Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 111th Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 111th LESSON

Working/playing/just being with Flossie today was a real treat. I swear
we are a team! I know I enjoy my time with her and I believe she enjoys
it too. It's so hard to turn my back on the mare when it's time
to leave when I've had such a rewarding time with her.

She started out feeling good, so we worked in our wall-less, imaginary
'arena' in the paddock where we could go down the 'wall'
in straight lines, circle whenever we wanted to, do serpentines, etc,
and reverse at will. Then I took her to the track at a nice even pace.
When I asked for a canter, she was still feeling good and went like blue
blazes.

However, after that, she settled down and I was able to get the nicest
canter out of her! I had her circling at a slow canter; something
we've been working up to since I only ride her once a week. She
needed to build up her strength and endurance so she could last at a
full circle going easily and supplely. She bends so nicely! I've
never circled a horse that does them so well before in my life.

She was so focused on me that when she wanted to stop, or quit a gait
before I thought we should, she listened to my body language and kept
going for me.

There were some sloppy spots on the track which I was able to work
around. Even at the canter, she was working on the bit so well I could
maneuver her around puddles and muddy patches as if I were leading her
from the ground! Usually her canter is too fast and I have to bring her
down to a slower gait in order to get by the muddy areas, so you can see
why I'm so excited about today's turn of events!

BamBam is still in the big paddock with the mares. Des is waiting for
Billy to finish building the paddock he started a few weeks ago so Des
can have an area to work with the colt. He wants to get a halter on him
so he can lead him to the stall that Blaze has recently vacated. He
just won't follow his mother past the gate.

You should see that colt run up to me when I go out to the paddock! I
was playing with him today and when I walked away, he followed me. He
only got so far, though, until Flossie put a stop to it. She's
always looking out for him, just as she did when Blaze was in the
paddock. She's a regular baby-sitter!

I did a lot of trotting on Flossie today, and worked on relaxing my
upper body and using my legs. I know I keep saying it, but it felt as
though Flossie was enjoying our time together as much as I was. I kept
telling her what a good girl she was and she just ate it up.

I took her down the driveway just for a change of scenery, but she
wouldn't pass the smoky heap of rubbish Billy had set ablaze
earlier, so I had to get off and lead her around it. She looked at
everything as though she had never seen it before.