Golden Summer Evenings

One of my favorite things to do these days is sit in the pasture with Nox and watch him in the light from the setting sun.  In photography and film making, I think they call the time before sunset the "magic hour", and I can see why.  Everything looks beautiful in that golden light.

Here are some recent pictures from those Magic Hours.

 

 

This was taken by Best Husband Ever.  A thunder storm was coming
 as I was bringing Nox in, and a gust of wind suddenly kicked up dust. 
I like this picture because it reminds me of every misty dream
 I've had about owning my own horse. 

What can I do?

I feel like we've taken a big step back.  After Allison (the equine sports therapist) worked on Nox, he was moving so much better.  He still had a short stride on the front left leg, but the rest of him felt good.  To fix that short stride, we decided to trim his hoof a little differently so it can spread out and stretch his tendons out.  Allison warned me that he would be sore and it would take time for him to be sound.

I heard that warning and I tried to keep it in mind as I watched Nox move.  He is still striding short on the front left, and although it's only been two trims, I was hoping to see improvement.  After each trim, his feet are so sore and it hurts me to see him hurting.  I try to ride him but he seems so uncomfortable that I just walk him around for while and take it easy with him.  I feel like I need to DO something!  What can I do?

I brought out a different farrier for a second opinion on Nox's feet.  She tested his hooves for sore spots, looked over the hoof balance and trim, and watched him trot around the ring.  She couldn't make him flinch while she pinched his hooves with the hoof tester, even on the old fracture site, and announced that she wouldn't do anything differently.  That is good news, because it means that his hooves aren't the problem.  It's bad news to me, because I don't have an answer to the "what can I do" question.  I'm afraid that if I wait to long to see improvement, I might be missing something that can lead to permanent damage.  I want to help Nox, not hurt him.  I'm responsible for his well-being. 

The next step would be a trip to Syracuse to see a lameness specialist vet.  There is a specialist who works on the Thoroughbred racehorses at the Finger Lakes track.  He comes highly recommended by every horse person I've talked to about Nox.  It would be costly and I may not get an answer.  Or I may get recommendations that I'm not comfortable with - like injections, surgeries, etc. 

My friend and expert horse person Penny has told me to relax.  Allison said this would take time.  Nox is happy and healthy is every other way than his stride, and I need to RELAX.  Penny has a trailer that is tall enough to transport Nox and is willing to take us to see the specialist, but she thinks I might be panicking too soon.  After talking things through with her, I think this is what I'm going to do:

I'm going to call Allison and ask her to come back and evaluate Nox again.  I want her to watch me ride him.  If she thinks that he is moving as expected and that he needs more time before I start freaking out and trailering him all over NY to see specialists, then I will wait.  I will make an appointment with the specialist for the end of October (he goes to Florida in November for 6 months every year) and if I don't see any improvement by the time his appointment comes, I will take him.

That is what I can do. 

 

Lazy summer days

Sorry about the long break from posting, folks.  It's been so hot and humid, and I've been staying a little longer at the barn to give Nox the benefit of grazing in his pasture in the cooler evening temperatures.  By the time I get home to feed Moose and myself, I'm ready for a shower and the air-conditioned bedroom.

Nox is so much happier now that he's outside during the day.  He's mellow, relaxed, and easy to handle.  Thankfully, he is also still happy to see me.  It occurred to me that he nickers excitedly when I whistle to him in the barn every day because he knows I'll take him out of his stall.  I wondered how he would react to my arrival whistle when he was out in the grassy pasture - would he run away from me, not wanting to work?  Nope.  My whistle elicits the same joyous nicker from him as he trots over to the gate to meet me.  That makes me very happy.

The sunshine has flecked his chocolate brown coat with gold dapples that I find absolutely mesmerizing.  I could look at him all day.  On the weekends, I do just that.  I love summer.

Nox enjoys his summer days outside.