Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 159th Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 159th LESSON

I arrived later than usual at Des' since Norm had to list some things on EBay first thing
this morning, so by the time I arrived Gary was not only off the track, but he was bathing
BamBam as we pulled up. It was already getting hot at 9:00 o'clock, so I quickly groomed
Flossie, put my camera on my belt, and strapped it to my waist. Wasn't I disappointed when
I checked the film and found it hadn't been running the entire time I had it on. I would
have gotten some nice footage, too, since everything was perfect for it. I had thought I
had filmed two laps; the first one I narrated at a walk, and the second one I rode at a trot
and a canter. Flossie's transitions were smooth, too, which would have made for some nice
shots. I guess I'll have to try again next week. I can't figure out why sometimes the film
doesn't roll for me. I practiced with it before the ride, and then again afterwards, and
just once it didn't roll. All the other times it worked like a charm. Go figure. I guess
I'll have to keep trying until one day it works for me.

There were some bulldozers down the street within viewing distance from the corner where I
work Flossie on a circle and she didn't want to go there. So I circled her in the paddock,
slowly taking her closer and closer to the corner. I eventually had her working for me
without any problems on the circle in the corner as usual. That was the only glitch in the
ride, itself. Other than that, Flossie was perfect. She was strong and wanted to work. I
love it when she's like that. It's almost like she does all the work herself and I'm just
there to share it with her.

Paddle Pop King wasn't in the big paddock with the mares today. Gary put him back in the
small paddock where he normally keeps him. Paddle Pop doesn't belong to Gary, actually,
because he sold him to two men who live in Mackay. Gary works the horse for them; he even
races him for them.

Des has changed his mind again and decided to have Bambi bred this year after all. He
couldn't afford two mares or he would have had Flossie bred too. Although I think Flossie
would throw a fine foal, I'm kind of glad, in a way, that she's not going to be bred. I'd
worry too much with that open ditch and the deep hole with the two spikes sticking out of
the ground near the road that Billy left when he drained the track. Just think, if my
camera had worked this morning, you'd be able to see these things for yourself! Besides,
Des told me Flossie doesn't come from very good breeding, so he says it's just as well he's
not going to breed her after all. When Bambi goes, though, Flossie will be all alone for a
while. I wonder how she'll like that. It'll be the first time in her life she'll have the
paddock all to herself.

Des' nurse was down last week to bandage his leg. She said there's no signs of infection.
He was waiting for her to come again this morning when I left. I hope he's going to be
okay.