Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 76th Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 76th LESSON

Even though Des wasn?t home this morning, (he was probably spending the holiday at his
daughter?s), I spent nearly four hours on his property. I took it easy on Flossie because it
was 90 degrees and extremely humid. I had her doing a little of everything, very slowly with
lots of breaks. I didn?t allow her to get out of breath and when I dismounted, she wasn?t
overly sweaty.

She didn?t give me any problems today and seemed to enjoy the light work-out. The herd
wanted to follow her again, but when I turned her quickly to face them, and allowed her to
run toward them a bit, they got the message. Blaze?s mother wanted to stop and kick out at
us, but thought better of it when I shouted and waved my arms. Unlike last week when I had
to do this, Flossie seemed to understand what I was after; she responded to everything I
asked of her and didn?t get all bent out of shape when I started to raise my voice.

Flossie enjoyed the little bath I gave her after our ride and the grooming that followed.
She closed her eyes and relaxed as if she were getting a massage from an expensive masseuse.
She would have stood there for me all day, but I had other plans.

After everyone had their fair share of the carrots I had brought along with me, I decided to
have a little fun with the gang. Especially with Blaze because he?s so inquisitive and
courageous.

First off, I took my lead rope and dragged it along on the ground behind me. I walked past
the herd while they were leaving the yard and heading out to the paddock. Blaze, just as I
had expected, walked right over to see what I was doing. He picked the end of the rope up
with his teeth and started tugging it.

When the older mares came along, he followed them for a while, but kept turning back to
watch me. He came up to the rope time and time again. When he tired of that, I went back and
brought out the blue tarp I had picked up weeks ago. I dragged this behind me all around the
herd and, sure enough, once again, little Blaze came right up to it. He was so brave he even
picked up a corner in his mouth. When the wind would blow the tarp, he?d jump and turn and
run, but he?d always come back again until he finally lost interest.

Several times I tried to get Bam-Bam to at least touch it, but he would only walk up just so
close then plant his feet and watch from a safe distance. I like that little colt, though,
for some reason. There?s just something about his ways that intrigue me. I know he?s going
to let me walk right up to him someday.

Last week Bam-Bam didn?t look very healthy to me, but seven days have made a big difference
because today he looked and acted as healthy as . . . well, a horse. He?s not as filled out
as Blaze is, but he?s just as tall. When they run together, Blaze gives it all he has, but
Bam-Bam just sort of goes along for the ride. They have two very distinct horsenalities and
I love to watch them interact with each other.

When I give the mares a carrot, the boys come up to see what their mothers are doing.
Eventually, I wouldn?t be surprised if they start taking carrots from me too. They?ve
already started eating the grass and the wild green things that grow in the paddock.

Sarah has divorced Craig and has taken Billie and Zane to live with her parent's in New
South Wales. I?m hoping a horse lover will move in next; someone who has a couple of horses
and is looking for someone to ride with. Now wouldn?t that be a dream-come-true? Maybe
someone with a horse trailer who can pull Flossie to a trail where we could do some riding
outside of the track! Yeah, I know; dream on!