Outside at last!

The stable owners have been working to convert one of their pastures so that the fencing is tall enough to contain Nox.  They use electric fencing in their pastures and last year Nox leaned against the wire fence, was shocked, and ran straight through it and broke it.  It was pretty scary.  He hasn't had any exposure to electric fencing that I know of (race barns usually have board fencing) and his first experience with it was awful.  I could only turn Nox out it in the outdoor ring where he could nibble on the grass at the edges, but I really wanted him to be out in the grass pastures during the day. 

The stable owners let him out in the indoor ring for 30 minutes while they clean his stall in the morning, but most of the other horses get to go out all day in pastures.  I felt bad that he had to stand in his stall until I arrived at the barn to let him out.  As a racehorse, Nox would spend 23 hours in his stall, so I knew he was used to hanging out in the barn.  But horses should be outside grazing - especially when they are retired racehorses, and it's warm and sunny, and the birds are singing, and the grass is swaying in the cool breeze! 

The past few weeks, as the stable owners have been constructing the fence, I've been taking Nox into the pasture and grazing him on a lead.  We walked the perimeter a few times and he got used to the area.  Two days ago, Nox's pasture was complete.  They used a different type of electric fencing that is a thicker web material and they placed two rows of the fencing higher on the posts so that Nox can easily see it.  We turned him out in the pasture and hoped for the best. 

Free at last, he wandered around a little bit before settling in to graze.  It was very anticlimactic, but exactly how I hoped it would go.  I wanted him to touch the fence - not because I'm mean - but because I wanted to see how he reacted.  If he ran through it again, I wanted to be around to catch him!  After about an hour, he wandered a little too close to the fence and backed into it.  Nox's butt was shocked by the fence and he jumped forward in surprise, shooting across the pasture like a rocket!  He stopped well before he reached the other side's fencing and turned around.  I laughed out loud and was so pleased that he had received the shock on his rear end instead of his chest.  I wonder if he had hit it with his chest if he would have run through it again.  This way was perfect, since it made him run away from the shock.  He hasn't come within five feet of the fencing since!

Nox is now being turned out in his pasture in the morning where he enjoys the grass and sunshine (theoretically - it's been cloudy and rainy lately) until I get to the barn in afternoon.  I'll put him in the barn after we ride and play and he'll spend the nights in his stall.  I'm so relieved and happy that he finally gets to live like a normal horse. 
Yay!

Nox, King of the pasture.

Nom nom.

A few more pictures from Nana and Aunt Deneece's visit.
Best Husband Ever introduces a barn cat to Nana.

Nox and I doing the two-step.

 

        

Nox has visitors

Last week, I had some family visit!  Nana and Aunt Deneece began their east coast tour in my town before continuing on to New York City and then Washington, DC.  How do I compete with the excitement of Broadway and the National Mall?  A Thousand Islands boat tour and a visit to the barn to meet Nox!  Despite the near constant drizzly rain, we had a wonderful time laughing, sight-seeing, and eating.  

Nox enjoys people and especially those who dote and fawn all over him.  Aunt Deneece and Nana helped me brush him until his coat glistened and then watched as I did a short free lunge session with him in the indoor ring.  Remember how afraid he used to be of the poles?  When I lunge him I want him to run around the outside of them, but this time he cantered over every one of them.  He was a little peeved that I didn't take him outside to work (he moves more comfortably in the larger outdoor ring), but the outdoor ring was flooded from all the rain.  He threw a few little temper tantrums - animals and kids always show off when they have an audience.  Aunt Deneece recorded his antics, but I'm having trouble uploading the video - technical difficulties.  I'll post the video when I can. 

Thanks for visiting Nana and Aunt Deneece!  We all loved seeing you!

Nana, Aunt Deneece, Nox, and I.

Saddle up!

It fits!  The extra wide saddle sits beautifully on Nox's back with plenty of room for his shoulders to move freely.  I'm so relieved (so is Best Husband Ever - the custom saddle route is crazy $$$$) and Nox seems to feel more comfortable.  I also purchased a different saddle pad called a half pad with a wither cut out - this pad will give him a little more cushion around the wither area without adding bulk on the shoulder area.

Nox's hooves were trimmed last week and he was a little tender-footed for a few days.  I asked the farrier to trim a little more off the left front hoof (the one he fractured) than he's been doing in the past.  The sports therapist thought the toe was a little too long and making it difficult for Nox to move naturally.  I agreed with her assessment and the farrier was happy to try something a little different.  The results have been promising.  The combination of sports therapy, hoof trimming, and a saddle that fits have Nox moving better than ever under saddle.  I'm very pleased!

Now, if it would stop raining long enough for the outdoor ring to dry out so we could ride in it, I'd be ecstatic!   Do I ask for too much?

Nox, tacked up and ready to go.

 

He gets his broad shoulders from me...

My beautiful saddle, the one that was lovingly given to me by my family, does not fit Nox.  I've suspected that the tree was too narrow, but since I haven't been riding, I didn't worry about it.  After the sports therapist fixed Nox's back and legs, I knew I couldn't put my medium tree saddle on him anymore.  I've been riding in one of the lesson saddles that has a wider tree.  It still didn't sit quite right on him and I could feel that it was too tight on his shoulders.

A little lesson about saddle sizes.  The "tree" is the solid base and frame of the saddle.  It distributes the rider's weight and the pressure of the saddle evenly across the horse's back - if it is the correct size for the horse.  A tree that is too narrow or too wide can cause soreness and permanent damage, which then leads to a horse that doesn't like to be ridden.  It would be like making a person run around every day in shoes that are too small or too big.  You'd get a little sore and sour, too.  Saddles also come in seat sizes for the rider's butt.  Most adults fall somewhere between a 16 1/2" to 18" size saddle.

Nox is a big horse.  I knew that, but I didn't realize how very, very big he is in the shoulder.  Most Thoroughbreds are sleek and fairly narrow in build.  Even OTTB (off track Thoroughbred) racehorses usually aren't as bulky as Nox is.  When I told the tack shops I was saddle shopping for an OTTB, they pointed me to the medium tree saddles.  I explained that he was very muscular and big boned.  They pointed me to wide trees, skeptically.  I have driven to Syracuse and beyond three times, tried out four different saddles, and returned them all.  None of them were big enough.  It turns out that Nox is so big in the shoulder that he requires a saddle that is sized for draft horses.  Yesterday I drove an hour and half to a tack shop that carries extra wide saddles, and I brought a tracing of Nox's wither and shoulder.  The sweet and knowledgeable owner showed me two saddles that might be wide enough.  One was used, in my price range, and very wide.  The other was new, more expensive, and even wider.  I took a gamble and selected the used saddle to take home and try out.

It pinches his shoulders.  It's too narrow.

So, I'm going back on Monday to pick up the extra, extra wide, all purpose English saddle for my freakish mutant of a Thoroughbred.  If this one doesn't fit, I guess I'm riding bareback from now on! 

Does this saddle make my butt look big?
(Saddle #4)

A pretty rainbow appeared after a thunderstorm rolled through yesterday.

     

One Year Anniversary

On May 27, 2012, I met the horse-love-of-my-life.  My friend Lindsay volunteered to spend one of her precious days off driving 13 hours round trip to south New Jersey with me to meet Evenings End.  I'd been waiting a month to meet him and the director at the South Jersey Thoroughbred Rescue was holding him for me.  Normally, horse rescues don't hold horses - if you are interested, you better visit quick, before someone else scoops the horse up.  Erin must have known that Evenings End and I were meant to be together, because after reading my application story and answering all of my questions about the beautiful injured ex-racer, she gave me "dibs", if I could get down to New Jersey in a reasonable amount of time.

Memorial Day Sunday, Lindsay and I set off to New Jersey.  She endured my nervous chatter and reassured me that this "blind date" with Evenings End would go well.  She reminded me that just because we were driving so far to meet him, I didn't have to commit if we didn't hit it off. 

As soon as I saw Evenings End, he was mine and I was his.  He was standing in the center aisle of the stable and he turned his head to look at me when I walked in.  It was like I already knew him.  I spent a few hours with him at the barn before giddily telling Erin that I would like to adopt him.  Paperwork was signed, the adoption fee was paid, and on this day one year ago, I adopted Nox.

We've come a long way in a year.  Nox is sweet, mischievous, smart, and a complete joy.  When I walk into the barn every day I do the "Carter whistle" and he responds with his low, rumbling nicker.  That happy greeting is my favorite sound.

I want to say a very big "Thank You" to my family and friends for their support.  I still have all of the wonderful gifts that you gave me - brushes, tack, saddle pads, breaches, boots, toys, and so much more.  I use them every day and they remind me how lucky I am to have so many wonderful people in my life.

Moose, thanks for agreeing to eat dinner an hour later on week nights.  You are such a good dog.

Best Husband Ever - your pseudonym is not a joke.  When you married me, you knew that someday you would have to share me with a horse.  That day came and you have never complained about my long hours at the barn, my dusty boots by the door, the horse hair in the car, or the money trotting out of the bank.  You are supportive and involved.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Here's to many more years with my handsome Nox!

The first day we met - adoption day!

Lindsay almost took this friendly horse, Starship, home with her.

The first time Best Husband Ever and Nox met.

The face I fell in love with, about 4 months after I adopted him.

Just a cool picture from the summer.

Nox, enjoying spring 2013.

Nox's Biggest Little Fans

Nox is surprisingly good around little kids.  I can't imagine he's had much exposure to kids during his racing days.  I have a four year old niece who calls him "Nox Unicorn" and brings him apples, and a few friends who have young kids that like to visit and bring treats.  Any animal can be unpredictable around children, so I always keep a close eye on both child and horse, as I don't fully trust either to behave appropriately.  I'll hold the kids up to brush his mane and body, and Nox responds by standing still, sniffing their hair, and moving very slowly and carefully.  It's very sweet!  He has also learned that when kids are around, his bucket fills up with all sorts of yummy treats. 

Today my friend Lindsay stopped by the barn with her two little boys and her mother to visit Nox.  They brought him a box of peppermint candies that he eagerly snarfed out of his bucket between pats and brushes from the boys.  I'm glad that I get to be the "horse auntie" to these kids and pass along my love of horses and barn life.

Lauren helps me pick up poles in the arena.

Chase, Lindsay, and Jack visit Nox.
I love the look that Nox and Jack are sharing.

 

Nox loves being brushed.  Good job, Chase!

Jack found the perfect spot to curry comb.

The Sports Therapist comes...

Nox has been sore and clearly uncomfortable for a few weeks.  I couldn't quite tell what was wrong, but I could see that his back end wasn't looking or moving right.  The muscles just looked... weird.  When I tried to ride, Nox tossed his head and hollowed his back as soon as I settled in the saddle - a clear sign that he was hurting.  I spent a few weeks with him on light duty and only doing ground work, but I still thought his back end was off. 

Finally, I made an appointment with Allison, an equine sports therapist.  She does a combination of massage therapy, chiropractic work, and stretches - and I've been told that she can work miracles.  Allison started out working on the racetracks, so she is very familiar with racehorses, and she was delighted with Nox when she met him last Friday.  He was equally delighted with her, which set me at ease right away.  For two hours, Allison worked on Nox, stretching and massaging spasmed muscles, popping bones and joints back into place, and aligning his spine.  She is my size, but she bent and twisted Nox around like he wasn't a giant 1200 lb Thoroughbred.  At one point, she stood behind him, grabbed his tail, and leaned back with all her weight, and I could hear and feel the pops up his spine.  

After two hours, Allison asked me to free lunge him and trot him in a circle so she could watch him move.  He practically floated around the ring!  The muscles in his back legs looked normal and his joints were moving correctly.  Satisfied, Allison told me that I needed to ride Nox every day for at least half an hour for a week.  She explained that he will still think that he's in pain, and I need to convince him otherwise by riding everyday and pushing him through his hesitation.  Well, you don't have to tell me twice!

I rode that day and he didn't toss his head or hollow his back.  He did hesitate a little as I pushed him into a trot, but we kept at it and his gaits started to smooth out as he relaxed.  He felt like a different horse.  He was clearly feeling better the next day, because he was a bit more frisky - bucking and dancing around the ring.  Today, I rode in the outdoor ring with another boarder and Nox was pretty good.  He still had a little hesitation, but we worked through it.  Best Husband Ever came out to watch and he took a few photos.  I'm so relieved that Nox is feeling better!  We are on our way to the next phase of training and work!



Best Husband Ever calls this photo "Kicking Up Dust".



Note the tongue hanging out his mouth.