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. :)
No comments:
Post a Comment