Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 210th Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 210th LESSON

The metal road monsters were clanging away next to the track this morning at Dessyland,
but they quit as soon as I mounted and didn’t start up again until I had Flossie in the
corner working on circles. Now how considerate was that? Ha! I know it was just a
coincidence, but what a welcome one for a change!

The machines were on the far side of the new road and since they weren’t running, I’ll
have to wait for another day to see if the distance between us will make a difference to
Flossie. Although the machines weren’t running, men in yellow safety vests were on foot,
anyway, busily moving large sheets of tarp. Flossie took a second look at them, but she
didn’t shy. I walked her in hand beside the road, back and forth, only once before
mounting.

Flossie worked well at every gait in both directions, albeit sometimes a bit faster than
necessary. On the circle, I caught myself gripping so I exaggerated a non-grip seat and
suddenly everything improved like magic. I was going to chalk it up to another bad day
in the saddle before I made the observation. Flossie circled to the right and stayed on
the rail at a canter five perfect times around. I had a harder time going to the left.
She would not stay at a canter for anything and that’s when I caught myself gripping. As
soon as I solved the problem, Flossie picked up the canter and kept it three times
around. She would have gone more, but she was already tired out from circling previously
when I was gripping, so I decided three times was enough.

I’m amazed at how much gripping inhibits both the horse and the rider, and I’m equally
amazed at how Flossie will not tolerate it. She is very particular at how I ride her
canter. If I take up too much rein, she will not cooperate, and now I know if I grip
while cantering on a circle I may as well dismount and sit under a tree. I worked on
rhythm and timing to slow her canter down but she was still racing around needlessly.
She was tired and sweaty when I rode her down the driveway to cool her out.

I got the hose running in the wash rack, but Flossie started snorting at the brick ground
and started acting as though the machines were getting louder and closer and she was sure
they were coming to get her. She dropped a huge pile of manure when a machine suddenly
started up with a loud bang. Des came out and hosed her all over while I held her. I
didn’t want to tie her since this was her first time with the hose. She stood still and
took the water even on her head and neck. She was filthy from rolling in the mud at the
edge of the dam yesterday, so Des had his work cut out for him! He even sweat-scraped
her for me afterwards. I didn’t need Des’ help, but I didn’t mind it, either. I know
Flossie would have been just as good for me as she was for him.

While I was walking Flossie in hand around the track to cool her out, Bambi started
jumping around us and cantering in front of us while a huge horse trailer was taking one
of Gary’s horses away. There were horses neighing from all directions, and even Flossie
had a word or two to say. It was like being stuck in the middle of horse heaven!

When I was done grooming Flossie for the final time, I took a walk down Cambogan Road,
which is a side street that runs into the street Des lives on. I was looking for Lynn,
the woman who wanted to trail ride with me once her horse’s jaw was healed, or at least
someone who knows her. I ended up talking to a man who answered to my “Hello” when I
yelled through his screen door. He said there are only three families that live on
Cambogan Road, but Lynn wasn’t one of them. I asked him if he knew where the bridle
paths are and he said no. So I struck out in every way.

The new product I’ve been trying, Pain Away, worked pretty good on my leg today. If I
had been using it properly, it probably would have made an even bigger difference, but I
didn’t bother to read the label until last night. I thought I’d just massage it on my
leg the morning before I ride, but you’re supposed to start applying it about four days
before that, three or four times each day, then only once in the morning and once at
night after that. If I could already see a difference, as I said, I can imagine how much
better it’ll be when I use it properly.

I found out Gary’s ponies are named Tamara and Percy. I also found out it was Bill who
had ended up in the dam one day last month, not Gary. I guess he had a load in his pants
and needed to wash them out. At least that’s the gossip that’s been traveling along the
grapevine. Maybe there’s some truth in it because when I saw him today he immediately
told me the toilet is working and he even went out of his way to show me where the light
switch was! The toilet had not been working for the entire four years that I’ve been
riding Flossie. What a blessing to have it up and running, finally!

While I was waiting for my ride home, I spread my jacket on the ground in the shade of a
tree and stretched out on it. I nearly slept. Then I suddenly felt some sprinkles on my
arms and when I looked up, I could see storm clouds moving in like an army of ants at a
picnic. Thunder broke in the trees and shivered through the leaves as the branches
banged frantically together like frightened animals tethered to a tree, so I got up and
went back to the barn.

When the rain really fell, it dropped down from the clouds, not only in raindrops, but in
tiny balls of hail. When the icy balls hit the tin roof, it was deafening. So Flossie
got two showers today!

When I came home, I noted the dry ground and realized the storm had missed Eagleby
entirely, which means both forecasts were right; the one that said it would rain, and the
one that said it wouldn’t.