Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 59th Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 59th LESSON

You know it�s spring in Brisbane when you see the reptiles starting to come out of
hibernation. While I was riding today I saw a large lizard in the middle of the track. At
first I had thought it was just a stick, but when I saw its head move and the wind wasn�t
blowing, I knew it was a live animal of some sort. I couldn�t identify it until I got up a
bit closer. It stayed on the track while I rode by so I got a good look at it. It was grey
with large black stripes going horizontally across its back from side to side. I watched it
as I passed by . . .

But, crikey! THAT�S NOT ALL! Directly afterwards, when I lifted my gaze from the lizard and
looked directly ahead of me again, a large brown snake slithered across the track and into
the paddock. Unbelievable! What a beauty! I mean if Steve Irwin had been looking over my
shoulder he would have been impressed. It was as long as I am tall.

Really!

It was so good to be back in the saddle again. It felt as though I had been away for
months. It�s too bad Flossie didn�t share my sentiments. She didn�t want to be bothered
today at all. If it weren�t for the carrots she knew she was going to get when we finished,
I don�t think she would have even walked up to me today.

Anyway, when I put her new Argentine snaffle in her mouth for the first time, she had to
give the chain a jingle as if to ask, �What is this?� But that was it; she showed no other
signs of having a different bit in her mouth. I could tell the difference, though. She
gave me the smoothest and best canter I�ve ever had from her to date. Oh, I know, I rave
about her canter all the time because it�s so nice, but today it was also relaxed. I didn�t
have to slow her down and I could actually relax, myself, for a change. This may have
nothing to do with the bit, but I thought it was worth mentioning anyway.

When I first started out, walking around the track the way we always do, when we came to the
dam where it�s closest to the road, a car was parked there where it had broken down. The
driver, three kids, and a man from the big truck that was idling on the side of the road
behind it, were busily making themselves appear as horse-eating monsters: Slamming doors,
waving their arms, talking loudly and excitedly.

Flossie stopped in her tracks and decided she wanted to run away. Of course I kept her head
facing the way I wanted her to go and with a minimal amount of coaxing, I got her past the
vehicles and all the commotion without a hitch. The people and the broken down vehicle
remained by the side of the road for the first five trips we took around the track and even
though Flossie let me know they worried her, she listened to me like a real trooper. I
credit her behavior to the training we�ve had together previously in that same spot. I was
so proud of her!

Now, for her head-set; she took the bit nicely a few times and kept it longer than she ever
has before. If I had had her attention from the beginning, she would have been even better.
When she sets her head, she does it so elegantly. It�s a smooth ride and I feel she is
enjoying herself too. I�m looking forward to many more enjoyable rides in the future.