The Not So Good News

I've been waiting for the vet to come and evaluate Nox before writing another post.  I haven't been doing anything new with Nox the past few weeks: I go out every evening and let him hang out in the indoor ring to roll and look out the window while I clean his stall, and then I groom him and take him out to graze for as long as possible.  Every once in while, I try to lunge him at the walk/trot, as was recommended at the last visit, but I cannot keep Nox to just stay at a walk/trot.  He always ends up getting too excited, running, bucking and generally misbehaving.  Since I don't want him to hurt himself, I just shut it all down and walk him in hand on the lead line.  Two weeks ago he went really ballistic and ran around like a complete crazy horse and it took me while to calm him down.

After a few cancellations and rescheduled appointments, Dr. Meg was finally able to come out to the barn on Friday.  I knew she wasn't going to clear him for full work - I could tell he was still off - but I was hoping there would be improvement.  I was sorely disappointed.  He is actually worse than he was at the March evaluation.  Dr. Meg was discouraged.  I explained about the lunge session attempts, and she figured he must have hurt the ligament with all his running around.  I feel terrible!  He just has too much pent up energy and excitement for me to be able to work with him and keep him calm while doing it.  

So... the pasture time I was hoping he would be allowed to have?  Nope.  The light work I was envisioning us starting?  No way.  He has 3-5 months of continued rest, this time without any work at all.  She wants me to try my best to just let him out for grooming and grazing, but no trotting and only very light walking.  Dr. Meg admired his muscled physique and healthy coat; again wondered how the heck he still has so much muscle after 9 months of rest; and assured me that I'm not a total failure - horses on stall rest are usually difficult to manage and set backs sometimes happen.  She is still confident that he can be 100% sound; it's just going to take a little longer.

Best Husband Ever and I just returned from the barn, where we gave Nox his first bath of the summer.  He stood and grazed while I soaped him up, rinsed him off, and conditioned his mane and tail.  He happily grazed in the sunshine and breeze until he was dry.  Now he looks very shiny and glossy!  He is a good boy.

Wait - take another one!  I think I blinked.

Hay there, good looking!

  

Meanwhile, Best Husband Ever and my cousin found other horses to ride...

2 years!

Memorial Day weekend is special.  We have active and former military members in our family that deserve acknowledgement - thank you for your service.  Best Husband Ever is a former Marine and a current police officer, and I am so proud of him every day that my heart could burst.

Memorial Day weekend is also the weekend that I met and adopted Nox.  This year is our two year anniversary.  I can hardy believe that we have been together for two years.  On one hand, I feel like I've known him forever; on the other, I feel like we should be much further along.  Nox has been on stall rest for months, he acts like a doofus on the lunge line, and he still doesn't tie reliably.  However, he nickers for me when he hears me in the barn, he usually tries to do what he thinks I want him to do, and he seems to enjoy my company.

In my opinion, there are two things in life worth waiting for: a great love, and a great horse.  I'm fortunate enough to have both at the same time.

A spring bouquet for Nox.

Best Husband Ever and Nox, enjoying the view outside.

The racehorse I bet on every day

Yesterday was the Kentucky Derby and congratulations to winner California Chrome!  He's the first California bred horse to win the derby in 52 years - so here's a little shout out to my California family! I missed watching the race because I was hanging out with my own retired racehorse at our quiet little barn.  I wonder sometimes if Nox remembers his glory days.  I'm sure that horses have memories - Nox always remembers where I hid treats in the indoor ring the day before, or what I expect him to do during stretch sessions.  Why wouldn't he remember the sounds, smells, and feelings of a race day?  He is certainly a ham whenever there is an audience around and he really shows off when people applaud his antics.  I think he remembers. 

It was a rainy afternoon, but I opened the barn door and let Nox hang his head out into the showers and wind.  I was hoping that the vet would be able to clear Nox for full work this week, but I've decided to postpone her evaluation.  I've been working with him on the lunge line and when he trots I can see that he is still not 100%.  I don't want to waste her time (or my money) to have her come out and tell me he needs more time.  Hopefully in June, I can ask Dr. Meg to come up and look at him.  She told me in March that these injuries can take a year or more to heal, and we're only at month 7, so patience is key.  I'm not in a hurry for my sake, but as soon as the sun comes out and the pastures are dry and filled with green grass, I want Nox to be able to get out there and enjoy it!

Nox has shed out most of his thick winter coat, but I'm still currying out tons of the fine shorter hairs.  The little birds in the barn hop around us in the indoor ring as I groom him, picking up bunches of soft hairs and flitting off.  This time last year, I had already given him his first bath!  It's far to cold right now to attempt a bath (it's still dipping into the 30's at night!), but I can't wait to scrub him up and wash the months of dust and dirt off.  He loves the wash mitt and being sprayed with the hose.  Hurry up summer!

I'm getting better at these horse selfies, but I need a longer arm to get both his ears and his nose in the frame.

Nox, enjoying retirement as he looks out at his green pastures.

   

   

April showers brought Spring - finally!

Today was 70 degrees and sunny!  The winter that would never end has finally given up to Spring and it feels great!  We dragged open the side door of the indoor ring so the horses could hang their heads out the window and feel the sunshine and fresh air.  It's still very muddy and the pastures are filled with water, so the horses can't be outside yet, but they can at least hang their heads out!  Nox really enjoyed it, so I took the opportunity to take some photos.

We are doing well in our modified training.  Nox is re-learning how to walk and trot on a lunge line.  I used a lunge line with him last summer and he had a difficult time understanding the concept, and he is still confused.  Nox likes to cut in each lap around, making the circle smaller and smaller until I can practically reach out and pet his shoulder as he goes by.  My attempts to shoo him out usually result in him bucking, throwing a fit, and stopping.  We're working on it and slowly we're making progress.  I have to end each session on a good note, so after Nox is lunging well, I slow him down, give him a carrot, and stop.  A session may last 3 minutes or 15, but he's doing better each day.

I came across a great quote a while ago that I'm applying to my methods with Nox: The horse does one of two things.  He does what he thinks he's supposed to do, or he does what he thinks he needs to do to survive. ~ Ray Hunt.  Nox is either learning or surviving, and it's my attitude and approach that determines which mindset he is in.

Fresh air!

Happy Spring!

1 Month Later...

What an improvement a little exercise makes!  Nox is happier, calmer, and much easier to handle these days.  He still has a few moments of defiance while free lunging, but not the aggressive behavior from a month ago.  Now that I'm not afraid that he's going to strike me or run me over, we can do this:

In another month, the vet will return to evaluate his progress.

I took another photo of Nox a few days ago.  I had just finished grooming him (he is shedding like crazy!) and he knew he looked good!  

As Hayley says, "He is the Clooney of horses".

Handsome guy

So far, Nox is behaving much better now that he's getting a little exercise and training time.  Today we free lunged at the walk, with a little bit of trotting, for 15 minutes with minimal drama!  He also stood quietly enough during the grooming session for me to pull his mane (make it shorter).  I've been letting his mane grow out this winter, mostly because I imagined that it helped keep his neck warm - his hair is very thick - but I really prefer to keep his mane short in the hunter style.  After an hour of currying, brushing, and mane pulling, I snapped this picture of him:

    Isn't he handsome?

Peace and Hope

Today I went to the barn full of hope.  Nox was calm and greeted me with a nicker when he saw me.  I slipped his blanket off while he stood quietly in his stall.  Before turning him out in the ring, I went in to put the ground poles out in the cross pattern that I use when I'm free lunging Nox.  I heard him nicker happily when he heard the first pole hit the dirt with a clomp.  I smiled.  He loves to work.

I turned Nox out in the ring while I cleaned his stall.  He rolled a few times and then stood by the gate and waited for me.  I picked up the lunge whip, entered the ring, and took my place in the center.  I asked Nox to walk to the left.  He turned to the left and started walking - fast.  He wanted to trot, so I told him to trot.  He leaped forward and cantered a few strides, let out one buck, and then settled into a nice trot.  That was all.  No more drama.  We free lunged for 15 minutes... calmly... working as a team.  Afterwards, I groomed him and he was so good!  He chewed on the lead rope a few times, but never once went for my hand.  His eyes were soft and his expression sweet, just like my Nox.

I am relieved and hopeful that we are back on track.  I'm sure there will be more days when I will need to remind him that he's second in our herd of two, and I'm prepared to do so, but hopefully the daily exercise will make everything easier.

I just love him so much.