Cooter

[Rodeo]

We have renamed Cooter "Carter". We wanted something similar to what he had.

Anyway, most of you know him. He is a 4 year old Appy gelding that Jess and I got from Krista. My impression was that he was afraid of everything around him when we were first planning on getting him. Turns out its people that he is terrified of.

So, I went out to pick him up a couple of weeks ago. He wanted no part of me, so with the help of Krista and Jack, he got on the trailer. He was an angel all the way home.

Here is a quick run down on his progress so far.

First few days, I actually had to herd him into the barn and into his stall. And forget taking his halter off. He was a basket case. But he adored Rodeo and was quite excited about the other horses around.

Eventually we were able to catch him in the turnout and lead him in, although he was still quite nervous about this. In his stall he'd shy away to the back if you tried to pet him. So we basically just left him and let him settle in.

After a few more days, Jess had him out, and tied for grooming. He was good with his front feet, but did not like anyone at his hind. More fear than anything. No threats to kick or anything. She also had him in crossties for grooming and stuff.

Since then he's been introduced to other horses in the little herd, but not yet out with them all yet. He will be in the next day or two.

And I am pleased to say that he will now call out to us when we walk in the barn, he loves to be petted over his stall door (still a bit wary inside his stall), and I can now turn him out leading him by his halter. I wouldn't lead him anywhere else by the halter just yet, but he is really comming along!

[katie muise]

I love his new name!
Sounds like he's setteled in well, and is loving have lots of other horses around him!

[Krista]

aww so happy he's settled in!
i knew his fear was of people and not objects... he'd take his blanket off the fence and drag it around but as soon as a person was holding it he'd be a basket case!!...

had no idea you guys changed his name, but i love it!
so happy he has you guys !

[katlyn]

good to hear hes doing well. !

[Alecia&Bam ♥]

Good to here he is doing well.
: )

[Jess]

He is a really good boy, as nervous as he can be he has never once even threatened to kick, bite, strike, or run through anyone. The first day he was there, it took me half an hour to catch him.. He had no intention of letting me get handy to him, but I didn't push him and waited until he was comfortable with me approaching him, then just stood next to him for a few minutes petting and scratching him, clipped the lead on, gave him a quick brushing and then let him go again.

Second day, it took me about 5 minutes to get him to let me approach him.. If he ran away, I'd push him on. When he stopped and turned to give me his attention, I'd back off a little. It didn't take him long before he caught on and let me catch him.

Sunday... He stood while I approached him right from the get-go, let me love on him and then stick him in his stall, no fuss whatsoever. Honestly he is super smart, and so in tune to the people around him, which is going to be a great thing once we work through his nervousness. Like Steph said, he wasn't crazy about me handling his back feet.. Didn't kick, but tried to scatter away from me so I couldn't pick up his foot. Did it once, I asked him to move back over. Did it again, asked him to move back over... Third time I asked, he let me pick it up without any fuss at all.

Going to try ponying him off of Gunner and maybe lunging this weekend, just to start getting him into a routine. He is going to make a super nice little horse when it's all said and done.

[Krista]

thats so awesome Jess!
i can see you've both fallen for him as hard as i did !
he knows his stuff he just needs to get over whatever happened to him in the past!
he is a very smart horse and i'm so glad he has the two of you to help him along!
he'll soon be five now BTW !

[Rodeo]

Today was Carter's first day out with everybody. He loved it. He played with the ponies and just enjoyed himself. We just brought the horses in about 5 minutes ago, and he was perfect. I just took him by the halter and walked on into the barn with him. You could tell he was still a little nervous but was willing to trust me which I was really pleased about. Next fine day we are going to do some arena work!

[Krista]

YAY !!

[katlyn]

Good to hearr.

[Rodeo]

Each day Carter is improving. He is still really nervous of people, but not as much as he was. When I first got him, I couldn't get close to him in the turnout to pet him. He would just keep a comfortable distance. I am really happy to say that the other day, while I was doing some work in the turnout, Carter approached me all on his own. I didn't know anything until a horse was sniffing at my shoulder and when I turned around it was him! So he got lots of "goooood boooyyyyyy" and rubs and scratches. And I let him leave when he felt like it.

I've also been making everything into no big deal. Instead of going into his stall and trying to coax him into his halter, I just walk on in like he's any other horse, and put the halter on. That seems to be working well for him because now he's much more comfortable with me doing that, and he doesn't leap to the back of his stall. Same thing with filling his water bucket or feeding him.

Jess lunged him the other night, but I wasn't there so she'll have to post about that one.

[Krista]

updates? photos?
thought about him A LOT when I put Jack out in the pasture yesterday..
congrats on all the progress with him, makes me happy knowing he's safe!

[Jess]

I keep forgetting to bring my camera to the barn! Hopefully I'll be up tomorrow and try to snap a few.

I ponied him on his first trail ride the other day, he was excellent. We went on the road, by the water, in the woods, through a river, and then he stood as still as a statue when we tied him at Camp 13 for a couple hours. He is really starting to come around and relax, there's such an unbelievable difference in him. He's had the bridle on and everything with very little fanfare.

[Rodeo]

I attempted to introduce Carter to the hose on Sunday. It was 24 degrees in my back yard, and I gave Rodeo a quick bath while Carter looked on (he loves Rodeo and follows him everywhere).

Once Rodeo was done, I let him graze on the lawn near by while I started on Carter's legs. All was good till I got brave and mooved up to his belly. The it was yee haw! He turn and ran, and of course, I was too stubborn to let go of the lead, so I got dragged on my ass till I brough up solid on the corner post of the arena.

Anyhoo, he ran off into the barn, so I calmly went in after him, got him, and had one of the kids just turn the hose on a light shower, and point it at the ground. Carter trusted me enough to get within a couple of feet of it, and then we called it a day.

This evening I took him out of his stall, and put him in crossties. I gave him a good grooming. He loved getting his itchy spots scratched. So I got brave and decided to use some miracle groom on him. He was just a tiny bit nervous, but with encouragement, I was able to spray it over him with very little fuss. And I put detangler in his mane and forlock and brushed it out. I was quite pleased, so I just left him then, and let him to back to his stall.

He's comming along! Still a really nervous horse, but trusting me more and more every day!

[katie muise]

Sounds like you're doing great with him! You should post some pictures