later we ended up back at the yard safe and sound!!!
A well earned drink.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/cooperdrink.png
We were so proud of Cooper, so delighted to be able to return the nanny favour as Eve has been so good to us and I was shattered with all that running. Remind me to take the bike next time.
Saturday.
No nannys available today. My turn to ride the big boy. As usual we headed into the school for 15 mins for a warm up and then up the track down to the traffic lights, beyond the golf course and into the park. Yee hah - this was just with OH on foot beside us and no other horse. Just as we were heading up the track there was some shenanigans with a couple of crows and then 2 herons, or should I say Pterodactyles (not sure of spelling) flew into the bushes by a body of water.
He was doing so well up to this point but this unnerved him a bit and it was only then he realised that he had no other horsey mates. He didn't whinney but just napped a bit to turn back. We made him go forward for a few metres and then turned left down a track that he hadn't been on before which we knew took us back to the sand track and our way home. It also took us through the scarey area with the monster bird life.
A pose for the photo means quick steal some grass! No!
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Cooperhacksat.png
We were still delighted with him. This was the furthest we had come without a nanny horse. A braver rider would have pushed him on and ridden through this but we really don't want to overdo his little mind.
By the time we arrived safely back at the yard we had been out about 1hr.
Yeah! Fantastic! We were so pleased.
Sunday
May isn't lame anymore so we made a date with May's mum for 3pm. OH played with Cooper in the school while I helped tack up May and get to know her a little in the stable. May was lead nanny horse with Mum on top, OH on Cooper and me - whatanejit - on foot again!
We decided to head up via the road this time as it had been weeks since we travelled that way - you remember the scarey flag? He was a good boy again and was only a little bothered by the different colour and textures of the pavement for the visually impaired. Strange.
We were out for 1.5 hrs - mostly walk with a little trot.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/4959caaf.png
When we got back I sat on May and circled her on both reins, had a little trot away from Mum and walked her back again.
OMG! I have never sat on a pony with such a comfortable trot! Especially after Cooper, bless him.
The share with May starts this week! Her Mum says I can ride her whenever I want during the week and we would liaise with each other over the weekends. She is busy at the moment trying to sell her flat, has recently got engaged and often stays at her partners house so said that I could have May for the whole weekend every now and again!
Fingers crossed it will work out ok.
Went a bit mad with plaiting this weekend = the tail - getting better don't you think?
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Coopertailsat.png
Also, I fancied plaiting his mane for the western look.
I really fancy the idea of western riding. Also, Cooper was just born to star in a cowboys and indians film - with him being the Comanche chief's horse.
What has she done to my hair?
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Cooperplaithack.png
You can tell I never had a pony to play with when I was a kid!
Oh I think I'll just sleep while she get on with it........
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Cooperplaitsleep.png
Another end to a fab week with our new boy.
By popular demand - a little vid with my friend riding - You are famous Liz!!!!!!!! Hee hee.
http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/?action=view¤t=CooperLiz.flv