Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 66th Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 66th LESSON

Flossie didn�t want to leave the yard again when I went to ride her this morning. I�m
wondering if she�s getting bored with her weekly routine. I thought perhaps I should vary
our habits so I always have her guessing by tacking her up in the paddock for a change, or
by starting her off somewhere outside of the yard. Maybe if I have some kind of challenge
for her as soon as I mount, it would give her something else to think about, or if I should
go down to Des� sometimes just to groom her and give her carrots without doing any riding,
just for a change of pace.

When I actually ride her, Flossie is a dream. She�s cooperative and gives me her all. I
was working on my equitation today; keeping my elbows at my sides, not reaching for the
reins, keeping my head still, and my back straight and tall, and my shoulders back. I also
worked on my hand position on the reins; thumbs up, little fingers tucked inside my palms,
and I worked on relaxing my body from the waist down. The results were phenomenal! Flossie
went with a perfect arch in her neck; she went on the bit and collected, keeping a slow,
steady pace, no matter the gait. She was awesome.

Of course neither of us are perfect. I�m still working on her circles and her transitions.
She felt like trotting today; she wanted to trot nearly all the time. That is usually not a
problem, but I�ll be honest with you; I have a hard time riding her trot. Whether I�m
trying to sit it, or to post it, her legs shoot me up into the air and I swear I cannot stay
with her. I hold on to the saddle in order to keep my hands low on her mouth and in order
to keep myself from banging every time my body comes down to meet the saddle. She thinks
it�s great; her mouth doesn�t get jerked around, and her sensitive back is spared a beating.
However, I�m not learning anything! I need to be put on a lunge line so I can work on my
balance.

Anyway, I�m hoping for a brainstorm in regard to Flossie�s balking in the yard and my lack
of trotting ability.

Oh, I discovered a soft, movable lump on Flossie between her chin and her throat. It�s
exactly where the buckle on her halter meets her flesh. I don�t know if that has anything
to do with it, but it�s something I never noticed before. Perhaps it�s just a mosquito
bite?! I�ll keep an eye on it.