Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 136th Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 136th LESSON

I did something different and rode Flossie in the afternoon instead of first thing in the
morning. She didn't want to go past the barn that's been vacant for years but now
has a tenant. Flossie acts as though she expects someone to come out through the door, or
around the corner at any moment. I've seen her shy away from that area when she's
in the paddock with her pals, and I've seen the boarder who lives there suddenly appear
by the barn when I wasn't expecting him, so now Flossie has a real boogey man to contend
with!

Today I ignored her antics and just took her straight to the circle, which is located next
to that previously empty barn. It's amazing how she protests going up to the track near
that building, yet she'll circle for me fine once we get there. Anywho, I mainly worked
on her headset once I let her get her excess energy out of the way. Once I got her around
the track, I didn't have any problems with her again.

At the end of her lesson, I rode her to the very end of the driveway. The next step would
be to cross the road, which I have no intentions of doing. When we passed Blaze, he started
prancing down the fenceline beside her. He kicked up his heels and whinnied as though it
were the neatest thing.

Both Blaze and Des' new little filly are lame due to injuries in identical spots on
their legs. The filly was in a paddock, injured her leg on the fence, was put in another
paddock while Blaze was put in the paddock she just vacated. He, too, injured himself on
the exact same part of the fence the filly had injured herself. How unlucky is THAT?

At least Blaze can still run around. The filly, on the other hand, is dead lame. I was
going to take a photo of her for you, but I forgot. She is absolutely stunning, from her
deep dark red color, to the shape of her attractive head. Yes, you heard me, I used
attractive and Standardbred in the same sentence! I know you trust me; look at Flossie!

Billy came down while I was cooling Flossie out and started exercising one of his mares
behind a vehicle around the track. He kicked up so much dust, and Flossie was so
demonstrative when a riding mower started up across the street where the track runs closest
to it, that I only walked her half way around. She was cool before we started the walk,
anyway, so she didn't really need it.

Later, after Des ran off to see his doctor about his legs, Gary, and his daughter Hannah,
arrived. Gary came to doctor Blaze and the filly (I call her Brandy). I was going to help
if he needed it, but it started to rain, which delayed his plans, and then Norm arrived to
take me home so that was the end of that!

I made supper for us when we got home. The rain didn't last long. I suspect Gary was
able to take care of his equine patients before we even reached Eagleby.