Lesson 14 - Thursday October 6 2011

I wasn't certain what was going to happen today when going to get Cooper. Would he come? Would I have to get someone from the early lesson to go get him?

I was so happy this time when he came when I called. The paddock was still a mess with so much water and mud. I had a carrot in a bucket and opened the gate to let him come out of the paddock on his own.

I didn't boot him again because his legs were wet and muddy. I tried to get off what I could but I did not want to put them on his wet legs.

We had a good lesson, there was only 3 of us this time. We were all working on something different. I was doing one of the exercises from the beginning lessons. I was doing left circles at 3 corners of the arena while keeping Coopers head straight and trying not to over bend when circling. Cooper was starting to move off a softer rein by the end of the lesson, I just have to learn to get softer myself.

Saturday, October 8 2011

We worked in the round pen first for about 20 minutes, Cooper was very good. Then we went indoors as it was starting to get dark. I did want to ride in outdoor arena but I spent too much time grooming, I always do!! That is how we have bonded so much.

We mixed up the practice ride a lot, doing the left circles, doing the zig zag lesson from one end of arena to the other. We put out some trot poles and walked over them several times then tried at a trot. He tripped again with his back feet so just walked over them the next few times. I tried to do some extended trot while posting. He gets really fast, I think he wants to lope!! I am not ready yet, sometimes I think I am, but yesterday was not the day.

I wish I could do this one my own, go to the barn alone, without the husband. We get into arguments all the time about him not getting any work done on the house because we are always out together, mostly the barn, other nights the physiotherapy.

But he won't let me go alone, for safety reasons. Many times there is no one else at the barn when we go on weekends. If I had of went alone the past Tuesday no one else showed up that night either. When I was run over by Cooper and when I fell off, he was the only one there with me.

Oct 9 2011

I want to go to the barn now and waiting for him to arrive. It will be evening before we get out there again and it is such beautiful weather out.

There is a trail ride planned for tomorrow, our Thanksgiving Monday here in Ontario. The barn manager said to come out alone, that they would help me. So I think I just might do that!!

Comment

You need to be a member of Barnmice Equestrian Social Community to add comments!

Join Barnmice Equestrian Social Community

Comment by Coopersmom_1958 on October 13, 2011 at 11:38am: Al went with me on Thanksgiving Monday. He didn't want me to go alone even though I said there would be others to help me.

We got there early, worked Cooper in the round pen then people started to arrive. I was already to go before they got their horses out of the paddocks LOL I was nervous with the dogs, there was one that was not too horse savvy and would dart in and out of the horses legs. She laid down one time right in front of Cooper & I as were were walking, silly dog. Cooper handled it very well, the whole ride he was very good. He looked at a few things, a boat in the bushes, a bunch of logs, some steel thing, his head up, ears forward. I would make him focus on the trail and it was ok.

At first on the way out to the trail Cooper was walking very fast, almost up the lead horses rear, good thing Kiowa is used to being the lead trail horse. The horses split up at one time so some could go off and gallop through the field. Cooper was watching them and felt like he wanted to go too, I had to check him a lot. Another time Kiowa was so full of a lot of energy and spooked Cooper when she started jumping around behind him, but we managed that too.

The weather was gorgeous, trails dry, horses all well behaved and the dogs were good. Very very happy that I went and want to do it again, soon.

When I put Cooper back in the grass paddock he rolled and rolled, he was tired from the ride, hard work for him going up and down the hills.

Al went out to the Mohawk racetrack down the street and I puttered around the barn waiting for him. We went back out to say goodbye to Cooper and he came right over to the fence again.

We went to a free Magnetic Therapy seminar at my barn. It was very interesting, but I don't know if I will be able to afford any of their products. If I do get anything I think it will be the blanket that I can put on my bed, for humans. I would love to get the horse blanket, it has all the magnets in it that are placed at all the accupressure points. Well, once I win that lottery I will get these LOL

Another riding lesson tonight!! Lesson 15, we are learning so much and having a great time.

Comment by Jackie Cochran on October 9, 2011 at 2:43pm: I need help to ride too. I used to do it all by myself decades ago, but I don't feel that secure any more!