Hoof Blogs

Flossie Post Flu

AUSSIE FLOSSIE
for the first time since she's been ill

I went to ride Flossie this morning under a sky full of storm clouds. I was counting on the
forecast that promised there wouldn't be any rain. It was hard to believe, but my trust
paid off.

I didn't ride, however, because it poured hard overnight and the track was a mess.
Especially the part that runs between the road and the dam. I walked the track on foot and
couldn't get past that part; it was all mud and there were no dry spots whatsoever.
However, even though the rest of the track looked boggy, it really wasn't as bad as it
looked from afar, so even if it rains tonight, I'm going to ride in the morning. I
don't expect to do much more than just walk Flossie around, so the condition of the
track really doesn't matter.

Speaking of Flossie, she was so glad to see me! She was grazing in the paddock furthest
from the yard near the road and since I didn't want to walk through the wet grass to get
to her, I stood in the track and yelled to her from the yard. She immediately responded.
In the past, my yelling has never made much of an impression on her, so this was something.

All three horses started walking towards me and when they reached the middle of the paddock,
they broke into a run and came cantering up to me. It was such a gratifying sight since I
knew all three of these glorious animals had been ill recently which had drained all their
energy and made them lethargic.

Flossie looked best of all! She was bright-eyed and alert. She walked right up to me, put
her nose on my hand, leaned her forehead on my arm, and stayed there as though she was glued
to me. It was a fitting welcome and it was all I could do to just stand there and take it
in. If a horse could hug a human, this was the perfect example of an equine hug and I know I will
revisit this moment again and again many, many times in the future.

All three enjoyed the attention and the carrots I had brought with me. When they were done,
however, Flossie seemed bewildered that that was all there was to my visit: What? No ride?
So I told her to expect me tomorrow morning with saddle and bridle in tow.

Even BamBam seemed pleased to see me again. I spent some time working with him. I held his
nose with one hand and ran my other down his neck. He doesn't like the man-handling,
but it's good for his training. While my hand was on his neck, I worked out a few globs
of shedding winter hair, and even pulled out a few burrs for good measure.

It was so good to see the horses again and to be on Des' property! I bawled my eyes out
when I touched Flossie for the first time in a month. My emotions took me by surprise
because I didn't realize how much seeing her again would mean to me.

Even though the sky's cleared up, tomorrow's forecast is calling for more cloudy
weather. I don't mind. Even if it rains during the night. If nothing else, I can ride
Flossie on the track at a walk over the dry patches. If she's up to a pace or a trot, I
may let her do a slow gait here and there. I'm hoping that if it doesn't rain
overnight, the wettest parts of the track will be somewhat drier.