Nitro is home again. It's nice to look out from my house and see him out there, I feel a lot better. I think he dose too. Every morning just as the birds start chirping Nitro gives a snort or two to wake me up. Looking out from my bed room window I can see him pacing around the night paddock impatient for his morning grain and hay. He moves Shadow away with ears or a nasty look as he is doesn't like sharing and as soon as I open the kitchen door he shouts out to me. We always greet each other but his impatience allowes me no more then a rub on his forlock, he'll still show me his teeth if I dilly dally.  I place two flakes on either side of the water troff so he can soak his hay and wash it. He likes his hay washed and every night his water troff is brown and has mud on the bottom from the dirt he washes off. He takes a mouthfull and puts it in the water or sometimes soaks it right in his mouth like he's boobing for apples. Then I scoop out the grain as Nitro walks over to watch and stands by his spot. Shadow gets jiped because Nitro eats his then chases Shadow off to finish his too.  After they eat they go in the windshed for a nap. Once I see them about again I open their gate and turn them out. During the day they come into their night paddock everytime they want more hay. As the sun is setting I muck the night paddock and Nitro comes in and keeps bumping me for his grain. I dump the muddy water troff and re-fill it, put out the grain and hay and sometimes trim their hooves while they eat. Nitro likes his chest scratched, Shadow likes a face rub. Before sunset I walk up with a carrot or apple and say goodnight. Even an average day with Nitro is special. Ya it's nice to have him back home. He adds life to the place. He likes his morning coffee.

 08/13/08 Nitro and Shadow have been close friends for three years now, ever since Theresa took Shadow (the rescue) over. They have been to horse shows together, load in the trailer and travel well together, Nitro shares the windshed and most of his hay with him. Ya, Shadow is Nitro's good friend simply because Shadow is willing not to challenge Nitro. He knows to let Nitro come out of the paddock first, eat first, drink first and go into the shed first. Nitro enjoys the peace of not having to enforce his will over Shadow and the two of them have really bonded. Yesterday came the fly in the ointment. Surrender a new 26 year old bonney rescue arrived. He will have to live with Nitro and Shadow. At first Nitro ignored him but as soon as Shadow tried to introduce himself Nitro intervened and chased Surrender away. Surrender cold do no more then turn and kick. Nitro made his point and bullied Shadow away. Surrender immediately knew his place but I knew Nitro and Surrender would have to do better. With lead lines and the help of Dee and Theresa the three horses we led down the driveway away from their possessions and grass and were introduced, nose to nose. After exchanging breaths and checking out under tails they were at least formally introduced. We locked Surrender in the windshed and Nitro and Shadow were together in the paddock. Today we let them all try again to sort it all out. Seems Shadow knows not to make Nitro jealous and stayed by him all day as Surrender strayed off by himself. So far so good.  

08/16/08 Nitro is slowly accepting Surrender. Or tolerating him. Surrender is a wise old horse who apparently has learned to take care of himself after 26 years. He avoids Nitro if he can and will keep his distance unless Nitro charges him, which happens less often now. Tonight we'll leave the gate off Surrenders portion of the wind shed so the horses can mingle at will. With full belleys their heard instincts should overcome Nitro's intimidation. --------It's 10:00 PM and shining a flash light up into the wind shed I see six glowing eyeballs all in one shed. Good night boys. Sleep tight. Happy birthday dad, he would have been 96 today and died before I knew horses. Wish we could have shared it. He did tell me he remembered horses going and cars coming as he grew up. In one lifetime they passed from the scene.

10/12/08 We've been working hard all summer rebuilding paddocks, and fixing up the place for the horses. Guess I always have excuses for not riding as much as I'd like to. BUT today I decided come hell or high water I was riding. My pet peeve is horses that don't load so I decided to load all three horses and go ride, just to keep them all from getting sour. Got to Clove Valley and turned out Nitro, Shadow and Old Koot, our new 26 year old rescue. After a hour or so I loaded Nitro again and took him to a mountain trail. He cried all the way, not wanting to be from his friends but thats why we were doing this, to make him bond with me. Once out of the trailer he quieted down and I saddled up and walked directly up the trail. Nitro acted as always doing just as I wanted except for some reason he seemed to want to walk too close to the edge of the drop off. I legged him and steard him over but he drifted back too close to the edge. It is autumn so I thought he might slip on leaves and we would go tumbling down. Time and time again I pushed him away and he drifted back. Was he fearless, getting even with me, or did he feel daring? We made the loop and then did a lap or two in the ring and went to pick up Shadow and Old Koot. Everyone behaved well and we arrived home without incident. Seems to me Nitro likes to have an edge and it may be that that makes the other horses and me respect him. He loads first without any hesitation, first out of the paddock, first to food, water and with me walked the razors edge. His character as always never ceases to amaze me.                                   

1/22/09 Today I noticed for the first time the days getting longer, so I thought I'd bring the horses in a bit later. Nitro who generally comes in first was back up by the wind shed because I was late and Old Koot was back by the barn door so I let him in first, then called up to Nitro and Shadow. Nitro realized what had happened and ran around the back of the wind shed and began galloping down the paddock. O MY GOD!! He was moving through the packed snow like an avalange kicking up a blizzard behind his heels like a down hill racer. I knew when he got to the ice patch behind the barn he would be in trouble so I went into the barn to avoid the crash. He hit the ice and sat like as in a sliding stop and then corrected his slide with his front legs until he was at the barn door. Anxious to get in he stuck his nose in his halter and jerked it over his head. I opened the door and he turned to face me so I backed him through the barn and into his stall. He pulled his head from his halter and thrust it into his grain bucket., then turned his butt toward me. I knew if I laid a hand on him he would pick up his hind leg I did, he did. We knew each other like a book. I left him to eat in peace and bid him a good night . Amazed once more by the spirt of this horse.