September 2 2012. I haven't been feeling well for several days now but went out to see Cooper, pick his feet and say hi to him. He had a new kick on his left hip. You could tell it was a kick as the hoof mark was there. There was an egg size bump with a little heat to it.

I took him to the wash stall for some more cold hosing again. He wasn't very comfortable with the water trickling down his leg and massaging at the same time. I didn't make it out last night again.

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Comment by Coopersmom_1958 on September 10, 2012 at 1:13pm

Saturday September 8 2012

Got to the barn late and there were a lot of people riding indoors so we didn't lunge. I tacked Cooper all up and we did some Lyons giving to the bit work, hip, shoulder, shoulder and calm down cue. We worked on the ground for about an hour and by the time we were finished I was too dang tired to ride, have to do it another day.

Sunday September 9 2012

I tried the used synthetic saddle on with the new fleece girth. I think it fit him, only I don't know much about english tack and think I might have had the saddle too far forward on him. I tried on the breast collar/plate? and it looked very good on him only it doesn't have a snap like the western one to hook onto the girth. Someone told me you have to put the girth through the end of it, seems very weird and dangerous. Wouldn't be able to unhook that in a hurry! I put the rubber reins on the english bridle so now he can be all decked out in English attire, even got the red polos out to go with his red saddle pad. One of the boarder who rode him before says she will start riding him on Sunday mornings with the english tack.

We then did about 15 minutes of lunging in both directions, he was listening very well to verbal commands. My stomach started giving me trouble and I couldn't ride again, also I was too tired again. See what Tuesday brings, if I ride ok, if not that's ok too!

Comment by Coopersmom_1958 on September 8, 2012 at 4:14pm

Friday September 7 2012

We did 15 minutes lunging in both directions with side reins set on a very long setting. He was a little spooky at one corner in the front of the arena, lots of banging and noises happening there. He was very fast at first with the trot and when he slowed and lowered his head a little I would praise him, otherwise was listening very well to cues to walk, trot and canter then transition back down. One boarder said he had a nice long motion int he trot, that surprised me because I though he had little steps, but I don't know what to look for. When first asked to canter he stumbled once then was alright after, this happened in the other direction also. He turns into me when I say whoa, the natural horsemanship training, going to try a smaller circle around me and when I tell him whoa and I can go in and straighten him out quicker. Then we did some ground work, walk and whoa and after about 5 times of backing him up when he didn't stop when I said whoa he caught on and stopped when I said whoa. Still not doing it though if I continue walking and ask him to whoa unless I stop, I saw this on a Stacy Westfall video on youtube.
Then we walked around the arena lowering his head, doing the Lyons calm down cue. A few times he was just leaning on the bit and going to sleep. Another boarder says that's working good then, he's really relaxed LOL Then I remembered to have him move something if he hangs on too long and then continued and tried again. Tonight we spent about half an hour working on the left side, walking around the arena, tomorrow will do the right side and maybe ride, maybe not.

My daughter got angry at me tonight saying I should get rid of him and get myself an old bombproof slow horse. She says he's too full of energy for me. I don't know if she is worried about me or just wants something that she can ride too. I don't like it when she rides, she would never listen to the instructor, just doing things her way and not listening to anyone because she knows it all. She acts like those kids that just want to go and ride then go home. She would be happy in one of those ritzy establishments that tack and lunge your horse for you before you get there and you don't even have to get dirty or do anything else with a horse. 

She hasn't even been out to see him Cooper for almost 2 years and has not idea how far we have come. 

Comment by Coopersmom_1958 on September 8, 2012 at 3:42pm

Thanks Shirley! I sent in the audition on Aug 26, now the wait. It wasn't a very good one but had to stop trying to get it perfect. It is on youtube, I didn't want to post it or anything yet.

Comment by Shirley on September 6, 2012 at 12:37am

Your determination is awesome! I feel the same as you about going to visit no matter how little I'm able to do that day. This has been a cruel summer.
Did you send your audition to Parelli? Be sure to get a picture of you opening your new colored savvy string. Blue or red? I can't remember. I'm positive this summer heat has melted many brain cells for me.

Keep up the good work! As always Cooper is looking GOOD!

Comment by Coopersmom_1958 on September 5, 2012 at 9:29am

Thanks Jackie & Shirley for your well wishes! The cooler weather coming will be so nice. Shirley, I'm looking forward to your new photos and videos! 

Comment by Coopersmom_1958 on September 5, 2012 at 9:28am

Tuesday September 4 2012

I still wasn't feeling good but we went out to see Cooper to groom, pick his feet, check his bump and cold hose again. When I got there I decided to take him into arena to see if he was sore. I put him on the 22' rope and got him going out in a bigger circle, which he really didn't want to do, he wanted to stay right beside me. He looked great, maybe a little stiff on the side with the kick, but he was trotting nice and was going slow and not racing off like he usually does, again wanting to come in to me. We stayed in the arena for about 15 minutes doing some travelling circles, falling leaf pattern and change of directions. I took him over to the scary corners and he was very good about it, just a little hesitation at the one doorway and great every where else. He wanted to go right into the feed room as we have been walking out that way the last few times we went to the outdoor arena. He started doing some circles at close range around me on his own when I was asking for farther circles so I took it. He was bending around me and I was following him and getting dizzy. Al did'nt get any video of us doing that but he did get me after when I grabbed Cooper's neck and stumbled into him and he held me up. I really do think he takes care of me.

After I took him into the wash stall and cold hosed and massaged the bump. I had to put him in the cross ties when we came back into the aisle way, he didn't like that, he wanted to go right into his stall for his treats. There wasn't anyone around and I knew if I tried to ground tie he wouldn't stand there while I stepped away to get things from the tack locker.

I was sweating a lot tonight, it was hard walking around in the arena dirt. I had to keep stopping, resting and getting my wind back, but after on the way home I felt much better. Cooper always makes me feel so good, I have to remember that and at least just go and see him,  groom him and love on him, what therapy!!

Comment by Shirley on September 5, 2012 at 1:02am

Hope you are feeling lots better very fast. Terrible time of year to not feel good. Weather is getting just right for us. Hope anyway....cooler temps have to be right around the corner. Past few days were still hot and humid here but evenings have been much better.
I got pictures and videos on the computer. Now all I have to do is get them on the web.

Will yourself into health!!! Hehe! If only that would work. We'll have to do the best we can with sheer determination.

Comment by Jackie Cochran on September 4, 2012 at 12:31pm

I hope both you an Cooper feel better soon!

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