Cooper’s 17th Week.

[Whatanejit]

Cooper’s 17th Week.

Monday

Day off for Cooper. I had to catch him and bring him in anyway to hibiscrub his heels.


Tuesday

My night to have May.

Had planned a hack with May and Cooper with OH as this would be the first time he would have been out after spooking on Sunday.

OH had a nightmare week at work so couldn’t make it. Just as well as we found out the dentist had been today so his mouth may have been a little tender for receiving the bit.

You will recall from my other post that the dentist confirmed he was rising 5, probably a late foal, birthday maybe around October time.

I’m still finding it difficult to put my Kenny Everett hands down!;)

I schooled May instead and did some pole work outside the school on the grass. Fortunately, she loves pole work and apparently was a great jumper in her slimmer days. Her Mum says I can start jumping her when I want.
However, I think I will wait until she loses another 50kg or so.

Doesn’t she look a bit slimmer in this photo?

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/sat8hack12.png

14hrs turnout with a grazing muzzle, horsewalker and long hacks are definitely working.


Wednesday

RI riding Cooper. She definitely thinks he has more energy which is good but he still isn’t great at cantering in the school.

The transitions are getting much quicker – before he used to scramble along in a fast trot and then give you a few strides of canter. Then when you get him going he finds it difficult to turn the next corner, keeps going straight which results in a very 'handy' turn being required, he thinks you want to circle and you lose the canter.

See clip for example....

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/th_Canterproblems.jpg (http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/?action=view&current=Canterproblems.flv)

It isn’t always like this. RI has managed to canter him large for 1.5 circuits of the school on quite a few occasions but that was before her fall.

Still lots of cantering on hacks required to let him find his feet and balance, bless him.

Leg yielding is going well.
We are now to work on flexion – especially on the R rein as he is particularly stiff on that rein.

RI got off and I got on for 10 mins for specific flexion instruction on Cooper.
I have done it before on the RS horses but it had been a while.




Thursday

Went on a hack with May’s mum. It was a beautiful evening and it was the first time we had hacked out together just the two of us – obviously I usually have her horse or I’m on Cooper and there is someone else with us.
We get on really well and think we will definitely develop a good friendship.


Friday

My day off and day with May. It was a bit cooler today so arranged with Gina’s mum for a 1500hrs hack.

Went to the yard about 1230hrs to play with Cooper first.

We headed into the school and did a 20min schooling session.
I introduced the flexion exercises today.
It is hard work isn’t it? I have to get quite a contact with him and feel a little guilty but then when he bends I release my hands and he holds it for a little while. His mouth was fine afterwards – I double checked as I was afraid of hurting him.

Then for our solo hack! Round the fields to the pedestrian crossing again. We grazed a little and turned for home. This was the bit I was dreading as he got on his toes last week and started to jog and get excited. However, this week he was absolutely fine. Head down, no problem. I was so pleased. From leaving the school to returning to the stable we were out for about 40mins.

I’m pretty pleased with that!

I have been bathing his heels in hibiscrub daily. Washing his four legs with dog flea and mite shampoo every second day and if I could get heel scabs dry enough I applied that Green antibacterial gel that everyone in our yard uses on bumps and scrapes to the sore area.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Featherssweek2.png

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Feathersweek2.png



It has completely healed in one week! The first one is still a little red but the scab and soreness has gone.

Was it mites, mud fever?

Who knows?

I think I will continue the mite shampoo weekly, as long as he doesn’t get sore, until I get my hands on some frontline spray.


Saturday

I have May all weekend again so we planned a midday hack as it was a bit cooler today. One of our other liveries asked to join us and we were delighted to oblige. Her horse is called Clover. Now Clover and her mum had a great partnership. She was confident enough to hack her all over the park on a bareback pad. However, during a sponsored ride in April Clover tanked off with Mum, threw in a few bucks and Mum ended up on the floor. As a result she has, quite rightly, joined the nervous Nellie club.
She has only hacked out in company, never led and never cantered since.

Despite that with us egging her on she led pretty much the whole way and we had one canter. She was beside herself with joy at the achievement and was really grateful.
OH and I are quite adventurous when we go out and try different routes off the beaten track – most of where we took her today she had never been before but still had the bottle to receive directions from the rear.
A few piccies…………………….

Off the cycle track and heading towards the new park.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Sat8hack2.png

Notice the narrow gate above - another michael peace selected obstacle. We had to watch our knee caps, though!


Past the screaming children and dogs play park - excellent desensitisation. May really doesn't like screaming kids - who does!

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/sat8hack4.png

Through another narrow gate into the new housing development on the old hospital site.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/sat8hack5.png

[Whatanejit]

Managed to get this one of Coops who is now behind me.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/sat8hack6.png


Past a bus stop. OH wanted a photo of cooper in a bus shelter as he works in transport and wants it as a wallpaper background for his computer.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/sat8hack7.png


Pedestrian crossing taking us over to the common.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/sat8hack8.png


Clover leaving us for dust.........

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/sat8hack9.png

Past the fishing pond.....

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/sat8hack10.png

and off to the pub!


http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/sat8hack11.png

Sunday

Just me, OH, Coops and May today on the hack. Both horses were really tired today and we found it difficult to get them going so we only stayed out for 1.5 hrs. Got 2 canters in for Cooper. May is fab at cantering – so much so that I was going to chance taking a short video in canter. OMG am I glad I didn’t as she did a big spook to the right at the top of the hill. She had been on her toes a little as there were cattle grazing on the common and she doesn’t like them. I managed to stay on but was so glad I wasn’t trying to film it!!!

A little clip on the way home.

http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/?action=view&current=Commonhack.flv

Poor May! Her grazing muzzle is rubbing her and her chin groove is quite swollen plus her glands are up. It was quite bad on Friday so having learned from Domane I bought some faux fur and sewed it along the rough edges.

Here are the sores – Ouch!

http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/?action=view&current=Maysore.flv



Fingers crossed it works poor girl.


Chickened out of the NR challenge - sorry Bobbin. Was thinking of doing around the world on May but just didn't get around to it.

Maybe next week.

Have a great week!


Xx

Dee

[Lucyad]

Another great week, I cant believe how well May is looking, you are doing really well with her, and of course Coper is as gorgeous as ever. Liked the vid too! His transition looked very clean to me! Oscar can entirely miss one corner if he isnt listening!

[palmerlover52]

Tutut not doing tha challenge!!!!
But well done, sounds a good week, and Clover's mum did well!!!

[Bozzy]

Fab update and lovely pics :) Your hacking looks great!

Those sores on poor May look nasty, hope the fur helps!

[Sammii]

Great update as per usual! Pictures/Videos are excellent. Apart from the May one, those sores look pretty, well, sore! :(

Cooper's legs look excellent, you've worked wonders with him from every angle haven't you?! You're such an inspiration to all of you do you know that?

-bows to your amazingness-

[NoviceNic]

Lovely photo's. Wish I lived near you all. I rarely have anyone to ride out with and as for scenery. Same old off road track. Same old roads and village. :(

[chewitmonster]

Is that a fly collar on May? If it is, do they work? Thinking of getting one for Silver...

Lovely update as always :) xxx

[Wings]

Another week of progress! It's great to see you are now 'escorting' other people out on hacks, and helping them regain confidence.

I have to say... you're hacks are busy! So many people, buildings, things to spook at... I am really impressed that Cooper takes it all in his stride. After a bit of road work, our hacks are really quite and we usually hardly see any people. Hacking in a busy, more built up area is quite something else!

[Clare-22]

Lovely update, love the cantering video! :D Me too wondering if that was a fly band and do they work?

I thought the canter transition was good, that is the tricky bit sorted the rest will come as he gets stronger :)

[domane]

Eww! Poor May! I hope you managed to get a nice leopard-skin print fur for her.... or else she can't have "Chav" status like Chez!!

Good assortment of activities as ever and excellent progress....

I sooooo enjoy these updates... I've been home from a show since 3 thinking "Ooh, I'll get a Cooper update today and hopefully find out how HC got on with her saddle" - how sad does that make me??

[Whatanejit]

Lucyad - thanks :) I must give the canter a go - I havn't in the school for ages!

PL52 :o re challenge - maybe next week;) .We are very proud of Clover's mum.:)

Bozzy - we have very varied hacking, thank goodness.
Poor May:o

Samii - aw shucks:) Can't believe his scabs went so quickly. Hopefully, May's will too bless her.

NN - I'm sure we will get bored of ours soon and will be hopping off in a trailer for pastures new. The common is well managed with both summer and winter horserides that they open and close depending on how hard, rutted or bogged the ground is. How many people are on your yard?

If OH didn't ride I would be pretty desperate for someone else to ride with or accompany me on a bike. We love hacking out with others a lot of the time but it is nice to get a hack on our own once in a while.

Chwitmon - yes it is a fly collar. Gina's mum bought it for her - it was £12 or so. Gina was agitated by it when we were out on a hack so her mum was just going to throw it in the orchard! I persuaded her to do a relay and pass it over to me.

Does it work?

So far it is brilliant for around her face and neck - not a flinch or headshake fri, sat or sun.
The flies still went for her bum and tum, though. Apparently you are not supposed to put any other spray on when you are using it.

Wings - yes it is lovely that we are able to help others and return the favour - mares can be funny with geldings but Clover was fine with Cooper and although she was warey she didn't take away his confidence like Gina has done.

We can have quieter hacks but we have been there done that - mind you we had the golf flags and trolleys to cope with there! We went through the park on purpose to expose him to the children, the swings, slides and see saws. Also it was the first very open space we had taken him to - he is used to lanes, roads, tracks but we havn't hacked him through a wide space and expected him to walk and trot.

Clare 22 - see the fly band response above. Yes thank goodness re the transition. I have a clip of me trying a canter transition on him and I am bouncing all over the place while he is flying along - it is like trying to ask a pogo stick to canter!

xx

Dee

[Little Dolphins]

Fab update, W'jit, full of variety as per usual! You should put it all together as a book and DVD for First Horse Peeps, with 'extra footage' of you waving big hand and pointing at YO....:D

HQ still having probs with mud fever or whatever it is; hibiscrubbing like mad plus all kinds of potions. Hope de-feathering was worth it. Have you seen the thread which gives a website telling all sorts of horrorible things about scabby pasterns?:eek:
Well done for sorting Coops' bits, Dee. He looks altogether gorgeous!!

[Whatanejit]

Especially for you Jane - just freshly uploaded!!

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

thanks for the tip;)

xx

Dee

[Dina]

Great update:)
Your hacking is so different to mine,its pretty much the complete opposite,my hacks are generally along quiet rural roads or over the farm,most of the time I don't meet any cars or see any other people,you hacking looks great though,is the pic where Clover is leaving you for dust taken in the common?It looks like a really neat place to hack!
Also May is looking great,your doing a great job with her:)and Cooper is just looking as stunning as ever:D.

[Whatanejit]

LD - poor HQ. I hope she gets sorted soon.
No I havn't looked at the website but I must do. Cooper's main problem now is the flies are eating him all around his sheath area. The dardk coloured sensitive skin is full of little blood scabs where they have been eating him the poor boy. I've been spraying it with fly spray but that must sting a little.:confused:

Cheers Est and Dina.

Yes that is the common Dina and so is the video footage from Sunday. It is lovely in there but still lots of bikes, walkers and dogs around so often a canter is ruined with someone on the track.

Statistics wise, Surrey is the most densly populated County in England but with the greatest % of green open spaces. It has great bridleways but definately requires meeting people, prams, dogs, traffic and what not to get there.

xx

Dee

[cazrider]

Lovely update Dee, as usual. he's amazingly calm for such a young horse and coping really well with all that fearsome activity when you're hacking. I can definitely see why you're planning Le Trec with him. I hope i get to see it.:D

Poor May. How are the sores doing?

[BeachRiding]

lovely update!

[Whatanejit]

CR - sores are slightly better with 3 days of faux fur lining. Still riding without a nose band to avoid any chaffing during the day.
Will post more pics of the sores on Sunday bless her.

Touch wood we don't over face our big boy too soon.

Have some funny clips already for Sunday:D

xx

Dee

[Rips]

:D My little dog is running around barking at the sound of the dogs in the background of mays video :)

Great update - I was away for 2weeks and I knew exactly where to look to find out what you had been up to with Cooper :D Must be great to be able to hack out with just your OH and the too horses.