MUD, mud, ticks and mud

Yes it is still March.  March 28th to be exact.  Officially, Spring arrived earlier this week, although weather wise it seemed to arrive very shortly after the big snowstorm earlier this month that caused us to lose power for almost three days.  Temps soared up into the 60's; all the snow melted, the springtime bulbs started to push through the dirt, flood warnings all up and down the connecticut river valley as the melt off had no where to go.  The ground is completely saturated.
And of course it got cold again.  Not freezing, but quite cold.  I don't think it matters if you are a person who boasts generations of New Englanders living before you, or you are just a few short years new to the area, it is essential that the hard wiring of our brains prioritize the "never saw it coming, major winter snowstorm" well into the last weeks of May.  If you are a Labrador retriever, you're all set.  You expect the coldest of the cold.  You are prepared to jump into waters that are so cold they could only be loved by blubbery whales and seals.   Not only are you prepared, you seek it out.  You LOVE it!  Such was the case with Henry's mother, Sally, this weekend.  She came out trail riding with Colleen and me both Saturday  and Sunday.  She very happily sloshed through every vernal pool, puddle, snowmelt stream, delighted when she found the deepest water.
Colleen's dog, and one of Henry's favorite friends, Getty, would have NOTHING to do with all the cold water.  She would hang out on the edges waiting patiently for Sally to return to dry land.  Henry tried to reconcile the internal conflict of his breeding:  his Lab self was very interested in sloshing around with Sally, his APBT self was much more interested in staying dry, playing with Getty, and getting as many treats as caninely possible, even if they were horse treats.  In the end, he stayed relatively dry, opting for racing around with Getty and pushing the bounds of rough house play.  Fortunately, Getty has a strong voice and had no problem scolding Henry when he got too boisterous.
I wonder if Henry can learn to extrapolate on-going self care from Getty's and other's 'reminders' of overdoing, over playing, over exerting.  After our ride today, and after Henry's after-dinner walk, he seemed to suddenly become quite lame and gimpy.  He could barely walk up the stairs to our bedroom.  During the night, he groaned and labored just to change positions.  What is normally a three turn readjustment, became a 'barely get to my feet, then look around for a minute to see if any attention might come my way, and then flop back down again and go back to sleep' turn around.  The next morning, Henry could barely hobble down the stairs and go outside for his morning routines.  He immediately came back inside, lumbered up the stairs, and passed out again.  After sleeping for another four hours, he appeared to regain his youthful agility and demanded a frolick outside in the rain and fog.  He feels better and better as every hour passes.  He is way too young to be plagued by weekend warrior pains, and should be much smarter by now about pacing himself....if he would just look to Sally....her dignity, serenity, calmness above all....and diving into deep COLD waters regularly during a foray into the woods....
Well, I KNOW he has learned to avail himself to all the blood sucking parasites that like to cling onto warm doggy bodies even if those bodies have tried to flash-freeze in water newly released from 8 inches of ice.  I have already pulled half a dozen ticks off Henry and several off Ian, Chris and myself.
I must look to QTee, my sage, 22 year old, quarter horse mare who has more wisdom and common sense in one front hoof than Henry has in his entire 2 year old body.  I think Henry looks to her as well.  He gives her the most disarming, manipulative doggy eyes that are rimmed underneath with the tiniest amount of white:  a deliberate ploy to play off his already, way too cute, tuxedo bib and white tipped toenails.
Actually, maybe he offers up those manipulative doggy eyes to me (someone is falling for it, and I do not think it is QTee).  Oh, I do have to sign off now, Henry is needing yet another cookie to help facilitate his recovery from such a strenuous weekend of physical activity and self discovery.   Pics will soon be following this blog entry to help document the joys of trail riding on enthusiastic and life-loving horses with great dogs who choose to be nowhere else!