Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 198th Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 198th LESSON

I mounted Flossie at exactly 7:30 this morning. The fog was just rising in wispy fingers
to the sky like the pale flames of a lazy fire. It was beautiful in the early sunlight
and gave Des’ property an aura of enchantment.

Gary was already finished with the track when I arrived, and Billy, unbeknownst to me at
the time, was on his way. The air was just chilly enough to nibble on my knuckles, and
friendly enough for me to let it get away with it.

I walked Flossie around the track, on foot, enjoying the twit and tweet of the local
birds embroidering their chatter on the clarity of the winter air. After a few stops
along the way to judge her surroundings, and a few minutes to declare them safe, I asked
Flossie to stand while I mounted. As soon as my feet were in the stirrups she was ready
to go. Billy was ready by then, too, and we started out together, him with the jogger
and four horses in tow, and me, a quarter of the track behind, at a nice working trot, on
Flossie.

In this manner, we followed Billy around the track to the left for the entire fifteen
minutes he worked his horses, trotting and cantering, stopping only once near the road
when Billy had to get out of the vehicle to make some minor adjustments. I let him power
back up and move out a ways before proceeding on Flossie again. When Billy left the
track, I turned Flossie around and worked her to the right. She was still going strong
and wanted to keep trotting even after a brisk canter that would have slowed her down had
the weather been warm, so I let her keep going until she had the last step out of her
system.

I cooled her out and then worked her on a circle in the corner of the paddock for a while
in both directions before cooling her out for the final time with a walk down the
driveway. I enjoyed the feel of her motion beneath me at a walk as much as I had enjoyed
it at the trot and canter. My heart quickened to the sound of her hooves on the hard
cold ground and listened with intense pleasure to the sound of neighing as the horses who
were left behind bid her a fond farewell.

I love the sounds that come out of horses as much as I enjoy the sight and feel of their
flesh; the jolt and jingle of their sparkly bits; the creak and groan of leather.

I gave Des a couple sticks of dry wors to try. He told me he loved the cracker peanuts I
gave him, although the barbeque flavor had a bit of a bite after a while. I told him to
try the coconut flavor. It’s the best. He hasn’t tried the basil seed drink I gave him
yet. I asked him if he were chicken and he laughed and said no, he’ll give it a go one
of these days.

I didn’t have to do anything to Flossie’s hooves today other than clean them out.

Later this morning Gary came back down with his daughter, Hannah, and three friends.
They picked up two horses and took Des to spend the day at the races in Rocklea. Gary
said if he had room in his truck for me, he would have invited me to come along. He said
the next time they go, he’ll let me know ahead of time so I can make plans go with them.

Hannah has gotten taller. At fourteen, she’s grown a lot since I had seen her last. She
wants to get a strapper’s license in September so she can work with horses at the races.

For a couple cases of their favorite beer, Pat ‘paid’ the construction crew who have been
working on the housing development next door, for digging a ditch with their mini power
shovel so he could put in an underground drainage pipe in the bend of the track near the
rail road tracks where the water doesn’t drain after it rains. How nice it will be to
not have to deal with mud there anymore!

While I was waiting for Norm to come for me, I went out to the paddock to be with Flossie
and Bambi. Bambi had a tan spot of something beneath her left eye and I thought it was a
lump of dry mud. I went to pick it off for her and discovered it was actually part of a
sliver that had gotten wedged under her skin. I managed to get it out for her, even
though she kept wiggling her head around. She never did try to get away from me, though,
and I was glad I could get it out for her.

Norm said with his new schedule it’s too hard to pick me up and get me home between
classes on Mondays, so he’s asked me if I didn’t mind picking Tuesday, or some other day
to ride on from now on. Of course it doesn’t matter to me which day I ride. As long as
it’s not raining!