Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 232rd Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 233rd LESSON

There were no machines working around Des’ place this morning so I had a quiet ride for a change.

My body is still not back up to par as far as strength and endurance goes since I was sick with Giardia from my trip to India. I felt fine while I was riding in the saddle this morning, but as soon as I dismounted, I felt pooped. I suspect the first dose of medicine that I was given did not kill all the bugs, for the symptoms I had before have not disappeared. I’ll know for sure in three days when the latest test results come back from the lab.

Flossie has always been suspicious of the trees near the rail road track, the ones that grow in her paddock on the inside of the track that I work her on. When these trees get overgrown she starts to get cautious around them and today was no exception. She didn’t stop, but she went with her ears cocked towards them and her heart on the brakes.

Flossie’s in season, so she was a bit bronchy. I worked her the same as usual on the track and then did some work in the ‘arena’. I had her doing figure eights around two trees which is something we hadn’t done in a long time. I worked her on the circle, but did very little cantering. I mainly worked on balance as I acclimated myself to the new length in stirrups. I wouldn’t let Flossie grab the shank, and because she couldn’t play with it, she stayed calmer for me. She still flapped her lips, though. I don’t mind that because I still have control over the bit in her mouth.

I’m getting used to the longer length of my stirrups, but I tend to lose my left one at the canter. I think this may be a residual problem related to the ‘rogue leg syndrome’ I used to have with my left leg once before. I suspect I may need a new saddle soon because ever since I lowered the stirrups, I’m experiencing pain in my seat bones now. Even just at a walk or a standstill, as if the leather has worn thin and there’s no longer any padding.

I groomed Flossie in the yard before I gave her carrots in the paddock today. I usually groom and carrot at the same time. However, doing it this way, I was able to hand-feed her and didn’t need to use the tarp. I had to do the grooming in increments, though, because I was so pooped. I’d use the curry on her, then sit down until my strength returned. Then I used the dandy brush on her, sat down to rest again. Then I picked her hooves out, sat down, then finally combed her mane and tail.

There were two other mares in the paddock with Flossie and Bambi this morning and one of them I never even knew was there until we were pulling out of the driveway! She must have been grazing in the trees all morning. Maybe she was in the trees Flossie was shying at!