Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 72nd Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 72nd LESSON

I felt like a real trainer on Flossie this morning. After I groomed her and tacked her up, I
took my spurs and rubbed them against her sides. Then I had her side pass in both directions
while I rubbed the spurs on her. I was very business-like and expected her to respond
immediately. This raised her excitement level, so, I was able to accomplish everything I
wanted to.

When I led her out of the yard on foot, she followed willingly. After mounting and giving
her a few seconds to stand still, when I asked her to move forward and she even looked like
she was going to resist, I used my spur and turned her to the right. When I felt she needed
more persuasion, I moved her with the spur to the left. She responded perfectly both times.
When I asked her to go forward, I used both legs and the crop. One slap and she was on her
way! I expected her to be prompt and didn't settle for anything less. She didn't let
me down.

She only resisted one more time as we approached the track so I did the same thing; used my
legs and a quick slap with the crop. She never balked again. Not even when we got to her
favorite balking spot on the track between the dam and the road. She looked at a white sheet
of cardboard and I could tell by reading her ears that she was considering balking, but
changed her mind. That happened twice and both times she decided going forward was more
favorable than stopping. After those two particular episodes, I never had to use the spurs
again. I may as well have taken them off.

However, having said that, I'm glad I didn't because the spurs ensured I rode with a
good seat. My legs were impeccable except for once, during a canter when I lost it. I
immediately assessed the situation, corrected the problem after bringing Flossie down to a
walk and throwing my legs away from her sides. I started her up again and continued in a
nice canter that she held for quite a ways before I asked her to stop.

I've been working on keeping my thighs turned in and my heels down for months now and
because I had the spurs on, I didn't have a choice today: Consequently, my seat was
fabulous. I was even able to post Flossie's trot as if she were just any other horse! My
body went naturally with the rhythm and I didn't even realize I was posting until I made
the connection after about three strides. My legs have been the culprit all this time. I
know for certain since that's the only thing I did differently today, thanks to the
spurs.

Getting Flossie's excitement level up helped a great deal too; she gave me some really
fine working gaits and I felt as if I were truly working a young horse successfully. Even
Des said she was going straighter down the track for me than she sometimes does.

She took the bit nicely and never went off it. Her canter was superb. I had to slow her down
a few times when she started to get faster, but that was no big deal because I found a way
to use my body to slow her down without having to pull on her mouth. First of all, I give
several tugs, however many it takes, and immediately release the rein after each one, the
way I had been taught many years ago. I also keep my chin tucked against my chest (don't
ask me how this works, perhaps doing that makes my entire body go in the proper position) my
elbows against my sides, my back straight, and my shoulders back. I think this chin position
helps to relax my mid section. Of course the turned-in thighs helps and well, I mean, come
on, look at me: I'm posting Flossie's trot for crying out loud when I ask for a
downward transition!

I wanted to work her in circles but it was too hot and I didn't want to overwork her in
the sun. So we did other things at a slow pace such as walk over that big bad blue tarp she
was freaking out at last week. I don't think I mentioned that to you. It was lying on
the other side of the fence and I dismounted to see if I could reach it. Some guy was
driving by and got out of his car and handed it to me. Des said it didn't belong to him,
so I used it in my lesson today. I spread it out on the grass and had Flossie walk over it.

At first she didn't want to even approach it, so I walked her past it back and forth
until she reached out with her nose and showed an interest in getting closer. I let her
sniff it and touch it with her foot then I asked her to walk over it. No problem. So I
walked her over a small log. She did that well, too, so I tried a big log. Now this big log
was very short and she insisted there was no sense in going over it since it was so much
easier to go around it. I dismounted and had her walk over it on foot. She did that okay.
This log gives me something more to work on next week!

I had spread the tarp on the grass before I even went over to collect Flossie for her
lesson. The other horses were so interested in it that they immediately went right over to
give it an inspection. Blaze even put a foot on it. Watching them made me chuckle, but it
also made me realize how sensible this breed is.

When I untacked Flossie to take her for a walk around the track after her lesson, I
didn't have to coax her out of the yard. She followed like the well-trained mare she is.
I was proud of her. That's a big deal! I am impressed with how using the spurs against
her sides while I was on the ground to get her to side pass made a new horse out of this
mare! Unbelievable.

Afterwards, while I was hovering around the paddock waiting for my ride home, I got a chance
to touch Bambi's colt for the first time when Bambi strode up to say hello. I reached
over her neck and tapped the little guy on the nose. I would have done more, but the other
mare was coming up from behind which caused Bambi to move forward and I had to pull my arm
back and then the moment was lost.

Des said he had the colt branded the other day; so he's been manhandled. Des is planning
to have him broken to the track sooner than he had Bambi's last foal. (The filly that
used to share the paddock when I first arrived on the scene).

Blaze loves to follow Flossie around, but she's learned that means trouble from the
little guy's mother. So Flossie chases him away with a gesture from her rear end. If
that doesn't work, she turns around and chases him off. If that doesn't work, she
actually points him in his mother's direction until he gets the hint and runs off to
nurse.

Sooty, Des' black cat, had kittens. Now he's having her spayed. I had thought the
cat was a tom. I guess that just shows how much I know.

Well, I've talked your ear off so I'm going to hang up here before I overstay my
welcome.

Aussie ya next time.

Ooroo!