Homecoming

Yesterday, Nox and Diesel came home.  I took the day off work so I could be home with them for 3 whole days before I have to leave them alone while we're at work.  They both trailered well and I put them in their stall/paddocks.  They immediately reached out to each other over the fence, squealing and stomping their feet, but after a few minutes they were nuzzling and playing. 

Best Husband Ever had to work and I didn't want to let them into the pasture together while I was alone, so I just let them get used to their paddocks and tried to coax them into their stalls, where it was much cooler.  Neither wanted to come in at first, but eventually they came in to get water and escape the heat and flies. 

Nox came in first.

Diesel was a little hesitant.

We all settled in for the night.  I slept pretty well, but I had an ear out for any strange sounds.  All was quiet and uneventful.  I woke up early to do barn chores.  I love barn chores, but they are even better in my own barn.  I fed them first and while they ate their grain and supplements in their stalls, I cleaned manure out of the paddocks.  The sun had just come up, the birds were singing, and I could hear Nox and Diesel chewing their grain and bumping their noses against the buckets.  I love the sound of horses eating out of buckets.  It took me about 45 minutes to finish the morning chores.  When BHE joined me in the barn, I was ready to let the horses out into the pasture.

We let Diesel out first and then Nox.  They ignored each other at first and delighted in the grass and space to run in.  But soon, Nox trotted over to Diesel and started the confrontation.  The squealed and spun around and kicked at each other violently!  My heart was in my throat.  They separated briefly and came together again, kicking with their back legs.  Diesel connected with Nox - a well placed kick to the shoulder that landed with a dull thud.  That was it.  Nox conceded and took his place as second in their herd of 2.  It's not what I expected, but I prefer Diesel to be in charge, actually.  Nox can easily outrun Diesel if Diesel was to get aggressive; whereas if Nox had won, he could chase Diesel down and constantly harass him if he wanted to.  Throughout the morning, Nox would occasionally pick a small fight and Diesel would kick out without connecting, and Nox would back off.  After a few hours, they were sharing the water trough and exploring their paddocks together without incident.  I expect that over the next few days, Nox may challenge Diesel again, but I think they've pretty much settled things and I'm not as worried anymore.

I spent the day cleaning tack, organizing my feed corner, and just watching Nox and Diesel.  I took way too many pictures and sent lots of them to family.  I'm still a little numb, like I can't quite believe that this is real.  It's been a dream of mine for so long (since I was a kid!), to have horses at home.  Little by little, I've been working toward that goal.  Four years ago I adopted Nox.  Now he's home.  And we have a second horse that came home with him!  It just amazes me and I'm so grateful.  I know I say it/write it a lot, but it's important to express gratitude.  I'm thankful for a supportive family who have encouraged me along the way.  And I'm grateful for a husband/best friend who has worked so hard to help me make this dream come true.  With his bare hands, blood, and sweat, he built the framework that this dream lives in.  It's beautiful.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.  And now, I will sign out.  There is some poop to scoop.

Life is but a dream.

Barn Update... Getting Closer!

It is mid-June and we are so close to having everything ready to bring Nox and Diesel home.  The contractors have finished the barn addition and the fencing, the stone dust has been smoothed out in the paddocks, and Best Husband Ever completed the stalls.  At this point, all we need to do is finish the barn accessories like stall mats and saddle racks and get hay and feed!  Here are some pictures of the barn, paddocks, and pasture:

The barn and paddocks

Another view of barn and paddocks

The paddocks looking out to the pasture

The pasture... look at that straight fence! Our fence contractor is really good.

The stalls 

Close up of stall. The cute stall latches were my birthday present last year! 

So, we are thinking that this weekend we will get everything finished up and plan to bring the horses home the weekend after!  Very exciting!

In the meantime, we are having a good time with Nox and Diesel at their current barn.  Nox did have a few nosebleeds two weeks ago - some readers may recall that Nox had a nosebleed two years ago and we rushed him to Cornell Equine Hospital, afraid that he had a fatal condition called gutteral pouch mycosis.  An overnight stay and many tests later, they couldn't find anything wrong with him and theorized that he had allergies.  So, I didn't panic this time when Penny texted that Nox was having another nosebleed but I did hurry to the barn.  It had stopped by the time I arrived, and he's had a two more over the next few days, but the weather was really dry, there was lots of pollen in the air, and I have no other explanation.  It rained most of last week and he didn't have a nosebleed.

Other than the nosebleeds, Nox is doing well.  I've been lunging him most days and riding a few times a week.  He is moving well and looking gorgeous.  I took this picture while lunging him because I was just impressed with how good he looks!

Handsome boy

Diesel is really coming out of his shell and we are seeing his true personality now.  He is much more vocal now than when he first came to the barn.  We never heard a sound from him.  I always greet Diesel first on my way to Nox's stall, but when I walk away he whinnies for me.  Penny also says that he nickers excitedly when he thinks she's coming his way with food.  He LOVES food and has now gained all the weight he needs.  He is coming along well under saddle.  BHE enjoys riding him and so do I.

Penny and her husband used to be into driving and had lots of draft horses and buggies, sleighs, and carts.  They still have quite a bit of driving equipment and offered a driving harness to us for Diesel. The other day we fitted a harness to him and just walked behind him around the property.  I was laughing because we've been exposing the poor guy to so many new things that he didn't understand, like fly spray, baths, treats, and grooming... but when we put that driving harness on him, he was completely in his element.  If there is one thing that Diesel knows how to do, it's how to drive.  His job for most of his life was to plow fields and pull wagons.  As soon as he saw the big leather collar, he lowered his head and stuck his nose right through it.  While we struggled to fit the harness and straps around him, he kept looking around at us like he was wondering what was taking so long - clearly, we were amateurs here.  We couldn't find a driving bridle, so we just hooked the long reins to his halter and hoped he'd be fine without a bit in his mouth.  We asked him to "walk on" and he strutted his stuff around in that harness and looked very comfortable and was very responsive.  I'm already envisioning winter sleigh rides and delivering Christmas cookies to the neighbors, jingling all the way.

Diesel in his driving harness

That's my update.  Stay tuned and I'm hoping my next post will have pictures of Nox and Diesel in their new barn!