The Rattlesnake Connection

It did my heart good to see this stretch and reach just to climb upon his pedestal at the Gilpin County Fair. Just a few shorts weeks back, Blizzard was visited in his pen by a not so friendly RATTLER. While we at first could not determine the exact point of contact, further investigation revealed the snake bite. By the time we headed for BLackhawk, Co. and this fair appearance, we had been soaking his seriously inflamed right front leg and hoping that time would ease his discomfort.
The fear of permanent damage loomed in the midst as we worked him very little in preparation for the fair and the ride up. Practice sessions were nearly non existent and the reality that we might put too much strain on him was forefront in our thoughts.
Blizzard made the trip up to the mountains around Blackhawk, just fine and as the fair performances inched ever closer, Blizzard let us know in his own loving way, that he would be just fine. This photograph truly brought it home to me when I realized just how long his stretch was to mount his pedestal. It took a large amount of weight shifting on his snake bitten leg, as well as his good one to bring his rear end up on top the pedestal. But like the champion performer he is, to him it was nothing and he stood tall on his pedestal for an extended period of time, searching the crowds for cameras to smile at.  Gotta love this "camera ham" baby.