Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 33rd Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 33RD LESSON

I think I had the best ride on Flossie yet this morning. Normie and I left the house
early, right after I did all my stretching exercises. I arrived at Des’ place at 6:30,
rarin’ to go. I was so much earlier than usual that I bumped into two Standardbred owners
who work their horses on Des’ track every morning. I wasn’t introduced, but they were a
woman probably in her thirties and an older man.

Upon their arrival, Des grabbed his gelding, Ringo, while the other two ran to different
paddocks to retrieve their respective trotters. When they came back to the track, they
hitched two of these horses to an iron rail that trailed behind the car, and the other was
hitched to the window on the side of the same vehicle because this horse tends to break his
halter by pulling back when he’s being exercised. Well, the vehicle only went around once
before the gelding did it again. He pulled back, snapped his halter, and away he went, tail
up in the air like a flag behind him.

I had planned to stand and watch the entire procedure, for the horses only run around the
track for a half hour, but when I saw they were going to take time to catch the equine
escapee before continuing, I decided to see if I could go out and round up my mare.

When I got half way through the paddock to the spot where Flossie was grazing with two
other horses (one of them was the two-year-old and the other was a horse that’s usually
penned in a smaller paddock), the horse that had broken his halter started charging down the
hill in their direction. I decided to stop and see what happens. As the trotter approached
the small herd of which Flossie was a part of, the herd became interested and started to
follow him. They all ran around together for a while; the three of them trotting for all
they were worth, and then, there was Flossie in an easy rhythmical can - ter, can - ter.
Her tail was up behind her and she looked magnificent. I had never seen her run with the
herd before and it was a beautiful site.

Eventually the horses ran back to the yard. The woman who owned the trotter who had
broken his halter got out of the car and tried to catch him, but at the last minute, the
horse ducked in the way horses the world over will do, just when you think you’ve got him,
and away he went again.

Fortunately, Flossie had spied me when she entered the yard, so she didn’t run off with
the culprit. Instead, she hung around, just out of reach, but in the vicinity, with her
two-year-old sidekick right behind. Or, more correctly, right ahead, for it was she who
came to me first. I had to get a carrot out to convince the veteran roan it was in her best
interest to take her cue from the youngster and that she should come up close enough at
least to get a bite of carrot.

It was so good to be with the mare again! I am amazed at how much she has grown both
height-wise and broad-wise; she is built very well and looks muscled and fit. I am even
more amazed at how ‘grown-up’ she looks and acts! When I work with her now I feel as though
I’m working with Tonto or Silver or Swift or some other mature horse that’s been around the
track a few times already, not a youngster that has only been ridden for about eight months,
once a week, weather permitting!

Before mounting, I lunged her first, but she didn’t want to go to the right, and behaved
the way she used to months ago. I was disappointed to see she had regressed in that area,
for she was doing exceptionally well for months. Anyway, after lunging, the car with the
two horses trailing behind pulled up. It was perfect timing. I didn’t want to work Flossie
with that vehicle driving around with me. I would have kept to the inside, of course, but I
was glad to see I had the entire track to myself after all.

Flossie was an absolute dream as far as communicating and attitude go. She was willing to
listen in spite of the other horses and she was willing to obey everything I asked her
whether it was what she wanted to do or not. When the ‘herd’ galloped alongside while we
were cantering, she wanted to bolt and run with them. After allowing her to run a bit
faster than I usually do, (it was so fun!), I asked her to slow down. She listened to me
immediately! The other horses flew past, but she went along at a nice safe pace because
it’s what I had asked her to do! I was so proud of her! She didn’t even follow them into
the yard when we cantered past; something she wanted to do with every inch of her body. I
just put my leg on her and urged her forward and she went right past the yard just as I
asked her to do.

She’s beginning to pick up the canter quicker. Even after two weeks off, she seems to
have remembered that when I pull her down from a pace and ask for a canter, she’s supposed
to pick up the canter. After a few wrong starts, she finally understood. She picked the
canter up for me at a walk, and also at a trot. We’re making progress!

I wanted to keep riding for another ten minutes, but Flossie was tired after nearly an
hour ride, and two weeks off, so I decided to call it a day. As I walked her around the
track to cool out, I had to marvel at how she’s come such a long way since I first started
riding her on the track! She used to walk off the track and I’d have to open the rein and
invite her to come back again. Eventually all I had to do was say ‘Stay on the track’ with
my voice while my hands and legs directed her. Now I just say the words and she knows what
I want. She walks a nice straight line now!

She is also beginning to give me her back more often at the trot, too, which is something
she was never very willing to do before. I still have trouble riding that gait, but today
she seemed easier than usual. I took note that when I ask her to walk after she’s been
pacing, so I can start her out at a canter, when I say the word ‘walk’ while bringing her
down with the reins, she doesn’t fight it any more. When I only used my cues in the past,
that’s when she’d bulk. Once she associates my pulling her down with the reins and the word
‘walk’ I don’t think I’ll have to use the word any more.

There are still some things I’m working on with her, but all-in-all she’s matured so much
and has learned so much I’m just so pleased with her.

The little two-year-old knows how to conduct herself when I’m riding Flossie now, too. I
guess the little spank I gave her one day was enough to teach her what’s expected of her,
too. This morning I forgot she was even there! Once in a while she’d catch my attention
and she’d either be trailing a nice distance behind us, or she’d be off to the side,
watching, but minding her own business.

I’m also learning how to control my anxiety. I learned to jog in place at home before I
do my stretching exercises. I can’t get over how easy it is to feel each and every jitter
when I’m running in place and how quickly each and every one disappears! What a revelation.
I also learned another visualization technique that works for me; I picture a place where
it’s calm and peaceful, the way I was taught, but instead of automatically putting myself
into the picture, I don’t allow myself to go in until I can breathe easily without tension
or anxiety. As soon as I’m relaxed, I can go in. If I get anxious, I have to leave until
I’m relaxed again. I’ve decided I’m not going to let my nerves get the best of me any more.


By the way, Flossie stepped on my toe for the first time and now my foot is black and some
other color that indescribable.

Des watched me lunge Flossie and I was disappointed she didn't go as well to the right
as she does to the left. Oh well. Das ist leiben.