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.