Last Post of 2012!

Three Things I Didn't Know About Winter Horsemanship:

1) It's warmer in the barn than it is outside... but it is not warm.

2) A horse's boisterous energy increases in proportion to decreasing outside temperatures.
     ~ 30 degrees: Nox has an extra spring in his step.
     ~ 20 degrees: Nox prances around like a parade horse.
     ~ 10 degrees: I saddled a pogo stick.

3) Horse manure freezes rock solid.

Happy New Year everyone!  I'm looking forward to 2013 and the horsey days it will bring!

He's so handsome!



The barn in December.

Brrr...

It's cold.  Really cold.  There's a few inches of snow on the ground and tomorrow night it will be in the single digits!  Everyone else in the barn put blankets on their horses yesterday, so I pulled Nox's blanket out, too. 

I grew up riding horses in very warm places, so the whole concept of blanketing horses is fairly new to me.  It's not new to Nox, however, and he surprised me with his calmness as I flopped the blanket over his back.  I just never know what is going to startle or upset him.  I know that he's worn a variety of blankets and cooler sheets in his racing life, but he's also seen leaves, cats, and poles before - and he was afraid of those!

We had no problem with the blanket and when I arrived at the barn today, the blanket was still securely in place and when I slipped my hand under it, his back felt warm and toasty.  The front panel was a bit frayed, so he's obviously found something new to chew on.

I rode tonight and Nox was very good.  I've increased our trotting workout by a few minutes and he's still holding up well.  He slightly stumbled a few times, but he's due to have his feet trimmed next week and I think his toes are a little long.  (He's also just a bit of a klutz.)  A few nights ago I rode in the ring with another horse and rider.  Nox was a little uppity about it.  I think he feels competitive with another horse jogging around the ring and I had to work hard to keep his focus on me.  It was a good experience for us and I hope we'll be able to do that more often.  I'm usually the only person at the barn in the evenings and it's nice to expose Nox to other horses and riders outside of a racing context.

I hung some garland and a stocking on his stall door, so Nox is all ready for Christmas.  I expect there will be plenty of carrots and apples stuffed in his stocking on Christmas morning - he's been a very good horse. 

Speaking of Christmas morning: this year, I will wake up and there will be a horse in a barn with my name on the stall door.  I must have been very good this year, too.

Happy Holidays everyone!  I hope all of your wishes come true!

Nox, wearing his blanket.

Eating snow.

   

Short and Very Sweet

Nox has been very good this past week and he looks and feels very sound.  Two days ago I rode him for 35 minutes (our longest ride to date) and he moved freely without any hitch in his giddy-up.  I even cantered him a few strides!  Today, Nox was just as nice to ride.  I'm very pleased with his progress!

Nox has also been very sweet on the ground and even the stable owners complimented his improved manners.

So far, so good!




Nox, looking intelligent.



Goofballs, together.

The Horse, The Cat, and The Tarp

Nox doesn't like change.  If something in his environment is different than it was the day before, he gets upset.  It took him two weeks to get over his indignation when the stable owners parked the ATV in the corner of the indoor ring and covered it with a tarp for the winter (it usually lives outside next to the barn).  Nox snorted, pawed, and glared at the ATV.  I had to coax him with carrots to stand near it and it was a few weeks before we could ride in that corner without him spooking.

Nox has been fine about the ATV for a month now.  We can ride around and he doesn't even glance over there anymore. 

Until tonight.

One of the barn cats decided that tonight, while I was riding, she would dash through the ring and throw herself under the tarped ATV, making a loud rustling sound as she did so.

Yee Haw!  It was as if Nox thought the tarped ATV was some kind of magic transfiguring machine and the cat would burst from it a raging, hungry lion.  He launched us into the air and we landed about six feet the left.  The next instant we were at the other end of the ring, I was still in the saddle, and he was snorting at the ATV.

I made him stand quietly for a few minutes and then urged him towards the scary corner.  No luck.  He was spooky and mad and I'd lost his attention.  I stayed on until I could get him to walk in a semi-calm circle in the safe end of the ring and walk over a pole.  I untacked him in the ring and let him loose. 

I nonchalantly wandered over to the ATV - Nox only followed me halfway - and rustled the tarp.  The cat wasn't budging, but Nox seemed impressed by my bravery.  He came a little closer and snorted.  I whistled softly and flapped the tarp.  He stepped forward and sniffed.  This game continued until he standing next to the ATV and I prayed the cat wouldn't choose that moment to fly out from under the tarp.

She didn't. 

Nox and I walked calmly away and I gave him an extra long grooming session and some extra carrots in his bucket.

We'll see how he feels about the ATV tomorrow.

The scary tarped ATV.



Nox, worried about it.

Nox, one ear pointed at me, the other at the ATV.
He's not sure if it's safe, but he's willing to go this far, at this point.
He eventually stood next to it.

   

6 Month Anniversary

I've had the joy and pleasure of being Nox's person for six months now!  On one hand, I can hardly believe that I've been a horse owner that long.  On the other, how is it possible that I've only had Nox in my life for six months?!  I'm very, very happy. 

Nox recovered from his barefoot soreness and he's much stronger on his injured side.  I'm riding most days again and his movements feel less restricted.  We're walking and lightly trotting for 20-25 minutes.  A few times he's gotten a little excited and cantered a few strides when I asked him to trot, and although I would love to canter him a few laps and see how his stride feels, I've pulled him back.  I think it's too soon to push him into a faster gait with a rider. 

Nox has also been much sweeter on the ground since I asserted some stricter rules.  He no longer tries to bite the lead rope or my hands, and he stands quietly and calmly.  The poor guy just loves to play with his mouth, however, and since I won't let him chew on things, he's taken to being more insistent about having his tongue rubbed.  He loves it!  Nox will stick his tongue out and move his nose close to me so that I can grab his tongue.  He'll then move his head away, stretching his tongue out.  If I let go, he'll move his head back for me to grab it again.  It's very weird, very goofy, and I love him for it. 

Daniel came out to visit us over Thanksgiving.  We ate platefuls of carbohydrates, made peanut butter bombs, and played with Nox.  Nox and Daniel hit it off right away.  Daniel doesn't have much horse experience but he clearly has a natural talent.  Nox tried to get away with biting the lead rope and Daniel quickly put him in his place.  He was content to follow Daniel around like a puppy, and when Daniel was willing to rub his tongue - their bond was sealed.  It was very cute. 

One by one, my family and friends are coming out to meet Nox.  The stable owners joke that Nox is the most popular horse in the barn with visitors from all over the country.  It's true!

Nox and Daniel, bonding.

     
It's dark by the time I get to the barn these days - the sun sets before 5:00 pm.  The indoor ring has lights but when I take photos they all turn out green tinged.  I probably won't be able to take many good photos until spring, so I'll post a few pics from the summer in the meantime.

One of my favorites.  He looks so happy, and that makes me happy.

Tough Lessons for Both Horse and Human

Nox has been steadily improving since removing his front shoes two weeks ago.  He happily runs around the indoor ring and I will start riding again this week. 

Unfortunately, his attitude has been steadily more aggressive.  He's always been a mouthy horse and he likes to play with things.  Recently, Nox has been biting and chewing on his lead rope.  I've tried to discourage the behavior, but then he gets annoyed and nips at my hand.  I've been too lenient, with him being sore, and my gentle reprimands have not been effective.  I hate to hit any animal and I've been trying to discipline Nox with loud protests and sharp jerks of his halter.  He doesn't even flinch.

Last Thursday, he was really misbehaving and I couldn't get through our ground manner games because he was so focused on biting at me.  I sent him off to run around the ring and he turned his rear end toward me and kicked out with both feet - a horse version of "flipping the bird".  He was too far to actually connect his hooves to my body, but the messgae was clear: he did not respect me.

I knew I had to regain control and get more aggressive with Nox, but I really disliked the idea of hitting him.  That night, I read some articles about disrespectful, unmanageable horses and one article really hit me hard.  The trainer wrote that a horse that bites and kicks is a dangerous horse, and the future for a dangerous horse is grim.  Often, owners are too lenient because they feel like they know the horse well enough to manage him.  But what happens if that owner can't keep the horse anymore?  If someone else had to care for the horse, would they feel safe?  If not, the tragic fate of that horse is entirely the lenient owner's fault.

I read that and had an ah-ha moment.  Nox escaped the slaughter truck once when he came off the racetrack injured.  If I couldn't train him to be a respectful and manageable horse, it will be my fault if he hurts me or someone else; my fault if no one wants him, if I can't care for him anymore.

I went to the barn the next day with a whole new attitude.  I led Nox into the ring and the second he reached down to bite the rope and my hand, I came at him like a pitbull - slapping the lead rope against his chest and shoulders, growling, and yelling "No" for about 8 long seconds as he backed up in surprise and fear.  Then I stood next to him like nothing happened.  He was breathing hard and his eyes were wide as he looked at me, probably wondering who the heck I was.

I walked forward and told Nox to "walk".  He took a few steps with me, a little hesitantly, and then reached out to bite the rope again.  A second time I whirled around, repeatedly smacked his chest with the lead rope, and backed him up yelling loudly. 

He didn't try it again.  In fact, he followed me like a puppy, stood still and calm while I dangled the lead rope in front of him, backed up as fast as his feet could shuffle when I told him to "back", and played the ground manner games with better precision than ever.  I could just point to the foot I wanted him to move and he responded instantly.  I had Nox's respect but I didn't feel any triumph.

I called Best Husband Ever and told him about it with shame in my voice.  I hated that I had to hit Nox with the lead rope.  I felt like a terrible person who beats animals and I was embarrassed, frankly, even if I did earn the respect I wanted.  Best Husband Ever listened sympathetically.  He reminded me that my gentler methods weren't effective (true), a cotton lead rope wasn't enough to really hurt a 1200 lb horse no matter how hard I swung it (good point), and that appropriate discipline is part of love (why are he and my dad always right?).   

Nox half-heartedly tried to bite the lead rope once today.  He will always test his boundaries, I think.  I only had to shout loudly and swing the rope one time.  He was an angel afterwards and very easy to work with.  I've never seen him stand as quietly as he does now.  Nox is a smart horse and he really wants to please me, but he's also playful and goofy, and has to learn his limits. 

I have to be strong enough, and love him enough, to teach him.

    

 

A Week of Worry

This was a rough week for Nox.  I had his front shoes pulled off last Monday so that his injured hoof would grow back out into a normal shape and relieve the pressure on his heels and tendons.  He probably hasn't been barefoot on his front feet in many years, so I expected that he would be a little tender-footed at first.

After a few days, Nox didn't want to walk at all.  I slowly led him the few yards to the indoor ring and let him off the lead.  He just stood there.  I watched him tense every muscle in his body and brace himself to take even one step.  I called the vet and she prescribed a pain killer that I could pick up first thing in the morning.  I led Nox back to his stall for a long grooming session, he walking gingerly and I sobbing.  It hurt me so much to see him like that.  I was sure I had broken my horse and all I want is for him to be happy and comfortable.  Best Husband Ever tried to comfort me - he reminded me that sometimes set-backs like this are part of the healing process.  He was sure Nox would be fine in a few days, once his hooves toughened up a bit.

The next morning, Nox was still very sore.  I gave him a dose of "bute", hidden well in a mixture of applesauce, molasses, and sweet feed.  When I returned to the barn that afternoon, Nox was willing to walk around the ring a few times.  I was hopeful.  I knew it was just the painkiller doing its job, but it gave me hope that he'd be ok.  The next morning Nox was further improved and so I did not give him another dose of meds.  I'm thrilled to write that this evening Nox was nearly his old self.  It is very windy tonight and when I let him out in the ring, he snorted and walked around in circles, even trotted and bucked a little bit.  I tried to calm him down before he got too worked up - I didn't want him to push it too much - but I was so happy to see him comfortable again.

The barn owners told me earlier in the week that often horses can take a week or more to get over the tenderness after having shoes removed, and I shouldn't worry so much.  Now I know they were right, but I couldn't help it!  Nox is such a muscular, athletic, and beautiful horse!  It broke my heart to see him unwilling to take a single step around the ring. 

Hopefully, Nox will continue to improve and I can start riding him again.  Our new program is the same as the old one - take it slow and move in straight lines as much as possible.  Wish us luck and speedy healing!      

X-Ray Day

Nox had his one year x-ray today.  He fractured the coffin bone in his left front hoof last November during a race and I've been anxious to have him x-rayed so I can get a new rehab plan going for him.  Nox runs around the ring on his own just fine, but when he trots in a circle to the left, he is still a little off.  I've been trying to figure out if his hoof hurts him, or if it's just muscle stiffness, or something else.

My vet came out to the barn with her portable x-ray and Nox stood very nicely for her while she took the pictures.  The farrier was also at the barn so they could talk about his hoof and what we should do next.

Here are a few of the x-rays:

Nox's hoof.  You can't see the fracture from this angle, but it's a cool picture. 
(The nails you see are in the wood board that his hoof his resting on, not in his hoof.)

The fracture is visible in this photo. 
The crack runs along the tip of the bone almost straight up. 
The multiple thinner cracks in the bone are normal channels for blood vessels. 

We are waiting for the New Jersey vet to email Nox's original x-rays so we can compare the fracture and see how far he is in the healing process. After a year, the fracture should be healed, and it's not unusual to still be able to see the fracture in an x-ray.  

Nox has been wearing an "eggbar" shoe on his injured hoof for a year.  An eggbar shoe is a therapeutic shoe that offers more support for the foot.  It is shaped like a complete oval, instead of being open on the bottom like a normal horse shoe.  Over the past year, the eggbar shoe has caused Nox's left hoof to grow in a compact oval shape, like the shoe, instead of a round shape like his right hoof.  The compaction on his heels may be putting pressure on the tendons in his leg, perhaps causing the lameness when he trots to the left.  The vet and the farrier agreed that we should leave him barefoot for a few weeks to allow his foot to spread out and relieve the pressure on his heels.  As long as I continue to walk him and only lightly trot in straight lines, he should be fine without the shoes for a while.  If my vet looks at the original x-rays and feels that the hoof needs more support, we'll put the shoe back on for a while longer. 

I'm very pleased with the results.  So far, I've been doing things right and I just need to continue to be patient and takes things slow.  I've been reluctant to push Nox too much in fear that he might be sore, and I'm happy to continue with the program.  I have faith that with enough time and gentleness, he'll be sound and ready for anything!

Nox and I, taking it slow.

 

Nox and Hayley

My younger sister Hayley came out from the West Coast for a short but sweet visit this weekend.  The only firm plans she and I made were to watch all three of Anne of Green Gables movies and go to the barn.  Hayley hadn't met Nox yet, and she was a huge supporter of my dream of horse ownership and the reason I had all the horse equipment I needed when I adopted Nox.

Hayley, like our dad, is very allergic to horses and almost everything else found in barn.  Dust, hay, horse hair - it all makes her break out into rashes, sneezes, watery eyes, and general misery.  Growing up, I had to change out of my barn clothes in the garage and put them in the wash to keep Hayley and my dad from exploding into allergic reactions.  On this visit, Hayley insisted that she would brave it all to meet my horse.  

Hayley understands my obsession with horses because she feels the same way about babies.  We've long settled that she will be a fantastic mother and I will be a cool auntie with horses.  Hayley was my enthusiastic cheerleader as I was trying to make my dream come true this year.  She organized a "bridle" shower for me when I officially adopted Nox.  My family and friends sent me everything I could possibly need as a new horse owner - brushes, saddle pads, tools, tack, treats, and toys.  It was like Christmas had come in June!  I appreciate all the love and support that my family and friends have given me - thank you all so much - and thanks again to Hayley for organizing it all.

Hayley finally met Nox on Friday.  She helped me brush him, fed him some carrots, and watched him run around the ring.  Nox was in a rambunctious mood, but he paused for a few photos and pats.  It was only five minutes before Hayley started sneezing.  We didn't stay long, but she gushed about how big, beautiful, and friendly Nox is, and how proud she was that I was able to make this dream come true.  Then we went home, decontaminated, doped her up on Benadryl, and watched Anne of Green Gables.

Thanks for coming to visit Hayley!

   

The Storm

I figured I'd give everyone a little update on "Sandy", since most of you, dear readers, are on the West Coast and probably watching the news with concern.  The winds have picked up and they are coming from the North, which is unusual.  The sky is a moody dark grey and it should start raining anytime now.  We still have power, but the electric company has been broadcasting ominous press releases about likely widespread outages. 

Nox is tucked safely away in his stall, munching on hay with his 21 barn mates.  The stable owners are home keeping watch, and they have a back-up generator ready to go if they lose power.  They've weathered many ice storms and blizzards over the years and they assured me not to worry about Nox.  

Moose Dog and I are warm and dry in the house.  We have a fresh pan of double fudge brownies, gallons of water downstairs, and a shelf full of books to read by candlelight if the lights go out.  (We also have a generator if needed.)

Best Husband Ever is doing his superhero work and may be out all night.  I'm so proud of him.

Love to you all!

Update: It's Tuesday morning and besides a few hours of power outage last night and finding our welcome mat in the neighbor's yard this morning, we made it through the storm.  Our thoughts and prayers go to those who are dealing with much worse.

Klutz

Nox seems to be always banging his head into something.  As soon as one scrape above his eye heals, he gets another.  They're never deep or bloody - just small surface scrapes that take all the hair off.  Sometimes he scrapes his head on his feed bucket, after reaching his nose underneath it to pick up every last little bit of grain.  Sometimes he bangs his head on the fence rails, again, reaching through to graze or nibble.  Sometimes I have no idea how he does it.  Nox's stall is safe and large, with nothing protruding out to cut him.  I think he might just be klutzy, and frankly, I have no idea how, in his racing days, he managed to burst from the starting gates without tripping or banging his head. 

I have a big tube of ointment and every night Nox quietly lowers his head so I can care for the scrapes.  He really is a sweet, lovable horse and he usually tries very hard to be good.  I'm so glad that he's mine - goofy and clumsy as he is.

Nox's newest scrape, above the eye.

       

A warm day

Today was a warm, sunny, 70 degree day - a welcome relief from the 50 degree weather we've had lately.  I was restless at work - impatiently tapping at my keyboard and glancing out the window across the hall every few minutes.  I couldn't wait to get to the barn.  I was hoping the flooded outdoor ring would be dry enough to let Nox run around and enjoy the nice weather, too.  The past few weeks have been so rainy and dreary.

I finally pulled in to the stable parking lot and happily left my barn coat in the car.  My happiness was tempered as I came around the corner and saw my poor horse.  Nox was standing in the middle of his stall, sweating and looking miserable. 

Nox has grown a magnificent winter coat.  His summer coat was so sleek and thin that I worried he'd be cold in this North Country winter weather.  It turns out that I had nothing to worry about.  He is as fluffy and fuzzy as I could have hoped, and I love burying my face in his plush, soft, velvety neck.

That thick coat was torture today.  I turned Nox out in the indoor ring, since the outdoor ring was still flooded and I wanted to keep him out of the sun.  He ran around as usual, bucking, kicking, and rearing, and then rolled in his favorite spot.  All that exertion made him sweat even more.  I went into the ring to play our ground manner games and by the time we finished, he was a hairy, sweaty, dirty mess.

I walked him around and let him graze outside in the breeze.  I wanted to spray him off with the hose, but it's going to be in the 50's tonight and I was afraid that his thick coat wouldn't dry completely and he'd be chilled.  Instead, once he was cool and the sweat had dried, I curried and brushed him until every sweat mark was gone.  He really enjoyed the curry comb and I think all that hair must get itchy when he sweats.

Tomorrow will be another 70 degree day, but after that we drop back into the low 50's again.  For Nox's sake, and the other fuzzy horses in the barn, I'm looking forward to the cooler weather.               

Birthday wishes

I adopted Nox in June, and so he isn't actually my birthday present.  But honestly, every day that I walk inside the barn and see this beautiful horse looking expectantly for me and nickering softly when he sees me, I feel like it's my birthday and Christmas and Easter and Valentine's Day.

Tonight, Best Husband Ever told me to make a wish before blowing out my candles, and I said, "But all of my wishes have come true."  This is the first year since I was five years old that I did not have to wish for a horse on my birthday. 

Thankfully, it turns out that telling people what you wished for doesn't doom that wish from coming true - I told everyone who would listen about my horse wishes! 

So, I can safely tell you what I wished for this year: 

World Peace.

It took about thirty years to get the horse.  Hopefully, the peace will come sooner.



Best...

Present...

Ever!

Because I'm the human and you're the horse, that's why!

I'm at the barn six evenings a week - the seventh barn-free day is dubbed "husband day", since it always coincides with one of Best Husband Ever's days off.  When I tell people this, they look at me oddly - no doubt thinking this isn't a fair allocation of time and imagining my hungry husband abandoned and neglected at home.  Happily, this isn't the case - he works in the evenings and is very supportive of my horse addiction.

The day after my day off from the barn is almost always a challenge.  Nox is a very dominant horse and he likes to think he's in charge.  I often have to remind him otherwise.  It's worse when I've been gone for more than 24 hours - he takes my absence as a sign that I have abdicated my throne and he is eager to take my place. 

Today was one of those days.  I turned Nox out in the indoor ring and he seemed fine, so I tacked him up to ride.  As soon as I settled in the saddle, he was full of "piss and vinegar", as Erin would say.  Every corner of the ring had something to spook at and he tossed his head, danced around, and just generally misbehaved.  This was my fault, of course.  I should have seen past his calm facade and done some ground work before hopping on to ride. 

I've learned from experience that there is little use trying to fight with him to be good, especially if he is also acting spooky, but I can't dismount until he has done something well enough to end on a "good note".  Several laps around the ring of dancing, spooking, and tossing, and he finally walked a lap nicely - but I could sense the vinegar bubbling inside him and I knew I couldn't get another calm moment from him under saddle. 

I slipped off his back, untacked him right there in the ring, and then we played the ground manner "games" that I use to assert my leadership.  Nox responds well to these games and after a few minutes of tantrums and resistance, he assumed his subordinate place in our herd of two.  I led him around the ring on the lead rope for another few minutes and he followed sweetly and respectfully.  I put him back in his stall, groomed him and petted him, and called it a night. 

Tomorrow will be a better riding day.  Next week, we'll do it all again.    

Nox, giving me the "you're not the boss of me" look.

          

    

The day his imagination got away from him...

It came as no surprise that Nox liked to graze on the fresh grass outside, but I was amused by his enthusiasm for it.  The first few times I turned him out in the outdoor ring, he just stood and looked around at the grass growing along the edges and in the corners, like he was waiting for my permission.  I shooed him off and he attacked the grass with gusto, grazing on it for as long as I'd let him.

One day, Nox was stretching his nose through the fence boards out to the very tall grass growing in the nearby ditch.  I watched him tear at the grass and weeds, greedily taking big mouthfuls at a time.  He bit off a very large clump and pulled his head back through the fence to chew it.  Two or three very long blades of grass waved behind his head as he chewed, and he paused, turning his head suspiciously.  The grass waved and bobbed behind him as he moved and he started nervously walking away, still chewing.  The grass followed him, brushing his neck and popping up behind him.  Suddenly, Nox broke out running and bucking, frightened by the scary things that he thought were trying to attack him!   

He looked around for me, the grass still in his mouth and the long pieces flying.  I walked out into the ring and he stopped, eyes wide and nostrils flared.  I grabbed the long pieces and pulled them out of his mouth, admonishing him for being silly and greedy.  Nox stood there and seemed to chew the rest of his mouthful thoughtfully, and then calmly went back to grazing in the corner, the crisis over.

Have I mentioned how much I love him?              

Nox grazing in the sunshine.

 

Pole Walkin'

Right from the start, during that first week of "experiments", I discovered that Nox was afraid of jump poles.  He was afraid of the poles even when they were lying on the ground - wouldn't go near them.  I found this more than a little ironic, since one of the reasons I picked Nox was because his long legs and athletic ability would make him a very good jumper.  I was hoping to someday soar over those same poles when they were suspended in the air!

 

A few people gave me their opinions and advice: lead him to the pole on the ground and make him walk over it, smack his butt, don't let him get away with avoiding the pole, keep fighting until he does it.  I smiled, listened, and nodded my head.  In the past, the horse would have been theirs and I would have to do it their way.  In the past, I would have silently thought about all the methods that I would like to try, if the horse was mine.

 

Well, now the horse IS mine.

 

Since I was in no hurry to get Nox over the poles (we are a long way away from doing any jumping), I tried a more laid back approach.  I started by turning Nox out in the indoor ring with several poles lying on the ground randomly around the ring.   He spent the first week avoiding them, running around like he was drunk, weaving erratically, and snorting loudly at the strange white things littered around his play area.  I'd go in and move the poles, but I never asked him to go near them.

 

After a while, I placed the poles in the area he liked to hang out most - in front of the open window that looked out toward the pastures.  Nox was frustrated, because to hang his head out the window he had to get close to the poles.  I watched with amusement as he stretched his neck as far as he could to glimpse green grass and blue sky, without moving his feet near the dreaded pole.   He'd inch forward, slowly, worried that the pole might suddenly jump up and bite him.

 

One day, I thought we had a break-through.  Nox walked over to the pole in front of the window and put his nose down to smell it.   He licked the pole, and then chewed on it a little.  He raised his head and moved one front leg forward, as if he was going to walk over the pole.  I silently cheered him on, thinking "this is it!".  He took that hoof and tentatively kicked the pole once.  He kicked it again.   When he realized the pole was not going to bite him, and in fact, would move when he kicked it, he became very brave.  He spent the next few minutes kicking the pole out of his way until it was far enough that he could triumphantly hang his head out the window.  All I could do was laugh.

 

Over the next few weeks, I continued to put poles all over the ring, even while riding him, and thought perhaps Nox wouldn't be a great jumper after all.  Then one day, all on his own, he walked over a pole - like it was no big deal.  I celebrated and cheered and he watched me jump up and down like he thought I was crazy.

 

My celebration was short-lived, however, because he refused to walk over the poles when I led him or rode him.  Since his fear of the pole was gone, I knew he was refusing out of stubbornness.  A different problem needs a different solution, so I gave him two choices.  He could walk over the pole with me and we would move on and do something else more fun.  He could refuse, and we would walk in small circles around the pole, nine or ten fast laps, before trying again.  I had to repeat this many times until he finally realized that it would be far less work and hassle if he just walked over the pole.  In no time, Best Husband Ever and I could lead Nox over poles like he'd been doing it for years.  A few days later, Nox walked over the poles while I was riding him.  He was calm and confident.  I never had to force him or make it a fight where one of us had to lose.

 

Admittedly, this method took months to accomplish what a few hours of fighting could have done, but I'm in no hurry.  I feel like we solved this problem together; building trust and learning to communicate along the way.

 

We've arrived at the same happy place - on the other side of the pole.

 

Success!

Good advice

The days are cooler and shorter.  I have to turn the lights on when I arrive at the barn, when only a few weeks ago I could graze Nox in the sunshine until 8:00 pm.  The indoor riding ring also has lights - eight florescent drop-down lights that provide wonderful year-round riding opportunities, but cast odd shadows all over the ring.  Nox does not like these shadows.  As we ride around the ring his own shadow seems to ping around the walls and swoop under his feet, making him nervous.

Occasionally, Nox will suddenly jump several feet to the right or left as he spooks at his shadow.  So far, I've managed to remain firmly on his back, but each time he jumps, I silently thank my first trainer, Erin.

Erin was from Ireland and I idolized her.  She was small in stature but had a huge personality and a very generous spirit.  She was an excellent trainer who held her students to the highest standards of classical horsemanship.  We were expected to be early for lessons to groom and tack up, and stay late to brush every last sweat mark from our horse's body.  She told me, "If you don't have to time to care for your horse properly, you don't have time to ride."   

After about six months of lessons I was jumping low cross rails and feeling pretty proud of myself.  Erin smiled at me and said I was finally ready.  "Ooooh, for what?", I asked excitedly, envisioning Grand Prix show rings with 5 foot jumps.  "Ready to learn how to really sit on a horse", she said as she took the stirrups off the saddle.  I spent the next few weeks relearning everything - walk, trot, canter, circles, serpentines, and jumping - without stirrups.  My balance and seat improved dramatically.  She taught me how to move with a horse.

As Erin took the stirrups off that first day, I asked her how I was supposed to stay in the saddle.

She replied, in her Irish brogue, "Keep one leg on each side of your horse and your arse in the middle."

Often, it's the simplest advice that sticks with you. 

Nox - calm and looking gorgeous.

      

The Circle Game

People often have a favorite horse color - some like bright chestnuts, palominos, paints or dapple grays.  I like dark horses.  When I was 12 years old and taking riding lessons at Ride America, I met my "ideal" horse.  He was a dark bay Thoroughbred gelding with a white star on his forehead.  He was big and muscular with long, long legs - aptly named Spider.  He was gorgeous.

Spider's owner was kind enough to tolerate my gawking and wistful sighs every time she brought him out to ride.  I distinctly remember admiring how his beautiful, dark brown coat gleamed under the fluffy white saddle pad.  I thought to myself: some day I'm going to have a horse just like that.

This past summer, my boarding stable sponsored a week long horse camp.  The barn was full of little horse-loving girls learning all about horsemanship.  I'd turn Nox out in the ring and a few of those girls would materialize next to me, leaning against the wood rails to watch Nox run around. 

I recognized their dreamy stares and sighs.

Funny how things come full circle.

"And the seasons they go round and round,
 And the painted ponies go up and down..." 

(thanks, Mom, for playing the guitar and singing Joni Mitchell)

     


My dream come true.

How I know Nox doesn't like to be tied...

The first few weeks I had Nox, I was conducting all sorts of experiments to see what he knew how to do and what he was uncomfortable with.  One day, I wanted to know how well Nox tolerated being tied to something.  I led him into the indoor ring that has metal fencing along one end.  I figured I could tie his lead rope to the fence inside the ring and if we had a problem, he would still be safely contained. 

I loosely tied Nox to the top rail of the metal fence using a quick-release knot.  I stood at his head for a few minutes and he was fine.  I moved a few steps back, walked around to his other side, and patted his back.  He seemed bored.  Great, I thought, no problem.  I bent to pick up a brush to groom him and he suddenly jumped back and strained against the lead rope with all of his weight, his eyes bulging and begging for my help.

I rushed forward and released the knot.

This is what the previously straight fence looked like:

What happens when a 1200 + lb horse pulls on a metal fence.

We offered to pay for a new section of fence, but the kind stable owners were only glad that no one was hurt.   They suggested that Nox may need some retraining on being tied.

We're working on it. 

The day he got away.

It was mid-June and Nox had been mine for two glorious weeks.  He was getting used to the new sights, smells, and barn routine and I was getting used to his personality and quirks.  That day, Nox rolled in a mud puddle in the outdoor riding ring. 

I was using the outdoor ring as a turn out because it has board fencing, and all the other pastures at the stable have electric wire/tape fencing.  I had no idea if Nox had any experience with electric fencing, so I was going to play it safe for the first few weeks and just turn him out in the outdoor and indoor rings.

Nox was a mud ball - covered in it from nose to tail and he was thrilled about it.  I was less excited, but this gave me an opportunity to give him a bath and see how he reacted to water.  Race horses are often sprayed down with a hose, so I figured he'd be fine, but you never really know what a new-to-you horse will do in any situation until you're in it.

He loved the bath.  I was holding him on the lead rope while bathing him because he didn't like being tied (that is another story) but he was standing still and enjoying the cool water and shampoo scrub.  I was reaching as far as I could to shampoo his tail while keeping my grip on the lead rope when three things happened almost at once. 

1. Nox lowered his head to graze and stepped on the lead rope - right under his chin.

2. A very large, noisy, white truck rumbled down the normally quiet street.

3. Nox tried to lift his head to look at the truck, realized his head was pinned down, and he panicked. 

It was all I could do to dodge the blur of flying hooves and soapy swishing tail, and the wet lead rope was ripped from my hands.  Nox bolted around the corner of the barn towards the pastures and disappeared from sight.

I was completely alone.  No one else was at the barn and the stable owners weren't home.

I ran around the barn just in time to see Nox step up to the electric fence to meet the two geldings that live in one of the large pastures, Blue and Dahoney.  Nox leaned his chest into the fence and was zapped.  He panicked again and ran straight through the electric wires - snapped them like twine - and took off into the pasture. 

I watched with a mixture of horror and amazement at the incredible speed my horse displayed as he galloped away from me.  He was a race horse and I suddenly understood what that meant.  It meant that if he didn't turn around, if he broke through the electric fence at the far end and kept on running, I wasn't going to catch him for another mile or so.

But I couldn't chase him.  Blue and Dahoney were bewildered by the racing intruder and they knew their fence was broken.  I had to block their escape through the hole in the fence and shoo them back.  Three loose horses are much worse than one. 

I was relieved to see that Nox did turn around when he reached the end of the pasture.  It was a long, wide, sweeping turn, like he was on a track.  His head was high, his tail was lifted, and the lead rope was streaming out behind him.  He dug deep and galloped full speed on his way back.  The silly horse was thoroughly enjoying himself. 

After his injury on the track last November, he'd been on six months of stall rest.  He was still supposed to be taking it easy - twenty minutes of walking and maybe a little trotting if he felt good.  Mad galloping through a pasture was definitely not allowed.  Nox's pent up athletic energy was releasing like champagne exploding from an uncorked bottle and he was loving it.

He raced back and stopped dead in front of Blue, who was standing about thirty feet from me in the pasture.  They started fighting to establish who was dominant and neither wanted to concede.  Poor Dahoney, peaceful and sweet, tried once again to escape through the broken fence.  I shooed him back and he ran to far end of the pasture to escape the snorts, kicks, and stamping hooves of Nox and Blue.

This was my chance.  I walked forward, heart racing, and called to Nox reassuringly.  Both he and Blue ignored me as they kicked and struck out at each other.  I kept going, thinking only of catching my beautiful horse and ending this craziness.  My hand closed around the lead rope and I turned to walk away, praying that Nox would follow me.

He did.  The moment I took control of the lead rope Nox focused on me and let me lead him through the broken fence and out of the pasture.

But that was as far as we could go!  The fence was broken and there were two horses who wanted to get out!  And I was alone!!  And my cell phone was in the barn!!!

As Dave, the stable owner, would say later: I was in quite a pickle.

We stood there for a few minutes - Nox, Blue, Dahoney and I, all staring at each other.

I tried to fix the fence.  Still holding Nox's wet lead rope, I picked up one end of the electric wire.  I reached out for the other end, thinking I could quickly bend them together.  The second I touched the other end of the wire the electric jolt passed through me, up the wet lead rope, and zapped Nox.  We both jumped and I dropped the wires, but I held on to the rope.

Blue and Dahoney were pacing in front of me, hoping for a chance to get out.  Nox was breathing hard and I wanted to get him into the indoor ring to cool down.  I considered my options.  There wasn't anything solid nearby to tie Nox to.  My lead rope was too short to span the length of broken fence.  I could stand there until someone came along to help me, but who knew how long that would be?

I tried to fix the fence again, this time standing on the lead rope to keep Nox from getting zapped.  The jolt was strong enough that I could not hold on to the wires to bend the ends together. 

Apparently, it was not strong enough to deter me from trying four more times.  I was desperate!

Another few minutes passed as I stood there in complete frustration.  The two mares who live in the next pasture over whinnied to Nox.  I looked over at them.  Their pasture is separated from the gelding's pasture by a wide aisle.  The stable owners don't want boarders to ride down these aisles so they block them off with a lengths of electric tape fencing tied to the fence posts.

I noticed the length of fencing blocking the aisle.  It was only about twenty feet away from me.  It was my only hope.

I waved my arms and hissed at Blue and Dahoney to back them up, at the same time murmuring sweet assurances to Nox.  I quickly walked Nox to the aisle, shouting threats to Blue as he inched towards the unguarded broken fence.  I stood on the lead rope once more, just in case the aisle fencing was charged.  Thankfully, it wasn't.  I untied the electric tape, walked Nox back to the broken section of fence, and tied the tape between the fence posts.

The hole was closed.  Blue and Dahoney were safely contained in their pasture.  I took Nox to the indoor ring and we walked a few laps.  He was still covered in shampoo.  Once he calmed down and was breathing normally, I took him back to the bathing area and rinsed him off.  He stood quietly and let the water wash over him, like nothing had happened.  I put him safely away in his stall and brushed him until he was dry.

The stable owners came home and I explained the whole story, showed them the broken fence, and apologized profusely.  They were just glad that no one was hurt or lost.

Me too.

It's all part of horsemanship - being scared to death once in a while.  It's not all carrots, nuzzles, and great days of riding.  This incident is why I'm now very careful about what I do when I'm alone at the barn.  And why I always keep my cell phone in my pocket. 

You live and you learn.

Nox during a more recent bath.
Best Husband Ever is holding the lead rope this time.

  

   

     

But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep... ~ Robert Frost

Today was a windy and cool fall day.  Not just windy - blustery.  Nox gets a little "high" on blustery days, as many horses do.  It's part of their prey instincts to get anxious in weather like this.  The sound of the wind makes it difficult to listen for predators.  The trees and bushes sway strangely and leaves are blowing around, making it difficult to spot the dangerous movements of a wolf or lion.

I was alone at the barn today and even the stable owners, who live on site, were gone for the evening.  I'm often the only person riding in the afternoons (many of the boarders ride in the morning) but usually the stable owners are home.

Being completely alone and seeing that Nox was excited and spooky from the wind, I decided not to ride.  Safety first.

Instead, Nox got a few hours of free time and ground work in the indoor ring.  We walk around on the lead rope and practice walk/whoa transitions.  We back up, turn around, move the front hooves, and move the back hooves - it's like equine hokey pokey. 

I always end our day with a thorough grooming session.  On days that I ride him, Nox receives the full grooming routine twice.  He loves to be curried and brushed and I enjoy spending that time with him.  I still marvel that this gorgeous horse is actually mine and I need to physically touch him to prove that he is real. 

It's strange to have childhood dream come true when you're an adult.  I'm old enough to understand how fragile life is and how precariously we balance between good times and bad.  I'm young enough to clearly remember all the things my twelve year old self fervently promised to do if I had my own horse.  And so, I carefully comb out Nox's thick tail and sweep every last speck of dust from his shiny coat.  I clean my tack, figure-eight my bridle, and pick out the manure from his stall. 

And I love him.    

Me, 12 years old, showing on a borrowed horse named Phantom.

        

If I ever get a gray horse, he'll be called "Lumos"...

"Evenings End" is actually a very nice name, as far as race horse names go.  Watch any horse race and you'll hear some very odd names.  I like "Evenings End" but it's too cumbersome to call out in a pasture.  He needs a barn name - a nick name - for every day use.  I'll still use "Evenings End" if/when we start showing, but I want to call him something cool and representative of his quirky personality. 

I decided on "Nox" almost immediately.  It fits his personality and it just sounds right.  

I tell most people that I picked "Nox" because it is the Roman word for "night".  The end of the evening is night time, so that makes sense.  It's a nice, coincidental, almost literal translation.

Some people associate it with nitrous oxide and fast cars.

The people who know me best know the real reason:

"Nox" is the magical spell from Harry Potter to extinguish all of the lights.

So much for being cool.

Nox, aka Evenings End

 

  

How it all started - Part Two

I've been gazing at the pictures of beautiful Thoroughbreds posted on several Off Track Thoroughbred rescue websites for more than five years.  I watched one horse after another disappear from the adoptable list as they went off to new homes.  I would fall madly in love with their pictures and memorize their bios.  I wasn't in a position to adopt a horse, but I dreamed about it.  

I admire what these Thoroughbred rescues do.  The horse racing industry spits out thousands of unwanted horses as they are injured or lose their competitive edge.  Given the chance to heal and calm down, these horses known as Off Track Thoroughbreds can go on to have full lives as pasture pets, pleasure and trail horses, and competitive dressage/ jumper/ eventing athletes.  Thoroughbred rescues take these amazing horses in and set them up for new careers by providing veterinary care, rehabilitation, and retraining. 

Best Husband Ever and I were ready to add a horse to our little family of three - the two of us and Moose, our fifteen pound Yorkie-poo.  Suddenly, my hopeful browsing of Thoroughbred rescues became a serious endeavor.  I lined up an equine vet, a farrier, and a boarding stable for my future horse.  All of these rescues specify (understandably) that they will not adopt horses to first-time horse owners.  This worried me, because technically this would be my first horse.  I filled out applications to a few rescues in New York state and included a three page essay outlining my years of horse experience and tugged at their heartstrings with a much longer version of my first post on this blog.  

My applications were accepted by all of the rescues.  I was beyond thrilled!  I resisted the urge to drive to the closest rescue barn and load up the first horse I saw.  I knew exactly what I wanted in a Thoroughbred and I wanted to keep this horse for the rest of his life, so I was going to be choosy.  I scrolled through hundreds of pictures and bios, waiting for "the one". 

I saw his picture in mid-April and my heart flip flopped.  The description only gave his name, age, color, and height.  Evenings End, 2005, dark bay, 16.2 hands.  He checked off all of my superficial preferences - tall, dark, and handsome - but I knew nothing about his physical condition or even where he was.  This website was for a sort of "stop over" at the Philadelphia race track for horses immediately coming off the track; a place they stayed temporarily until a Thoroughbred rescue could take them in.  I searched for him at other rescue sites in neighboring states, but I couldn't find him.  I tried to forget about him and focus on finding a horse at one of the local rescues.  

Two weeks later, I found him.  Evenings End was at the South Jersey Thoroughbred Rescue and Adoption.  His description said that he was in "rehab" and would be available soon.  I emailed the rescue immediately and inquired about Evenings End.  What was he being rehabbed for?  How was his temperament?  Would he be able to jump after his injury healed?  The answers came back in a few short hours.  Erin, the organization's wonderful director, told me that Evenings End came off the track last November with a broken coffin bone.  His personality was as great as he was gorgeous.  With enough time to heal, his prognosis was excellent and, yes, he would make an elegant hunter/jumper.

I had to see him.  Erin and I settled on Memorial Day weekend for a meet and greet.

A friend joked that I had a blind date with a horse.      

My best friend Linds agreed to accompany me on the twelve hour round trip drive to the farm in New Jersey.  The second I saw Evenings End he was mine.  I tried to stay impartial.  I reminded myself to keep a level head and wait to see if we connected.  I wanted to see him move and spend some time with him.

Evenings End walked with a bit of a limp and he was little mouthy - nipping at the hem of my shirt, nuzzling my pockets looking for treats, and trying to eat Linds' cell phone.  He was stunningly beautiful.  His foster mom had clearly taken excellent care of him.  His dark chocolate brown coat glistened and his black mane and tail were thick and soft.  He stuck his tongue out and loved having it rubbed - just like a horse I had known as a kid.   I stroked his neck, fed him carrots, and played with him.  We connected.   

I gleefully handed over the adoption fee and made arrangements to have him trailered to my boarding stable up north.  I reluctantly left Evenings End at the farm and headed back home.  Linds drove so I could call my family and we all laughed and cried and celebrated. 

A lifelong dream had just come true.

I adopted a horse.   

                                     My blind date.

How it all started - Part One.

This past April, we were finally ready.  In the months prior we (Best Husband Ever and I) had discussed the finances and logistics of this major life decision in mature and rational conversations.  

Then I cried. 

As a result, in April, I started seriously looking for a horse. 

I've wanted my own horse since I knew what a horse was.  My parents initially thought I would grow out of it, the way many young girls who wish for ponies do.  I did not grow out it.  In fact, I passionately lobbied for my own horse every birthday and Christmas for a steady, obsessively consistent, eight years.  In response (desperation?), my parents finally agreed to pay for riding lessons at a gorgeous stable that came complete with a trainer from Ireland and a barn full of beautiful horses. 

From the moment I arrived at the stable, I was fundamentally changed.  The scent of the barn - hay, leather, horse sweat, dirt, and manure - was intoxicating.  The horse's warm breath and soft muzzle were soothing to my shy preteen spirit.  My toes were born to be in saddle stirrups and my fingers were meant to grasp braided leather reins. 

It was like that scene in The Sorcerer's Stone when Harry first held his wand in Ollivander's shop - a perfect match.

I have since spent almost 20 years riding and loving other people's horses.  I couldn't afford my own horse and I was moving around the country too frequently to keep one.  I always made a friend who had horses, or found a stable that needed someone to exercise horses, and I satisfied my addiction that way.  Riding other people's horses is not the same as riding your own, and as grateful as I was to have generous, wonderful friends who let me ride, I ached for my own horse to love.     

That all changed in May.