morning ride

Saturday morning's ride was hot, hazy and overcast. Hazy with smoke from the massive New Mexico fire. Step outside and it smells like ash and cinders, no matter where you go. I'm surprised my clothes don't have that campfire reek.

Friday evening several of us rode into the setting sun, marvelling at the beauty of the huge red fiery orb hanging in the sky. There was so much smoke you could stare right at it.

All day it looked and felt like monsoon weather... except that low-lying loose blanket of gray clouds blowing in wasn't clouds...

Butch was so happy to get out for a real ride, he nickered when he saw me carrying the big orange hornbags from the tackroom. I've been easing him slowly back into work, checking his leg and healing burn after each go-round, hosing them down and wrapping his legs even now, with no swelling. Friday night, for the first time, I put him up without hosing or wraps. This morning he was fine, so it was time for a several miles of walk-trot in the riverbed.

Turned out to be walk-trot-lope. He was so cheerful and so good! No stumbling, no hesitation, no barn-sourness. The only time he stopped and didn't want to move was when his cinch needed adjusting. He's always good that way, lets me know when it's too loose. He stands perfectly still now when I get on or off. He was a joy to ride, responding to every touch of the rein and leg, every shift of seat. I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised! Apparently time off work has been just the break Butch needed, mentally and physically.

Back home gave him a bath, all of him, not just his leg. Happy happy mule! He stretched out his neck, eyes half closed, lip quivering while I scraped him off.  Funny guy.

Saturday night, no sign of swelling. Sunday morning Butch's left hind was all stocked up again. *Sigh.* Vet comes Monday...