Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 201st Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 201st LESSON

When I arrived at Des’ this morning, the mist was still lifting off the paddock in foggy
fingers that evaporated in a ghostly fashion as they caressed the air. As I tacked up
Flossie, Gary and Pat raced their horse-drawn gigs around the track and the sound of
pounding hooves got my heart pumping and I couldn’t wait to mount. Just as I prepared to
start my lesson with Flossie, Gary and Pat relinquished the track to me.

I led Flossie in hand around the track without allowing her to hesitate the way I
normally do. I wanted her excitement level to be up straight from the get-go, so I
didn’t allow her the luxury of dawdling and stopping. When we got to the road, I walked
her back and forth beside the power machines which were in full gear, roaring, swinging,
and working away. After passing by them again and again, I finally mounted. It was
exactly 7:20 am. I had her stand for a moment, then asked her to move out.

We started at a brisk trot. The mare was feeling good and strong and seemed to be
enjoying the exercise. As we approached the road on the first lap, she balked, but I
was expecting that and was ready for her. I doubled her immediately on the spot,
cropping her bottom, and yelling, “Come on, get up there!” with my scariest voice. She
went forward, then stopped again, so I doubled her again faster and longer this time,
spanking her only when she wanted to stop. Then when I asked her to go forward she did
without hesitation.

She went fast, but she went! I had her around five times at every gait going to the left
and although she wanted to go as fast as she could, I kept her at a controlled pace.
When we went to the right, and I got her down to the road on the first lap in that
direction, I knew she was going to try and stop with me and I knew, from past experience,
exactly where on the track she was going to do it, so, once again, I was ready for her.
As soon as I could tell she was ready to hesitate, I didn’t even allow her to pause for a
split second. I touched her with the crop and yelled, “Get up there!” I had it timed
just right so that was all it took.

We went five times around at every gait and then I pulled her down for a rest and walked
her for one full lap around the track. Before the lap was completed, however, she
started telling me that she wanted to run again. I took her to the corner of the paddock
and circled her there. I counter-bent her around to the left when she tried to cheat and
fall into the circle, then I brought her properly to the rail and she cooperated as
though it had been her idea all along.

I got a nice slow canter from her in both directions. It wasn’t as nice as last week,
but she gave me all her try and I was satisfied with that. When I glanced down at her
bit, I could see it was foaming with saliva, and it was good to see her mouth so wet. I
cooled her out in the saddle doing serpentines and circles at a walk in our make-shift
“arena” before riding her down to the end of the driveway and back.

I took satisfaction in knowing that everything went as smoothly and successfully today
just as I had visualized it beforehand.

Later, while cooling her out on foot around the track, after untacking her and washing
her down, Gary started working two of his horses. He had them tied to the doors of his
car, one on either side, so I had to move off the track every time he came around and
give him room so he could get past me. While this was going on, I would stop Flossie
occasionally and have her working in a tight circle going to the right around me as I
held onto her tail and her lead rope with my left hand. She got better and better at it.
Next time I’ll let more rope out and see how she does on a longer line.

Flossie has always been such a joy to work with, but she’s getting even better as time
goes by. Maybe I should be glad for the machines that have us both on our toes every
week; they, perhaps, are helping to make a good, reliable saddle horse out of Flossie,
not to mention, a better rider out of me.

Bambi and BamBam are still getting their weekly carrots. So is Pat’s little Shetland and
four of Billy’s horses. If every horse ate them, I’d be supplying them all with carrots.

I really took in the atmosphere today as I rode past Gary’s horses in their paddocks and
as I shared the track with them. One of Billy’s geldings was lying fully spread out on
his side in his paddock this morning and I enjoyed walking past him, too, as he, in turn,
enjoyed his little rest. Oh, I just love horses so much! It is so amazing that I had
come out of the womb loving horses and here I am, riding them, loving them to this day!

I have nothing more to say, which can only be a good thing, or I’d be going on and on
about the exciting sound of hooves on the hard ground and the way a winter coat feels
between the fingers of my hands.