January 2013 New Year with Cooper

Jan 1 2013

We worked on the ground again to begin using the 12' rope attached to the bit for about 20 minutes, changing sides often. I didn't do any giving to the bit tonight.
144th ride, we walked to the back of the arena following another horse again. Cooper did good, he tensed up a little but continued on with no spooking.
We did some more sit trot, jogging tonight. We didn't do any circles but worked on Lyons 3 Step Stop exercise and rollbacks again. He started to stop great with this exercise but when he figured we were done his whoa was awful again when headed to the door.
We had a very good ride again tonight, rode for about 30 minutes then untacked, groomed and gave him his beet pulp, yum yum! Back to work tomorrow and physio so won't see him but out again on Thursday night.

Jan 3 & 4 2013

We went up up later both nights and groomed Cooper then gave him beet pulp with Cough Free in it again as he was coughing a lot.

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Comment by Coopersmom_1958 on January 7, 2013 at 8:52am: Jackie he did spook, a lot while riding :( I was just getting too scared and got off, had enough for one night.

I don't know what to do for that spookiness, we do so much on the ground and it's not transferring under saddle. Clinton Anderson says work his feet, which I have just read and have been trying a little, Parelli is approach and retreat, Lyons is spook in place controlling with bridle, another is rest in spooky spots, whoa boy! This night it was a cat, how can you reconstruct that type of scarey thing? I think I will have to read and watch the chapter on emotional training again with Lyons only it's hard to do as I don't often have the arena to myself and no one else wants to do that type of work.

Only good thing was I managed to stay in the saddle for all 3 spooks and jumping sideways.

Last night we went just to pick his feet and give him beet pulp with Cough Free in it for a cough he has.

Comment by Jackie Cochran on January 6, 2013 at 2:14pm: No spooking! That is GREAT PROGRESS. Congratulations.

Comment by Coopersmom_1958 on January 6, 2013 at 1:50pm: Sat

I worked him on the ground again to begin using the rope hackamore for about 30 minutes, changing sides often. We worked just the same as having a bit on and he did great. We walked to the back of the arena and worked around the scary corners.
145th ride, we did a little jogging then tried some extended trot to have someone watch him. He was off a little on his left front and right hind. There didn't seem to be any soreness while working on the ground so I think maybe he stepped wrong a time when he tripped over the trot poles.
We then just walked around and did some shoulders over movement with inside rein, whoa, back up. Another horse spooked when a black cat tore through arena and scared all of the horses. I did a one rein stop to get Cooper under control. They all spooked again and another one rein stop. I tried to get Cooper to go down to the scary end and he started to freak and jumped sideways almost taking off and I did another one rein stop. He went around in circles many times before finally stopping and relaxing. I then walked back to front of arena and got off, no more of this tonight.
I put him in the cross ties as he would not stand still, the girl was doing feed and Al was doing his treat bucket, so many distractions. I put some Hoof Heal on him then we did some walk, whoa in the aisle before putting him in his stall.