@artscaping Oh Chris, you read my mind. I visited my horse yesterday to clean his hooves and treat them for thrush. I expected this because I couldn't be there for 3 months except for some visits outside the fence, and he has deep clefts that trap stuff. I don't move very fast since my ankle fracture and I put on my old leather hiking boots because that would be better protection if he stepped on me, but I also needed to pay attention and not stand close enough to put myself at risk. When you pick up their foot, sometimes they shift and take a side step and once (before my injury) he did step on my foot that way and I pulled it out before he got his weight on me which bruised my toes.

Yesterday, he saw me drive up and was watching me waiting at the gate. I had to walk from the barn to the paddock without crutches and I worked on using longer strides and I slowed him down so we could match our walk back to the barn where I could treat his hooves and pack them with antiseptic putty. Going back to the paddock, we would stop for grazing, then walk a few more steps, and back in the paddock, he got several apples which he devoured. That was therapeutic for me too for the walking and enjoying the relationship I have with my horse and the lovely sunny day. I do want to get back on him, but I can't do that until I know I can safely dismount which means that my ankle needs to volunteer a bit more effort. At this point, I would not be able to slide off him and land on my ankle. There is a mounting block of stairs which I could use, but I would need someone to hold the horse so he couldn't move if I tried to step down onto the block. It would also hurt. Today, I am still aching from doing this, but those efforts are what build strength when your body says it needs to rebuild to meet the challenges.

Have you tried Arnica gel topical? It's over the counter, and it relieves pain and inflammation. I use it and it works. Perhaps I should introduce my ankle to this magic gel. I have been paying attention to my moles since learning from my husband's experience at the dermatology clinic. His very first visit caught melanoma on his hand and he was off to surgery and a skin graft. I will go for an evaluation myself after I can walk better. I have a mole between toes on the injured foot that would stop my physical therapy progress if they were to remove it now. I also have my next surgery scheduled for dental implants in a few weeks. This should be an easier procedure than what I've already done. It's a juggling act sometimes to schedule a lot of things that need to be done. I do get to look forward to being finished next year and having a permanent restoration in place.