Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 211th Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 211th LESSON

There was only one, relatively small tractor/bulldozer working on the road next to Des’
track this morning. For such a small piece of equipment, however, it sure managed to
make some loud noises. There were three men on foot working next to the track. They had
a generator roaring away while one man ran a jack hammer and another unravelled some
material off a huge spool. Before mounting, I walked Flossie in hand along that side of
the track while all that commotion was going on. The man with the hammer saw me coming
and turned off the tool until I passed. I told him I’d be working Flossie on the track
for about twenty or thirty minutes and he said he’d be mindful of us. I thanked him for
his thoughtfulness.

As it turned out, however, it didn’t matter, because, after mounting, and coming around
at a trot on the first lap, even though I had to shout, “Keep going!” over and over to
encourage Flossie along, no matter what was going on in that area, whether the machines
were running or not, even the generator which was never turned off, Flossie kept going
for me. No need of doubling or even using the crop on her. My voice, alone, was enough
to keep her moving forward.

I rode her to the left, first, and just as I switched directions, Gary appeared on the
track with Des’ new colt, and he was traveling in the opposite direction. I asked Gary
if it was okay for me to be working against him and he said, “He’s only a baby, but we’ll
see how he goes.” Later, when I told Gary how well that colt worked around me on the
track, he said, “He’s got to learn sometime.” Of course I moved out of his way each time
he passed and even stopped, once, to wait for him to come through between the dam and the
road, which is an area that doesn’t leave any room on either side for passing. Flossie
seemed to understand what was going on and never protested anything I requested, no
matter how unusual it was.

I was back to riding as my usual self today. All relaxed, and I am pleased to say it was
a grip-free ride from beginning to end. Even circling at the canter in the corner was a
breeze today. Flossie picked up the gait in both directions and I kept her going five
laps around, each. She was willing to do more (and so was I!) but it was hot and she was
wearing out. She was also running around like a chicken with its head cut off. I told
Des that if I could ride her every day I’m sure I’d have her past this stage already.
Gary commented about her going like a house on fire. I told him it took a long time just
to get her to canter in a circle at all in the first place. Slowing her down will only
be a matter of time.

She did some really perfect circles, too. It goes to show what a difference it makes to
be loose in the saddle! It came so naturally today that I had a hard time imagining
riding any other way. Having my leg free of pain sure helped. I found the exact spot on
my body where the dratted pain originates. I had thought it was in my seat, but it’s
actually on the front of my upper leg right where the thigh meets the hip. Now that I
know exactly where I need to rub the ointment I’ve been using, it will be even more
effective. It makes sense, too, because when I had jerked in the saddle when my right
leg cramped up during that ride that had started all this pain, I had pulled something on
my left side and it stands to reason it would be in that area.

The ointment worked so well today, I was only in pain for a short while at the very end
of my ride. That was when I learned where the pain was coming from. When I’m standing
or sitting in a chair, there is no pain in that area, so I’m glad I could pinpoint it
while in the saddle. Because I didn’t have pain in the areas where I do, normally, since
I had treated them, the untreated area was the only one left to give me grief.

I hosed Flossie off at the wash rack without Des’ help today. I tied her to the rail and
hosed her off myself. I think I’ll unsaddle her there from now on to get her used to it.
She’s still hesitant about approaching the brick-covered ground.

I've been working Flossie in tight circles to the right by holding onto her tail and
today she started circling on her own. I was waiting for that to happen. Next week I'll
take my lunge whip with me and see if I can't get her to lunge to the right without any
trouble now.

Gary sold Tamara, his grey pony, and bought a brown pony named Pugsly to replace her. He
said Tamara just wasn’t getting along with anybody and was becoming very hard to handle.

The split in both of Flossie’s front hooves are growing out. They look so
non-consequential now. Her toes are breaking up because they’re growing out and they’re
dry, but other than that, the grooves are hardly an issue anymore.

I don’t have anything else to share with you today. It’s too bad I can’t send you the
sweet sound of horses neighing to each other, which I heard when Gary came back in the
afternoon to trailer his horse away to a trial race in South Port, or the smooth, silky
muzzles of Pat’s two mares who came up to the fence for a greeting, and their soft breath
as they sniffed my arms, and the way Flossie’s nose felt against my elbow when I was
walking her around the track to cool her out. I surely would share these things if I
could.

However, since I can’t, you’re just going to have to settle for my email the next time I
ride.