26Aug 2013 by myexracer

Aloha

Barn tales, Injury
[caption id="attachment_429" align="alignleft" width="200"] My Friend Aloha[/caption] I got the phone call in the afternoon. I was happy to hear from a friend from my previous barn. A really awesome girl who also had an OTTB. A charming goof ball named Aloha. A recent college grad who has dreams of being on stage and screen. Em and i became quick friends. I've hung out with her outside of horse things, seen her act in plays and visited her at her waitressing job. Shes a good kid. It wasn't good news, she just that afternoon put Aloha down. It was sudden and it was bad. Aloha came in from the field lame a few days back, he had cuts at one of his rear hocks, there was swelling. The vet was…
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07Aug 2013 by myexracer

One Day At A Time

Barn tales, Injury, Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Vet
[caption id="attachment_423" align="alignleft" width="300"] Photoshoot![/caption] Our third shock wave was done and the vet came out for Jezebels final ultrasound and check before the claim for this injury ran out. I was very nervous, our last check didn't go so great and at that time decision was made to give Jez some turn out since she was really falling apart on 24/7 stall rest.  Two hours a day was all she was supposed to get, though it later was brought to my attention my last barn was not adhering to that schedule. I'm really happy I'm out of that place for so many reasons, not following my vet's instructions is just one of them.  When Jez was moved to her temporary home at my friends house she was in a…
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24Jul 2013 by myexracer

Downtime

Barn tales, Injury, OTTB
[caption id="attachment_419" align="alignleft" width="300"] Bad Ass Fly Mask[/caption] I've convinced my better half to take riding lessons. It's all part of my not so secret plan to get a second horse. Theres a local barn that has a pretty descent lesson program and a stable of school horses and he's been going once a week for the last couple of months. Its been really fun watching him figure out the basics of steering and halting. He's the only adult in the class, his class mates are little girls which brings back all kinds of memories for me about when I started ridding. These little girls remind me of me. His instructor is really good at tailoring the lessons so that it works for children and adults and it cracks me…
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19Jul 2013 by myexracer

Turmoil

Barn tales, Life with Jezebel, OTTB
[caption id="attachment_404" align="alignleft" width="300"] I swear shes smiling[/caption] I have moved horse farms. It was sudden and very unpleasant. I was treated extremely badly by people I had always been kind, helpful and went out of my way for. It left a really bitter taste in my mouth but I was lucky enough to have a couple very supportive friends who helped me move my horse and give her a temporary home. They treated her like one of their own while I searched for a good place for her to be. In less than 48 hors after the incident my horse was in a safe place, being well cared for. Which pretty much is all that matters to me. I drove all over Maryland looking at farms to keep my…
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21May 2013 by myexracer

Mind Lost

Barn tales, Life with Jezebel, OTTB
[caption id="attachment_383" align="alignleft" width="300"] Yummy Noms[/caption] So the controlled grazing isn't really working. I'm blaming the weather. Its been like thunderstorm central around here, every day predicted chance of thunderstorms and when the pressure drops my horse likes to go nuts. Ive been taking her in the round pen where its a smaller enclosed space for her to graze. I  have her at the end of my lead and i do use the whole racehorse chain over her nose thing. In out last trip in the round pen for a graze it didn't take long before she was all four feet off the ground. I was able to get her back but man oh man it wasn't easy to calm her down. Then she decided that pulling back to break…
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17May 2013 by myexracer

Things Are Happening

Barn tales, Injury, Life with Jezebel, OTTB
[caption id="attachment_377" align="alignleft" width="225"] Naked![/caption] I finally got the pins out of my hand last week, that's the good news! The bad news? I can hardly move my finger, I can't bend it at 2 knuckles and my DR is likely going to send me to expensive physical therapy that I will have to pay for out of pocket. Even if I had a horse to ride right now I wouldn't be able to, cuz I cant hold the reins in my left hand. Ugh this sucks so hard. I hope eventually I will get my range of motion back but we will see. Jezebel is progressing well with her rehab and I've been cleared to do more with her so I've been taking her out for hand grazes. Its…
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04May 2013 by myexracer

Bad Pony

Barn tales, Life with Jezebel, OTTB
[caption id="attachment_373" align="alignright" width="300"] After the Ace[/caption] Jezebel tried to kill Nik. At least that's how I'm telling people the story. Jez has been really good while being aced for her walk rides that Nik and i got to thinking it might be a good idea to try her un-drugged. I've had better ideas in my life. So we get Jez out to the outdoor so Nik can mount her and shes being a real brat. Tossing her head at the mounting block, stepping back from it trying desperately hard to get a good look at the barn managers new handsome dappled gray draft cross who she was riding for the first time. Jez though he was hot as hell, which meant damn shes in heat and i didn't notice…
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02May 2013 by myexracer

Progress

Barn tales, Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Vet
[caption id="attachment_368" align="alignleft" width="225"] High Pony[/caption] We're cleared for walk/riding. By we I mean Jezebel, I'm still broken and still now allowed to ride. However Jez can be walk ridden under saddle for 20 minutes a day for the first week, 25 the second and then 30 the third. So Nik is the one who's gonna ride her until im cleared to actually get on a horse. It has to be on a hard surface and she has to be calm, enter... Ace. Yes, we've been acing her and my pony seems to like to get all loopy on goof-balls. Her eyes get a little droopy and she really seems to be having fun with being high on ace. It makes me laugh, while walking around her paddock cuz the…
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28Apr 2013 by myexracer

Broken Bone Update

Barn tales, Injury, Life with Jezebel, OTTB
[caption id="attachment_364" align="alignleft" width="225"] Goof[/caption] I was supposed to get my k-wires out last week. By out i mean my hand numbed up and them pulled out with pliers (i'm sure fancy medical pliers) But alas i haven't grown enough bone yet. Two more weeks of wires and this splint. I was cleared to begin to handle horses in a week. Which means i can do a little hand walking as long as i'm super careful and keep my broken finger in the splint. So says my doctor. So that is what i'll do, i'll be careful and at least I can help walk Lilly on the days her mom cant come out cuz unlike me shes got regular hours and isn't a freelancer who can mold her schedule around…
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24Apr 2013 by myexracer

Oh Horses …

Barn tales, Life with Jezebel, Vet
[caption id="attachment_358" align="alignleft" width="300"] Jez on one of her hand walks[/caption] The vet came down to work on Lilly who is my friend whos been helping me with Jez horse. Sadly Lilly is lame and well guess what soft tissue damage so even though its minor Lilly will be following the same RX as Jez stall rest and hand walking followed by walk riding. This should take 3/4 months, same as Jez. Le sigh (double time) You can read all about Lilly in Waiting For The Jump Niks blog (im "sally" in her blog but thats not really my name! ha!) [caption id="attachment_359" align="alignright" width="300"] Jez: Play with me Lilly: Grrr![/caption] While the vet was down, she did a re-check on my pony. After buting her twice a day Jez…
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