Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 137th Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 137th LESSON

What a perfect day to be spending in the saddle! Bright, cool, and breezy. When I walked
down the track to get Flossie, she was huddled up with her two buddies. The three mares
stood together with the sun on their backs, the wind in their tails, and the earth under
their hooves as the dust swirled in the wind and my footsteps tapped along the dirt as I
approached them. I was hoping the moment would never end. It was too rich, too alive, too
special to let go of. Bambi was the first to break out of the herd. Because she's the
alpha mare, the other two always wait for her to make the first move. She sauntered over
for a pat and a friendly hello, then ambled off so I could have my fill of Flossie.

Once I mounted, I took Flossie down the track to the right instead of to the left as usual,
but she spooked, anyway, when we came around near the road. I managed to get her to the
corner where I circled her in both directions until she came down to the bit and started to
work. When we entered the track, she was fine. I had been working on her headset last week
and she remembered everything we had done because she picked it up on her own and collected
herself without much help from me. She's such a quick learner and is so willing to please!

I rode her down the driveway again after our time on the track. I've been working on her
standing for me, so wherever we go, I have her stand for a while before we walk on again.
When we got back to the paddock, I untacked her in the shed row instead of taking her back
to the paddock first. Then I put her halter and lead rope on and led her back to the lawn
where I allowed her to graze while I washed her sweaty back. Every now and then the other
horses would nicker or make some other sort of sound to let my mare know that they knew she
was there. I loved standing beside her and just enjoyed the moment for as long as possible.

When I took her back to the paddock, I walked her around the track in hand as I always do.
She kept expecting someone to jump out of the old barn next to her paddock and kept
insisting she should do some spooking. I, on the other hand, insisted she ignore that idea
and concentrate on the walk at hand.

My saddle was creaking while I was in it today, so I'm going to have to find the time to oil
it one day this week. It hasn't been done in a while, so I'm not surprised it needs it
again.