Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 228th Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 228th LESSON

It was already hot by 8:00 o’clock but that’s when I rode this morning. There were three
trucks, some with flashing lights, and a handful of men next to the track on the new road
when I first arrived at Dessyland. They were just parked there, not moving or making any
noise. There were some men on foot, and others in trucks and machines on the apron of
Des’ driveway that were bloody well noisy, though, and they set off Bambi and the young
mare who lives in the big paddock with Flossie. (This young mare is supposedly a kicker,
although I’ve never seen her even think of kicking either Bambi or Flossie, or myself,
and she’s had plenty of chances to do so. Anyway, because of her reputation, and because
she doesn’t have a name as far as I know, I’m going to refer to her as Kicky from now on
so I don’t have to keep calling her that young mare in Bambi and Flossie’s paddock).

They both started up just as I started walking Flossie in hand along the track where the
new road is. They started running around, tails up, heels in the air, tearing through
the paddock and around the track as if goblins were hot on their trail. They flew around
and came up from behind at a fast canter, strode on alongside us, even got in front of
us, but do you know Flossie didn’t respond to them at all?

When I mounted, the two mares were still rushing around us, cantering up from behind and
alongside us, running to get ahead of us, but Flossie stayed focused on me and totally
ignored them. I kept her on a loose rein and let her size up the situation for herself.
I was proud of the way she handled herself. She is so sensible! However, when it came
time to ride past the driveway with those men and their trucks, that was a different
story. I had to double her before she’d go forward. Then I had to keep all my aids on
her, intermittently, to encourage her along, for she’d take a few sure steps then
hesitate. I could tell she wanted to obey me, but at the same time, I could tell she was
having second thoughts. Obedience won out in the end, though, and we had a satisfying
ride.

The other two mares eventually calmed down until I forgot all about them.

I worked Flossie on the track as usual, then did some exercises that I had introduced
last week. She was much more hyper today so I didn’t spend a lot of time on them. I
also varied the routine, adding some backs, turns on the haunches, both after seven
strides at a canter, and then at a trot. She likes to jangle the right shank with her
mouth when she gets hyper and she sure was doing a lot of that today!

It was hard to get her to back straight, if at all, because she was so full of energy.
It’s like she couldn’t contain herself. I gave her a different signal for a canter
today, and bent her to the right when I wanted a left lead, and to the left when I wanted
the right lead. She took the correct lead every time this way. She didn’t break out of
the gait, either, as I had expected her to do. In fact, her strides were as strong as
ever. She performed nicely on the circle, too.

She’s beginning to enjoy being hosed off every week, for she’s been walking right onto
the brick platform without my having to encourage her. She stands nicely while I hose
her off, too. She is such a nice horse to work with, whether in or out of the saddle.

After everyone had their fair share of carrots, Bambi strolled up to me very quietly from
behind and touched my hands all over with her lips, looking for more. I didn’t even know
she was there until I felt her lips on my hands. She blew in my ear and nibbled on my
collar and I just loved every bit of the attention!

I have a soft dandy brush I use on Flossie’s face and she usually enjoys a good brush
around her eyes and down her nose and today was no exception. After she had her full
grooming for the week, I stood beside her with my hands on her neck and her back and told
her I’m going to remember this moment while I’m in India next month. I straightened out
her mane and rubbed her neck. I hope I don’t get homesick for her the way I did when I
was in Indonesia for a month a few years back. That was painful. It’s so hard to savor
memories, though, I’ve found in the past, but it can’t hurt to keep trying.

I had a few extra hours before Norm came to get me, so I spent them in the paddock with
the mares. I spread my tarp down in the shade and lay back under a tree with my Stetson
over my eyes. The girls sauntered over to check me out. Bambi blew her nose on my knee
(she probably didn’t like the fly spray I had on) and Kicky stretched her nose out to get
a good look at me. She had never seen me on the ground before. Flossie picked a tree a
bit further off to close her eyes and rest under, but I could see her from where I was.

Earlier, in the barn, while I was having my brunch, Sooty chose a spot by my feet to lie
down and rest. I had to spray myself with fly repellent to keep the pesky things off my
head and shoulders, arms and legs, and when the cat got a whiff of it, she sprung up off
the ground sideways as if she had been singed by fire, and made a face at me over her
shoulder as she trotted off as if to say, “What was that? And why did you do it?” I
felt bad after that. I love that cat and I truly believe she loves me too. I hope this
event doesn’t turn her off to me forever.

This concludes the story of my day at Dessyland for the week, so I guess that means it’s
time to hit the trail until next time. May yours be as happy as mine always are!