Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 101st Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 101st LESSON

Flossie was enjoying the canter so much today I didn't have the heart to slow her down.
Previously, she worked well at both the trot and the pace. She balked going towards the
road, but I worked her around it and before she knew what was happening, I had her going
down the very stretch which she had previously refused to go down without any more refusals
on her part. We also did some circling in the paddock and I think we could have continued
long after I decided we had had enough, for she really enjoys the exercise.

After my ride I had a nice long chat with Des. He's going to drive down to visit his
daughter tomorrow and plans to stay for two days. She wants him to stay and not go back
home again, but he has the horses and his cat to take care of. She has a little ensuite
already furnished and waiting for the day he decides to take her up on her offer. He is
planning to move in with her permanently around Christmastime. He's not sure if
he's going to sell his house or rent it. If he sells, he'll lose his pension.

I always thought he was divorced, but I learned today that even after eight years of
separation, he and his wife are still married. He said she's a workaholic and
that's what broke up the marriage. They're on good terms with each other, though;
she phones him everyday and he says they get along better now since they no longer live
under the same roof. She owns an antique shop and is supplying him with a bed that
he'll be picking up tomorrow on his way to his daughter's house which he's
going to use at her home until he moves his own bed over there. (Which is a brand new one).
Up until now he's been sleeping on a mattress on the floor which makes it hard for him
to do.

Des mentioned he's not sure what Billy will do with his horses once he moves out. He
said Gary will probably sell Blaze and his mother. Des, of course, will be selling Bambi,
BamBam, and Flossie. I asked him for permission to exchange phone numbers with the person
who buys Flossie just to see if I can't keep the mare in my life somehow once he's
gone. Just between you and me, because of Des' recent health issues, I wouldn't be
surprised if he decides to leave before December. His heart is just not in the place as it
was the first time he talked about moving away.

I've decided to continue numbering my lessons with Flossie since our days are numbered,
now, anyway, if you know what I mean. I knew this day was coming; Des had forewarned me
last year about this time. Albeit the news doesn't come as a total surprise, it still
comes with a sting.

While I was riding early today, Norm enjoyed a meeting with his weight reduction club. Now
he's on the way out the door to attend another meeting with his Stone's Corner
Toastmaster's club. Two clubs in one day! One for each hand! Well, I know it's
not that funny, but at least I'm still able to joke.

I'm going to end this account with a fitting poem by Robert Frost; Nothing Gold Can Stay
followed by one of my own:

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

MY VERSION:
A moment wrought with gold
cannot be bought to hold.
It starts life as a foal
with spirit in her soul.
When foal turns into mare
time must interfere
and take the mare away.
Nothing gold can stay.