Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 218th Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 218th LESSON

Yesterday was the day the road crew chose to put in the cement wall that holds the new
road up next to Des’ track. They had to take part of the fencing down and come in onto
Des’ property with their trucks and machines. One of the workers saw me walking with
Flossie in hand all tacked up and ready for a ride so he strolled over to the fence to
let me know. I hopped right on so I wouldn’t waste any time and managed to get my ride
in on the track before the work actually started.

I had to double Flossie to get her past the elbow-to-elbow line-up of men who were
standing around the machines in a row like a living fence. I had to dismount once and
walk her past but she never gave me a problem after that. If I had raised my voice and
shouted as I have in the past it would have made a difference and I probably wouldn’t
have had to dismount but for some reason I didn’t think of it.

After cooling Flossie out in the shade, I decided to do some circling in the corner but
just as we started, a guy approached to take the fence down so they could get their
machines in to work on the road. So I took Flossie to the ‘arena’ and worked her there.

Pat was working Des’ new gelding in the jogger, earlier, and the poor animal cut his left
front leg on a hook somehow. Des had his vet, Pete, come down and I watched as he
stitched up the wound. It was superficial, thankfully, and nothing too serious.

As far as filming my lap around the track as I had planned, I didn’t bother since things
were pretty hectic right from the very beginning. If all goes well I should be riding
again in another four days. Hopefully there will be less commotion.