Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 63rd Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 63rd LESSON

What a perfect day to ride on a perfect horse! Flossie was feeling good today, but you
know I�ve discovered what gets her so excited some days. There�s a paddock nearby which
runs adjacent to Des� property, where the two horses were grazing last week, that�s
constantly undergoing construction. Many times when I�m riding, there are big work trucks,
cars with flashing lights on their tops, engines going, vehicles moving, etc in that area.

There were a few days in the past when I thought it was the wind that was stirring Flossie
up, but now when I think back, I remember the commotion that was going on in that paddock.
As trees get cut down and we can see better through the tall field grass, it�s easier to see
what�s causing all the commotion. Flossie is only too aware of it. Today was no different.
Now that I know what the situation is, though, I know what I�m dealing with.

Because she was so excited, Flossie didn�t want to do anything slowly. Every gait had to
be done at top speed, so you can imagine I had my work cut out for me. I had her pace
around the track three times before I could bring her down to a nice speed. Then, and only
then, did I attempt to get a canter out of her. Although she gave me a quicker canter than
usual, it was a nice one, nevertheless.

Oh, and did I mention I love my new bit? I�m working on different ways to communicate
what I want through the bit depending upon where I hold the reins, etc. It�s like a
telephone line which Flossie and I share a private connection. Once I warmed up, I rode
extremely well, which made the bit even more powerful in my hands. I say powerful, but I
don�t have to be powerful with this bit; it�s amazing.

Flossie�s getting fat, but Des said he doesn�t feed her anything; not even hay. All she
gets is the grass she grazes on in the paddock. Even Bambi gets fat on this grass, but not
Magic Harry. He�s gotten so skinny since he�s been in their paddock, that Gary has him in a
yard all to himself now. I found that out from Des while we chatted mid-ride this morning.
He was shaking out a sheet over the rail of his veranda when Flossie and I were coming along
at a walk. He didn�t see us, but Flossie saw him! I was cooling her out after three good
runs around the track, so I had her on a loose rein when she freaked out. I didn�t see Des
there, either, until he said something. Once I had the mare facing him, I assured him it
was okay to shake the sheet out. He was reluctant, but went ahead and did it. As long as
the mare can see what�s what, she�s okay; she�s that level-headed, but when you start
shaking things around her unexpectedly and without warning, well, it�s
enough to make anyone freak out!

I rode Flossie longer than usual, since she�s gotten stronger both physically and mentally
in the past few months. She didn�t get bored with me after an hour as she will sometimes,
so I worked on her canter. I didn�t do circles this time because I sacrificed work on the
canter last week, so I sacrificed the circles this time. I�m learning how to ride
everything she throws at me; both with my seat and with my hands. She�s starting to respond
to me in ways that she never did before.

I felt my time was cut short with Flossie this morning. I had just given out the carrots
to Flossie and Bambi, and, not to neglect Harry, I walked a handful of carrots over to him
as well. During my ride the gelding would neigh over the yard and now and then Bambi would
answer him. It was really neat. But as soon as the critters had their last carrot, Normie
arrived and I didn�t get to spend time in the paddock with the girls as I had planned to do.
They were still in the yard, hanging around the fence when I pulled away. It broke my
heart to watch Flossie standing there watching me leave.

Anyway, I told Normie I want to ride again some other day later this week and so we�ve
made plans for Friday. Weather-wise, it�s supposed to be nice every day this week, so I
hope that doesn�t change.

By-the-way, although my voice isn�t back to normal yet, it was much easier to talk today
and I could even manage some volume, so my cold wasn�t an issue with Flossie.