Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 155th Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 155th LESSON

Flossie only spooked once, on the track, near the road, while warming up at a walk on our
first lap around the track this morning. I kept her going, though. I couldn't see a single
reason for her behavior. I think she may have been expecting someone to come walking around
the barn next to Des' property because there was a vehicle in the driveway and I did see two
men hanging around the barn from time-to-time.

She worked nice at a perfect pace, not too slow and not too fast. Gary arrived on the track
while I was still using it, so we shared the space for the fifteen minutes he worked BamBam
on the gig. I got some nice slow canters out of Flossie today, both on the track and while
circling in the corner. I even had her canter between corners in the triangle exercise I
created in the "arena" last week. Eventually I just kept her going from one corner to the
next instead of stopping and changing the gait at each one.

I cooled her out walking down the driveway. She never batted an eye at the two cars that
drove past us. I had her walking on the grass next to the driveway as, first Sharon, and
then Gary, drove by. I had her stop and wait for them to pass, then I asked her to move on.
While on the apron of the driveway, watching the goats that live across the street, a huge
18-wheeler started barreling down the road, blowing its horn loud and long. I was curious
to see how Flossie would handle herself. I was so proud of her when she didn't even flinch.
She took a half-step sideways, but that was it. Then she just stood still, without my
having to calm her down, and acted like there was nothing unusual going on. The goats, on
the other hand, all swerved away from the road at the same time like a school of fish or a
flock of birds flapping in the air when the truck came screaming past, blowing its horn.

The morning was made for riding. There was a chilly edge to the wind, but the heat from the
early spring sun kept a balance in the air which made both the wind and the sunshine
tolerable. The wind is supposed to keep up for the next few days and rain is still in the
forecast for tomorrow and Friday.

Des showed me how his leg has opened up where the stitches had been taken out after surgery
weeks ago. He said none of his doctors have been able to do anything for him, so he had an
appointment this afternoon to see the doctor who had done the original by-pass surgery.
Norm suspects the reason his leg isn't healing is because he has poor circulation from being
overweight. I wonder what Des' doctor will say to him.