Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 227th Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 227th LESSON

There were a few road workers, trucks, and tractors working on the new road when I
arrived at Des’ this morning, but they were mainly gathered around the apron of his
driveway and not anywhere near the track, itself. I walked Flossie around on foot before
mounting to get her used to them being there because we could still see them and hear
them as we’d pass by.

While riding, Flossie stopped once, but with a bit of hollering and hoopla, I had her
going immediately. She still thinks someone or something is going to pop out at any
time, so she’s always ready for something unexpected to happen.

I worked her in both directions at every gait, and then had her rest in the shade for ten
minutes until her breathing came down to normal and her body temperature cooled. Then I
took her back to the track and had her canter for seven strides, then I’d pull her down
to a complete halt, then start her up at a canter again from the halt, nice and slow. I
did this over and over and she responded as though she had been doing it all her life.
In fact, she started to anticipate and was stopping on her own, so I gave the exercise a
rest. She cantered slowly for me between halts. When the exercise was over, she wanted
to keep going. It took a while for her to realize I wasn’t going to ask for another
canter again.

After that exercise, I took her to the corner of the paddock and did some circling. The
ground was in great shape, even after all the rain we had had earlier in the week, so I
asked for a canter as well. She went so well and so slow, I decided to practice the new
exercise on her while circling, so I had her canter seven strides, then halt, just like
before, only this time she wanted to halt on five strides instead of seven.

Des is taking BamBam and his new horse, the one that had to have stitches in his leg
recently, to the adoption center where people buy x-race horses. BamBam is too big and
gangly for racing, and the other horse broke down on his first race. He still has the
little colt with the odd marking on his face. He’s too young to race yet, but Des is
counting on him to do well. Only time will tell, but I’d love to see him do well, too.
It’ll be sad to see BamBam go since I have known him since he was two days old.

I asked Gary what the name of the pain killer was that he gave Flossie that day she had
colic and he said it was called Fenadine. I’m not sure of the spelling. He thought it
might have a’y’ in it, but I put it to Google and couldn’t come up with anything. This
other drug seems to be for pregnant women, but, hey, since it’s supposed to be a pain
killer, it could be the drug in question.