good dog. . .bad pony

I went out to the barn early so I could take Cooper when I knew there would not be a lot of people there. He had a blast!

Shyloh, on the other hand, not so good. Her cut has not scabbed over and she seems sore on her back end (either from getting kicked or slipping in the mud). Caesar kicked/bit her a few more times since yesterday. Why won't she learn her lesson and stay away from him? I discovered that Caesar is now getting grain, so Shy is probably trying to steal it and he is not letting her. Mike gets real upset that Shyloh is getting beat up. I am not thrilled about it, but they are horses, so as long as she does not get seriously injured, a few kicks and bites are not bad. I was going to work with her on lunging and attempting to jump over poles, but I decided if she is sore, then we will just hang out in the arena. 

After a little bit, Caesar's people came and wanted to ride him in the arena, so I let Shy out to graze. When I went to bring her back in, she bit me! Ouch! And now I have a bruise.  At first, trying to give her the benefit of the doubt, I thought maybe she did not mean it. . .but then I thought again and decided that she did mean it and was probably upset because I was bringing her in from grazing. I did let her know that biting is unacceptable behavior. I think this is more testing to see what she can get away with, as she gets more comfortable with me and the barn. But, I am so disappointed in her, I was just saying yesterday how she has not bit me since I verbally corrected her the first time. 

Cooper is napping as I write this, he is exhausted from his morning at the barn. He never rested, except to lay in mud puddles, as evidenced here. . .

and here. . . Why does he love to lay in mud??

Cooper and Shyloh finally met each other and he finally knew where all that good smell that I come home covered in was coming from.

First meeting! 

They played a little in the arena. . .

Sniff sniff

Shy following Cooper

Cooper checking Shy out as she rolls

And out in the pasture. . .

Cooper made a new friend, Murphy the barn dog! They were tearing it up, running up and down the aisle and out in the pastures!

Running so fast!

Vrooom! Cooper and Murphy! Cooper keeps up pretty good for his age!

All three of them in the arena

Fun times!

I think Cooper has earned himself some more trips to the barn. Now only if Maggie did not act like a wild dingo in public, she could come, too. But that probably won't happen. . .