Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 98th Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 98th LESSON

In spite of the forecast, which was calling for showers this morning, I decided to ride
anyway and I'm glad I did. The pesky rain didn't come until much later in the day
and when it did come it was so isolated most backyards didn't see a drop. The ones that
did, though, saw big ones! One drop was enough to wet the entire front of my jacket!

Flossie was so good today I have nothing to say about our lesson together. Every gait was
smooth, relaxed, and fun. We circled both on the track and in the paddock. Neither of us
had any trouble. There was no spooking or balking or disobedience that I can remember.

The only new thing I did was have Flossie circle around the cones I set up in a cloverleaf
pattern again. I'd have her circle around one, then move on to the next. We worked in
both directions. She's getting very good at working off the track now. I can remember
when she used to get confused and actually disliked being asked to work on the grass.
Without the track to follow, she was lost. Not any more. She'll do every gait for me
in any direction I ask for now. Every now and then I like to think back on the way she used
to be so I can compare how far she's come since then.

During the last five minutes of our time together, while I was still seated in the saddle, I
undid the girth. Then I slipped out of the saddle and let it fall to the ground. I
proceeded to walk Flossie around the track to cool her out, bareback, sitting on just the
saddle pad. I had never ridden her bareback before, but I knew she'd be okay with it.
She gave me a nice ride since her withers are not too high and her back is comfortable.

I had originally planned to get off her before mounting again without her saddle, but I
couldn't find anything suitable to use as a mounting block. I doubt I could just jump
up the way I used to. When I get my bareback pad, though, I'm going to have to try
because I don't see any other way to mount.

Later, when I went out to the paddock to spend some time with the mares and their colts, I
found a piece of rope lying around in the weeds. I picked it up and started to rub the
colts with it, eventually putting it around their necks. I didn't tighten it. Besides
the fact that they would have never allowed for that, the purpose of the rope was just to
get them used to having it touch them. They were pretty good about it. I'd like to do
more and more of that sort of thing in the future. I want to play with them while
they're still around. One day very soon, could be as early as next week, really, they
will be weaned from their mothers and I won't have them at my fingertips any more.