Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 225th Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 225th LESSON

I rode from 7:30 until 8:30 this morning. I know today’s high was 92 degrees, and even
though I doubt the temperature was already that hot so early in the morning, it sure felt
like it was.

There were trucks and men and small machines mousing around near the track on the new
road and although Flossie veered away from the side of the track nearest to them, she
never stopped moving forward and I worked her for 20 minutes on the track before giving
her a rest. I walked her and then had her stand in the shade for ten minutes before
taking her to the circle where we walked some more.

When she was ready, I worked her at a faster gait, keeping her as slow as possible. I
even got a nice slow canter where it was more up and down than forward. I did this by
pulling and releasing with the reins, or, I should say, lifting and lowering because
that’s how it felt. I kept a nice even rhythm and had her nice and slow, moving with her
motion, for almost a full lap. She has never cantered on a circle so slow before and I
was very happy to see her coming along so well.

I didn’t work long on the circle, however, because it was so hot, but, as if turned out,
I didn’t have to, anyway, since I managed to accomplish everything I had set out to do
very early on. Afterwards, I had her relax in the shade for another ten minutes before
she started getting antsy. I took her down the driveway, then, and had her stand in the
shade there, too. By then she was well and truly breathing normally and wasn’t so hot to
the touch. She wasn’t as sweaty, either. Then I took her to the wash rack and hosed her
off. I spent a lot of time doing that since she tends to enjoy it and since she worked
so hard in the sun, and flew around the track, I knew she needed the shower.

I put her carrots on the tarp again when I fed her. Des has another horse in the paddock
with Flossie and Bambi. He was there last week, too. He didn’t come around when I gave
the mares their carrots last week, but he did today. I tossed him a carrot to keep him
busy, but he wouldn’t eat it. He kept wandering over to the mares which stirred Bambi
up, which stirred Flossie up because Bambi would barge in on Flossie’s territory to make
a try for her carrots. So I ended up chasing the gelding off every time he came near
which kept the mares happy. It also kept Flossie from eating too fast.

I talked to thirteen-year-old Jack when he came down with Pat to do some work around the
property. He’s grown up with horses and has been riding and driving them all his life.
When he turns sixteen he plans to get his license so he can race the horses like his
father does. (Pat is not Jack’s father. He’s just staying with Pat for a couple of
weeks while his father is out of town). We noticed Billy’s horses needed water, so we
cleaned out their buckets and filled them up. One gelding was so thirsty, he would not
leave the bucket. He just kept drinking and drinking. I have never seen a horse so
thirsty!

If it hadn’t been so hot and humid, I would have hung out with Flossie and Bambi in the
paddock when I gave them their last carrot for the week, but such heat makes me feel ill
and I had to retreat back to the barn after just a few minutes in the sun. I looked for
a nice shady spot to park myself in, but the grass was way too tall in the area where the
horses were at the time, and I wasn’t able to find a comfortable spot.

It’s supposed to reach 90 degrees for the next seven days, but I hope they’re wrong and
we get a cool break next week. Speaking of a cool break, that’s where I’m headed now; to
look for a cool spot to relax in for the rest of the day.