Alabama Yellowhammer 55... Did We Make It?

Let me begin by saying that traveling in this region is really a treat, whether going near or far, the views are always wonderful! The pictures just do not give this view justice.

So we headed out to do the Yellowhammer all by ourselves, Caitlin and Anna had other obligations. No problem, we like to go out solo on occasion and besides, there would be lots of folks there as this is our endurance family :). Marco is looking awesome, the weather is perfect, and we are going to go for the 55 mile ride on Thursday figuring we might have a better chance at some points going early as most other folks are employed ;). We get there, vet in all A's (of coarse ;), and settle in for the night of mid 50 degree weather. Perfection! Woke up early as they are on central and I am used to eastern time, so just fed Marco and relaxed for a bit under the down comforter enjoying the perfect weather and planning my day in the peace and quite of the crickets chirping and the slight breeze going through the forest. It was so wonderfully relaxing and made me feel one with the wilderness... in the safety of the trailer under my warm blanky ;). The out time was 6:30am, so around 5:30 I went ahead back out and got the most loved Marco ready for the ride. He looked excellent and was ready to GO! We warmed up, checked in with Samm, and then he was a good boy and stood patiently grazing while the front runners went out in the first frenzy of the race. We are NOT going for the front of the pack, so I like to let all the silliness go ahead of us and then we go out at a nice medium pace with our zen intact. Off we go at a nice slow largo, probably around 7-8mph, and start the ride as the sun rises over the mountains with the leaves changing colors.This ride is at a great time as we are right at the beginning of fall/autumn colors. So wonderful, just had to smile the whole time looking around in awe of our spectacular surroundings... we are so lucky to be a part of such a wonderful sport! We ended up meeting a new friend (who we had chatted with on facebook a time or two) Sandy, who we rode with most of the ride. She was riding all three days and wanted to take it easy, and we always want to take it easy ;). The first loop was 16 miles and we chatted, stopped to let the horses eat, and admired the beauty of the forest in the early morning hours. An over abundance of purple and yellow bushy flowers were everywhere, coupled with the autumn colors on the trees of burnt orange, reds, greens, and browns made it really awe inspiring. We come to the first vet check and Marco is literally dancing in, even reared up a bit at one point. He vetted in with his HR at 55 just by taking his saddle off and walking him in to the vet check. He looks great! Ready to go, eating like a hog in slop. After about 30 minutes I saddled him back up and at 40 minutes our hold was up so off we went with our new friend Sandy for loop two. Spent the next ten miles doing more of the same, chatting and enjoying the ride! About mile 11 I had one of those slow motion moments though, you know, like when you are heading into a car accident, or in the process of realizing you are flying through the air sans pony?... I watched as my loved horse Marco stepped dead center on a BIG OLE KNUCKLE SHAPED ROCK!... now, for those of you not in the know, we padded at BSF and had major issues that almost got us pulled. So this time I did not pad and what happens? Big ole rock!
While I took this from the internet, this is actually a perfect representation of what he stepped on (it was just one though, not this plethora as I would have been walking had this been on the trail!), and the flowers that surrounded us for that matter!
 
So I cringe, and stay in my two point waiting to see what happens. First step completely lame, will not even put his foot back down. Second step completely lame will not even put his foot down. Third step tries to put his foot down and completely lame. Forth step tries again and is still lame, but puts some pressure on the foot. Fifth step puts a little more pressure on his foot. By about the tenth step he was moving back out like nothing ever happened, back to a big fat long gait putting his weight completely down on the foot... whew, must have just shocked him and he walked it off. So we keep on chugging along at our nice slow pace for another 8 or so miles (this was a 20 mile loop) when Marco starts doing this really strange half gait half trot crap that jars my intestines and spinal column. I keep trying to collect him back up and he does it for a minute, but then he goes back to it again. Then, suddenly, he went totally lame on that front right leg again! What do you mean! No, no, no, no no! You walked it off!

So we come in and get to the vets with Marco obviously unhappy and totally lame. I tell the vet what happened, and he goes on to do a treatment assessment. "Well, his front right fetlock is swollen, and now it looks like his front left one is swelling too". Damn, I am feeling about the size of a pea right now, and feel like I just ruined my lovely pony. I tell the vet "but, he didn't limp at all! Once he walked it off he was sound for 8 miles! Not so much as a stammer or trip!" Dr. Ken says "well, he is a tough one isn't he?!, you can't really fault him for being tough!". But I would not have kept riding him had he been a wimp and let me know he was hurt :.(. On went the ice pack, the banamine shot, soft hoof pack, and then a nice poultice to help with the heat and swelling that evening. He was miserable, I felt miserable, and no completion for this pathetic team today :(. I went to bed in the still awesome weather not nearly as enamored by my surroundings, actually got a bit teary as I went to sleep. Poor little guy, I wish he would have told me he was hurt. Apparently he had bruised his toe, that is his weak spot for sure hence the reason for attempting padding him last ride, and then just tried to fake it by avoiding hitting his toe when he moved out. So for 8 miles he was not moving naturally which of coarse caused issues elsewhere as he tried to compensate. Such a tough guy, he will go to pretty big extremes to keep going it seems. Well, by the next morning he was still a bit swollen, but not lame at all and obviously in better spirits.
 
So off we went to get another check by the wonderful Dr. Ken, where Marco gave him his snotty face. He commented "he just is not very personable is he?". I explained that he has trust issues with strangers and while I don't allow snotty face at the vet checks, when he is not feeling well I am not going to push manners on him ;). The diagnosis was good, probably just strain from compensating, should be fine in a couple of days, does not look or feel like anything permanent. We came home early instead of volunteering in order to get him in his stall instead of pacing all over the place at the ride. By Saturday morning he was running around bucking, looking and feeling like he did before the ride, awesome! So it looks like we may be in the clear, most of the swelling is gone now, and he is actually being a butthead again swinging his head around wanting to run with everyone out in the pasture. Tomorrow I plan on taking him on the trails at the barn bareback just to make sure he is not lame at all before letting him back out to have fun with his pasture mates. Sigh, now to figure out how to pad him without issues as his toes really need protection at these rocky rides. Suggestions are always welcomed :)