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!