Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 114th Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 114th LESSON

I started Flossie off on the track this morning, just a few feet away from the trees in the
paddock. After about five steps, she decided there was a bogeyman amongst them and
wouldn't go past. I considered dismounting and grabbing my spurs, but decided to give
her another chance.

So I took her off the track to the other side and made her turn on the forehand in both
directions, then had her zig-zagging back and forth from the track to the fence, then took
her up to the scary trees where the bogeyman took up residence today and rode her under the
branches, weaving around one tree after the other. Then I took her to the track and she was
fine until I asked her to canter past those trees. Then she suddenly decided the bogeyman
had returned.

However, I rode so well today that she didn't know what to make of it. She tried to
stop, but when that didn't work, she tried to veer off the track, but my leg was ready
for her and she couldn't get away with that, so she tried to pick up speed, but I
wouldn't let her do that either. I was one step ahead of her every time so she gave in
and forgot about the bogeyman for the rest of the ride. I am so impressed with my legs!
They are improving in leaps and bounds!

After that, she was so willing to go for me today! We worked on the track in both
directions, then I just walked her once around to cool off. It was very humid today so I
had her relaxing in the shade of those spooky trees. Then I took her back to the track and
circled her in the paddock in the corner we both like so well. Then we did a bit of work in
the 'arena' before cooling down and dismounting.

I like using a dressage whip. I can tap her on the rump without giving up my seat and the
effect it creates is greater than what I used to get with a crop.

Flossie foamed on the bit, which is not unusual, but I'm always happy to see that.
It's that time of the year again when I have to splash water on her back and around her
barrel to get the sweat off that accumulates under the saddle while I'm riding. I wiped
her face, too, with a cool cloth and she loved that!

I was very proud of myself for the way I rode today and proud of Flossie for doing such a
good job.

I threw a rope over BamBam's neck this morning when he came over to investigate what I
was doing with Flossie. He's so inquisitive and really interested whenever I come to
ride. He watches everything I do.

He's also very polite about asking for horse treats. He puts his nose on my elbow as if
to say, "Can I have another one please?"

I tried feeding the treats to some of the other horses on Des' property. One of
Billy's geldings, who lives in the paddock next to the yard, bobbed his head several
times then spit the treat out onto the ground last week. I thought he'd do the same
today, but instead of spitting the treat out, after he bobbed his head again and again, he
actually ate it. I gave him two more and he did the same thing: Bob, bob, bob, swallow.

The other gelding across the shedrow made a funny 'raspberry' type noise from
somewhere in his throat when I held the treat up to his muzzle. He would not put it in his
mouth, but he would lick it. He'd wrap his long tongue around it and give it a real
bath after posing for me in a fleyman's response.

Paddle Pop King, Gary's gelding, who lives in the paddock at the front of the property,
came right over to the fence when he saw me approach. I had to hold the treat between my
thumb and index finger for him so he could bite off one corner at a time. The treats are
shaped like mini shredded wheats, only smaller, but not quite as small as a Wheat Chex. Can
you imagine a horse nibbling such a tiny corner off a treat that size? He kept nibbling
tiny bits off until it was finally all gone.