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! :)