Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 58th Lesson

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.