Spring

Friday, the temps were in the upper 60's, with a few non-official spots pushing over 70. Friday night, as the sun disappeared, rain-sleet mix started to bombard the Front Range. J and I went out to dinner and then swung by the barn, since temps had plummeted. I wanted to put Ashke in a light-weight sheet for Saturday, rather than the turn-out sheet he was in. I switched blankets, cleaned his stall, and then realized there was fresh blood smeared on his cheek.

There was a small scrape just above the left knee, with a small scab. No swelling. No heat. I cleaned up the dried blood, but since it seemed pretty insignificant, I didn't worry. I figured I would ride on Saturday, giving Ashke two days off in a row.

Saturday, when I got to the barn, this is what I found:

 After cold hosing to bring the swelling down, it felt like the strike (I'm assuming here, but he does go out into turnout with a mare and it is spring) grazed the bone and I was dealing with a bone bruise.

A lot of swelling, but very little heat.

After fifteen minutes of cold hosing, I asked for extra eyes and tried a trot on a circle to test for soundness. He trotted out sound in both directions. 

I opted to not ride, just to be on the safe side.

Instead, T, his Godmother and myself went to see A Quiet Place. Hands down one of the best movies so far this year. It's touted as a horror movie, but other than three jump scares, I would class it as a suspense thriller. It's really good. You should treat yourself.

Sunday, although the knee was still swollen and the edema had spread (and he didn't want it touched at all), he was playful and forward on the lunge line. Completely sound. We hauled out to Boulder to ride the trails at Marshall Lake.

 Leaving the parking lot headed uptrail

Vantage point. Such a lovely viewpoint.

Ashke is uptrail in the distance. We were very impatient yesterday.

Marshall Lake and canal

The crossing over the canal is a bridge with slick rock and rock steps going up hill from the bridge.

The water was low so we crossed at a cattle ford.

Not sure we could manage that if the canal was full.

Top of Greenland Mesa, being impatient.

 Ashke and I were playing bite face while waiting for Tia to refuel.

I use my hand and try to stick my finger in his nose.

Most of the swelling was resolved at this point.

Flatirons under a spring sky

 Crossing back over the creek

 Coming down trail to J. I worked on keeping my feet under me, going downhill, and not bracing them out in front of me.

 Almost back to the parking lot.

We had a great ride. Mostly, walk with some slow trotting (mostly on the way back) and a couple of canters including one flying change. I let Ashke pick the pace, I let  him look around when he wanted. Mostly it was just about being one with him and enjoying ourselves.

It's been six years and I have a rock solid trail horse, a mid-level and learning dressage horse and an Intermediate A level Working Equitation horse. He just continues to impress me. The only thing he was worried about yesterday was the Bermese Mountain Dog we met at the end of the ride. It must have set off "danger, will robinson, it's a bear" signals in his brain. I got off and we let them sniff noses, after which I'm pretty sure Ashke wanted to groom the dog. 

Today, it is snowing.