Cooper’s 25th Week

[Whatanejit]

Monday

Dad came to see him again at 0700 when I went to bring him in from the field.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/DadandcoopsAug06.png

He really was quite frightened of him – I just about got this photo.

First day of OHs holiday. We popped around to see the big boy at about 1330hrs, gave a good grooming session and then turned him out in his field.

He is so nosey and wants to join us when we go into the back of the stable.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Hello2.png

I think he has learned that there is food back there.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Hello1.png

Look at his beautiful eyes.............

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

Tuesday

Left my parents to the airport in the morning – we had a lovely week but there is something nice about getting your house back after you have had visitors isn’t there?:)

Went to see Cooper at about 1300hrs. Planned to long line him today with his saddle – this is his first day of work since he had his back seen to last Friday.

He was very sweet, accepted the bit well, sniffed and licked his saddle before I put it on. He didn’t move away from me as I put it on which he had done a few times before – one of the things that concerned me that his back was sore.

OH put lots of poles out and bubble wrap to step over. He did very well – especially on the right rein which was great. Unfortunately, we had to cut the session short as YO came in to lunge one of their youngsters who goes mad on the lunge so we had to leave the school.:rolleyes:

Sorry forgot to put the battery in the camera! But put it in to film these little fellas when we got back to the stable. A second set of roomies for the year.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Roomies3.png

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

Bill Oddie, eat your heart out!

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

Wednesday

I booked a lunge lesson for both myself and OH at the RS. Rather than it being just a one off where we did everything on the lunge in one session we committed ourselves to at least 6 sessions so that we could be taken back to basics again.

The instructor follows the classical riding principles, uses the Alexander Technique and very much helped us put into practice a lot of the reading from the Heather Moffat book that we have been reading.


This lesson was totally concentrating on upper body position, relaxation, balance and feel. Role on next week.

We drove straight to Cooper from there as I planned to ride him in the school for 15 mins. Once again he accepted his tack without a problem and he didn’t move when I was mounting him.

I guess I am still afraid that he still is sore and am treating him with kid gloves.

He tends to be quite lazy in the school and I really did have to use a lot of leg and tickle him with the dressage crop to get a decent pace from him.

Of course, I was also worried that he wasn’t moving because of pain and so didn’t push him as hard as I might have. I have been reading the thread on impulsion and getting the horse off the forehand with interest and plan to implement some of the suggestions next time.

We stopped after 15mins – me exhausted with pushing him on, feeling slightly guilty that maybe I shouldn’t have been because of his back, OH telling me that my lower leg was moving too far back with the effort I was using to push him on with my legs. So what did the big man do when I got off?

1. He put his head down
2. He closed his eyes
3. He had a big yawn
4. He dropped his Willy

4 sure signs of relaxation and the fact that he was being a lazy sod with me!:cool:

Lots of transitions next time to get him listening and working from behind.

RI is on holiday for 10 days so it is only us riding him for a while.

Thursday

Solo hack out for OH – sort of. I followed miles behind them – pretty much couldn’t see them for most of the time or I just spotted OHs tabard disappearing into the horizon. Great achievement for OH and Cooper. I’m very proud of them both.

Then had a picnic lunch with Coops outside his stable while he had some well deserved haylage.

[Whatanejit]

Friday

We planned to do some le Trec obstacle practice as our first competition is next week.

We started off with Cooper who obliged us with his bang, smack, wollop style. He was also being cheeky with OH by napping towards me as I was on the ground. OH took him into the school, did lots of transitions and some leg yielding and then we tried again.

Trotting the bending poles.

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

Tackling the S bend.

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

Cooper did very well in the end but we definitely need more practice!

I then got May ready and warmed her up in the school first. She was really good at the obstacles when I was able to keep her attention off trying to snatch at the grass!

She has been very well schooled in the past and apart from the trailer, the low branches and the gate I think we will do ok.

There is always at least one optional jump in the PTV (obstacle course) in le Trec. OH will be missing that out with Cooper but I am undecided as to whether I will do it or not with May. To cut a long story short, after doing a few trotting poles and me practicing my forward seat I jumped a little crosspole with May!

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

A few details…..

I havn’t jumped since January and then my highest was 2’6”.
May hasn’t jumped for over a year bless her.
She is very strong in canter and as we were both rusty I made her stay in trot.

I jumped the pole 4 times in total. Each time I was behind the movement as I didn’t trust her. If you look closely at the vid she ducks her head down on the approach to look at the poles. I honestly thought she was going to stop dead when she did that but, bless her, she didn’t!

Her mum says that she can occasionally run out but never refused a fence on her.
It was one of my goals to jump May and Cooper while I was on holiday. I think Cooper will have to wait until my week off at the end of September.

We are also starting to prepare the two of them for getting clipped in the autumn. I had played with an electric screwdriver with them both in March and April last year which was quite a long time ago. I thought I would start again with them.

May ran out of the clipping box last year so remained unclipped for the whole season - hopefully we will fare better this year!

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




Saturday

What an awful windy day. Still it didn’t rain as much as it was forecast to.
I had May today but gave her a day off in the field as she worked hard yesterday.

We planned to lunge Cooper today over poles and progress to a small crosspole depending on how he coped.

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

I have a slight problem when I lunge him. He often stops and turns in.

The RA who came out says that he is asking to come into me in a join up fashion as we are ‘sending him away’ with the lunge whip. I am very flattered that he wants to join up with me but was beginning to wonder is he avoiding having to work at times:confused:

Anyway, here is a clip of him jumping the cross pole for the first time and you will see him stopping.
Not enough impulsion!

http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/?action=view&current=Cooperjump1.flv

I changed my body language and took my eye off the ball hence he stopped.

Now the second clip - better jump = but he stops immediately I tell him he is a good boy.

http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/?action=view&current=Cooperjump2.flv

Third clip – better jump but more of a hop really – had to really send him on and growl at him, he was allowed to come down to walk in my time and we let him rest from that rein there.

http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/?action=view&current=Cooperjump3.flv

Any ideas from anyone re the stopping business?

OH then had a go on the right rein – took a few attempts but he did ok.

We put the hi viz sheet on just to get him used to it on a windy day.

Sunday.

We took him over to The Horse Show at the RDA today again - He hasn't been over for a while and it is rather exciting :) As our le Trec is next week we wanted him to get a feel for it again as there will be tents, coralled horses and all sorts for him to see!

We braved hacking a 1/4 down the road straight from the stables! In this wind!? I must be mad! Yes but I felt it was part of his training so went for it!

OH donned his hi viz vest and walked on our outside next to the cars. He was really on his toes and stopped a few times but I pushed him on and we got there in the end.

I was exhausted by the time we got there - mentally - and I think Coops was too. Poor OH he was more nervous than I was!
I kept telling him not to worry and to think of the insurance!

Next week we will definately hack them around the long way so they work of some enery first - that way we only have about 100m of road work to do and the road martial comes out and stops the traffic for you.

OH is now dreading any wind for our first le Trec next Sunday - fingers crossed!!

Oh, yes, we forgot the camera - sorry about that.

This was a big show today and he remained quite excited I got off and we let him eat and walked around for a bit until he settled.

What was a really new experience was taking him into the indoor school.

Firstly, he didn't like it as he didn't understand where all the noise was coming from as the trees hit the side of the barn.

Secondly, he loved the indoor mirrors - quite fancied himself I think!

Thinking of buying one for the winter months for his stable.

Take care and have a great week.

xx

Dee

[CurlyWurlyRach]

lovely update Dee :D
Im sure you already know but youre doing so well with the lovely lad.

[palmerlover52]

Aww lovely update...Good Luck for your le trec, all ready for that?

He's a lovely boy, I don't blame your dad in the first picture...I see that little glint of evil red eye :p

[domane]

Oh I just LOVE him!!!! He is so adorable.... and he is such a good boy.... although I am starting to wonder if he is learning he can get away with doing as little as possible??? (typical man ;) )

However... he has such a wonderfully varied life with you two and he is still such a baby - I'm sure you are doing the absolute best things with him :)

Loved May's face with the screwdriver.... flarey nostrils or what, but no moving away, bless her... she must really trust you Dee, well done!!

How is your dad now? Lovely to see a piccy of him with Cooperman- I can understand his nerves..... Coops is a big lad!

(PS haven't forgotten the bubblewrap in my car... just had a bit of a cashflow prob :o )

[Skib]

Great update again Dee. And that lovely S pole walk looked as if you've got his steering sorted?

[Imp]

Great update as usual Dee :)

I particularly like the picture of your Dad with Cooper. I think Coopers saying 'this blokes reeeeaaallly scared of me... dunno why?'

Lynda xx

[NoviceNic]

Another jam packed week Dee. :) Dont worry about him getting excited at Shows he will calm down when he keeps going. Practise is really the key here. Take him to as many as you can.

[Clare-22]

Lovely update, what a busy week! Love the photo of Cooper with your Dad.

I think the turning in on the lunge may just be body position, I know that when I started lunging Loki as soon as I got myself out of position he would do exactly the same, but he is quite sharp on the lunge so it was easy to move him forward again by getting myself back in position and asking him to go forward. I am sure you will find what works best with Cooper in time.

Good on you getting out in this wind, I braved it too and decided I must have been mad, but we did it :D I am with your OH in hoping that we have seen the last of the wind next weekend. Can't wait to hear how you get on with the LeTrec.

[Est]

Fab update! The screwdriver idea was great and seemed quite successful - good one :) Those "roomies" are so cute... did they get any food in return for all that begging?! I never saw mum actually feed them, just fly past a lot!
I know where you're coming from with the back pain issues. I'm now super-sensitive to any signs of resistance from Merrick as we start putting tack back on him, and it's so difficult to shake off that anxiety and just get on with it! He sounds fine though, and making wonderful progress as always.
Good luck with the Trec competition, hope all goes well :)

[coverblown]

Lovely news again. Pics of May with the pretendey clippers are great, I'm sure she will be fine, thanks to you.

Cooper is just beautiful...

[LindaAd]

Friday

Any ideas from anyone re the stopping business?


Dee

Lovely pics again - you are doing wonders with him. I've been reading the whole thing with great interest, and some envy!

Just a thought about the lunging: are you actually using a lunging whip? My instructor says that the lunging whip is like your legs - that's what tells the horse you want him to go forward (both legs) and stay out on the circle (inside leg). I couldn't see a whip - maybe he just doesn't know what you want him to do?

Linda

[FRED]

:) Thats a good read and lovely photos.
Quote:
The RA who came out says that he is asking to come into me in a join up fashion as we are ‘sending him away’ with the lunge whip. I am very flattered that he wants to join up with me but was beginning to wonder is he avoiding having to work at times

;) yes I know another horse who occasionaly does this, thats very interesting.

[Whatanejit]

Thanks for the replies guys - back to work today so no long hours idling on NR anymore:o

Thanks Curly Wurly - still nice to get advice and pointers from you more experienced peeps.

:D PL52 - scarey Cooper!

Cheers Jane - you just can't help but fall in love with him:) Health wise Dad isn't too bad - thanks for asking. However, he is taking time to cope with things 'in his head' - needs a chill pill, bless him = we are working on it.

Hey don't worry about the bubble wrap - the other bit is doing just fine - we havn't popped it all yet. Even May went over it no problem.:)

Thanks - Skib - wasn't he sweet and very careful where he put his legs - and that bit of leg yield - great boy.

Cheers Imp - that is exactly what I was thinking:D

Next week at le Trec will be our last local show until April NN. Any of the other events, including indoor le Trec will all require transport. A few liveries have offered to take us to places in the winter so we might give it a go.

Well done you and Loki Clare for braving the wind too! It is bad enough watching the weather forecast on a daily basis looking for the chance of rain for the whole winter never mind not being able to go out if there is a bit of wind.
Strong winds, gales and hooleys are still a no no though.:o

It was another busy week aided by the fact I was on annual leave. I'm hoping I can keep up this stamina now that winter is on its way - we'll see.:cool:

I was so proud of May with the screwdriver Est. She is definately beginning to trust me and our relationship is probably only now developing. Fingers crossed we can clip her.

The birdies got lots of food prior to me starting to film. You may have blinked but they did get some food in one of mum's visits.:)
Oh good luck with the lovely Merrick.

Awwww thanks AAH He is 100 times nicer in person - if you are ever down this way make sure you get in touch to come in for a cuddle with him:)

The quality of the video is quite poor Linda so you can't see the lunge whip but yest it is there, urging the brute on.;)

One of my friends looked at the videos and she reckons that it probably is my body position contributing to it. I am getting to far ahead and should remain nearer his hip.

Does your neddie do this to you too Fred?;)

What are they like?

xx

Dee

[Little Dolphins]

You're a great photographer, Dee!

I sooo LOVE the one of Cooper's eye; can I have a copy that I can print onto photo paper?

We had an art gallery at the school I taught at, and after an exhibition of photographs, a colleague gave me my favourite one as a pressie (aaw!)- it was a close-up of the head of a grey mare, her beautiful eye as the focal point.

So, you really made me sit up with that one!:D

The one with your Dad and Cooper with GREAT expressions on their faces is fantastic, too!


Brilliant work all round this week, old bean. It truly is a shame you have to go back to work, as there's so much to do, what with training, riding and loving your horse, and practising your photographic art;)

Cheers for the super update, W'jit
xxx

[VickiGG]

Hi Dee
I read HM's book first -then Sally Swift's two books - and loved them!! They are so cool - I think you will too.

Love the piccy of your Dad and Cooper. Funny how men are scared of these gorgeous horses sometimes isn't it.

:)

Great work on the s bend!! Well steered....

My boy used to do that on the lunge - I was told he thought he was being sent out to the outside of the herd (like the mare would) and he was asking to come back in.

[FRED]

:)
Dakota does occasionally loose the plot, so I will walk on a large circle, me being on his right hand side and so we are both being lunged at walk;) , he looks very happy and then when I drift away he either follows me or moves back to jo or carrys on, usually he's fine , but has moments occasionally.
He had worked very hard on Sunday with lots of other things, but we thought before doing anymore saddling work next time we would just go back a step so that his confidence is very good, he's been very good with the saddle,we hope to aviod lots of broncs by going so steady.
He joined up without all the licking and chewing business, cute indeed...:D
He snorted at the schooling whip and did it again and then thought about eating it, you have to smile and so we backed him up to finish work and called it a day.They try so hard don't they.

[cazrider]

Wow, a really good week, Dee.:) He's certainly learnt a lot in his 25 weeks with you and OH.

I just wanted to say... all the very best for Sunday. I'm sorry I'm not there too, but I'm sure you will do really well, and can't wait to read that update.:)

[Whatanejit]

Hope you can do something nice with the eye photo LD. I'd love to see the photo you are talking about.

I think the one of my Dad reflects Dad's anxiety - I wish he had been smiling.

I was hoping he would feel some of the peace that I feel when with Cooper to help relax after his heartattack but that definately didn't happen.:rolleyes:

Thanks for the Sally Swift recommendations and the positive comments Vicki.

Dakota sounds like a real character, Fred:) Our RI reckons we should walk a lot when lunging at the moment and not be too strict re standing still on the lunge - especially on his weaker rein. I know the feeling of the reverse lunging, though.

This is a comment from one of my very experienced horsey mates who has moved to Scotland so we share ideas via email:rolleyes:

On the turning in thing, it looked to me as though each time he turned into the centre you were ahead of his head or at his head.

When you lunge you should always try to stay in line with the horse's bum so you make an isoscoles triangle (sp! - one of those triangles with a 90 degree angle at the bottom).

The horse is the bottom of the triangle, you stay in a line with his bum, at 90 degrees to the bottom of the triangle and then the lunge line makes the sloping side to his head. If you stay bum-side you're in a far better position to drive him forward.

That's the theory anyway

I'll give it another go:)

Just recieved the schedule for Trec tonight Cazrider - very excited!