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 THREE MORE SLEEPS UNTIL AIKEN

...naturally, the day we leave it will be back up to 50 degrees. 

I am really feeling for those in Texas who are literally fending for themselves like some episode of Naked and Afraid. That situation should not happen in America but HERE WE ARE. 

So I am not going to complain about this KY winter.

But on Thursday, BYE FELICIA.

Aiken here we come!

Pushing a loaded wheelbarrow through snow is not ok.

A poke and a furry emergency

Dr. Hopper checks Hamp's LF paw
Couldn't go in with your horse, but you could def be a stalker
and helicopter parent from the truck.

Since KY has decided to have somewhat of an actual winter this year, schooling has been a little sporadic this week due to ice, frigid temps and just trying to survive.

Since Hamp was going to have an easy week anyway, it was a perfect time for a trip to Rood n Riddle to make sure he was as comfortable as possible before Aiken.

I had been feeling little things here and there that made me think his LF was starting to bother him again. He wasn't lame, but the right lead canter felt wonky, and sometimes he was getting uneven in passage (not normal for him, so I figured it probably wasn't my riding). 

Sure enough, after not working for 2 days, and trotting on pavement on a small circle in 20 degree weather - he was a 2/5 on that LF for the vet. 

We agreed on another injection to his navicular bursa. It worked so well last time for him so I'm more than happy to do it again. I thought maybe his hocks needed done, too, but the vet thought what I was feeling was all related to that LF.

To inject the navicular bursa, the vet has to go through the DDFT which
makes me nervous but this is why I take him to RnR.

Hopefully we can get some schooling in later this week. We are supposed to get hit by snow, which I can handle. It's this ice that annoys the shit out of me. 

He is fit and ready, and having an easy week leading up to Aiken isn't going to cause him to lose fitness. It's winter in KY and we are all just doing the best we can. It's hard not to feel guilty, or put pressure on myself about all of that but I know in my head that it's all ok. It'll be fine.

Time to start packing, organizing and cleaning!

These two furry buttholes are starting to act more civil.

Oh by the way Ralston had to make a trip to the ER one evening because his breathing had gotten rapid and shallow. Naturally, it cost me almost $500 to find out the old man has asthma. Round of steroids and he is fine.

So basically he has fit right in around here.