Best 'lil horse this side of the Mississippi!

Oh my Cocoa Bean. What a love! On Wednesday, I went up and did some riding in the arena. He was FANTASTIC! I went in with a plan that I drew up earlier, set up some cones, and completed the patterns. There were a few ladies in the arena (new ones were Alyssa and her horse Holly, and Chrissy with her horse Canada - pronounced cah-nah-dah) that I sat and chatted with after riding. Margo was also there (who I met on my first day there, and like very much) and she was giving Cocoa a massage while we were talking... I think he wants her to be his new owner. :) Anyway, he was great, I felt great, and it was just all-around GREAT! For the first time in a looooong time, I didn't want to get OUT of the saddle! I could have stayed and ridden all night! He was cautious around the jumps, as they were strewn about the arena. We stayed away from them for the most part, but I didn't let them stop me and that is fantastic. It helped that I set myself and Cocoa up for success, which I learned a long time ago from Tracy, and am grateful for.

We had our first lesson with Ute last Saturday, and are going to have one again tomorrow. It went really well, and I really like her. She's very in-tune with both of us, and has set some expectations that I ride and practice. That helps me a lot - I feel like I can't blow it off. I wanted to go up by Cocs tonight, but mom wants to go to dinner. Maybe I'll come get her and we can head back down to West Bend... I just don't want to NOT see him!!! OH! And I put his boots on his front feet for the first time Wednesday, since he's ouchy on the gravel... it was sooo funny! Poor guy! He stepped high and looked at it like WTH!? I love him so much! Hopefully his cooler sheet will come today and I can have that up there with us to get him from the barn to the arena when we're done. So many new, very cool and exciting things!!!

GLORY BE TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!!

I get in my own way.

And that, my friends, is VERY frustrating. How will I fix it today? I will go and do something nice for someone else - be a blessing to someone and take my focus OFF of myself. Seriously. I know better.

Untitled today.

Well, it took me about 5 minutes at the apple orchard to know it wasn't right. Moving on! Speaking of moving, Al will try to convince me one day that yes, we should move... then the next day he doubles back and works extra hard to make me think we can't/shouldn't. Ugh. Oh well - I know it will happen when it is supposed to and that I need to stop trying to figure out things that only God is in control of. BUT, speaking of moving again, I decided to move Cocoa to a new boarding facility in West Bend! Country View Equine Estates... what a place! I signed contracts, etc. today, and went over and told Cheryl. She was totally understanding, and I am very thankful for that. She made such a good point that I probably do much better in a 'controlled' environment like an indoor, as there will be no pheasants popping up or dogs distracting, etc. etc. Yep, she's right! So I'm moving him November 1st. Looking forward to the perks of the new place, but I will miss Cheryl. :) I know I'll still see and talk to her, but I know it will be bittersweet to leave.

I spent some time grooming and loving on Cocs - he is THE best. I just love him so so SOOOOO much! What a sweet boy. I am looking forward to becoming good enough for him. :) Ute will help us, I know. She is the trainer at the barn. A very intriguing German woman! :) I hope he'll be happy at his new home. He deserves to be so happy. :)

I. Trotted... ON. PURPOSE.

Wow... another summer, gone by. :( It's winding down in to fall, and I've failed to write in awhile. Sorry! First of all, I am approaching 30 pounds lost, and I feel fantastic! I love being able to EASILY go get Cocoa from down the hill, walk him, hop in the saddle from the ground, and just feel LIGHTER when I'm on him! I'm sure he appreciates that! :) Today, we trotted... On. Purpose. I set up four cones in a rectangle, and after lots of lunging I hopped on and we did some exercises. We trotted just a little, but it felt GREAT being strong up in that saddle and posting will again be so easy for me someday!!!!! I was proud of Cocoa... I brought him up from the very very bottom field, and none of the other horses came up with us. So, he was a little "alert" being that he was going up with just me. He kept his eye in that direction, and I had to work that out of him. So, we lunged awhile until he was a little more focused on what we were doing than where the other horses were. Then I hopped on. He tries to dance a little when I first go to get on. I made him back, then didn't have that problem anymore. We did some exercises from cone to cone and around, and did some trotting, some backing, and some moving hindquarters. Before I knew it, I was thinking about just what we were doing and was completely comfortable!! That's what I strive to do again, and we will. He takes good care of me, and we will get there.

My little goofball... when we were done riding I brushed him and walked him around the drive on to the road, across the street to eat some grass and clover and then took him back to pasture. We walked down half way together, then I untied him. He stood, which made me VERY happy, so I started walking down further with him. Pretty soon, he was taking off at a full gallop and I could only hear his feet going for awhile... then I saw him running and kicking up his heels when he got near the others! My heart smiled and I giggled. I love him so much!!! He is such a funny little guy!

Al and I want to go look at a place over on E that has almost 10 acres, with an apple orchard. We could bring Cocoa there!!! I'll report back on what it turns out to be.

For now, signing out a very, very happy girl with a very, very nice pony!

A blast from the past, and a small explosion!

An interesting Saturday, indeed. I got a text from Cocoa's previous owner asking if they could come for a visit. We've been keeping in touch over the last year, and we really seem to hit it off. I was really excited that they wanted to come and visit him. :) So, they came out and Sarah, Cocoa's "girl" is now 13 and has obviously grown since last July! She kept saying "he's so small!" and we were cracking up! He recognized them right away, and I thought that was just so darn cool. I was trying to get him haltered to bring him out before they got there, and naughty Texas decided he wanted everyone away from a human and kept chasing them around! I tried swinging my stick to chase him away, and he really wasn't much phased by it. Anyway, they all ended up at the bottom, and I decided I'd wait until Michelle and Sarah arrived to see if he'd come running when she whistled. :) He didn't exactly come running, but his ears were up and he was looking like hey! There they are! It was so darn cute ... Pistol came behind him and gently nudged him with his nose, as if to say "go on, little guy. They came to see you." It was the sweetest thing and my heart still melts playing that scene back in my head.

They were so very happy to see Cocoa, and Michelle kept commenting on how great he looks. That made me feel really good. I've been working him, so he is definitely toned up and doesn't have all the weight he did last year. He DOES look good! ;) So we walked him down to the barn and I had all my brushes & stuff out. We chatted for a bit and I asked Sarah if she wanted to hop on him bareback. I think she was a bit shy at first, but she smiled and I could tell she wanted to. So I bridled him and we took her up to the roundpen. He was a really good boy for her!!! She was commenting on how she thinks he took advantage of her because she wasn't strong enough to correct him - I totally get what she's saying. They did fantastic, though, and she looked really good up on him. Michelle video-taped a bit of it and took some pics. They were all smiles, and that made me really happy. After awhile Sarah opened up a bit, and was telling me how much she loved glittering Cocoa up when she had him. Michelle said she always painted his hooves different colors, and he was always groomed to the hilt! They had me giggling! Sarah then told me once they had a rummage sale, so she took pony paint and wrote RUMMAGE SALE on Cocoa's side, and walked him up and down their road!!! How creative!!!! :D It was a fantastic visit, and I told her whenever she wanted to come back and ride him I'd saddle him up for her. :) What a sweet family!

So they left and I decided to give Cocoa a grooming, and to clean my "bucket" or whatever you call it, of supplies. It was all filthy, and I had a bucket there with a brush so I would clean a little, then tend to Cocoa. He was acting a little dancy-prancy the closer he got to the hitching post. Not terrible, just not standing still like he normally does. He let me do whatever to him - cleaned and dressed his wounds, cleaned his sheath, picked hooves, etc. When I decided to clean his hooves with water and a brush is when we ran in to trouble. He would NOT come close to that post without worry. I can't figure it out. He'd step forward but then as I'd come toward him to pick up a foot, he'd back up. We played that game about 3 or 4 times, until he finally flipped out. I mean FLIPPED OUT. Pulling back and whipping his head back and forth, trying to get away. I was yelling at him to WHOA, but it wasn't working. He swung himself all the way around that post until he got free of his halter... then walked over and started eating grass. I was shocked. I'd NEVER seen him behave like that!

I got him re-haltered and brought him back over and just lightly tied him to the post. I ended up cleaning his feet with the brush and water, so that was a good thing - didn't give up! He wasn't being buddy-sour, he was clearly bothered by that area. I am now trying to figure out what is going on with him. He is just fine otherwise... I feel bad for him. I don't want him to be afraid of ANYTHING, EVER. Especially when he's with me!

Well, our bond is tight so I know we'll work it out together. I just hope he can somehow understand that I will always, always protect him and take care of him. :)

Crisis averted: AFTERSHOCK

Wow. I'm still feeling a little melancholy today. Yesterday I had a scare that Cocoa was foundering. After we found out he was just being sassy/naughty, I felt much better. But after getting back to work, then home, then getting home from a housewarming party we stopped at... I felt so emotionally DRAINED. I would even say borderline sad, even though I had every reason to be elated that my boy is ok. I think it was a bit of worry - and I know I can't do that. God is in control, but I continue to pray and pray and pray for him to keep my boy safe and healthy for me. I want Cocoa to be with me until we're both too old to do stuff anymore. ;)

So what happened? Well, on my way to work Cheryl called and asked if she could tack up Cocoa and give Dan & Jessie's nephews a pony ride in the round pen. Said Gus & Texas were too tall for her to be throwing them up there. :) I get it. :) At first I thought she asked if she could PACK him up, like she was going to take him somewhere. Once I figured out she said tack and not pack, I understood. :) So of course I said yes. Well, later in the morning she goes to saddle him up, and he does this funky sit-back thing, and goes over on to his left side while being tied. First thing she thought - FOUNDER. He wanted the pressure off of his front feet. Down he went with the saddle on, making kind of a mess of the saddle. One stirrup is completely bent to heck, and there are a few scuffs and scratches. Not broken, though. :) Anyway, I called Dr. Mary, left work to go to Cocoa, and had Al meet me there. When we got there he looked fine, other than a cut on his front and rear legs which Cheryl helped me clean and treat. After talking with Dr. Mary, we determined he wasn't showing any other symptoms of founder - refusing to walk, or walking like he was on eggshells, refusing to eat (didn't have that problem AT ALL), and the area around his hooves being warm. So, I got back to work for a few hours and checked on him later. Oh. Em. Gee. All the way to Cheryl's I just kept praying and praying and praying and praying to God that he was not foundering. If he would have and I couldn't ever ride him again, it wouldn't change how much I love him, and I would NEVER part with him! But, it made me sad to think of it because of how he is THE one that is perfect for me to ride. And, with the little bit of riding I do, it's hard to find a pony that you can trust like I trust him. Thankfully, those are all things I don't have to think about now. :)

So Cheryl felt awful and apologized, and offered to buy me a new saddle. Aw heck, it's just "stuff". So it's not "brand new" anymore... it's not like it was a show saddle, or that it's unusable or something. So no way. It's going to be just fine! The ONLY thing that matters is that Cocoa is ok. Thank you GOD (looking up and smiling with a grateful heart).

Well, I better get going. Gotta get my 1.5 mile walk in with Missy, then go buy some "in-between" pants that fit for the time being, until I get in to an even SMALLER size! Yay! Then it's off to check on and hang out with and love on my Cocoa!!! A great day indeed! :)

I forgot to mention...

Both my hinder, and Cocoa's hinder, are getting tight and taut!!! Alot less jigglin' going on there! ;)

Good things come in small packages :)

Little Cocoa Puff... my horsey love!! Tonight, we had fun again. He "gets" the lunging exercise and does it really well. We worked on moving the hind quarters, and he did pretty good with that. I lunged him more, then I hopped on. I saddled him and he was a little head-flippy while lunging, but I think his mane was stuck under his saddle pad and it was pulling. Because he did fine with me on. I only did a tiny bit of walking, but he was a good boy. We need to work on moving hind quarters and backing, but flexing is next on the list after we master hind quarters!! I felt really good in the saddle - it's like I felt lighter or something... OH! I lost about 3 more pounds!! I'm down almost 10 - and I feel GRRRRRRRREAT! I'm so happy to be on a good road headed in the right direction. So I set two goals for this riding season... one is to be able to hop on Cocoa bareback from the ground, which will require some good leg strength and some good core and upper body strength. I got in the saddle from the ground tonight, and it was the easiest time I've ever had getting in a saddle from the ground. It was AH. MAY. ZING. I can tell my legs and butt are gaining strength again - what a great feeling! The other goal is to participate in a fun show doing something by the end of summer. If I don't make that one, I will not beat myself up. But I really want to at the very least TRY. :) Now I just have to decide if I want to have Christal come and give me lessons so I know what to expect... hmmm... maybe I'll ask little Molly to come over and work with me!! I'm so looking forward to summer and spending as much time as I can with my little horse. Here's the broken record again... I love him soooo much. I thank God for giving him to me!!!

SUUUUUUUUUUUUUNY Day... takin' my BLUUUUUES away!

What a great weekend! The weather was great, and I spent lots of time with horses! Horse-A-Rama yesterday was very cool. I watched the Midwest Renegade Riders which is a team of girls who do trick riding. AH. MAY. ZING. It was really a lot of fun to watch. There were many neat things there - not as big as horse fair, but not as busy and crazy, either. So, later I went up by Cocoa. I brushed adn loved on him. :) The best boy EVER! I took him up to the round pen... it's time to start our training for the year. I did some lunging, then we worked a little on backing and then did the sending exercise between me and the fence. He did sooooooo good! He is such a good boy!!!! He really wants to please, and is so smart! He had LOTS of energy... when I was lunging him, I tried to step in front and get him to change direction, but he was full of it and just had to keep going forward! So, I let him. As he got more tired, I changed his direction and he responded well. Looks like I have to bend forward and direct him in using my finger... he did really well with that today. OK, I gotta go. The basement totally flooded three hours ago and I gotta git to bed!

Howdy, strangers!

Well, well, well. It's been QUITE some time since I've posted! What a long, un-fun Wisconsin winter it has been. It just kept going, and going, and going... and snowing, and snowing, and snowing. I try to tell myself I'll be better this year and get out and do stuff. Guess I don't try hard enough. :)

Here it is the end of April and we are JUST starting to get weather that resembles spring! Thankfully this weekend was beautiful... unfortunately I was still a bit down and out from the kidney stone surgery I had on WEDNESDAY! Ugh. New drink of choice? Water. DEFINITELY do NOT want to go through that again. Seriously awful.

So what has happened over the winter? Hmm, let's see. I bought a two-horse trailer; Emily had a baby girl, Mari, in December; Cheryl got kicked in the side/back by Texas and had some broken ribs and a scare because she only has one kidney now; Mom decided she's not done floating so we talked about her moving... and she's moving in another 3 or so weeks to live with Mary; I have been doing some painting and am having a booth at this year's AGES fundraiser; and, WE BOUGHT A CAMPER! Yep, a hard-top camper with a potty and shower and everything! Right now it's sitting in our backyard being packed up and readied for the season ahead. What's even MORE super-cool? Our first camping weekend will most likely be at the horseriders camp here in Sheboygan, and we will have our new camper AND Cocoa!!! How exciting is that!?

And speaking of my equine love, Mr. Cocoa is doing fantastic. Even feeling crummy today, I went to see him, loved him and brushed him. He was a very happy boy. I've actually been in the saddle already this year! TWICE! I'm looking forward to bonding even more with him. He is my love, and it still makes my heart go pitter-patter when I merely think about him. I always break in to a smile when I think of him. His cuteness, his sweetness, his little spunkiness. He is just awesome. And, he's lost a quite a bit of weight, so he's looking really good. Now I have to catch up to him!! Didn't know he joined Jenny Craig over the winter. :) But I'm working on it so I can be just right for him!

Well, hopefully my mind has stopped racing now and I can go to bed and get some sleep. I needed to wind down after an awesome episode of Revenge! LOL! What better way to do it than re-reading my posts from last year about a wonderful horse named Cocoa that I am so completely blessed to call "mine". Love and kisses goodnight, sweet boy!!!!