90 Days!

It has officially been 90 days since Baby Maxwell ran his last race! I am so proud to be the owner of this amazing OTTB.

Yesterday he was a complete comedian and had me laughing so hard. Really he didn't do anything that he doesn't already normally do (he's the barn clown, dontcha know?!) but he was out in full force and really made my day. He has two windows in his stall, and would "follow" me as I turned horses out. Grunting politely as to make sure that I didn't forget to turn out my special boy. He also enjoys swinging his head around and making the 'yes' motion and then licking, chewing, and sticking his tongue out when someone is watching him. This translates to "YES, HUMAN, you've made eye contact, now FEED ME! I'm STARVED! LOOK at my eyes! POOR ME!" Followed by one more attempt at a whinny. I cave every time and walk up to give kisses and pats (he has finished his third meal of the day by this time. He ISN'T starving)

I remember when I met you, April 3rd, Miss Summer had to warn us when we touched and pat you, because you were such a little grump about touch and feel. I'm so happy to see that you grin and bare the brushing now. I know you have some spots that still aren't comfortable, but we make do and you've leaped miles and miles forward in the progress with your sensitive body. I love that I can now give you pets and scratches (you DO have to know the spots, or he will make angry faces) and kisses and hugs, and not really have to worry (nearly as much) about what you might do. I love that you are safe, smart, and kind. The first time I sat on you, it was quite a struggle to get  you to move. Miss Summer had to give me the 'okay' to really kick you on. I felt like a complete nut. I was so used to riding a forward moving pony. I must have known by that look in your eye, that this wasn't the real you. Kind, quiet, and willing to please, absolutely, but poky and resistant, you are not. You have a great movement and it fills my heart with joy to see you moving freely forward. You feel better and it shows.

I cannot wait for the next 90 days, and every day thereafter, to continue to develop you and see you show more and more of yourself. I got a lot of flack from uneducated people wondering why on earth I was thinking about getting a 7 year old thoroughbred that ran and ran and ran all these years. Why? Because I knew it meant you had heart. Your body is strong, and your mind brave. I gave a very lovely pony to have you, Max, and though lots of people still question why I did it, and if it was right for me to do, I know it was. She's happy with Miss Summer, and Miss Summer LOVES her as I did. Just as she loved you like I love you. I promise you Max, no matter what the future may bring, I will never ever fail you. You will always be safe. Always be fed, and always be happy to the best of my abilities.

Love you sweet boy! Congrats on 90 days of retirement from racing! I know I gush about you way too much, but I can't help it! You're a very special horse!

Baby Max Yesterday enjoying the breeze in the 95 degree heat!

 55 days ago. Holy awkward on both our parts :-D :-D

55 days ago when I first got on him


This Video is never before seen! I just found it on my phone today! This was from my first ever ride on Max, at Summer's trying him out. This was also his second ever ride post track.

And a video from last week where we jumped an X for the first time (this wasn't the first jump, but during the first ride)

Steam in the Engine

Yesterday me and Maxwell had quite a productive ride! It was HOT (air temp read 90, real feel more close to 97) so it was a short workout and I paid special attention to how we both felt. Thankfully there happened to be a really nice breeze so as we both sweat, the breeze helped our bodies stay comfy enough to hack on for 25 minutes.

I was very surprised to see that Max had lots of 'steam in his engine' so to speak. He was very forward moving. Not nutty, not too much, but a very nice amount of pep in his step. Must mean he is feeling good. He was easy to adjust and was very responsive nonetheless, and after a couple of serpentines, decided that the slow life was much easier than trying to speed through the turns. They're also quite exhausting for a horse that's lost much of his fitness, and has a weak right side. I was tired by the end of it also. Though the forward motion was great, because I experienced a couple of moments where he broke at the pole and softened. Lots of "good boy" and pats. People probably think I am nuts with the amount of "GOOD BOYS!" I blurt out during our rides. But he always responds well to that and knows he has done well.

Back on the subject of the serpentines, I noticed how very grumpy he got when we would bend around and have to really use his right side. He gets a little sassy when I apply more leg, but reluctantly complies with my request. Super happy once we get back to his left side. He'll get there. Unfortunately, my right side is my weaker side too, so we both will have to work extra hard to build that up.

We didn't do a whole lot of canter, but I did try to get the right lead out of him again. So far I've tried stepping into my right stirrup, stepping into my left stirrup, counter-bending, posting on the wrong diagonal immediately before asking, asking over a pole, asking on the straight, asking in a field, asking in the arena...I can't get him to pick it up. It has to be something that I am doing wrong, so I look forward to lessoning  soon to see if I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. He did offer me the right lead when landing from a jump, and I have since seen a few of his races and he was always on the right lead in the straightaway. I know some horses are allowed to run on whatever lead makes them happy, especially in the lower class races that he ran, but thankfully he did know his changes and seemed to always get them. It's something I am not asking for correctly, so it will take a little time for me to figure him out.

Max has a great heart. He tries very hard to do just as I ask him. He gets a little bit fussy if it involves bending around his right side, or when I ask him to steer more off my leg than the rein, but what do you expect for a horse not even 60 days off the track? He feels pressure on his (already sensitive) sides and he kind of gets it but kind of wants to question it at the same time.

He will be going on a diet adventure here soon where we test out something new, so I'm very excited to see how he does with that. He has a farrier appointment next week, so I am hoping to hear some good news about his white line disease. The week after the dentist and vet come out, and I'm thinking he's going to have to get a little bit of dental work done in addition to the float, but long term that should benefit him greatly! Fingers crossed!

There's a really neat Track my Hack app that I've been using for about a year now, and recently they updated it and added more features. It works VERY well for trail rides, and thankfully seems to do an okay job for at home workouts as well!  The triangles closest to the pond are actually serpentines, so it's accurate, but clearly not 100%.

Happy wet boy after his shower!

Food Food and more Food

After having a long conversation with someone I trust and respect greatly in the OTTB world (his Auntie Summer, who brought him to her home after the track before he came to me!), it looks like Baby Maxwell will be taken on a new journey in the nutrition world. I'll give more details as they become available but essentially he will be grain free for at least the trial period. I like the sounds of this. His loose manure has not subsided, so an irritation in the gut is really the only answer. He will be having a fecal and some blood done during his dental in the beginning of June, just to be safe, but it seems this is just a gut issue, as it is with most OTTBs. Stay tuned! I will be getting more active on the blog documenting his workouts, his progress, and his feeding regiments as we do this trial!

Can I just Take a Moment to Brag?

Maxwell has been off the track for not even 90 days. I seem him almost every day so I don't really get to sit back and admire the progress he has made in such a short time, but after the last couple of rides I have had with him, it really has become apparent how awesome my big bay is!

First, I want to give a huge shout out to Actiflex 4000 (Cox Labs). This stuff is my go to joint supplement. Superior ingredients with the maximum amounts of vital supplements to help support the joints. Maxwell receives a double dose of it and this is where I find the most improvement. Side by side comparisons (as I've previously posted) show that penny for penny ingredient for ingredient, Actiflex 4000 far exceeds the competition. Max is living proof. He moves out so much better and has a much better 'feel' now that he's been on it for 3 weeks.

Secondly, I've now had 3 rides in our new half pad. I think this is where I have seen the biggest overall change in attitude while being ridden. Max was a bit of a grump when I first got him. Understandably he was body sore from the demand that years of racing had put on him. His back is still quite tender, but that's a work in progress with our awesome body-worker. This half pad evenly distributes the weight of myself and the saddle over his back as well as absorbing major shock to his back. He has ears forward and happy expressions during our entire ride since this pad came. His sweat pattern is consistent along the back and I feel that it has made drastic improvements to the way my horse feels under saddle. I have been using the Lami Cell Gel/Foam half pad. It retails for about $50, and I have been eyeing it since before I got Max. Last week Jeffers put it on sale for $35 and I couldn't resist. Best $35 spent in a long time! In my opinion it far surpasses it's more expensive counterpart, the Ogilvy half pad. It is thicker, sturdier, and I feel like it's more than just a 'cushion'. It raises the saddle off the withers as needed, while conforming to the contours of your horse's back and your saddle. The Ogilvy kind of just sits there and makes it 'appear' to help. I feel it's far too thin to have substantial shock absorbing capabilities, as the Lami Cell does.

Maxwell had his first jump session this weekend. He LOVED it. There is something so exhilarating about bringing the green horse through his first jumping sessions. To see the excited expressions and happy motions they make once they 'get it'. Max isn't a young baby like the greenies of my past, but it's almost the best of both worlds because I get to bring my horse up through the trials and tribulations of jumping, while not having to worry so much about fusing bones and joints. I don't have a total baby on my hands, and his mature personality also makes it that much easier to progress him through. He seems to have taken to it quite well and I'm so very proud of our accomplished X (and mini gate!) jumping this weekend.

Baby Maxwell does a warmup. Would like to see a bit more reaching under, but we don't press the issue yet. Some days are better than others but he is making a marked improvement!

Cantering into X for the first time

A couple of still shots from video over the weekend

Spring Legs??

Just a Quickie

Just a quick update because it's been a little while since my last. Max has been doing well on his three meals a day! He has started to consume much more of his hay, so much so that his hay net is already falling apart!

Max has gone on two trail rides at two different locations now. He LOVES the trails and is seemingly un-phased by otherwise 'scary' objects. The only difficulty we have is getting on the trailer. He isn't "scared" or "upset" he just downright refuses to load, until finally giving in. We'll be working on this.

Max does not like plastic bags. I intended on soaking his feet in white lightning using the bags, however that didn't go over as planned and we ended up with a broken brand new halter. Live and learn. Soaked diapers in it and wrapped his feet in them, and we finally got a good treatment applied.

From our Trail Ride at Little Manatee last week

Yesterday during the diaper foot soaking session. He wasn't impressed

Happy One Month Anniversary, Maxwell

Well, folks, it's been a month since Max came home. I find myself reminiscing and thinking of Bella often, living through pictures of her now. Miss and love her to death, but of course, extremely happy with my big BayBay Maxwell.

It's only been a month, and the horse has only been done racing for 2 months. However, I lose sleep at night over analyzing his nutrition. He has not dropped any weight, but I don't think I have seen any definable difference in it, either. Maybe a pudge of muscle on his butt, not so sunken in where he lost his 'race fit' look, but otherwise, meh. Love this big guy so much that I just want to make sure he's going to thrive.  Here I have compiled the two main things he receives nutritionally (aside from free choice hay...working on that analysis which isn't as accurate because the hay is not guaranteed or regulated):

His feet seemed to be doing bunch better this weekend. He was sound by Saturday, so Sunday we trailered out at 6:15am for a sunrise trail ride up the road at Lake Manatee. This was Maxwell's first ever trail ride (at least post track life, but likely ever). He was a perfect gentleman, as if he had been doing this his whole life. He got off the trailer shaking, scared, upset. About 3 minutes post unloading, though, when he saw we were basically in the woods, he realized that whatever preconceived notion he had was wrong, and that where we were was pretty neat! By the time the tack was on he was settled and ready to experience the trails! Such a good good man!