Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 181st Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 181st LESSON

Flossie started out okay for me this morning, but when we got near the road, she stopped.
I took her to the relatively flat area in the paddock next to the track, directly behind
Des’ house, and near the yard, and “cowboyed” her back and forth, not caring what gait
she picked up, just to get her excitement level up. I figured if I could get her in high
gear, she’d be more likely to keep the momentum up. I did this a few times, then took
her to the track and made her keep going.

We did three laps at every gait this way to the right. When I turned her around,
however, and walked her along the track to the left, she stopped when we came to the
road. There were power machines everywhere, not to mention men on foot. She would not
go by with me in the saddle, so I dismounted and walked her in hand until we had passed
all the commotion. Then I mounted her and asked for a trot. She went around three laps
at every gait, never stopping, even when we got to the road where all the commotion was
going on.

I was so pleased I was able to get her to move forward. As long as I have at least that
much cooperation, it’s enough for me to work with. However, when I was cooling her out
at a walk, she suddenly came to a complete stand-still just after the yard for absolutely
no reason. I had had enough of this, so I gathered up all my anger, frustration,
disappointment, and impatience, put it all into my voice, and rolled it up into a ball
like snow, and threw it at her. She didn’t see it coming and never knew what hit her. I
did not take my anger out on her with my hands, feet, seat, legs, or any other part of my
body . . . I just growled and hollered and made myself sound as mean as I could. That
did the trick. She took off and didn’t stop until I asked her to.

I had her so worried that whenever she showed any signs of hesitation after that, all I
had to do was say “Get going,” and she’d hop off into a trot and go like blue blazes.
There was so much impulsion behind the gait, that I was able to practice sitting it. I
usually throw her off when I do that. Not today. I sat for nearly an entire lap around
the track. She is so uncomfortable!

I truly felt like a trainer today. Cowboying asks for cooperation in ways I don’t
normally ask and it took a lot of adjusting on my part to stay with her. It also took
determination and a lot of guts to do some of the things I had to do but it was so
necessary I just did it without second thoughts.

I’m amazed at the ideas I come up with when I’m at my wits end. What works one day
doesn’t always work the next, so I always have to have one more idea up my sleeve.

After my ride, Flossie was so subdued and submissive that I was her bosom buddy. She
hung on my every wish and thought I was the ruler of the paddock. I even had her walking
all the way to the end of the driveway when it was time to cool her out. (If you
remember, she's been finding the area too scary lately due to the power machines that are
always working there now).

Gary put his gelding, Zippy, out into the big paddock with Flossie, Bambi, and Glenco
Girl. They all had the sense to leave us alone when we came scurrying by this morning.
Zippy has just gotten over a virus. Des said another horse was coughing recently. He
didn’t say which one but there’s a chance the bug will go through the herd before it’s
licked.

Des told me one of his gelding’s is leaving this weekend. He also told me he’s having a
Blue Nurse come down to dress his wound where he had had surgery weeks ago, just like
last time. He said he can take care of it himself, but his doctor thinks otherwise.

I rode under a cloudy sky so it was neither hot nor sunny this morning. It was perfect,
actually. Now there’s a storm blowing in, though. It’s supposed to hit sometime later
today, but it looks as though we may see it sooner than later.

We’re in for a wet week, so I’m glad I had the opportunity to ride this morning.
Especially since it was such a rewarding one!