Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 103rd Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 103rd LESSON

Bring on the blue ribbons! If I had been riding in a show this morning, I would have won
every event on Flossie. She and I were the perfect team! I have never ridden her so well!
Relaxed, I rode every stride and never made a false move. I slowed her canter to a nice up
and down lope.

Blaze was grazing at the side of the track and decided to join us as we went cantering past
him. I was curious to see what Flossie would do. To her credit, she ignored him and kept
focused on me. The little colt gave up when he saw he wasn't making any headway. He
sure looked cute next to us as he scampered along with the dusty track leaving large clouds
in the air behind him.

It was good to see the fence where Des and I had repaired it last week held up under the
strong winds we had a few days ago. Speaking of weather, it was simply superb today! It
was chilly enough for me to wear a heavy coat over my shirt, but not cold enough for me to
need gloves.

I worked Flossie harder than I usually do since she was so game today. I usually have her
walk the entire track between exercises, but she was so strong I didn't have to do that.
She had thought we were finished earlier than we were. I think that's because last
week I didn't work her for an entire hour since I hadn't ridden her at all the week
before. She even bucked with me once today when I asked for a canter and she thought she
had had enough. This is the first time she's bucked with me in a very long time.

I started the lesson out with circles in the paddock in both directions. After her workout
on the track, I went back to circling again, this time alongside the track. I took her
around trees, first around those to the left of the track, then around those to the right.
When we arrived back on the track again, I asked her to pick up a canter. She was so
responsive!

To cool her down, I had her yielding to the forehand and then to the hindquarters as I
postioned my body and my reins to get the proper response. Although she got heated up, she
never broke a sweat which surprised me when I took her saddle off and found her back was
dry.

Flossie always was a good mare, but she's getting even better and I think that's
because I'm improving, too. I work on relaxing my shoulders, back, and seat during the
week at home on a daily basis and think that has a lot to do with my being able to relax in
the saddle. I still do my stretching exercises as well. Even they are getting better. I
can now bend my left leg without experiencing any pain which I've never been able to do
before. This is the leg that I used to refer to as my 'rogue leg' because whenever
I would ride, it would do whatever it wanted to do. Now it stays put where it belongs. I
feel as though I have a new body.

Later, I went out to the paddock to spend some time with the horses. I picked a spot on the
ground and sat down. Flossie wandered over and hung her head over me, closing her heavy
eyes for a snooze. I sat there looking into her big brown eyes and spoke quietly to her as
she dozed off in the warming sunshine. I couldn't think of another place I would have
rather been!

Catch ya cantering!

Ooroo,