Dude! What’s Wrong With Your Mouth?

Wednesday I rode Gump and Shuttle. But then I turned Gump back out with the saddle horses. I figure I’ve made him suffer enough by putting him in a stall for four days while in OKC and by confining him to a small trap for the winter, when frankly, he’s used to being turned out on at least a thousand acres.

Thursday all the saddle horses were waiting for us in the arena, as we’ve been feeding them alfalfa hay in the mornings to encourage them to come back to the barn on their own. Later that morning, I go to catch Gump and his lips and nose are all swollen. Like he’s got a fat lip like some kid would if they’d fallen or been punched in the face. I’m sure that right now, as she reads this Jill is laughing. Because this is the kind of thing she’d find funny.

Anyway, I opted not to ride him and instead gave him a dose of bute- which is an anti-inflammatory. Yesterday he looked better, and today I think I’ll get to ride him.

While I was in OKC Shuttle picked up some sort of cold. She’s been coughing a lot- though it’s gotten better. Now Gump is coughing, and the other horses turned out with Shuttle, save for my old horse, Zero (who also was in OKC with me as he spent the winter in TX) all have snotty noses and are now coughing. I was thinking about going to a barrel race on Sunday, but I think I’ll opt out of this one, as there’s another one the 17th, right before the NBHA state finals on the 22-24th. That way it gives them more time to heal and people can’t be pissed at me for bringing their horses a cold.

Today it should be gorgeous outside and I’m really looking forward to riding. But first I’m going to go indulge myself on the macadamia nut pancakes that Zach is cooking for myself and the kids this morning.

Happy Saturday!