Gulfstream Park

Seems like everyone's been dealing with non-stop rain this past week, and it was no different in the ATL. Kwik and I had to get creative about when and where we rode, but I ended up having two really great rides. I wasn't sure we would get a ride in on Wednesday, but the rain stopped right as I finished tacking Kwik up, and we did some stretchy walk and trot work in the grass arena. I got bored with that and decided to see how Kwik would do trotting in the field right outside of the barn/arena (we've never done this before). I didn't even have the running martingale on, but he was really tuned in and I didn't think we would have any problems. He was awesome, and it was SO MUCH FUN trotting up and down all of the hills. He's really starting to use his bum up and down hills as opposed to barreling up and down thanks to all the trail riding we've been doing lately. He felt great (I think the hock injections and Pentosan are really working!), and I could tell he was having fun as well! I went out early Fourth of July Thursday to beat the rain. I really wanted to go on a trail ride, but I was the only one out at the time. So we went anyway- just me and Kwik :). We ambled down a short trail close to the barn and then headed back up Three Lakes Road. Kwik was definitely a little more aware of his surroundings than usual, but I sat back and enjoyed the ride and he settled in and did the same. When we reached the barn, it started to drizzle. I decided a little rain wouldn't hurt us, and we did our hill work in the field again. It was even more fun in the rain! I'm thinking we may be able to try a little trotting on the xc course in the very near future!

Kwik will have this week off since I'm in Fort Lauderdale on vacation until Sunday! Adam and I bummed around the beach on Saturday, and we went to Gulfstream Park on Sunday. It's a beautiful park- lots of palm trees! When we walked out to the track, I couldn't help smiling knowing Kwik had raced and won there in his first life! Adam taught me how to read the program and explained the betting. The betting is still a little confusing to me, but I had fun learning, and with a little more practice, I think I could get the hang of it. I bet on the first couple of races, but afterwards, I enjoyed watching the parade before each race's call to post. I couldn't get over how small these guys and gals are! There were eight races that day, and most of them were for three, four, and five year-olds. You could tell they still have some growing up to do- Kwik looks like a giant compared to these babies! I was also on a mission to speak with the track photographer, and after one of the races, she walked right past me. I approached her and explained that I owned an OTTB that raced at Gulfstream in 2007 and would like to purchase some winner's circle photos. She was extremely nice and offered to meet me back at the rail after the next race so she could grab the phone number for the photographer that year. Sure enough, after the next race, she found me and I copied the number into my program. I'll give him a call when I get home- we'll see what we can find out!

We really need to work on our selfies!

Start gate

I was in love with this pony horse the entire day! He was so cool, calm, and collected!

Cigar!

Parade ring

Saddling paddock. Adam swore up and down we were allowed back there, so we took a stroll. Not only are you not allowed back there if you aren't a trainer or owner, you can't bring drinks either. Whoopsie.

Recovery Part. 1

 It was so wonderful to see Kwik bright-eyed and perky when I went out to the barn Saturday afternoon. I checked his bandages, added a little more Elasticon wrap to his hoof bandage, and then we went for a little hand graze. He was definitely happy to be out of his stall! Adam came out with me on Sunday, and he stuffed Kwik full of carrots and even helped out with the hand grazing!

Dr. P came out on Monday to change his bandage and said the laceration looks really great and is healing nicely. The plan was to put his shoe back on towards the end of the week, allow him to go out for a little while in a small medical paddock on Wednesday, remove the bandage when he comes in on Wednesday evening, and remove the staples on Monday.

My farrier was in the area last night (Tuesday), and Dr. P ok'd putting the shoe back on. When I got out to the barn last night, Kwik looked like he was in a daze. I pulled him out of his stall for a hand graze, and he was definitely off, wasn't interested in eating grass, and just looked like he wasn't all there. Something wasn't quite right, so I texted L, and she came right out. She agreed that he looked lethargic, and we took his temperature. He was on the borderline of running a low temperature, so we called Dr. P for her opinion. He ate all of his dinner, ate some hay, pooped, and drank water while we waited for the call-back, so I wasn't terribly worried. My first thought was that he was having a reaction to the second dose of antibiotics he received on Monday or he picked up a cold at the hospital. Dr. P called back, and she seemed to think it was an adverse reaction to the second dose of Excede as well.

L says he is walking better and is a little perkier this morning. He's outside in the mini paddock enjoying the sunshine, and his bandage comes off this evening. I really hope I'm greeted by my bright-eyed, happy go lucky Kwik this evening- we're so close to reaching the end of this whole ordeal (knock on wood!).

Best. Week. Ever.

Last weekend I took a semi spur-of-the-moment trip down to Jacksonville to meet Adam for the weekend while he was on a business trip. We had a very nice, relaxing getaway, which means Kwik also had a nice, relaxing weekend. I was really excited about getting out to the barn this week, and I had three great rides!

Friday I had a mini jump lesson with A. We hopped over our warm-up crossrail a few times, and then moved on to a small vertical. We ended trotting in and cantering out and over a cross rail-small vertical line! He felt confident, balanced, and never once tried to charge through. I couldn't have been more pleased!

One night on our Jax trip, Adam had a few too many beers, and I got him to agree to come out to the barn with me on the weekend for a lesson. The plan was to put him on Pecker in a western saddle and then let him hop on Kwik when he felt comfortable. We were running short on time, so A and I just threw him up on Kwik in an English saddle. A put him on the lunge line for 5 minutes or so while she explained how to sit and steer, and after that he was on his own! I was so proud of Kwik- he took such good care of Adam! How many green OTTBs can you just throw a beginner on and have absolute confidence that he/she will be a saint!?! Actually probably quite a few since OTTBs rock!!! Adam was a little nervous at first, but he really got the hang of things in no time. I'm guessing he had a pretty good time becuase when he got off, he said, "Next time I want to go fast!" Whoa there, John Wayne, baby steps!

"Don't look down unless you want to hit the ground!" says A



All by himself!

Then I got on to finish my jump lesson with A from the previous night. After our warm up cross rail and vertical, A asked us to canter the line from last night. It was amazing! I know the jumps are small and cantering a small line shouldn't really be a big deal, but after everything that happened with Finn, it just seems wild that I'm cantering a line on Kwik two months after purchasing him. I need to work on my position- my leg has a tendancy to come back over the jumps and my form is just bad, but I can't even imagine where we will be in another two months- maybe jumping small courses!