Turkeys and Deer and Moose, oh MY!

Today was Jasper's first day back on "training" schedule and we headed up to Moscow Mountain.  I really enjoy riding with PJ because our rides are always different and rarely fast.  However, we go through some really technical stuff which is so good for pony brains.  Today we were picking our way up a really steep hillside and PJ leaned back and said, "This is how you condition your horse for endurance at a walk!"  It was true--Jasper was huffing and puffing (although not nearly as much as PJ's out of shape spring ponies) and had to very carefully pick his way through the logs and large branches that scattered the ground.  I'm so happy Jasper's got so many hours on the mountain as I think it's really contributed to him being very good on technical trails and mud.  He immediately slows down and drops his head so he can pick his way through the complicated stuff.

This is a picture of a mamma moose and her calf taken this winter at PJ's place by PJ.  This was shortly before she finally decided PJ was too close and charged. PJ's ok, though. :)

We didn't have any water crossings, although we did see some wildlife.  We were on a logging road looking for PJ's trail down the side of the mountain when Jasper and I spotted a turkey simultaneously.  This led to a minor pony brain meltdown when the turkey flapped off through the bushes.  We cut down along that trail and turned a corner just in time to spook a deer leading two moose running at high speeds down through the trees.  Jasper then had a major pony brain meltdown and it took a good two minutes to convince him that bolting back up the hill was NOT the right answer and that it was just a stupid moose and that they had only rarely been known to eat horses.  He was on MAJOR moose patrol after that, and peered around every corner as we came to it to make sure the coast was clear.  Just outside of PJ's property line, we spotted another moose crashing off through the bushes away from us, although this time both dogs saw it and took off in hot pursuit.  I hopped off for this one and Jasper calmed down right away.  It was a good moose training day!

This is by far the most wildlife I've ever seen on the mountain!  When I reported our adventures to Wayne he was pretty jealous--he's always wanted to see a mountain moose!

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Although I didn't do an extensive exam on Jasper after our ride, he didn't appear to be off at all on his right hind leg.  He's been totally fine all week, but I'm still a little paranoid and am going to watch that leg like a hawk.  I've even pre-warned one of the clinicians at school that if this mystery lameness doesn't resolve he's going to be coming in for a full workup because I love my horse!

Here's a couple shots of the fetlock, and after careful scrutiny, I can see no swelling or abnormalities on his "bad" leg other than the scuff mark from where he was interfering.  He's had no swelling or heat anywhere in that leg other than the swelling on the inside around the scuff mark just after the ride, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed it really was just the interference and nothing more serious.

Here I'm pointing to the scuff mark.  The swelling on ride day was focused around this area.

Here I've pulled back his furry fetlock so I could see if there was any more swelling, and there doesn't appear to be.  The lump near my thumb is his ergot--it confused me for a bit until I realized.

His other fetlock for comparison.  The grey stuff on his upper leg is residual clay leg poultice.