%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
 |
My lessons with Flossie, a roan Standardbred mare |
| This is an on-going diary or autobiography |
| FLOSSIE'S 158th LESSON What a day for a ride! Rain clouds blanketed the sky for most of the morning, but every forecast promised they would clear up, leaving a bright, sunny day in their wake, and that's just exactly what happened. We had some rain last night which made the track dark brown and smooth to ride on. Gary was done working BamBam again today just as I mounted, so, again, for the second week in a row, I had the entire track to myself except for the three laps Gary took pulling the drag around behind his truck. There was neither dust, nor mud, so the track was in perfect condition. Along with the rain last night, some areas also got two inches of hail. Luckily all we saw were streaks of lightning now and then. However, the thunder was outrageous. One clap was so loud and so sudden Norm and I both jumped and hit our heads on the ceiling. (Not literally, of course). I'm sure Flossie experienced some of that thunder last night, too, because she started out rattled. She didn't want to go by the cluster of trees near the track closest to the old railroad track on the other side of the fence where the bulldozers and other heavy equipment was hard at work this morning. I got her past, though, without too much effort. Then, while I had her in the corner near the barn where we circle every week, while I was looking around, watching for Gary and BamBam, she must have seen someone at the barn, or heard something because she freaked sideways. I lost my stirrups and my seat for a fraction of a moment, but I was able to recover quick enough to take control over the situation. If I had been paying attention, that would have never gotten so out of hand in the first place. All-in-all, Flossie gave me an excellent ride, taking the bit on the circle, giving me a nice smooth canter at a slow pace, and, then again, later in a straight line. She cantered slowly on the track for me as well the first time around. While Gary dragged the track around us, I had her working in the circle, coming close to the track just as Gary was going by. She didn't even bat an eye; she continued to obey and stayed on the circle as if we do this every day. While I was cooling Flossie out in the driveway, a courier came up behind us looking for Des. I love when things like that happen because I can incorporate the unexpected into Flossie's training. The driver was considerate and kept his van at a nice slow and quiet pace so as not to spook Flossie. Des told me Liz is coming home from the hospital today. He had an old walker he doesn't need any more which he gave to Liz to use while she recovers. I still don't have any particulars about what happened. Des said she'll probably be down again one day. I can't see it, myself, but you never know. According to him, Billy won't let her stop working. Perhaps one day I'll be able to talk to her myself and find out exactly what happened. Paddle Pop King, Gary's gelding, is the bay horse that's been sharing the big paddock with Bambi and Flossie since the little filly was put down. He's such a polite horse! He's a joy to have around. Even the mares like him. He has such a nice demeanor about him. He's gentle with both other horses and humans. Des had a nurse coming to his home this morning to see how his leg is doing. He said it's still not healing. I wonder what he expects the nurse to do for him. I'll leave you here with this observation: You know it's spring when your black saddle pad looks like a roan. |
| FLOSSIE'S 157th LESSON I was expecting Flossie to be lazy today the way she sauntered up to me when I went into the paddock to get her. As we strolled towards the yard together, we had to wait before we reached the track for Gary and BamBam to go by. It took a few minutes, since they were still up near the barn, but Flossie was so placid I thought for sure she wasn't going to have much energy today. You can imagine my surprise when I asked for a trot! She was as zippy as ever! She was strong and feeling good which made her so fun to ride! Since I was able to groom and tack her up while Gary was on the track, and since he was leaving just as I had mounted, I had the entire track to myself for the first time in weeks. I took advantage of every step! Des had hired someone to drag the track so it was in tip-top condition! The day was warm, gorgeous, and dry! Flossie never took a false step. Since it was so warm, I had to walk her for a while between exercises, something I never have to do in the colder winter months. It wasn't hot enough to have to stop entirely, though, and wait in the shade until she catches her breath again, which is something I do on a routine basis in the hotter summer months. Des was telling me that one morning last week, one of Billy's geldings knocked his wife, Liz over, when she was cleaning out the gelding's stall. The horse came down on her while she was lying on the ground and the impact broke her pelvic bone. She's in the hospital. I doubt I'll ever see her again. It's a shame because she's become part of the furniture to me, as the saying goes. She was also always full of news and information that I know I would have never gotten without her input. I'm going to miss her and her friend, Faye, who often came down to help her out in the mornings when I was there. Des had the little lame filly put down. She's the one I called Brandy. She was sharing the paddock with Bambi and Flossie. Her leg wasn't healing and seemed to be getting worse and worse. I think he made the right decision, but it's a sad thing, nevertheless. I'll miss her. Last week was the first time she ever took a carrot from me. Des put one of his geldings out in the big paddock now with Bambi and Flossie. He was in there today for the first time. I kind of like him. He seems to have manners. Although he's at the top of the hierarchy, he never once bullied the mares when I was in the paddock with them. Not even when I was offering carrots. He took his in turn and waited patiently for the next one. He yielded to me when he needed to, but was friendly enough when I allowed him to come close. I doubt he has a name, but I'll ask Des next week if I remember. If he doesn't have one, I'll have to come up with one of my own. Oh, I remembered to ask Des what color the stolen car was that was run off the road and landed in his dam last week in a police chase. It wasn't black. It was blue and wasn't even a dark shade. So much for my intuition! I'm closing this missive with a short poem I wrote yesterday. RIDING HORSES September 15, 2008 Four legs, living straws sucking the sod through which I sip the softness of the grass with my calves, and drink the dust off the track with my thighs, and taste the bend of the circle, that drips off every stride, with my seat. |
| FLOSSIE'S 156th LESSON It was such a perfect day for riding this morning in spite of the slight chance of rain, which never happened. Flossie was a lazy bones for some reason and I took advantage of her slow canter when I worked her in a circle, and, later, when I asked her to canter in a straight line down the center of the paddock. We had to share the track with BamBam and Gary at first, then, later with Gary and his geldings as Gary exercised them by having them run alongside his car as he drove around the track. The little colt certainly wasn't lazy! Several times he kicked up his heels and broke into a canter when he was supposed to be pacing. He looked so good, as if he enjoys his daily workouts. Flossie bucked when a guy, unannounced, came out of the barn that's located in the paddock next to hers, so I had to spank her. At the end of her lesson, as usual, I cooled her out with a walk to the end of the driveway. Every week when I unsaddle her, I wash her back and the girth area with warm water which I bring along with me from home. Then I walk her in hand around the track just to keep her on her toes. She is becoming a wonderful horse to lead. I walk next to her inside shoulder as I take her all the way around, starting at the yard. Today some men were working on foot and also on a bulldozer next to the fence near the yard. I had to convince her they weren't cohorts of the bogeyman. She's learning to listen to me when I'm on the ground as well as she listens when I'm in the saddle. I was able to spend some time talking to Des this morning. He told me that at about 4:00 o'clock yesterday afternoon, two men in a stolen car loaded with stolen goods drove off the road and straight into Des' dam during a police chase. Both of the men lived, and they were apprehended, but now there's a car at the bottom of the dam and no one wants to retrieve it. Des is worried about the oil and gas leaking into the water that Flossie, Bambi, and Brandy drink out of. Des said he spoke with the man who owns BamBam's sire and asked him what kind of deal he could get if he had both Bambi and Flossie bred this year. After giving it more thought, though, Des decided that once BamBam's "finished", he's going to quit the business and move near his daughter. We discussed his selling Flossie and I told him he should get good money for her since she's been ridden every week for years now. He told me not to worry, that he won't be leaving that soon. I'm not really worried, though, just looking ahead. It's inevitable he won't be living there forever. He mentioned how tied down he is with the horses there; he can't just take off when he wants to. According to him, after fifty years in the business, it's time to give it up. |
| FLOSSIE'S 155th LESSON Flossie only spooked once, on the track, near the road, while warming up at a walk on our first lap around the track this morning. I kept her going, though. I couldn't see a single reason for her behavior. I think she may have been expecting someone to come walking around the barn next to Des' property because there was a vehicle in the driveway and I did see two men hanging around the barn from time-to-time. She worked nice at a perfect pace, not too slow and not too fast. Gary arrived on the track while I was still using it, so we shared the space for the fifteen minutes he worked BamBam on the gig. I got some nice slow canters out of Flossie today, both on the track and while circling in the corner. I even had her canter between corners in the triangle exercise I created in the "arena" last week. Eventually I just kept her going from one corner to the next instead of stopping and changing the gait at each one. I cooled her out walking down the driveway. She never batted an eye at the two cars that drove past us. I had her walking on the grass next to the driveway as, first Sharon, and then Gary, drove by. I had her stop and wait for them to pass, then I asked her to move on. While on the apron of the driveway, watching the goats that live across the street, a huge 18-wheeler started barreling down the road, blowing its horn loud and long. I was curious to see how Flossie would handle herself. I was so proud of her when she didn't even flinch. She took a half-step sideways, but that was it. Then she just stood still, without my having to calm her down, and acted like there was nothing unusual going on. The goats, on the other hand, all swerved away from the road at the same time like a school of fish or a flock of birds flapping in the air when the truck came screaming past, blowing its horn. The morning was made for riding. There was a chilly edge to the wind, but the heat from the early spring sun kept a balance in the air which made both the wind and the sunshine tolerable. The wind is supposed to keep up for the next few days and rain is still in the forecast for tomorrow and Friday. Des showed me how his leg has opened up where the stitches had been taken out after surgery weeks ago. He said none of his doctors have been able to do anything for him, so he had an appointment this afternoon to see the doctor who had done the original by-pass surgery. Norm suspects the reason his leg isn't healing is because he has poor circulation from being overweight. I wonder what Des' doctor will say to him. |
| FLOSSIE'S 154th LESSON Flossie wasn't as zippy as she has been lately. She has a bit of a snotty nose and I wonder if she's coming down with a cold. She still seemed to enjoy her workout nevertheless. I had her circling at a canter, nice and slow, in both directions. While we were working in the circle a little teeny tiny bulldozer started working its way up the road, seemingly coming straight towards us. Flossie stopped, gave a jump, and wanted to turn and run off, but I didn't allow it. I told her to keep going and so you know what she did? She kept going. She forgot all about that machine! She took the bit and worked as if there had never been a bulldozer. It's a good thing, too, because the bulldozer never left the scene. It was constantly digging and shoveling directly across the street from us the entire time we were circling. Later, Gary came down to work BamBam in a gig. By then I was already done with the track, so neither of us interfered with the other. I had Flossie doing triangles in the "arena", walking from the first corner to the second, then trotting from the second to the third, coming back down to a walk from the third to the first, etc. I used little shrubs and bushes for my corners. When we were done going one way, we turned around and enjoyed the exercise going in the opposite direction. When we were done, I took her down the paddock at a slow canter in a straight line from one side of the track to the other. She's getting good at that. She never used to be. She used to veer left, towards the yard, and run as fast as she could go! I cooled her off at the end of the driveway, watching the goats that were all bunched up in their paddock in a multi-colored herd across the street. The people who own the goats live in a nice, modern home. It's very big and stylish and looks expensive. It was a perfect day for riding. I could have stayed in the saddle forever. The temperature was slightly chilly, the sun was slightly warm, and the air danced off my arms and legs as I rode in perfect time with the wind. |
| FLOSSIE'S 153rd LESSON I never saw the sun today, not once, due to the overcast sky. It had that water color look to it, as though it were going to pour down rain any minute. It never did, though. In fact, it turned out to be a nice day for riding. I noticed first off the cut on Flossie's leg when I was grooming her this morning. It wasn't there last week, but it looked old already. It wasn't deep. In fact, it just looked as though the skin had been rubbed or cut off. I asked Des if he knew what happened, but he didn't know anything about it. I hate to see Flossie's perfect legs flawed like that. At least it wasn't anything serious. Flossie was feeling high this morning. She wanted to giddy-up and go, go, go. Although the bulldozers and other heavy earth moving equipment, near the yard on the other side of the fence, was loud and noisy, and Flossie wanted to balk in the worst way at every step, no matter what direction I aimed her in, I wouldn't let her, so she obeyed in spite of herself. It seemed as though she really wanted to work and she really tried to be obedient. She worked on the bit, and she worked hard. She sort of took the plunge and just kept pumping away, chomping at the bit, giving me the steadiest gaits imaginable. She worked so well for me today that I told Norm she went like a horse that's been ridden for twenty years. Gary showed up with BamBam pulling a gig while I was already on the track, so I had to yield to him whenever he came near. I used his presence to my advantage and started doing things with Flossie that I've been wanting to do for a long time, but never had a reason to. For instance, I trotted her off the track and into the paddock, along the edge of the dam, cuing her to keep on the gait, nice and steady, no matter where I asked her to go. It was fun and totally changed our normal routine. She was so with me, and my seat and my legs were so right on! She circled well in the corner, where we spent a great deal of our time until Gary finally took BamBam off the track, and once we had the place to ourselves again, she cantered on the track as fast as she could go. Des has two new race horses, but he's selling one because he's too slow. The other has yet to prove itself. I just "met" both of them today for the first time. One is a dark bay and the other is a chestnut. Billy has a gelding I love to play with. He goes after my feet, my hands, my legs, my pant cuffs, and my sleeves, with his nose, sort of "chasing" them, like a kitten. He lets me rub the side of my shoe against his muzzle. Every time he looks at a certain post in his paddock, he snorts at it. A very soft snort, but a snort nevertheless. He's not afraid of it and I can't figure out why he's doing it. Do you have any idea why a horse would eat the bark off a tree? Is it the sign of a vitamin deficiency, perhaps? I'm asking because all the horses on Des' property are eating the bark off all the trees. |
| FLOSSIE'S 152nd LESSON Although I had known it was coming up, I had no idea today was a holiday until I arrived at Des' to ride Flossie. Billy was busily bouncing along the track in his truck with two of his geldings running alongside in a cloud of dust, and Liz, his wife, was mucking out a stall. When I asked her if Billy would be working his horses every Monday morning from now on, she assured me he was only there because of the holiday. I had to ask her what holiday she was talking about. I had forgotten all about the annual Australian event known as Ekka, or, the Brisbane Exhibition, which is another name for the Royal Queensland Show. Such fancy names for a very unfancy event, if you ask me. The Ekka is no more than a carnival. A huge carnival, maybe, but still just a carnival. Liz said Billy had planned to be on the track hours earlier and had meant to be gone way before I arrived, but it was too cold earlier this morning, so he opted to do it later. Showbags are an integral part of these aforementioned glorified carnivals. The showbag is a themed bag of commercial merchandise. The bag is usually made from plastic or heavy paper and is printed with graphics promoting a theme or manufacturer. There are almost 500 different showbags available for visitors to spend their money on and to enjoy samples of various products. These bags run from $1 to over $50, providing companies an opportunity to show off their merchandise to the public. Anyway, getting back to Des', Flossie shied a bit around the piles of dirt that are still lying on the ground around the track near the road that Billy had dug up over a week ago. She stopped, once, and took a few steps backwards, but I was quickly able to convince her nothing had changed since last week, and had her working merrily on in no time. She worked well on the track, not too fast, and waited for me to cue her for a canter instead of jumping the gun as she usually does when she's feeling good. She also worked well at the circle. I was able to get her to canter around in both directions. Every time we do this, she gets stronger and the circle gets rounder. I also had her circling the trees that line the track near the yard, just for variety, one after the other. It's something I have her do only every once-in-a-while. It's an exercise that keeps her thinking and every time I have her do it, she always seems to enjoy it. However, because it had been quite some time since I had her doing this exercise last, she didn't understand that I was trying to get her off the track into a circle, at first, so she did a fabulous side pass down the track before she caught on to what I was asking for. Well, it wasn't a side pass, technically, since I hadn't cued for the movement from the halt, but it was well-executed, nevertheless. I also worked her in the "arena", doing circles and figure eights, then I had her canter in a straight line slowly up the middle of the paddock. I've been working on this exercise every now and then for quite some time, but this is the first time she did it well. She usually tries to veer off to the left, or she speeds up on me. When I had her in the driveway near the road after her lesson, a car stopped in front of us to turn around. I was curious to see how Flossie would respond to that. She just stood and watched as I waved to the woman in the passenger seat, who just stared at me in return. Humph. I wonder if she were wishing she was the one in the saddle! I met the man who owns Flossie's mother this morning when he came down with Gary and Sharon and two of her kids. He told me Flossie�s mother is much smaller than Flossie. He also told me she had won 9 races for him when she was on the track. He sounded quite pleased about that. When I asked him if she has the same disposition, all he said was when you feed horses oats, their disposition changes. Now that could mean anything. Anyway, Gary had been out-of-town this morning working his horses in Rocklea. When he brought them back, he hooked BamBam up to the gig and worked him for fifteen minutes on the track. Des asked me if I was down when Billy was there earlier this morning. I told him, yes, and that I had asked Billy if he plans to fill in the hole and that big ditch he dug last week and he said if I don't like it, I should buy Flossie and take her to another paddock. He said that ditch, that hole, and the two spikes sticking out of the ground have to remain there in order for the track to drain properly so it doesn't get so muddy when it rains. I told him to cover them up, or put something around them so the horses can't get hurt. I know if it were his horses out there in the paddock with those holes he'd do something about it. Although I kept my cool, he was very unkind when he spoke to me. I encouraged Des to go out and see what Billy did. I told him I don't think he'll want a foal out there the way it is. |
| FLOSSIE'S 151st LESSON Billy was the one who drained the track this weekend on Des' property where it's always muddy. He left a ditch the size of a horse next to the fence, and a big hole on the other side of the track with two metal stakes sticking up out of the ground as high as a horse's knee. Des had no idea, so he said he'll get on his riding lawn mower and go check it out. I told him it's dangerous the way it is. There are piles of dirt around the area which could easily be used to fill in the holes. I can't believe Billy could be so dumb. Flossie didn't want to go past those piles of dirt at first, but I was able to convince her in no time at all. In fact, I had her going up to the piles and she was so relaxed she even tried to climb them. Flossie wasn't as full of pep as she has been lately. There could be any number of reasons for that. One, it's been only three days since I rode her last, so not much time has passed between workouts. Another could be because it was a whole lot warmer than usual by the time I climbed into the saddle, since I had to wait for Gary to work BamBam before I could use the track. He had him hooked up to a gig. BamBam hadn't been worked in almost two months, and the little colt was raring to go! He was all lathered up by the time he was finished with his workout, from behind his ears to beneath his tail. The colt still looks like a colt, yet he's been doing a lot of growing, too. Des had over a hundred stitches, from his bypass surgery, that went from his ankle all the way to his waist, that were taken out last week. He still has some swelling in his leg, but he's up and on his feet again. He said having the stitches out was a very painful experience. |
| FLOSSIE'S 150th LESSON The mud on the track near the road was terrible this morning even though I had given the ground a week to dry. Gary started working his horses around the track just as I mounted, so while his horses followed his car, Flossie and I tore around the track, walking through the muddy part to be safe (and clean ???) She's in season, but was obedient nevertheless. Even when I first mounted and we started heading down the track nearest the part where the bulldozers were thrumming, throwing up dirt, and moving their shovels against the ground in loud noises. She danced around, zigzagging, darting from side-to-side, but she never stopped. Not once. I kept her going, walking the first time around, then picking up speed with each lap. I had her at every gait, but it was the canter she seemed to enjoy the most. Des is looking good. He's up on his feet now and is even able to drive again. He said he still needs to rest a lot, and he can't spend too much time on his feet, but he sure looks better than he did the last time I saw him. Des is having the mud on the track dug up tomorrow. He's going to have an underground drainage pipe installed. Then he/s having the hole filled so the track will be useable again immediately. That means, if the weather stays sunny as it's supposed to, I should have a great ride when I go back to ride again on Monday. |
| FLOSSIE'S 149th LESSON The day couldn't have been better for riding. There was nothing about it that needed improvement. Flossie was, once again, feeling her oats, as they say. In the winter months a ride once a week is not enough to relieve her of her energy. We literally flew around the track with so much power a mere trot could not hold it all. We cantered twice around in one go and she was still wanting more. So we did it again in the other direction. I usually start her out at a pace or a trot for at least one lap before I ask her for a canter. Her energy level, however, was too strong and couldn't be contained. Since everything, from the cool/bright weather to the moist/soft track to the dry area amongst the mud near the road, to my seat, to Flossie's ability and health, was conducive of an all-out canter, I gave her full rein and the permission to go ahead and stretch her legs, spread her wings, and fly. I can remember those days when I first started working Flossie on the track when all she ever had the energy for was to canter maybe a fourth of the way around in one go before tiring out. She just wasn't strong enough to canter a full lap. Now I just 'sit back' and take it all in. She's come such a long way. I truly believe she enjoys her exercise with me as much as I do, myself. In the summer, when the heat comes to oppress our spirits and our bodies, I know it'll be a different story, and her energy level will not be as high. I didn't just work her on the track today. I took her to the corner near the road and had her circling for me there. She does a nice steady canter in both directions for me now. I can remember when she'd run so fast I couldn't get a circle out of her, but now she listens and performs well. I just love her strong strides and steady gaits. Her canter is powerful and rhythmical and I can't get enough of it. I've noticed when I'm not riding well, if I give my shoulders a few shakes, and lift them up and down, it settles my neck, my back, and my legs. I did that today and felt much more flexible afterwards. I rode well this morning and was proud of myself for it. I took Flossie to the end of the driveway and when she caught sight of the goats across the street, she put her head up and perked up her ears and just stared at them as if she'd never noticed them before. A man in a big noisy truck waved as he went by. How wonderful it felt to be sitting in the saddle, waving back. I noticed Blaze wasn't around today. I wonder if Gary sold him. I'll have to remember to ask Des about that when I see him again. Speaking of Des, he came home from the hospital while Norm and I were there, just before I left. He was hobbling on one foot while his daughter held him up as they made their way slowly to the front door. He was wincing with every step, so I know he's in a lot of pain. I wonder how he plans to get around since he lives in that great big house all by himself. Norm offered to help him out of the car, but he wouldn't have it. I hope he can fend for himself okay when his daughter's not there to help him. I'd hate to see him fall down. Remember when Des couldn't breathe and spent nine days in the hospital last week? It turns out he had experienced a panic attack. I wonder if he'll need medication for that. The strong, but mild breeze, mixed with the bright lollipop shine of the sun brought back childhood images of flashing chains on swing sets, silver spokes, nylon jacket sleeves, pockets full of jacks, nickels, Jujubes, and a miniature rabbits foot, and small square suckers that tasted like gems to me, this morning. There was something so perfect about the way the sun and the wind and the sky and the ground went together. If I could explain it here, I would. I just don't know how. I do know how to savor it all, though, which I think I'll go do now since I have a bit of time before I go to bed. I'll just curl up somewhere, surround myself with the thought of horses, and go back in time and relive my perfect morning. |
| FLOSSIE'S 148th LESSON Under a dark and stormy sky I rode Flossie this morning. I usually walk her around the track one full turn to warm her up before I start working her, but she wouldn't have any of that today. She must not have wanted another boring, do-nothing ride like the one she got on Friday last week because she started out at a nice trot. When we came to the muddy area near the road, I kept her going because I could see it wouldn't be a problem. I just wouldn't let her canter through it, so I'd bring her down to a trot and then pick up the canter again on the other side. Although she has always picked up a canter from both a pace, or a walk, in the past, she has never picked up the canter from a trot before until today. Twice. The first time she just put it on herself to start cantering. She positioned herself around the corners, taking the turns at a nice bend, all on her own. She used to take herself off the gait by throwing her shoulder to the inside, but I taught her to bend and she seems to like taking the turns that way. It's a lot easier keeping her in the middle of the track that way, too, and controlling her speed. She flies around like she has wings and is as steady as they come. The grass was dry enough to get some circling in today. Again, she puts herself on the bit and gets a nice wet mouth. For the fun of it, I had her cantering around the paddock. It was so fun situating myself in the saddle so I could stay with her every stride. When we were finished with the track, I cooled her out by taking her down the driveway towards the road where we could stand and watch the goats grazing in their paddock across the street. When I dismounted, I couldn't get over how muddy she was! Her belly and legs were covered in mud, as were my stirrups, my pants, and my boots. It reminded me of the time I had come down to ride after a long rain. I could tell she had been rolling because she was covered from the tips of her ears to the bottoms of her hooves in mud, but this time it was my own fault she was so dirty! It took a while, but I groomed every inch of mud off her body before I left. Des said he's going to have Bambi bred again this year to the same stallion he had her bred to last time. (BamBam's father). He's really rapt with BamBam. (That's in his own words). He said the colt starts like an "Old Stager" (also his own words) and came in second during a trial race recently. His only vice is his biting, but then, I guess that's what you get with a stallion. Des has a son who has two daughters who want to ride Flossie. Des can't walk her around, though, and his son is afraid of horses, so I told him to let me know when they're due for a visit and I'll make it a point to come down and give them a ride. Riding was so satisfying today. I wanted to jump up, click my heels together, and shout for joy. The clouds, although they had appeared to be brewing up a storm, only gave a little spit for about three minutes, then promptly began to clear up. Before long there was a beautiful sunny day shining down on us with all its golden glory. |
| FLOSSIE'S 147th LESSON This morning Norm dropped me off so early at Des' place, that the grass was still soaking wet, and the track had a great big puddle in the lowest part that's located closest to the road, and a run-off on the other side where mud and water oozed together across the track, which made it very slick. Immediately I realized I had picked a bad day to ride. When I gathered Flossie out of the paddock, I noticed her runny nose. When she breathed, every so often, I could hear the moisture in her nostrils. At first I thought she had a cold, or was coming down with something. Her ears weren't warm to the touch, though, her lungs sounded clear, and when I mounted, I could see she wasn't achy anywhere, and she never coughed. I only walked her around the track, once in each direction, then got off, though. The air was freezing cold and had such a bite in it, I didn't think it would be wise to work her. Besides, the track was slippery in parts, so there's no way I could have ridden her the way I wanted to even if it hadn't been so cold, and since the grass was wet, I couldn't have done any circling, either. I could feel the temperature warming up by the hour, however. Flossie's nose started to clear up, too, as time went by. When I dismounted, I had noticed a white discharge in her nostrils. I wiped it out. After that, it was clear, and didn't run any more than at any other time. I don't think she was sick, or even coming down with anything. I think she was just exhibiting a reaction to the cold weather. I found out where Des was last Monday when I phoned to see how the track was. He had been in the hospital, as I had suspected, but not for surgery. On Wednesday last week he started having a hard time breathing so he went to the hospital and spent nine days there. The doctors couldn't find anything wrong with him, so they sent him home. He arrived while I was waiting for Norm to come get me. I said he must be glad to be home after such a long stay in the hospital, but he said he's scheduled to have his by-pass surgery on Wednesday, which is only four days away, so it won't be much of a reprieve. Poor guy. His daughter drove him home, so I got to meet her for the first time. I spent some time with BamBam and Blaze this morning. BamBam sticks his head through the fence so I can scratch his face. Every now and then he'll turn with his mouth open, trying to grab a bite of me, so I have to be one step ahead of him. I held Blaze's head in my hands and gave him a kiss on his nose. Every time I made the kissing sound with my lips, he'd freak and pull his head away. If there had been a ceiling, he would have hit his head on it; he pulled back so far. He'd keep coming back for more, though, and eventually I had him desensitized to the scary sound. The weather is supposed to remain sunny for the next three days which means I'll be riding again on Monday. I'll make it a point not to go quite so early this time. After three solid dry days, both Flossie and the track should be in good shape if I don't. Plus, it won't be quite so cold when I arrive this time. In spite of the way things turned out, I'm still happy I had the chance to visit with Flossie. Riding, albeit only at a walk, was still better than if I hadn't gone at all. |
| FLOSSIE'S 146th LESSON Flossie was as perfect as my seat this morning. I was as balanced, flexible, and independent as I could be in the saddle today. I felt as though I was part of Flossie, not just a passenger or a leach on her back. She is so sensitive that it doesn't take much on my part to get her to know what I want. Just the slightest pressure from my calf, for instance, has her moving from side-to-side. She bends around the curves in the track so well that sometimes she'll assume the position before I put her in it. This is during any gait. She has gotten so strong, too. I can remember when she'd poop out on me after running once around the track. Now she runs full speed ahead three times around, once at each gait. Her mouth is nice and moist, too. With just a tiny bit of encouragement from my spur and crop now and then, Flossie didn't balk at anything today. She's just so eager to give me whatever I ask for! She does a nice slow canter in a circle for me now. I didn't make one false move in the saddle today except fall behind the post now and then, which was easy to correct. I ended the ride at the street where we stopped to watch the traffic go by at the end of the driveway. There were three big burlap sacks on the pallet near the road this morning. Usually the pallets are empty, so the sacks gave Flossie something to think about. Did I ever tell you I'm really enjoying this horse? I gave Des the bottle of lemon, lime, and bitters, and the cans of creamed rice that I bought for him as a token of my appreciation of his kindness. He told me he'll be undergoing bypass surgery on his leg a week from this coming Wednesday. He'll be in the hospital for an entire week. Gary's going to be looking after the horses while he's gone and Elizabeth, Billy's wife, is going to take care of Sooty (his cat). I was going to take some photos of Flossie before I left today, because it was cloudy for a change, but Norm came too early. I was still only grooming Flossie when he rang to let me know he was on his way. |
| FLOSSIE'S 145th LESSON It rained overnight, early in the morning, in Waterford where Flossie lives, but I didn't know that, so I went to ride this morning. As it turned out, albeit the grass was wet in some places, the ground was neither wet nor muddy where it counts, so I'm glad I didn't know about the rain. It might have deterred me from riding unnecessarily. Because the ground had gotten wet, however, it made the track soft under Flossie's pounding hooves. Because of that, she was smooth to ride. I have nothing to report about her lesson today. She did everything I asked for, and she did it well. I took her down the driveway at the end of the lesson because I love doing that. While I was sitting on her in Des' front yard, he came around the trees in his pickup. I knew Flossie wouldn't bat an eye when she saw the vehicle inching its way around the blind spot, and she didn't. So I sat and waved to Des as he drove past. I have never seen a vehicle present a problem for Flossie. Even today while I had her circling in the corner near the road, a very large, very noisy truck drove by just as we were walking beside the fence that boarders along the road. Flossie stepped higher when the truck rumbled past, but she didn't do anything. I didn't even have a hold of her reins; she was on her honor. She didn't disappoint me, and I didn't expect her to. When I first arrived at Des', Gary was working BamBam on a gig around the track, so I waited for him to finish before I went out to the paddock to get Flossie. Des was standing by the fence watching, so Norm joined him until I had my tack out of the car. Then Norm left and I replaced him at the fence. It was during my conversation with Des at that time that I found out it had rained there. The track closest to the road, which is where it's also the lowest, is still muddy. Des said normally he would have had Gary drag the track, which would have evened it up so it could dry, but Gary accidentally broke the drag when he ran it up against a tree. It doesn't look like the little filly's leg is going to heal. Remember Des and Gary's filly I call Brandy? She and Blaze had both injured themselves in the same paddock a while back. Blaze is healing nicely. In fact, he never went lame, but the filly had hurt her tendon and when the vet came out to take a look at it, he didn't sound very optimistic about her prognosis. She's still limping around the paddock, resting her leg whenever she can. I don't know what's going to become of her, but it doesn't look good. According to my latest HorseWyse magazine, you know you love horses when your horses wear better blankets than your own clothes, and, when you point out every horse on a road trip. There's a lot more than that, but you get the picture! Needless to say, I'm guilty! I never realized this before, but compared to other animals, horses have a limited range of vocal sounds. One theory for this is so they don't attract the attention of predators. People have always tried to interpret animal sounds for years without much success. Of course animals communicate with their own set of vocalizations, but we can only guess what they mean. So if you hear a horse making a variety of annoying and unnecessary noises in a movie, you know they're being dubbed in. Horses neigh, or whinny, nicker, snort, squeal, and scream. But that's about it. Oh, and they can roar, too. But I don't think that's a very common sound. |
| FLOSSIE'S 144th LESSON The day was made for me and my flicka, Flossie. (Flicka is Swedish for "Little girl"). Weatherwise, it was sunny, cool, and pretty; the track, even though it still held some remnants of last week's rain, was dry, and all of the parts that mattered to me were perfect. Flossie was feeling good and gave me a great ride. She flew around the track. I had her trot, and then canter, the entire way around. We did some circling in our favorite corner, but I didn't work her in the paddock because it was still a bit damp and I didn't want her footprints chewing it up. After my ride, I took her down the driveway to cool her off. When the weather's cool during the winter months, I take some hot water to pour over her back after I untack her. By the time I go to use it, the water is a nice temperature. In the summer, I use cool water. I don't have a sweat scraper, so I run the side of my hand down her sides and flick the water off with my fingers. It works like a charm. I visited with Blaze and BamBam at their respective stalls for a while. I can remember when they were both young and lived in the big paddock with Flossie and their mothers. That seems so long ago now. Blaze is a gelding and both he and BamBam have been pulling a gig now for months already. How fast time flies! |
| FLOSSIE'S 143rd LESSON I spent the entire day with horses! The first three hours were only virtual horses, however, on Horse Isle. I managed to gain another few quest points, and even though they totalled to about 300 or more, it wasn't enough for me to reach the 25% I'm aiming for. I was at 23% when I started, and ended with 24%, so at least it went up one. I'm hoping I can gain one more next week so I can start doing some quests on Lava Island. This afternoon I was able to ride a real horse! Norm dropped me off at Flossie's at 1:30 pm so I could be done riding by the time he swung around again and picked me up on his way to a boxer-size program he held for Busy Bodies in a park in Woodlands, close to Flossie's paddock. I had never ridden Flossie in the afternoon before, so it was a new experience for both of us. The track was still pretty muddy near the road, so, again, I had to rein her in when we got to the muddy spot. She was feeling good and wanted to run. It was fun letting her go, then pulling her down again. Both of us would have rather been able to keep going, of course, but you have make the most out of what you get sometimes. The grass was dry, which was a real treat, since I was able to do some circling. I had her cantering nice and slow in a circle to the left. She had worked going to the right a few weeks ago, so we've done both directions now. She circles the canter as well as she does the other gaits. I managed to sit her trot for a while today; the longest I've ever been able to sit it before. I don't always work on that. When it comes naturally, though, as it did today, I just go with it. I'm hoping eventually to be able to sit it for longer stretches at a time. I'm in no hurry to do that, though, so I just take it as it comes. After the first ten minutes on the track, Billy showed up to work his horses. He had them running beside his truck while he drove around the track. When he passed me, he yelled, "You shouldn't be riding on the track! This is where we work our racehorses!" I looked at him in astonishment and said, "What?" He acts like he's the boss sometimes. I had phoned Des before I left home to be sure it was okay for me to come down and ride, so I knew I wasn't in the wrong. So I just kept on riding, taking Flossie off the track when Billy came by, just as I've always done when Gary's worked his horses on the track with me. When I finished riding, Gary showed up. He asked me if Billy had said anything to me. I wondered why he'd even ask that question since he had just arrived and couldn't have known what had just taken place. It turns out Billy had complained to Des. Gary said I'm a nice person and I don't have to take anything from Billy. He said no one likes Billy because he's so high and mighty, etc. He also told me Des was very upset with Billy for saying anything to me and told him so. Later, Des told me, himself, how upset he was with Billy and he told me I should never, ever listen to that man. He also said he's ready to kick Billy out of there, anyway, because of his attitude. He mentioned that Billy doesn't own the place and that I wasn't doing anything wrong. I assured Des I didn't let Billy bother me and that I just kept on working Flossie the way I would have done if he hadn't been there, anyway. Flossie was covered in a thick layer of mud as if she was trying on a new style of armor. From the tips of her ears to the bottom of her hooves, I had to curry, rub, scratch, brush, jab the dried clumps off. It was hard work. It took forever to clear a path for her bridle, girth, and saddle. It wasn't until I had finished riding that I gave her a good cleaning. She seemed to want the mud off and was very good about me manhandling her the way I had to. She got discouraged once when I used the curry against her hair, so I changed tactics and she was much happier. I even had to scrape mud off her face around her eyes, her jowls, and her muzzle. I wasn't able to get all the mud out of her mane and forelock, though, because I ran out of time. I glanced at the other mares that were in the paddock with her and wouldn't you know, they had absolutely NO mud on them whatsoever. Go figure. I should have considered riding one of them! No, on second thought, that would have taken even more effort in the long run I think. Especially since one of them is only a filly and has never been trained to do anything yet. When Norm arrived for me, he took me to the park with him so I had to watch and wait around for him to finish with his boxer-size class before I could come home. It was too late to wash my clothes and my saddle pad, so they'll have to get done in the morning. It's supposed to rain in the morning, so I'm glad I chose to ride today. It was such a wonderful experience, as usual. I know I'm going to sleep, if not well, then happily, anyway, tonight! I forgot to mention, when I first arrived at Des' place, Flossie walked over to me without my having to go out into the paddock to get her, which is what I usually have to do. Just the way she strolled over to me resembled a child slowly approaching an adult, with her/his hands behind her/his back, head sort of tilted down while innocently looking up, which says "I don't want to seem presumptuous, but is it me you're looking for, by any chance?", or, probably more likely, "Pardon me, but do you have any carrots for me today?" Either way, her demeanor was priceless. Every night before I go to bed, I wash my face with a Nivea Visage product called "Refreshing Cleansing Lotion", which is applied by using cotton wool and massaging it into the face by using a gentle circular motion starting at the neck and working upwards. When I'm through, the cotton wool is rather dirty after accumulating a day's worth of grit, perspiration, whatever. Well, tonight, after cleansing my face in this manner, the cotton wool had turned dark brown! I was horrified, at first, until I realized all the mud that had been caked on Flossie's face yesterday was transferred to my face when I cleaned her up! I was, literally, wearing her dirt! People who don't have computers will never know the joys one can attain via the desktop background one is able to personalize. What a delight for me, for instance, every day when I turn on my computer and find Flossie there staring back at me! I can pick and choose my photos regularly, replacing one precious image with another on a daily basis, or even more often if I desire. |
| FLOSSIE'S 142nd LESSON When I first arrived at Des' this morning, I had thought I had made a mistake and shouldn't have come. The track was damp and extremely muddy where it's lowest near the road. I thought I'd just take it easy on Flossie. I talked to Des and told him that, but he said the guys have been working their horses on the track (that's why there were ditches near the road where the tires had dug into the mud) and they didn't have any problems. So I told him I'd get on Flossie and see how it goes. I'm glad, as it turns out, that the track was in good shape, after all, because Flossie was in high spirits. We flew around the track until we came to the mud near the road, which we tip-toed through, then kept going on the other side. She shied only once on the track near the barn where the bogeyman lives, but I was able to keep her going. I couldn't work her on the grass, though, because it was still too wet and I didn't want to have her slipping. She's so fit and so capable now, I used her exaggerated speed to work on slowing down. After my ride, I rode her down to the end of the long driveway. She wanted to meander all the way up to the road. That's how comfortable she's getting with being there now. The neighbor, who shares part of Des' driveway, has a pile of wooden pallets up against the fence. Flossie approached them with caution, nose down, curious, but on her guard. She sniffs things when she's not sure about them, and that's just what she did with these pallets. Last week, I had forgotten to mention, she spied a long skinny stick on the ground and stopped just long enough to pick it up. I thought that was rather comical. I've never had a horse do that with me before. I told Des I'd phone him from now on if I ever stop by in the evenings again. I told him about Norm's fitness programs on Monday and Wednesday nights. Isn't it propitious for me that the classes are held so close to Flossie's paddock? I gave Flossie a good grooming, as always, and treated her hooves with the grease I've been applying every week now for quite some time. I also got rid of all the bot fly eggs on her front legs. That's a never-ending chore. When I got home I checked the latest weather report. Monday is calling for clouds, but no rain between now and then. That's good, not only for my next scheduled ride, but also for the market this weekend. Last week it poured and we had to stay home. |
| FLOSSIE'S 141st LESSON Flossie went like her regular self today. It was good to have her back again. She never once shied at anything and never balked. Not even once, neither when I was riding her, nor when I was leading her. She didn't seem to have the energy she'd been exhibiting lately, however. I'm not sure what that was all about, but she was willing and obedient today in every respect. I had her doing figure eights in the "arena", circles in the corner of the paddock, with smaller circles inside the circle every now and then just for variety, trotting around trees and then cantering as soon as we hit the track. She used to love doing those exercises. It's been a long, long time since I had her doing them last, though, and she started to act as though she were coming apart at the seams. It's the same behavior I used to see when she was younger, whenever I'd work her off the track. Without a track to follow, she'd lose it. Anyway, I still had her working off and on the track for a while and she seemed to get the hang of it again. At the end of the lesson I had her circling at a canter and she went all the way around going to the right, which was a surprise since she's always been less willing to go in that direction. She did it sweet as pie, too, so I brought her down and called it a day. I was happy to be ending on such a positive note. To cool out, I rode her down to the end of the driveway where we watched the goats that live across the street being herded from one paddock to another. It wasn't much of a deal, but they were bleating their little horned heads off just the same. Des has the little filly I've been calling Brandy in the big paddock now with Bambi and Flossie. I had to yell at her once when she became a little too interested in us while I was riding Flossie on the track. She ran off when I yelled and she never bothered us again. She's still very lame and favors the poor leg she had injured when she walks. I took my camera out to the paddock after I had let Flossie go and she rolled, so I got a photo of that. I was looking for an action shot. She walked up to me to see what I was doing, so I got a shot of her walking. Later, when she was with the other two horses, I saw her trotting around. Wouldn't you know I didn't have my camera ready, and even if I did, I wasn't close enough to have gotten a good photo anyway. So the roll and the walk will have to suffice. I've yet to view them so I have no idea how good they came out yet. The weather was perfect for riding. I rode with a T-shirt under a flannel shirt along with my jodhpurs and felt comfortable until I dismounted. By then it was starting to heat up, so I took my flannel off. In Australia, these shirts aren't called flannels, they're called flannelettes. Strange, huh? When I got home I cleaned my dusty riding boots off with saddle soap before putting them away. In the evening, Norm was called out by Busy Bodies to do a boot camp outdoors in a park in Woodlands, which is near Waterford, not far from where Flossie lives. So Norm dropped me off so I could be with her for the hour he'd be working. It was 4:30 pm, but by 5:15, it was already dark. It was special to have that time with Flossie. I had always wanted to be in the paddock when the sun went down for the night. It got so dark, the three mares looked like black blurry dots on the grass. They keep chasing each other with teeth barred, ears pinned, and feet kicking, so I had to watch myself. It's scary to be in a herd like that. Mainly, it was Flossie and Bambi picking on the little filly, and Bambi picking on Flossie. Bambi came up to me and sniffed my face, blowing in my ear with her warm, soft muzzle. I love the way she does that. I think she likes me. I really do. She always has. The little filly, I call 'Brandy', let me approach and touch her. I scratched her neck and she wanted to groom me back. Flossie didn't come looking for carrots as I thought she would. You should have seen her and Bambi when I first arrived in their paddock! They were on the other side of the paddock, heads up, alert, necks stretched as far as they could go, and I imagine, their eyes were open as wide as possible, too. They really checked me out. Then, satisfied it was only me, they put their heads to the grass and I was soon forgotten. |
| FLOSSIE'S 140th LESSON Saturday there had been a storm in Waterford. (This is the town Flossie lives in). I could tell because part of the track was muddy, and when I asked Des about it, he told me it was quite a storm, too, with lightning and thunder, high winds and heavy rain. Fortunately, the muddy part of the track was not a part that matters, because it was located on the inside with plenty of dry outside ground to ride on beside it. Yesterday there was a big windstorm in Waterford, just as there was in Woodridge when Norm and I were at the market. I think these changes in her element made Flossie wacky. Riding her today was a nightmare. She balked at everything and when she wasn't balking, she was freaking at everything in sight. Every corner and every turn we came to, she either shied or balked. She didn't like the heavy machinery buzzing in the paddock next door, she didn't like the barn that stands next to Des' property, she didn't like the tree stump, the bushes, the lone tree nearest the yard. I literally spurred and cropped her around the track today. She never got over her silliness, either, even though we passed the same trees, the same corners, the same turns over and over again. She even reared once and I really got after her for that! She never tried it again. Thank goodness. I cooled her out by riding her down the driveway and back. Then I rinsed her back with a bottle of cool water before taking her around the track in hand. Again, she didn't want to go, but I'll tell you this; she never once refused to put a foot forward. Not once. She knew she would have been in trouble if she did. In spite of the trouble I had with her today, I still managed to get her into some nice circles. She chomps on the bit when circling and really gives it something to worry about. I worked on getting her to bend, mostly to the right, which is normally not a problem. She didn't want to work at full speed the way she did last week. If you remember, last week I didn't need my spurs or my crop. This week I couldn't have ridden without either of them. Des said Blaze is now a gelding. I asked the colt how he feels about that and he just looked at me and let the wind blow through his mane. I guess that means it doesn't impress him very much. He's gotten taller, though, which made us both laugh (me and Des) because it's the colt's lack of height that motivated Gary to geld him. Ha ha. |
| FLOSSIE'S 139th LESSON I’m glad we can’t magically ride because it would take all the challenge out of it! I used to plan my lessons on Flossie beforehand, but I don’t anymore because I have to see how she’s behaving before I can plan anything around her. I like it this way. I never know what I’m going to get from week to week and I never know how I’m going to ride (although my riding has been great for many weeks on end lately). If I could make a perfect ride happen magically, it would take all the fun out of it. Flossie is beginning to respond to things the way an adult horse would, or a horse that’s been ridden for years. Although her gaits had matured quite some time ago, now her actions are starting to catch up. I no longer feel as though I’m riding a green broke horse. Today she didn’t balk at anything at all. I never had to use my crop nor my spurs (which makes two weeks in a row now). She did go with her ears ‘on full blast’, twitching them this way and that, and giving things a second look, but other than that, there was no disobedience. A rabbit hopped out of the bushes, unexpectedly, which gave her a fright, but I can’t fault her for that. She’s also fitter and stronger than ever and because of that she wants nothing more than to go, go, go. She worked six times around the track at full speed, three times in each direction. The first two times she took it at a trot and the third time at a canter. I have never let her go so fast before, but because she was feeling good, and she was being obedient, and my riding was superb, I allowed her to get away with it today. I did manage to slow her down enough to work her in a circle, and even got her started on a nice slow canter! To cool her out, I rode her down the driveway and let her stand at the end for a time before turning her back to the yard. Des told me BamBam got his first set of shoes yesterday and even with a twitch he gave the blacksmith grief. Gary told Des yesterday he’s going to have Blaze gelded next week. He’s afraid he’s just not tall enough to qualify for the races and he’s starting to get full of himself. I asked Des what Gary will do with him if he doesn’t qualify at the track and he said he’ll probably do the same thing he did with his filly; turn him into a saddle horse. Neither Des nor I can figure out why Gary keeps breeding his mare when all she ever throws is short foals that don’t grow enough to race. |
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
