TB Salute

Well. I have this problem. Two problems actually.

1. I have an addiction to horses. Unshakeable, ever-present, consuming. I cannot make it go away.

2. When I know what I like and see it, there's no going back. I have a connection to the thing and know it is mine before I even commit to it.

I don't really mind these two problems, and I have been SO fortunate in life to be able make room for some of the more expensive things that catch my eye, like my wedding dress.

And so it was that back in November/December-ish I saw a cute horse on SecondStride.org that gave me a certain feeling. I knew the feeling and tried to hush it. As it was, I wasn't going to start looking at horses until June (cue problem no. 1, I am always looking). So I avoided the website and focused on the business of the holidays, and then the funeral of my grandfather, and then a move... But in between the funeral and our move, I had a niggling, and I kept looking at pictures of the horse. And then I emailed about the horse. And talked to people about the horse. And felt compelled to look at the horse. And even though he had some issues, I still thought it would be a shame if I didn't meet the horse, because the feelings I had were real.

So I told my husband (bless his soul) that I thought we should go look at the horse, and he sighed and said ok. And we made a long drive to Kentucky before going to Gatlinburg with friends to look at him. He was as fuzzy as a teddy bear and put his head gently in my arm while I stroked his cheek and I was reminded of my dear pony, Encore, who also favored that particular form of snuggling. So I signed papers and called a vet for X-rays and a PPE and they said everything is great except for that one issue in the leg, but it will be fine. And I scheduled a shipper and the horse will be here in Durham sometime in the next week I hope.

Riding on 3/16/17

Two-year sale photo

Two-year old sale photo

Training breeze

Training breeze

Now, let me tell you about the horse.

• We are calling him Smoky because we were in the Smoky Mountains when we decided to go ahead with the adoption. He's black with a white diamond. As fuzzy as a bear. As sweet as can be.
• He retired from racing with a fractured hind sesamoid. They start Thoroughbreds as babies and injuries are SO common. And he was kind of slow. The sesamoid still shows a fracture on X-ray but he's sound. Unless you do a flexion test on him, or he runs around too much. It's probably been 6 months since he injured it. Vets suggest time off, light work, wrapping the leg. I'll be poulticing, cold hosing, and sweating it as well.
• He has a parrot mouth. Which is undetectable when he's just standing there eating and hanging out. You have to really lift his lips up to see it, but his incisors don't touch. So we'll need to do regular float sessions, 1-2 times a year probably. Otherwise he eats well and can graze and seems unfazed by a bit. Will need to have a dentist check them pretty soon though, no idea when his chompers were last assessed.
• He has great feet, shoes only on the front (yay money saver!).
• He's a little small, about 16.1, but will probably stretch up a bit and fill out a lot as he ages. He's only 4.
• There's a floaty, pretty trot hiding in there. Just need to have a healthy ankle, and build some muscles.
• He's wonderfully calm and sweet, almost pokey. Though I'm sure when he feels 100% he'll get some of that TB spark back.
• He seems smart. He's had few rides in the past 6 months, but when I rode him he seemed very receptive to steering and leg aids. 
• Joe said he even felt a special connection to him despite not being a horse person and being quite nervous about horse acquisition.
• The rest we'll just have to discover.

The photos that captured my special attention. 

I'll be using this space to keep a journal of our growth together, document Smoky's progress, share photos, tell stories, etc. I hope you'll join in reading along.