%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
 |
My lessons with Flossie, a roan Standardbred mare |
| This is an on-going diary or autobiography |
| FLOSSIE'S 61st LESSON When I got to Des� this morning, Flossie was in the little paddock where I used to work her months ago. I had to go in and get her so we could start her lesson because she wouldn't crawl under the wire fence. She was willing to work with me today; she seemed very glad to see me, for one thing, and really wanted to do well! She was such a pleasure! I know I�ve said this before and before and before, but she has the neatest half-halts! They are like poetry! Getting her ready for the canter is the best; I pull her down to a nice slow trot and just before she comes to a stop, I move her into a canter with my seat; it�s like a dance; I lead, she follows. It�s almost as though we are one! If there is such a thing as ESP, then I�ve got it with Flossie. At the end of her lesson I had her working on large circles at a walk and at a trot. At first she didn�t want to cooperate, but once I got her attention, she circled like a well-trained mare. She didn�t throw her shoulder out; she didn�t fall in; she didn�t try to run off the circle as she usually does. She was on the bit; I held her loosely in my hands while I used gentle, but firm legs. If we had been being graded or judged on her circles today, we would have won the highest score possible! It was SWEET! At one point she went out of control, like the way she did last time I rode her, but I discovered it�s not me that�s causing it; she throws herself off. When she feels she�s had enough of the canter, she�ll throw her leg down in such a way that bounces her spine into the air which throws me out of the saddle. When she does that, her nose goes up which jerks the bit. I had thought I had put too much pressure on her mouth the last time this happened, but now I know that�s not the case. When that happened today, I wouldn�t let her stop even though the ride was uncomfortable. I kept her going and would not allow her to walk until I asked for it. I�ll be aware of this next time and hopefully she won�t be able to get away with it again. I absolutely love my new bit! I love bits with shanks because I can feel the horse�s mouth. The better I can feel it, the softer my hands become. I think Flossie, too, likes her new bit for this reason alone if not for anything else. After my ride I rubbed her down with a towel and groomed her as I always do. Since neither Bambi nor Magic Harry came into the yard to get their share of the carrots I had brought with me, Flossie and I spent some time alone together. Once she had enough, I took the remainder of the carrots out to the paddock for the other two horses. I gave Flossie one in the yard, and then walked out of the yard to the paddock. A few moments went by before I heard the unmistakable sound of trotting hooves from behind. I looked over my shoulder; sure enough, there was Flossie trotting up behind me! She followed me out to where the other two were grazing and when they were done with their carrots, she followed me back into the yard again. I had left three carrots behind in case the three of them followed me back to the yard, so I gave each of them one more carrot as they came in. When they were done, Bambi herded Flossie back out into the pasture, but Harry stayed behind in the yard with me. So I gave him some water out of a bottle. He opened his mouth and made a ditch with his bottom lip where I could pour the water in. He didn�t really want the water, though; he was more interested in chewing the bottle and trying to see if he couldn�t act cute enough to warrant another carrot. There�s something about that horse that I like. I have a feeling, if I got to know him better, I�d find he�s a regular corker. |
| FLOSSIE'S 60th LESSON I had a great day riding today! The weather couldn�t have been more cooperative. It was sunny and bright, but the wind was cool and invigorating. Flossie didn�t mind the wind at all. In fact, she was very happy to see me today. She was in the yard when we pulled up and even when she saw me putting the saddle on the fence and taking my tack out of the car she didn�t run off as she usually does. I love my new bit. It�s absolutely wonderful. I love being able to relax my hands and know Flossie is going to go slowly. The only problem I had was when I forgot to be gentle when we were cantering. She let me know in no uncertain terms that it wasn�t necessary for me to take such a strong hold of her mouth. I �had her in my lap� at one point and I thought I was going to go off. I stayed in the saddle, though, even though my feet left the stirrups. I let go of the reins, put my hands down on her neck, and said, very calmly, but firmly, �walk� and the mare came right down for me. I nonchalantly slipped my toes back into the stirrups and asked for a canter again. This time I gentled my hands and got the response I wanted. I was so grateful the mare gave me a second chance to redeem myself! Oh, Flossie, be patient; I am learning! Other than that, I can�t say one negative thing about my ride today. I worked on downward transitions and half-halts, both of which Flossie responded to like a seasoned horse. No kidding. She�s amazing. I also worked on circling at the trot. Flossie still wants to throw her shoulder out. I had to use my outside heel on her to get her to bend. She also likes to fall in on the turns, or she tends to cut the circle too soon, so I had my work cut out for me. One thing I can say, Flossie did everything at a nice pace for me. It doesn�t take a lot to slow her down the way it used to. She took the bit like a trooper and seemed to enjoy herself as much as I did. Oh, and there were no snakes or lizards on the track this time. I had a nice chat with Des after my ride this morning. I found out the gelding-in-the-blanket that�s turned out with Flossie and Bambi is �Magic Harry� and he belongs to Gary, Hannah�s father; the guy who used to board five horses at Des� before moving them to Eagleby. Des sold Bobby, his little bay colt. He also sold his gig and his horse float. He said if he keeps them around he�ll be liable to get back into the business again and, healthwise, he can�t afford to do that. He hasn�t been well off and on for months and the doctors have no idea what�s wrong with him. Gary is a chef and works on Main Street across from Kohl�s in Beenleigh at a restaurant called Roast Gourmet which does deliveries. Des buys his meals for $5.50 each and freezes them so he doesn�t have to cook. I told Des about the snake I saw last week and he told me the brown snakes are really bad in his area and people have been finding them in their homes. All brown snakes in Oz are venomous so they aren�t the kind of snakes you can be nice to, if you know what I mean. When I gave the three paddock munchers their carrots today, I had Flossie stretching for her share. I read an article on how good stretching is for horses; much like exercises are for an athlete. I had her stretching to her chest, between her front legs, to her shoulder, her barrel, her stifle, and her hip on both sides. She seemed to enjoy the �game�. I didn�t worry about how far she was able to reach; according to the article, it said not to push it. The more they stretch, the better they get at it. I offered Flossie water out of her bottle again this week and she actually held it with her teeth and tilted her head back. That�s a first. She usually opens her mouth while the water trickles out and kind of licks it or bites at it as it falls to the ground. |
| FLOSSIE'S 59th LESSON You know it�s spring in Brisbane when you see the reptiles starting to come out of hibernation. While I was riding today I saw a large lizard in the middle of the track. At first I had thought it was just a stick, but when I saw its head move and the wind wasn�t blowing, I knew it was a live animal of some sort. I couldn�t identify it until I got up a bit closer. It stayed on the track while I rode by so I got a good look at it. It was grey with large black stripes going horizontally across its back from side to side. I watched it as I passed by . . . But, crikey! THAT�S NOT ALL! Directly afterwards, when I lifted my gaze from the lizard and looked directly ahead of me again, a large brown snake slithered across the track and into the paddock. Unbelievable! What a beauty! I mean if Steve Irwin had been looking over my shoulder he would have been impressed. It was as long as I am tall. Really! It was so good to be back in the saddle again. It felt as though I had been away for months. It�s too bad Flossie didn�t share my sentiments. She didn�t want to be bothered today at all. If it weren�t for the carrots she knew she was going to get when we finished, I don�t think she would have even walked up to me today. Anyway, when I put her new Argentine snaffle in her mouth for the first time, she had to give the chain a jingle as if to ask, �What is this?� But that was it; she showed no other signs of having a different bit in her mouth. I could tell the difference, though. She gave me the smoothest and best canter I�ve ever had from her to date. Oh, I know, I rave about her canter all the time because it�s so nice, but today it was also relaxed. I didn�t have to slow her down and I could actually relax, myself, for a change. This may have nothing to do with the bit, but I thought it was worth mentioning anyway. When I first started out, walking around the track the way we always do, when we came to the dam where it�s closest to the road, a car was parked there where it had broken down. The driver, three kids, and a man from the big truck that was idling on the side of the road behind it, were busily making themselves appear as horse-eating monsters: Slamming doors, waving their arms, talking loudly and excitedly. Flossie stopped in her tracks and decided she wanted to run away. Of course I kept her head facing the way I wanted her to go and with a minimal amount of coaxing, I got her past the vehicles and all the commotion without a hitch. The people and the broken down vehicle remained by the side of the road for the first five trips we took around the track and even though Flossie let me know they worried her, she listened to me like a real trooper. I credit her behavior to the training we�ve had together previously in that same spot. I was so proud of her! Now, for her head-set; she took the bit nicely a few times and kept it longer than she ever has before. If I had had her attention from the beginning, she would have been even better. When she sets her head, she does it so elegantly. It�s a smooth ride and I feel she is enjoying herself too. I�m looking forward to many more enjoyable rides in the future. |
| FLOSSIE'S 58th LESSON I had a great time with Flossie this morning. I put a Stetson on me and a similar hat on her and took a photo of us together. She was a real trooper! When the hat started to slide off her head, she just stood there like �what now?� She was very loving today. She�s in season, I know because she squealed when I touched her. She doesn�t usually do that. She also squatted a little and sprayed in front of a new horse Des had in her paddock today. I had her working on her headset. She did not want to come down to the bit. I was patient and persistent, though. There was a time when she went on the bit and I praised her for it. I won the bid on the English Argentine snaffle so hopefully it will be here before I ride her again. Also, it means I�ll have to go out and get myself a curb chain now. I�ve inserted a photo of my new bit so you will have an idea of what I�ve just purchased. Flossie was reluctant to canter for me for some reason. When she finally picked up the gait, however, it was very smooth. A little fast, but nothing I couldn�t work on. Her mouth was slightly wet when I took the bit out of her mouth. I�m hoping the new bit will produce even more saliva. Bambi never came into the yard with us today. Not even when it was time for carrots. After I gave Flossie her share, I took Bambi�s out to the paddock and sat on the grass with her while she enjoyed them. The new horse, covered in a green rug from head to toe (horse blanket to us Yankees) that was in the paddock this morning, stood by watching. So I offered one to him. He sniffed it, showing some interest, but was too timid to open his mouth at first. Finally, he managed to take a teenie, tiny bite. Once he discovered the joy of carrots, there was no stopping him! Much later, after all the carrots were eaten and I had said my hellos to Bobby, I went back out into the paddock with the threesome once again. Flossie meandered over to a comfortable spot in the grass and promptly folded her legs to lie down. She allowed me to come close, so I sat down in the grass with her. She rested like that for about ten minutes then she got up and started pawing the ground. I knew that was strange and immediately feared she had colic. She kept rolling and getting up and pawing the ground again and again. I immediately went to inform Des that I thought Flossie was sick and why I had come to that conclusion. He promised to keep an eye on her. At that moment, Normie arrived to take me home. Six hours later I gave Des a phone call to see how Flossie was doing. He said she was sick for about two hours; rolling and pawing, the way she was when I had left her. Then, he said, she crawled under the wire fence and stood for about an hour in the small paddock where I used to work with her before I introduced her to the track. Then, suddenly, she crawled back out and galloped down the track full bore. He said she�s been grazing with the other horses and acting normal again ever since. I asked Des if he thought her being in season had something to do with her condition, but he said horses have their sick days just like the rest of us do. He really didn�t sound too worried, although he did admit he was worried for a while because if she hadn�t come good, he would have had to pay a vet to come out and look at her. All�s well that ends well, I guess, but I cried a little on the way home. I'm wondering if having her halter on with the bridle makes it harder for Flossie to respond to the bit. I wish Des would take that thing off her. I can't undo the hooks or I'd take it off when I ride and then put it back on again when I'm done. |
| FLOSSIE'S 57TH LESSON The weather couldn�t have been better for riding than it was this morning. Everything had a crisp, sharp edge to it, from the sound of my feet in the gravel in the yard, to the look of the clear blue sky above. It was chilly, but bright; warm in the sun, cool in the shade. Just perfect! Flossie wasn�t as perfect as the day, however, and neither was I. For one thing, I had a hard time getting her to bring her head down. She finally cooperated near the end of our ride, when she took a few steps with her head in the proper position. I try to get her to go with her poll at an even level with her withers; the way she naturally carries herself when she�s walking. I did learn something new today; when I have Flossie break away from the track periodically to circle into the paddock (starting the circle on the track and ending it on the track), she carries herself better when I continue to ride her on the track without circling. Since she has to use herself while circling, it seems to carry over onto the track. I had been reading articles about collection and headsets and discovered collection is something the horse does herself. Riders can force the issue with bits, reins, etc, but the actual collection has to come from the horse, herself. Today while I was riding, I asked with my body for Flossie to slow down. When she did, I relaxed my body to see if she would continue to go slow on her own. I had to do it a million times, and maybe it�s too soon to judge yet, but, although I got some, I didn�t get a lot of cooperation from her. I noticed that sometimes when she�s cantering, I tend to tighten my arm and shoulder muscles, so, today, (as I�ve done in the past with the same results), I remembered to make my muscles like jelly. It worked. She responded by slowing down and relaxing. I like to try new things like that just to see how it affects Flossie. Sometimes I move my shoulders alternating up and down when she�s pacing. She responds by relaxing and waddling her hind end. I am always amazed at how every little thing we do in the saddle affects the horse in one way or another. After Flossie and Bambi had their weekly carrots, I went into the yard to curry and brush Flossie. Bambi decided Flossie was standing too close and hauled off and kicked at her. She missed the mare, but not the fence. She ended up kicking the post which split in half. The fence remained intact with the part that stayed standing, but the other half fell into the yard. I went up to the house to let Des know what happened. He came out to investigate and told me not to worry; he can replace the post with a star picket. |
| FLOSSIE'S 56th LESSON I woke up to a gorgeous morning: Plenty of sunshine, but no humidity! It was a tad bit warmer than it�s been lately, but I didn�t check the thermometer so I�m not sure what the exact temperature was. All I know is I didn�t need a jacket while riding. I had two shirts on; just a light cotton shirt under a long-sleeved one. Flossie was only half-cooperative today, so she did only about as half as good as she�s been doing up until now. Because of that, I varied her lesson considerably. At the end, after I had her going through her paces around the track, I had her doing circles on the track at a walk. I�d have her walk about five to ten strides, then circle to the right. After another five to ten strides, we did another circle to the right. We did about five of them in a row, and then we turned around and did circles every five to ten strides or so to the left in the other direction. It kept her focused on me and mentally interested in what we were doing. Earlier, while cantering, at one point, I had her go between a parked car that was in the middle of the track and a tree. She listened so well to my aids that she would have looked like a seasoned horse to any observer, if there had been one watching us. I was so proud of her! There was no hesitation in her stride; she just listened to me. When I asked for a canter mid-way in our lesson, however, she refused and gave me a buck. I spanked her. When I asked again, this time she went into the most beautiful canter I�ve ever seen! I�ve discovered that when I ask verbally for a canter, I�m not always physically ready for one. I think that�s what she protested. The second time I asked her only with my seat. I had everything in position; my legs, seat, hands, etc. What a difference it made in her response! After she had her post-ride carrots, I walked around the track snapping photos of every bend and curve. I also took photos of the dam, Des� house in relation to the track, and some ducks that were swimming in the dam while I was there. In the photos you�ll be able to see how close the road comes to part of the track; that part where Flossie used to bulk with me, and the cracker dust Des laid recently in that very spot. |
| FLOSSIE'S 55TH LESSON Today I concentrated on setting Flossie�s head and slowing her gaits. I was shocked, but she put her head right down as soon as we started out before I even had my hands in position. Since last week was the first time I ever set her head, either she�s had work on her head in the past before me, or she�s one smart cookie! She wanted to go fast today, but when I brought her down, she was happy at a slower gait. She�d try to speed up again, and I�d bring her back down. At one point during the canter, I was able to relax the reins and leave her head-set alone. She carried herself for quite a few strides. I was impressed. After her work-out, I took Flossie off the track and had her doing some work on straight lines. She�s getting the hang of that. So I tried something new; I had her doing big circles in the paddock at a walk and then at a trot. She�s never done this before. She�d get it and then lose it over and over, but it�s a start, and I was happy to see how much she enjoyed doing something new. I cooled her out by taking her around the fenceline again. I love working her off the track because the grass makes her gaits feel softer and smooth as glass. She was so willing today; she came right up to me as usual when I went to get her. Bambi didn�t follow her out of the paddock the way she usually does, so it was just me and Flossie in the yard while I groomed her, picked out her feet, and tacked her up. I think Bambi is getting slower due to the foal that she�s carrying, and that�s why she didn�t budge out of the paddock this morning. She also has to wait until Flossie�s been cooled out before she gets her share of the carrots I always bring along, so she probably figures there�s no sense in her arriving on the scene until the goodies are being dished out. Of course, sure enough, she was waiting for us in the yard by the fence after I walked Flossie around the track on foot to cool her out. I had my digital camera with me so I took photos of everything under the sun. I tried to take photos to show where the paddocks are located in relation to the driveway, Des� house, and the track, but I�m not sure the angles I took them from will tell the story proficiently. I put the photos into a Yahoo album with statements beneath each so years from now people will know what I was looking at and what I was trying to achieve. |
| FLOSSIE'S 54TH LESSON By the way Flossie walked up to me today when I went to get her from the paddock, I could tell she was in a cooperative mood and that I was going to have a great time with her and she didn?t disappoint me: She gave me everything I wanted. She started out with her nose in the air, though, so I gave her a major lesson on setting her head. From the very beginning, at the walk, I worked on keeping her head down. I held my reins at my knees and wouldn?t let her move her head out of position. Once she got the hang 0f it, she went like a well-trained mare! I had her doing every pace with her head set, which made riding her so much easier! Her gaits were comfortable and her back was superb! She has such nice balanced gaits to begin with, so I had a lot of good stuff to work with from the onset. She was as cooperative as I had thought she would be, and, together, we had a fantastic time! She perspired a lot more than she usually does in this cool weather, and I attributed that to her having to use herself correctly, and being forced to exercising her red muscles. To cool her out, while I was still in the saddle, I had her walk around the fenceline going to the left, since we had gone around to the right last week. I had her walking and trotting straight lines in the paddock and she did better than she has ever done before. To top it all off, I rode splendidly today! Some days are better than others, and today I was fantastic if I don?t mind saying so myself. It?s not that I?m gloating, it?s just that it was such a grand experience I just need to share it with someone who can appreciate what I?m talking about. Just as I finished giving the girls their carrots, (Flossie and Bambi), I saw Des with his new gelding so I went over to say g?day. He had just finished hosing him off. I found out this new horse is a three-year-old and his name is ?Without A Doubt?, but Des calls him ?Bobby?. When Des put Bobby back in his stall again, the little guy started squealing and bucking, rearing up, and cantering around (Yes, his stall is big enough to canter in: Des calls it a paddock, which, indeed, it may as well be!) The little horse was so fun to watch! Normie took a carton of beer to Des to show him our appreicating for my riding Flossie. We had a nice visit. Des had had two heart attacks from smoking too many cigarettes, so ten years ago he kicked the habit. I worry about that man. He has a compassionate heart and is very personable. Sooty is still around and he ambled over for a scratch. He?s a friendly little kitty and I like him a lot. |
| FLOSSIE'S 53rd LESSON Flossie was lying down when I arrived at Des? this morning. She looked so peaceful. I almost hated to disturb her. I kept an eye on her as I gathered my tack out of the car and slung my bridle, saddle, and pad over the top rail of the fence. She didn?t budge until she saw me coming for her. I stopped in my tracks and she walked right up to me. I had her walk around the track twice before I asked for a faster pace. Des had put some cracker dust, or blue metal dust, down on the track over the muddy area where Flossie usually balks with me. I was curious to see how she would take this, for it totally changed the whole appearance. I needn?t have worried, though; she took it in stride and never even batted an eye! Right from the start no matter what the gait, she just wanted to go full speed ahead. She was pacing so fast I didn?t think I?d even attempt the canter. However, I managed to get her to slow down enough that I decided it would be safe enough to try and it turned out to be a good decision. When I cooled her out, before getting off, I took her up next to the fenceline and had her walk the perimeter of the paddock, which we had never done before. I had her walking over fallen branches and through brambles that aren?t usually a part of her lesson. I also had her walking and trotting in straight lines from point A to point B in the paddock. Each week I pick two different points so we?re not doing the same old same old. After all the carrots had been eaten by my two equine fans, (Flossie and Bambi), I tried giving them both some water out of a bottle. They were so curious; nosing the bottle and running their teeth over it. I poured some water out into my palm and had them taste it. Bambi put her head up and opened her mouth. I was able to get some water into lips that way. Flossie just waited for me to pour the liquid out in a steady stream. She opened her mouth and grabbed at it with her lips. They both seemed to know what they were doing which gave me the impression that they had been watered that way before. After visiting for a while with Des? new gelding who likes to mouth arms, hands, and clothes if he gets the chance, I went back to the big paddock and pulled Flossie?s mane. It?s all nice and even now about two inches or so shorter than it was. I looked all over for Sooty, but I couldn?t find him. I noticed there were pigeons flying around again and Des had said since Sooty started hanging around, they had all but disappeared from the premises. Since the cat was nowhere to be seen, and the pigeons were having a hay day again, I?m wondering if something happened to the black cat. Anyway, I couldn?t have picked a better day for riding. It was sunny and bright, but chilly enough to warrant a light jacket: Just the way I like it! Perfect weather to be in the saddle. Although Flossie and I both got a bit warm around the edges, we both cooled out in record time. |
| FLOSSIE'S 52nd LESSON What a fabulous day to be riding! It was fifty degrees at our house when we left this morning, but I?m sure it was ten degrees warmer at Des?. As soon as I got out of the car I could feel the difference. Flossie lives in Waterford which is less than thirty minutes away from Eagleby. You?d think it wouldn?t make that much difference, wouldn?t you? Flossie?s been coming right up to me when I go to ride. I know I haven?t mentioned it, but she?s been doing that now for months. She watches us as our car pulls up the long drive and when I get close enough I roll the window down and shout hello. She watches me pull her saddle, bridle, pad, etc, out of the car and place them on the fence or on the ground next to it. When I?m ready for her, that?s when she starts coming towards me. I don't lunge Flossie any more. I also don't ask her to trot when I'm riding. We either pace or canter. This has been about four lessons in a row that I haven?t had to reprimand Flossie for one thing or another; she knows what I want and goes about trying to please. She is such a delight. I have her trotting and cantering around the track without stopping until I ask or a walk, in both directions. Her transitions are impeccable! She wanted to turn around when we got to the road again this week. I wouldn?t let her make a complete turn around, though. I had her face the track that she doesn?t want to face and then I just relaxed the reins and let her calm down. It didn?t take long. Once she relaxed, I asked her to go forward. I never had a problem again. We trotted, cantered, walked down that strip without a flinch after that no matter how many times we went around. When I had her face the track, I spoke to her in a soothing voice and said things like "You're going to have to be brave," and "You'll have to have faith in me." She understands my every word. I know she does. I didn't have to hit her with the crop, or kick her, or yell at her. Just simple talking; reasoning; explaining; encouraging, and most of all, letting her know I had faith in her. When she went, she tried to turn again after a few steps. I didn't allow her to turn around, though; I had her face the direction I wanted her to go in, relaxed, let go of the reins, and again talked to her soothingly and encouragingly. It didn't take as long as the first time. I told her to go ahead when she felt safe, which she did. I praised her up and down for taking the plunge and being courageous. The worse this mare does is give me a choppy gait that?s neigher a trot, pace, or canter. She can raise her legs up, hollow her back, and throw her head up which makes riding her very uncomfortable if not impossible. A whack on her shoulder with the crop, however, straightens her out immediately. Go figure. It's this gait I get from her whenever I ask for a trot, so I just don't ask any more. I had her doing straight lines in the paddock again and she?s getting so good at it now. It?s so hard to believe she used to have difficulties with that exercise. She?s starting to slow down at the canter. She?ll go slowly for a few strides at a time, but it?s a start. I love bringing her back down to a walk; she?s so prompt. I plan to bring her down from a canter to a halt next time I ride. I?m also working on slowing her other gaits as well. |
| FLOSSIE'S 51ST LESSON It was only in the lower fifties this morning when I went out to ride Flossie. I was covered in four layers from a thin T-shirt to a heavy hooded winter coat and only ended up peeling down to two layers by the time I had mounted and was ready to ride. Flossie was an absolute dream. She did everything I asked of her promptly (as always) and expertly! She is learning so fast all-of-a-sudden that it?s getting hard to keep up with her. I?m going to have to start introducing new skills such as side passing soon. She?s even getting straighter across the paddock when I have her going from one tree to another. Her transitions are getting prompter as well; coming down to a walk from a canter, for example. Since she didn?t have a lesson last week, I had decided to cool Flossie out a bit sooner than usual; I didn?t want to push it, but she wouldn?t have it. She picked up a trot on her own, smoothly transformed it into a canter, and rounded the track at a nice and steady gait as if she were riding herself. I was impressed. We would have cantered all the way around the track if there hadn?t been a soft muddy spot on the ground nearest the road. (After my ride when I walked Flossie in hand to cool down, I had to traipse through that spot and was surprised to find it wasn?t as muddy as it had looked. Flossie would have been able to canter there after all. She was so willing today; too, I wish I had known beforehand). Des has a new bay gelding. I asked him if he purchased him at the sales but he said no some fellow trailered him up from down south. He?s a nice horse. I spent some time with him after my ride and was impressed with his curiosity and his friendliness. Sooty is getting fat. He?s still as lovable as ever, though, and every time I go to see Flossie I look for him. He purrs up a storm when I cuddle him. |
| FLOSSIE'S MEMORABLE 34TH LESSON I fell of Flossie twice today. It’s a real shame, too, because I was riding extremely well. First of all, she lunged beautifully in both directions. When I mounted I worked her to the right and she was a dream; doing everything I wanted when I wanted it. It took her a few tries to pick up a canter, but once she got the idea, there were no problems with that, either. We switched to the left and all was well in that direction too. Then for some reason her buddies; there were four of them, decided it was time to race and Flossie forgot all about me. I tried every trick in the book to get her to slow down. I had never ridden her when she didn’t yield to me before. If I hadn’t fallen off, who knows how many times the herd would have run around that track! This is how I fell off; I decided to take her off the track, hoping to get her mind off her mates and off running around the track. She started out doing the circle I had asked for when suddenly she decided she didn’t want to circle after all. She turned to the right and I lost my balance. I landed in the soft, wet grass and as soon as I decided I wasn’t hurting anywhere, I got up. That’s when I realized Des and those two trainers who were there last week, the man and woman I had told you about, had been watching. While running around free, Flossie pulled her bridle off somehow, but didn’t damage it. I was able to put it right back on her. I mounted and took her around again. She picked up the canter well enough, but as soon as we got to the spot where I had tried to circle her before, she dumped me again without warning; she was going fine then boom. So I got on again and took her around at a walk, then at a trot, then, finally, at a canter. She kept trying to run off the track at nearly every step, but since I was ready for her this time, she didn’t manage to even get a hoof off the track. I’ve been through this with her before in the past so I knew what to do to keep her going without running off to the side. Next week I know she’ll try to run off the track going to the left again, but I’ll be ready for her. Sometimes I forget I’m not riding a seasoned animal. Tonto would have known not to run off the track just because I had asked for a circle, but Flossie, of course, who hasn’t even been ridden for a full year yet, didn’t know that. I truly don’t believe she was doing anything ornery. She listened well to everything and obeyed my every command until she came off that circle unexpectedly. She just wanted to join her friends. I had a great ride in spite of what happened. Even the galloping was a thrill. I often wonder if I had just went along for the ride how things would have turned out. I’d probably still be out there because I truly don’t think the herd would have stopped on its own. Des took one of the horses out of the paddock and tied him up; he said he was the instigator. I told him I didn’t mind him being out there. He was out there last week when I was riding and Flossie listened to me when I asked her to slow down. It wasn’t that horse’s fault. I felt robbed when I went home because I had been riding so well. Even after the falls, I was still at my peak. I was relaxed and every part of my body was in the right position from my hands to my feet; from my head to my seat. I just wasn’t ready for that one crazy move. I’m finally learning how to ride her trot and was feeling comfortable even at that pace for a change. It just didn’t seem fair that today of all days was the one time I took a spill on the track. I cried when I went home because of that. I didn’t break anything; just my left leg is black and blue and a bit swollen. It hurts when I touch it and when I walk, but I can still get around. I hope I can say the same tomorrow. I’m not sure how I injured it because I didn’t land on my legs when I fell. Normie arrived while I was cooling Flossie out on foot so he took some photos of me on the ground with her. We were in the sun and he couldn’t get a good angle, so the photos came out kind of blurry. I’ll put them in my Flossie Yahoo photo album sometime later today or tomorrow so I can show you how different my little (?) roan mare looks since she had her picture taken the last time you saw her. When we got home, Normie and I hosed each other off in the backyard. It’s a great way to cool off and it doesn’t cost anything. In just another hour or so I’ll be heading out to Leslie Sheehan’s. She has more horse tack for us to sell on Ebay, but I don’t think we’re going to accept them. Sales are down on Ebay right now. We might have to wait for another two weeks or so. We owe her some money for the items we’ve sold already, though, so we’ll at least go and take a peek at what she has while we’re at it. I could probably say more about my ride, but I’ve filled you in on the most important details. |
| I’ve been giving a lot of thought to animal communication and have realized Flossie is highly intuitive: More so than any other horse, or animal, for that matter, that I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Here is why I believe this: When I first started working Flossie, she had only been trained for the track; to pace and to pull a gig. She never had anyone on her back before, not even a saddle, and had never been asked to do anything but walk and pace. The first time I ever asked for a trot, she knew what it was. She instantly picked up the gait as if she understood the word. The same goes for the canter. I asked for her to pick up a canter, via voice and body language, and she picked it up without hesitation. Now how could a horse who had never been ridden before, never been asked to trot or to canter before, know exactly what to do? Also, when I first started working with the mare, I never used verbal communication because Pat Parelli says act like a horse with your horse. Horses don't talk, so neither should you. However, Flossie didn't appreciate my silence. I sensed that. She listens for verbal instruction and praise. When I realized that, I forgot all about what Parelli says. That’s not all. There have been a couple of times when I’ve been riding her when she was not focused on me and what I was wanting from her. I was trying to get her to pick up a canter. To get her attention, I spoke to her while I was picturing what I wanted her to do in my mind. I said, “Listen to my body.” That’s all I said, and she went right into a beautiful canter for me. There are other things, too. Like when she bucked with me one day. I reached back with my crop and gave her a tap on her hind end. I would swear to God she said, with relief, “Thank you; I was hoping you wouldn’t let me get away with that!” Does this even make sense? Probably not, but I would swear she was thinking or feeling that very thing. There is another thing, too, that happens every week. Whenever I handle her saddle pad, especially as soon as I get home and it’s still heavy with her sweat, I get sensations like I’m holding Flossie or as if she were trying to tell me something or I don’t know . . . it’s just a sensation. I’m never looking for it. In fact, I forget about it until the following week when I pull it out of the car after spending a couple hours or so with her. I just wrote something in my diary about this experience last night as a matter-of-fact because it was fresh on my mind. The mare, Bambi, that Flossie is turned out with, strikes me as a very wise, very worldly type mare just by the way she acts; for one thing, she recovers from spooking quickly and with wisdom. At least that’s how I see it. She also has a sage look about her too. Maybe I’m crazy, but I get vibes from her too to a certain extent. I am including a short story about animal communication I wrote to share with my friends recently. It’s rather funny (well, to me it is, anyway). I hope you enjoy it. It's called Melissa and Taffy. MELISSA AND TAFFY May 7, 2006 Melissa stepped quietly into the living room trying not to disturb Taffy, her cream-and-white tabby cat, who lay peacefully on the sofa in a tight ball. Melissa had just read an article on communicating thoughts to animals by using mental pictures and feelings as well as words, and decided this would be a good time to try it out on Taffy. She knelt down on the floor next to the couch and stared intently at the caterpillar form of the feline reposing comfortably before her. Melissa constructed a visual image of the cat stretching its paw towards her and touching her on the cheek. She went to great lengths not to miss any details since she didn’t want to throw the cat off in any way. Then she projected this image in the cat’s direction the best she could. Seemingly unaware of the girl’s efforts, Taffy snoozed on. Melissa tried again. She pictured the tabby slowly opening her eyes. The cat still didn’t stir. Melissa tried again, this time she added some sentences by thinking to herself; “Taffy! Open your eyes now and stretch out your paw. Touch me on the cheek!” The cat, seemingly intent on sleeping for at least the next forty days and forty nights, didn’t so much as twitch an ear. Melissa tried again. This time she raised her silent voice and shouted her thoughts: “Wake up! Reach your paw out to me and touch me on the cheek!” The cat remained motionless. Melissa inched her way closer to the couch and stretched forward until her face was only an inch away from Taffy’s furry cheeks. “I said,” she projected her thoughts to the cat once again, “touch me on the cheek!” She pictured what she considered to be a perfect image in her mind of the cat reaching out with her paw. “NOW!” She shouted. Suddenly Melissa felt a whack across her face and when she turned to see who the culprit was, she came face to face with Lionel, her old tom cat, who was sitting on the coffee table, staring at her. “There! Are you satisfied?” He asked. “Now please shut up! You’re giving me a headache!” |
| FLOSSIE'S 33RD LESSON I think I had the best ride on Flossie yet this morning. Normie and I left the house early, right after I did all my stretching exercises. I arrived at Des’ place at 6:30, rarin’ to go. I was so much earlier than usual that I bumped into two Standardbred owners who work their horses on Des’ track every morning. I wasn’t introduced, but they were a woman probably in her thirties and an older man. Upon their arrival, Des grabbed his gelding, Ringo, while the other two ran to different paddocks to retrieve their respective trotters. When they came back to the track, they hitched two of these horses to an iron rail that trailed behind the car, and the other was hitched to the window on the side of the same vehicle because this horse tends to break his halter by pulling back when he’s being exercised. Well, the vehicle only went around once before the gelding did it again. He pulled back, snapped his halter, and away he went, tail up in the air like a flag behind him. I had planned to stand and watch the entire procedure, for the horses only run around the track for a half hour, but when I saw they were going to take time to catch the equine escapee before continuing, I decided to see if I could go out and round up my mare. When I got half way through the paddock to the spot where Flossie was grazing with two other horses (one of them was the two-year-old and the other was a horse that’s usually penned in a smaller paddock), the horse that had broken his halter started charging down the hill in their direction. I decided to stop and see what happens. As the trotter approached the small herd of which Flossie was a part of, the herd became interested and started to follow him. They all ran around together for a while; the three of them trotting for all they were worth, and then, there was Flossie in an easy rhythmical can - ter, can - ter. Her tail was up behind her and she looked magnificent. I had never seen her run with the herd before and it was a beautiful site. Eventually the horses ran back to the yard. The woman who owned the trotter who had broken his halter got out of the car and tried to catch him, but at the last minute, the horse ducked in the way horses the world over will do, just when you think you’ve got him, and away he went again. Fortunately, Flossie had spied me when she entered the yard, so she didn’t run off with the culprit. Instead, she hung around, just out of reach, but in the vicinity, with her two-year-old sidekick right behind. Or, more correctly, right ahead, for it was she who came to me first. I had to get a carrot out to convince the veteran roan it was in her best interest to take her cue from the youngster and that she should come up close enough at least to get a bite of carrot. It was so good to be with the mare again! I am amazed at how much she has grown both height-wise and broad-wise; she is built very well and looks muscled and fit. I am even more amazed at how ‘grown-up’ she looks and acts! When I work with her now I feel as though I’m working with Tonto or Silver or Swift or some other mature horse that’s been around the track a few times already, not a youngster that has only been ridden for about eight months, once a week, weather permitting! Before mounting, I lunged her first, but she didn’t want to go to the right, and behaved the way she used to months ago. I was disappointed to see she had regressed in that area, for she was doing exceptionally well for months. Anyway, after lunging, the car with the two horses trailing behind pulled up. It was perfect timing. I didn’t want to work Flossie with that vehicle driving around with me. I would have kept to the inside, of course, but I was glad to see I had the entire track to myself after all. Flossie was an absolute dream as far as communicating and attitude go. She was willing to listen in spite of the other horses and she was willing to obey everything I asked her whether it was what she wanted to do or not. When the ‘herd’ galloped alongside while we were cantering, she wanted to bolt and run with them. After allowing her to run a bit faster than I usually do, (it was so fun!), I asked her to slow down. She listened to me immediately! The other horses flew past, but she went along at a nice safe pace because it’s what I had asked her to do! I was so proud of her! She didn’t even follow them into the yard when we cantered past; something she wanted to do with every inch of her body. I just put my leg on her and urged her forward and she went right past the yard just as I asked her to do. She’s beginning to pick up the canter quicker. Even after two weeks off, she seems to have remembered that when I pull her down from a pace and ask for a canter, she’s supposed to pick up the canter. After a few wrong starts, she finally understood. She picked the canter up for me at a walk, and also at a trot. We’re making progress! I wanted to keep riding for another ten minutes, but Flossie was tired after nearly an hour ride, and two weeks off, so I decided to call it a day. As I walked her around the track to cool out, I had to marvel at how she’s come such a long way since I first started riding her on the track! She used to walk off the track and I’d have to open the rein and invite her to come back again. Eventually all I had to do was say ‘Stay on the track’ with my voice while my hands and legs directed her. Now I just say the words and she knows what I want. She walks a nice straight line now! She is also beginning to give me her back more often at the trot, too, which is something she was never very willing to do before. I still have trouble riding that gait, but today she seemed easier than usual. I took note that when I ask her to walk after she’s been pacing, so I can start her out at a canter, when I say the word ‘walk’ while bringing her down with the reins, she doesn’t fight it any more. When I only used my cues in the past, that’s when she’d bulk. Once she associates my pulling her down with the reins and the word ‘walk’ I don’t think I’ll have to use the word any more. There are still some things I’m working on with her, but all-in-all she’s matured so much and has learned so much I’m just so pleased with her. The little two-year-old knows how to conduct herself when I’m riding Flossie now, too. I guess the little spank I gave her one day was enough to teach her what’s expected of her, too. This morning I forgot she was even there! Once in a while she’d catch my attention and she’d either be trailing a nice distance behind us, or she’d be off to the side, watching, but minding her own business. I’m also learning how to control my anxiety. I learned to jog in place at home before I do my stretching exercises. I can’t get over how easy it is to feel each and every jitter when I’m running in place and how quickly each and every one disappears! What a revelation. I also learned another visualization technique that works for me; I picture a place where it’s calm and peaceful, the way I was taught, but instead of automatically putting myself into the picture, I don’t allow myself to go in until I can breathe easily without tension or anxiety. As soon as I’m relaxed, I can go in. If I get anxious, I have to leave until I’m relaxed again. I’ve decided I’m not going to let my nerves get the best of me any more. By the way, Flossie stepped on my toe for the first time and now my foot is black and some other color that indescribable. Des watched me lunge Flossie and I was disappointed she didn't go as well to the right as she does to the left. Oh well. Das ist leiben. |
| Okay, so I write a lot about horses. It must be because that's all I think about. It's been that way with me since I was a little girl. The first time I ever saw Ken jump up high enough to reach the stirrup on Flicka, Joey throw a leg up on Fury, or Roy Rogers ride into the sunset on Trigger, a love affair with the beautiful, rideable animal, the horse, was born in my heart and, as time has gone by, has only blossomed into a full-fledged romance. |
| Yesterday afternoon I brought a tape out, which I made for my husbuddy, Normie, years ago when I was still living in America, and set up the recorder. I had thought I had everything prepared and I was excited and anxious to take myself back in time to a place I loved and the people I left behind four years ago. I connected the main line to the extension cord and plugged it in the wall outlet. Then I pushed the play button and soon learned that there couldn't have been anything I could have done to prepare myself for what I was about to hear. The first thing that flew across the room was the sound of the South Dakota wind. Not just any wind. This is 'vacation' wind that combed cottonwoods until they rustled and swept canyons and carried the cry of coyotes across the wide open plains and cooled the waving prairie grass that baked in a desert-like sun. This wind pushed cabins and shoved hocks and stuffed tumble weed into my room. It whistled and howled against wooden corners and into the cracks and crevices of cabin windows, screeching down chimney flues, counting wooden fence posts on its sky-blue fingertips. Next, as I snuggled under covers and cuddled in my clothes, the tape brought the voices of a long-lost summer day. Hearing the inflection of cowboy Grant Shearer's deep voice and his daughter, Chelsea, and the names of horses I've long forgotten, allowed my mind to wrap its memories around lips and tongues until the faces, the hands, the bodies began to take shape and emerge inside my head. Soon I felt that wind in my hair and manes and tails in my hands and the incipient hint of an August sun rising above the North Dakota plains. Tape by tape I will take myself back in time again and again. It's a marvelous trip and I wouldn't miss it for the world even if it does leave me a bit numb for a while afterwards. Aussie ya tonight after leaving a well-carrot-fed Flossie. |
| I remember Roy Rogers in books and on TV. I remember him for his horse, Trigger, his guitar and his singing and his handsome good looks. i envied the man, mostly, because he was a man, and, more importantly, because he was a cowboy who wore cowboy boots and cowboy clothes. First and foremost I had always wanted to be a man who was a cowboy. I also envied Roy Rogers because he rode a horse and played the guitar; two main loves I carried in my heart as a child through every waking hour and through most of my active dreams. Roy was the epitome of life to me for all these reasons and since I could not be a man, I aspired to be everything else the man was; a cowboy, a horseback rider, and a guitarist. Is it any wonder my life has taken the road it has since childhood? Of course I have never been famous for my riding and strumming although I did have deep desires to become an actress one day. Kristy McNichol took over my dreams at one point living my life via her role as Buddy Lawrence (Leticia) on a popular TV show, "Family". Buddy was everything I wanted to be; outspoken, witty, charming, capable, and full of "withinality". If there had ever been a part for me to play on TV, hers was the one. As a child I emulated Tommy Retig, Bobby Diamond, Johnny Crawford, any boy who showed the characteristics and personality that Buddy portrayed years later. Where were the female Ken McLaughlins and Butch Patricks, Bill Mumys and Bobby Buntrocks when I was still in school and so impressionable? In the kitchen wearing dresses, barefoot and pregnant, of course. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
