Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 205th Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 205th LESSON

There were trucks and men and machines and cars on the new road that’s being built along
the track next to the dam this morning, but they were just moving from one point to
another, not really hanging around one area as they have been in the past, so they were
of no concern to us today. The big machines were working in a different spot this time,
near the apron of Des’ driveway, and along the adjoining road. I thought the new
location would throw Flossie for a loop, but it didn’t even faze her.

I walked her in hand and passed by the roaring hubbub back and forth before mounting her.
I chose a different place to mount this time, since all the noise and commotion was also
in a different place. I never had to double Flossie at all. She kept one eye on the
machines, tried to pick up her speed while passing that area, but other than that you’d
never guess there was any commotion around at all!

She worked as normal, for the most part, trying to run off again in that same area where
she went off in a gallop last week, but I was ready for her and brought her immediately
down to a trot. She only tried it once, then, after that, she just trotted as always
until I asked for a canter. I didn’t have to use my crop nor my spurts on her at all.
She even gave me a slow trot a few times around the track which is a big improvement.

She circled to the left so well (now, remember, this is the direction that gave me a hard
time last week) that I couldn’t believe she was the same horse! She picked up the
canter, and stayed with it, without falling in, for five times around! I was aiming for
three, but since she was doing so well, I let her go longer. She would have given me ten
laps if I had let her. She didn’t start out that way, however, for the first five or six
laps she kept quitting on me. Just as I thought I had her, she’d break into a trot, so I
had to start counting all over again. Consequently, she did far more laps than I usually
ask her to do. I knew I was wearing her out, especially since she goes like a bat out of
hell, but I wanted to get her cantering without stopping.

Going to the right, however, turned out to be a problem. I could not get her into a
canter long enough to count even one lap. She kept resisting at every turn. I’m not
sure why since she normally goes well in that direction. One spot she kept falling in,
which surprised me, because, again, normally, she never falls in going to the right!
Since she was willing to keep working for me, I kept circling her, anyway, since we had
done so many laps in the other direction, I wanted to make the workout even on both
sides. Because she kept giving the canter and taking it away whenever she wanted, I put
her into a small circle.

While on the circle, she kept going at a very fast clip, no matter what the gait was, and
it was much faster than was necessary, but at this point I’m not going to ask for more
than one thing at a time. Staying on the “rail” and not dropping the canter are enough
for her to be thinking about for now. Slowing her down will have to come later.

I took her to the shade to cool out and relax when we were finished. Then I walked her
in hand down the driveway instead of mounting. I walked her to the apron where all the
machines were working and she didn’t resist.

After her final grooming and I was down to the penultimate carrot, she seemed suddenly
lethargic. She’s usually all over me for carrots, but she seemed disinterested with this
one. I broke it in two and she took the half I offered her, but she didn’t chew it up
with her usual enthusiasm. When I turned to leave the yard, she promptly strolled slowly
down the small incline towards the paddock, chose a shady spot, folded up her legs, and
went down for a nap. She got up only once when I had come down with more carrots, but
she immediately lay back down again when she lost interest. I saved the biggest one, and
gave the rest to Bambi.

Later, I sat down near her and took photos of her lying down. It’s just something I
don’t see very often. Then I gave her one last carrot when she got up and came over to
me. After that she walked slowly down to the dam for some water, then joined Bambi and
Zippy for a graze. When she took her nap, she started out spread-eagled on the ground.
I thought perhaps the reason she didn’t work well going to the right for me when I had
her working on the circle is because she was getting tired. She didn’t run like she was
tired, though!

Des’ new horse arrived during the week. It’s a two-year old sorrel gelding with a blaze
down its face in the shape of a huge, irregular, triangle. He has two stockings on his
hind legs. BamBam’s in another paddock up the road for a couple of months just for a
change of scenery. Des does that with him from time-to-time. He said if he doesn’t work
out at the track the next time he tries him out, he’s going to sell him to a riding
school. He’s just costing him too much money.

When I first arrived at Dessyland, both Gary and Pat were driving their ponies around the
track. What tiny sounds their hooves made tapping on the ground, and it was the cutest
sight that I just had to take some photos! Des told me Gary’s going to get another pony
since Sharon’s kids are always fighting over this one. They’re going to race them at the
big track the next time Gary enters a race with his Standardbreds. Des said some of the
kid drivers are only three feet tall!

I spent some time with that grey pony of Gary’s before Norm came to drive me home. He’s
been body clipped, since his coat’s so thick, and he’s as curious as all get-out. I
could just rub him to death.

I’m at the close of this missive, and I hear the washer has stopped, so I best get up and
hang up those clothes I wore today while there’s still some sunshine. Rain is in the
forecast for tomorrow, and the day after, so I can’t leave them outside overnight this
time.