This is an ongoing saga. I’m currently trying to get my money back either from Jeffers or from PayPal… But, at this point, I have zero issue sharing all of this online. I’m over it.

On Wednesday 11/27, I ordered a blanket from Jeffers for Cairo. It was in stock, but it never shipped. It was odd. I kept waiting and waiting and never saw a shipping notification.

12/4 I called them to see what was going on. They were swamped with Black Friday sales, but my order was fine and would ship tomorrow. They sent a note to the warehouse to let them know it needed to ship.

12/5, still no shipping notice so I called again. No issue at all. It would ship tomorrow. I tried to ask a question but they hung up on me when I was asking. So I emailed to ask about my order.

12/6 response, more of the same. This time, they were certain the blanket would ship today.

12/7, I finally received a reply with UPS tracking information and word that they would tell the warehouse that the order NEEDED TO BE SHIPPED ON MONDAY.

12/10, UPS tracking number was invalid, showed it hadn’t been scanned. Followed up with Jeffers again. They stated that the package likely was lost (in the warehouse?/never made it to USP) and they would need to issue a reshipment.

12/11, I asked for the new tracking information. I was told it didn’t yet exist as the adjustment for the previous order was still in process (I don’t even know what that means) and it would take 5-7 days before a new tracking number could be issued. I replied that they had had my money for over 2 weeks with no movement and this was not an acceptable solution. No reply.

12/12, Reply again asking for a solution (tracking or refund). No reply.

12/16, ask for a final time for refund or tracking. Let them know that I would be disputing with PayPal if I don’t hear back.

Tomorrow marks 21 days. 21.

My advice is to stay away from Jeffers.

2 really is the worst number.

Way back when, I had 3 horses. The OGs. The 3 chestnuts. When we lost Hayley, we added Jiminy. When we lost Batts, we added Nay Nay. But, after Subi, we just stuck with 2. 2 really is the ideal number for my property and finances (actually, 1 is the ideal number but we’re not going there) so 2 it is. With Nay Nay still NQR, adding another riding horse was ideal but it leaves a new challenge: separation.

NOTE: after everything that unfolded with Jiminy and conversations with my vet, I am not willing to entertain the idea of a mini ever again. I have the perfect setup for a mini and even then the metabolic issues compounded and there was nothing I could do. This wasn’t the first time my vet has seen it (though, to be fair, Jiminy was a unique case in that his weight was ideal and he STILL had issues) and it’s heartbreaking every time. Unless I was dealing with a super well bred mini without any known risk factors in their genetic lines (and even then, they’re minis), I couldn’t do it.

So that brings us to this bunch. Nay Nay and Cairo. Nay Nay has always been weird about being left. He’s always been fine doing the leaving and less fine being left. Now that I think about it, he’s never liked being left even if he wasn’t alone. So, if I pulled out Subi and left him with Jiminy? He was displeased. But, it was fine.

Now, with the 2 of them? I need to come up with a solution. I don’t feel that it is true separation anxiety because once the horses are reunited? He has zero interest in the other horse (in this case, Cairo). There is no greeting, not sniffing, no touching noses. He just walking immediately past and goes about his day. It’s very odd.

My vet suggested that we start by leaving him in his stall and just see how he reacts. Give him something tasty and just see how it goes. He lasted about 4 minutes before he had an epic meltdown. Weaving, screaming, kicking, etc. Soaked in sweat. Brain fell out of his head. 0-100 in seconds. Even when I turned him out, he was trying his hardest to hold it together but…

Next suggestion was a tree of knowledge type of situation. Instead of the tree, we tried a stall tie (the tree may have been less dangerous, but I don’t even know). He didn’t really fight the tie, but he had a similar reaction. Hopping/dancing on his front legs (not rearing, just bouncing), soaked in sweat. Ignored all hay, kicking, screaming, meltdown that got worse. My neighbors ended up calling to see what was going on. He escalated to the point that I worried he’d hurt himself. With a tree, he’d not be able to kick, but he’d probably try and climb the tree and smash his body against it…

The last 2 times (Sunday, Monday) I turned him out in the round pen. I did a little bit of ground work and then left him. He did a tiny bit of grazing (more Sunday than Monday), some trotting (more Monday than Sunday), an anger roll (Sunday), some calling (more Monday than Sunday), but nothing dangerous. He didn’t appreciate it. But, no cantering, lots of walking (more Sunday than Monday), very little screaming (more Monday than Sunday but on Monday Cairo started it). So, definitely the best of all the situations. But, Monday was worse than Sunday. Before I turned out, I did do some additional ground work and both times he immediately zeroed his focus onto me. So, I never lost his brain. It was 100% an “I don’t like this” vs an “I’m going to die” situation.

Someone also suggested that I try Warwick Schiller focus work. Whether I do this in addition to continuing the other round pen work or instead of it, it looks interesting. If nothing else, it certainly can’t hurt. I’m going to play around with it.

I definitely want to start riding Cairo soon but I suspect I’ll have to haul both out to start. It is what it is. At this point, I’m aiming for the week between Xmas and New Years to start riding. But, hopefully come sometime in the New Year, I’ll be able to just take one out.

I will add, Cairo doesn’t seem overly bothered to be alone. He did call out to Nay Nay once or twice on Monday, but he was never upset. He never moved from the hay even when he called for him. On Sunday, he couldn’t even be bothered to voice any acknowledgement that Nay Nay wasn’t in the paddock with him.

I’m still very much struggling with the loss of Jiminy. It seems November/December are difficult times with the anniversaries of losing Batt, Hayley, and now Jiminy. But, I’m trying not to sink too deep. I just didn’t expect to be so… I don’t know… lost? Bothered? Affected? Especially when I have no regrets and know it was the right thing.

Which brings us to Cairo.

I’m trying by best not to let grief affect my feelings towards him. Normal people don’t immediately go out and get a horse but at the same time, Nay needs a horse so a horse we got. And, I actually shopped around and tried a couple before settling on Cairo lol

Cairo has been here now for just over 2 weeks and is a complete gentleman though very reserved. I haven’t figured out if it’s his personality, if he’s still getting settled, or if it’s a little bit of both. Probably the last one. He and Nay Nay are fine together. No fireworks though they’re not the best of friends which I’m fine with. Nay is a lot of personality. A lot. Too much probably for a lot of horses and people. Cairo seems to be very level in comparison which is nice. But it’s a strange adjustment if I’m being honest.

Cairo is also a complete pushover. He’s big. Huge. 16.2/16.3 (we tried to stick him) and if someone suggests he walks away from the hay, he will. Nay Nay figured this out immediately. One look, one side eye and Cairo backs off and away and Nay has all the hay to himself. Not good. With a big, multi-sided round bale, Nay Nay should not be able to keep Cairo away from the hay (especially without using teeth or kicking). But Cairo is so meek that he was scared to eat. Sigh. I will say, it’s gotten better. And they are both eating. I’ve also supplemented with extra piles of hay. But, I suspect this is why Cairo really needs weight. Yes, the post track transition is rough, but I think full time turnout and group feeding likely wasn’t leaving him all his feed… now he gets night hay in his stall plus evening feed in his stall, hay cubes, and is separated for breakfast outside. I hope he’ll put on weight quickly even if he doesn’t eat as much with Nay as I’d like (though I have been seeing them eat side by side the last few days). [ETA I started this a couple of days ago and since then, he’s gotten a lot more comfortable with Nay Nay and eating hay with him]

I turn the boys out myself in the morning though my husband generally brings Cairo (or Big Boy Roy as he calls him) in at night. He’s very good and has settled into a routine. He’s a good eater, loves his stall and hay and grain though is just as much of a pig as Nay Nay. No escaping these gross boys. LOL

He saw the vet on Monday for a post purchase exam if you can call it that. He’s got some mild arthritis in his front left (also a chip but I knew that), but nothing unexpected for a warhorse who raced until he was 9 with 43 starts, 10 wins, graded stakes placed, and almost $500,000 in earnings. She wasn’t concerned about the chip based on location (nor were the vets that saw him before) though he’ll likely need some maintenance eventually. His feet look good (though he was in glue ons at some point which was odd) and his teeth look good too. Oh, and he strongly objected to his eyes being checked. STRONGLY. My vet also felt that he’d already put on weight.

Next step? Legal separation. I’m to start separating the boys as often as possible for anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour a day to just get them used to being apart. Mostly to get Nay Nay used to being alone so I can start hauling Cairo out to ride. Mostly we just don’t want me to have to take them both out all the time. Wish me luck!