What??? I have to work now??

Hello my friends,

It has been awhile since you've heard from me, but I've been enjoying the good life of a young horse. I'm two and half now and looking great if I say so myself. For the past year I've been at a barn that had my stall opened up into my own pasture.

Last year, I was by myself. It was a little lonely when Rachel wasn't there, but it was quiet and peaceful. In the spring I got two neighbors. One was my half brother, Artax. The other was a thoroughbred named Arthur. He had a lot of energy.

My summer was nice, although there were too many pesky flies around. I don't like flies.

When the trees started to turn color, Rachel showed me this metal box. For some reason she wanted me to go in it but I wasn't too sure. It moved when I walked in. There was hay on the other end so I decided to make Rachel's life easier and just go all the way in. Not so sure that was a good idea.

The walls closed up and it got dark inside. Then the box really moved. Very weird feeling. Didn't care much for it. When it stopped moving the walls opened up and Rachel came to walk me out. Guess where I was?

I was back home, where I was born. It looked familiar but I hadn't been there for a year.  My sister Lareine was still there and there are a lot of boys I don't remember.

Being home isn't the same because for some reason, Rachel and Michelle want me to actual do things. I don't have my own pasture and the neighbors are noisy. I wasn't sure at first what they wanted me to do but after a few days I got the idea. They just want me to go in circles. Easy enough.

The problem is doing it the speed Michelle wants me to and when she wants me to. After doing that for a few days Rachel put something on my back. This thing called a saddle is odd. Didn't know why I needed it.

After I did the circles the way they wanted with the saddle on my back, they added these things on the side called stirrups. I DON'T like the sound they make when I trot. Very annoying! But I did it, because I am an awesome horse.

I've been going in circles everyday for a month now, and what happens? Michelle and Rachel changed things again. Just when I get it down pat they always add something new.

Today Rachel got on my back. I love my girl so I don't want to hurt her, but it felt weird. I walked and trotted, though I was hesitant about doing that. Would she fall off?

I guess I did all right because their voices were happy and calm. I even got a treat afterward though I am not sure how I'm suppose to chew it. Its not like hay at all.

I wonder how long I'll be doing this circle stuff with Rachel on my back and when they'll add something new again. They are lucky I like Rachel so much because I wouldn't mind going back to my pasture stall and just hanging out all winter. That was the life....


Until next time,

Coco, the Magnificient
(La Comtesse)

See how I've grown!

Hi! I'm a year and a half old now and thought I'd show you how much I've grown. 

Rachel and I have had a good summer pal-ing along with each other. Plus, there has been some excitement. I went for a ride the other day and when I came out of the trailer I was at a new barn. I have a stall now and my own pasture to play in. Rachel is hoping this will keep me warm in the winter in case I don't want to play in the snow all the time.

Rachel walked around with me the other day and we saw a big SCARY puddle. I don't like them but Rachel made me look at it for awhile. Still don't like them.

See you next time!

Love,

Coco

Family Members

I have a big brother!

This week a new horse, Sammy, came to live at our barn. He's BIG! Well, I found out he belongs to Rachel too. I think he must be a pretty important horse because he has a lot of ribbons.

Sammy and his 2011 ribbons

I don't think he likes me much though. When Rachel brought me out to meet him he made this mean sound at me. I didn't like that. Oh well, maybe when I get bigger he'll change his mind.

Coco and Sammy November 2011

A New Friend

I'm no longer the youngest at the barn!

When Rachel came to visit me today we went right into the arena. I like it in there because I can run and play. Today, there was another horse in there and guess what... he's younger than me! Michelle wanted me to help him learn how to play and he followed me around all over the place. Usually I'm the one following my sisters around so this was new, but I liked it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmM6WLu5oyU

We got tired quick because Rachel was chasing us with the scary bag. Michelle led King away and Rachel started to brush me down. Last week I wasn't so sure I liked her brushing the mud away from my feet but this week it wasn't so bad.

I'll let you know what other fun things happen soon.

Love, Coco

The Big Day

Guess what, I've got a new horse!!! Her name is La Comtesse, or Coco for short, but mom wants to call her Tess. She is a 6 month old, bay filly. Her parents are Festival and Landonn, who is kept at Topline Stables/Walden.

We've been thinking for a few months about the horse I'll have after Sammy retires, and mom had the idea to buy one of Michelle's foals and have me train it alongside her. This way I could learn how to train baby horses and know the horse's background and training.

On Tuesday I found out that Michelle was trying to sell her 3 year old mare Lily, and Coco (I know I should call her Tess, but old habits die hard). When this opportunity came up, mom and I discussed our options with the rest of the family and contacted Michelle for more information on Coco and everything my training the filly alongside her would entail. Michelle was all for the idea, so we went out to her barn today before I rode Sammy, since their both in the same general area.

After Michelle put Hollywood, a large pony, away we went and retrieved Coco from the pasture. She came willingly when Michelle called her and I led her into the arena. There Michelle showed us Coco's gaits (walk, trot, canter) by free lunging her. I was impressed with Coco's movement. She seemed to float above the ground as she trotted, and her canter looked effortless. As she lunged Coco, Michelle was telling me things about her and baby horses in general. George's barking in the doorway of the arena made it difficult to hear her however. 

When Coco was done running around, Michelle had me try to clip the lead line onto her halter and lead her around. I quickly found out that you can't approach a foal head on without them running away. Michelle showed me how to approach her and, after I attached the lead to her halter and walked her around a bit, I put her away in the stall. 

After mom and Michelle finished talking financial stuff, mom wrote the check and La Comtesse was ours. Hopefully I have what it takes to raise a baby. And I know, no spoiling her and no treats!

Hi, Let me introduce myself

My name is La Comtesse, or as my mom's owner Michelle Tyner calls me, Coco. I was born in March 2011 at Newgotton Farm and my mother's name is Festival. Mom recently went to live with a new human, an eleven year old girl, to teach her how to ride really well. Humans are hard to train so she'll be busy. I don't miss mom too too much because I still have my big sisters, Lareine and Louise Quatorze here with me. We just call Louise Quatorze by the name of Lily. She's looking for a new home.

Festival and Evelyn Tyner at Timberridge 2011

Mom was 20 years old when she had me. She's a great mom. I got to stay in the stall with her after I was born and follow her around everywhere. Sometimes, when mom was getting tacked up for a ride, I'd sneak past everyone and get to run around the arena by myself.  Here is a picture of me a few days old aren't I cute???

La Comtesse March 2011

The summer was pretty easy for me. I just got to bug my mom a lot and run around outside with my big sisters. They are nice but I think I'm mom's favorite because she shared her lunch with me. I also went on a ride in a big box and when I got out a bunch of people looked at me and mom. I must have been really cute because Michelle was happy and said I got a silver RPSI rating. But then they touched me with something hot and that hurt. It left a mark on my backside.

La Comtesse and Festival Summer 2011

I've never met my dad but I have heard plenty about him. His name is Landonn and he lives at Topline Stables/Walden in Aurora. I think I have a lot of half brothers and sisters in the world because their pictures keep popping up on his facebook page. LANDONN-I-Holsteiner-Stallion

Today something different happened though. I was outside with Lareine, she was babysitting me. She does a good job of it. I think its because she's expecting a baby of her own. Anyway, I was outside and Michelle put a leash on me and brought me in. She handed me off to this other young girl. I don't know who she was but I think she cleaned my stall this summer and gave me new shavings to play in all the time. That was nice of her.

La Comtesse Summer 2011

The humans took me into the arena and made me run around in circles. Michelle carried around the spooky bag but it didn't bother me too much. The other girl just stood and watched. I don't know what she was looking at but if you want to try and figure it out here's a video (the dog barking is George, I like to chase him around whenever I can but you might want to turn down your volume just in case).

I let them hook me back up to the lead line and take me inside again to my stall. The humans were talking and I think I got sold to the young girl. Not sure what that means. I heard something about the girl not being allowed to baby me and being stern. I can probably charm my way around that as long as Michelle isn't looking. 

Hopefully the girl will come back and give me more shavings to play in. I'd like that.