Last night was to be a 4-H ride night for Curly and E. We arrived at the barn early, knowing that he would most likely be covered in mud - and we weren't disappointed in the least! His right side was so caked with the stuff that it was nearly impossible to see his shaggy winter coat.
After a vigorous brushing, most of the dirt had been removed and it was time to attend to his hooves. As I began the hoof-picking routine (front feet first, then move to the back), I noticed that he didn't want to put much weight on his right hind. Sighing, I checked the hoof but found no problems with it. Working my way up his leg, I discovered that his fetlock was slightly swollen. Our best guess is that he slipped in the pasture and strained the joint a bit. That would account for the excessive mud on that side as well.
At that point, it was obvious that there would be no riding for E and Curly. We spent the next 20 minutes or so untangling a couple of monster dreads from his mane and then put our guy back in his pasture. E was disappointed that she didn't get to ride Curly, but a friend graciously gave E a turn on her horse towards the end of the 4-H ride.
We need a second horse to ride! For a brief moment this weekend, I thought we might have found the perfect prospect - an 11 year old Rocky Mountain horse in my price range....but the animal had been sold a few hours before I called. Very frustrating. Lately, I've had my heart set on getting a Rocky Mountain horse. Their smooth gait and calm temperament are very appealing. Unfortunately, they are not all that common in our area - and tend to be a bit pricey as well. I'll just have to keep looking....
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