DAY 76, 77 & 78 - Riding & Another Bump!

Saturday, "day 76," I think was not windy, not too cold. I put on my chaps and the bright orange hooded sweatshirt, and Possum and I went out on the rounds. All the way down the hill to Dr. Doyle's old place - checking out all of the parked logging trucks and tractors and machines on this weekend morning in Micheal's field..  We got to the chain hanging up in front of Dr. Doyle's old place and stood for a minute, noting that the new metal roof looked nearly finished (jealous!), and then we were satisfied and turned around. We picked up a nice brisk trot, past the parked machines and the big scary pipe that had been moved higher up the embankment (ooh!) - and then we walked back up the hill.

We marched past our place, waving to Don who was standing on the porch, and we picked up a short trot to the Rhoad's driveway and our pals the barking Newfie's in their giant fenced in yard. We walked past Big Mack in his pasture, and continued on past Lenny's place and took a left into that field. It's been much nicer now that it has been mowed.

We ambled down the backside and over to the little creek, which, again, he wanted nothing to do with crossing.. Under the branches and back out to the bottom of the field. We walked around for a while, stopping now and then to check out the views and listen to the sounds.. Crows and gunshots, mostly. It was nice. We zigzagged up the hill at a very slow pace, soaking up the sun on that southern side of the hill.

Riding in the field on Saturday afternoon.

Finally we ambled back to the road, and picked up a nice trot until just about Big Mack's paddock, then we walked over to say hello to him, and finally, back home to our place. We had been out for a good solid hour, and he was just a little warm but not sweaty.

Sunday, "day 77," was sunny again, and not too cold.. I was thinking about taking him out for a quick spin before work, but after chores and actually making a breakfast of pancakes and bacon and fruit (a rare event), I opted to just halter him and clip the long lunge line on, and off we went for a short walk and some hand grazing. We ended up in Dad's backyard, grazing in the early afternoon November sun. After almost an hour, and making our way back to our backyard, we went back to the stall and I gave him a quick grooming. He seemed pretty okay with all of that. When we got back from our gig on Sunday night around 9:30, I checked on him briefly, and he was bit cranky but content.

Grazing in Dad's backyard Sunday before work.

Monday morning, "day 78," I fed him around 7:45, and then left him some fresh flakes out in the paddock. I noticed that he had nearly emptied the heated water bucket that I hung just outside the stall door, but the other two were still fairly full - aha, I thought. I guess he prefers the warmer water. I filled up the buckets, and cleaned the stall and paddock, then left him alone for the morning while I cleaned up and went downtown to market.

Around 1:30, I caught him in the paddock, and led him into the stall to groom and tack up. Sometimes, I start with brushing his face, as it gets his attention focused on me - and that's when I discovered a new bump on the top of his neck and jaw. What the heck?

Kind of hard to notice, but there is a bump there..

I finished brushing the dirt off of him, then clipped the lunge line on to his halter. No riding today. I took a photo with my iPhone, then sent that to Ryan. Alarmed, I led him down to the Dodge farm, hoping to run into Donna, but she was busy in her house. We went over to the field next to Big Mack, and Possum was happy to graze in the sunshine. He was acting a bit spooky - and it does seem like there is a dullness in his eyes... Oh, I don't know. It's so hard to really know.

Meanwhile, Ryan got back to me, and I sent her another pic, and she said she's call her vet and asked if I could get a temperature. Of course, I don't have a thermometer, but I remembered Luanne said she had one and that I was welcome to borrow it anytime. So, I gave her a call, and she was half an hour away, as it was her turn to pick up the boys from private school. She couldn't remember where it was, but she promised to call later.

Another shot of the bump while grazing near Big Mack's paddock.

Meanwhile, after almost an hour, I led Possum back to our place, and leaving his halter on, finished up with some barn chores and started dinner. I also took a few minutes to Google normal horse temperature and how to take it! It's been a while.

Finally, around 4:45, Luanne got back to me to say she found it.. I drove down to her place and picked it up, and on the way back, stopped to chat with Donna for a minute as she was finishing up her barn chores.

Possum was very good about it. I assumed he had had it done before, and also, he has been very good with any of the procedures I have to do with him. I had to do it twice.. but both times, his temp came out normal at 99 degrees. So, I've texted that to Ryan, and now we wait. It is Tuesday morning, I am just about to go out and feed Possum and see what state the bump is in today.