Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 212th Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 212th LESSON

So much noise going on at Des’s this morning, as usual, as huge trucks, and power
machines the size and weight of dinosaurs, prowled around on the new road that’s being
built alongside the track. You’d think I’d be used to it by now, but it still amazes me
how much we’ve all been putting up with ever since the work first started. It seems we’ve
been battling that noise forever.

I walked Flossie past all the commotion, in hand, before mounting, but we only went past
once in each direction, since, even though there were a few trucks and tractors on our
side of the road, most of the machines were on the far side. Once mounted, I didn’t have
to double her to get her past them although she gave the handful of men who stood in a
group next to the track a wide berth every time we went by.

The worst part of having to deal with all this nonsense every week is the way the machines
make Flossie think she has to soar around the track like a bottle rocket. It’s a shame
our time together is always dictated by those metal monsters and the affect they have on
my horse. I can never concentrate on other things the way I’d like except for one thing:
Keeping her slow. And that’s not always easy.

However, having said that, I managed to slow her canter on the circle somewhat today and
boy wasn’t that good! She kept the gait for me as we did about seven laps in both
directions even while responding to my request to keep it slow. I tried all kinds of
things to get what I wanted, from pulling and releasing on the reins, to modifying the
size of the circles. I didn’t let her put her head down as low to the ground, either, so
she had a harder time taking control of the situation. Usually she circles so close to
the ground I feel like those motorcycle racers who take the corners with one foot on the
track while their bodies, from shoulder to ankle, just barely skim over the ground.

Earlier, before circling, while we were still on the track, I had her working at a nice
slow canter, too. Her energy level was up, but I managed to shorten her gait so her
energy went more up and down rather than straight forward. It helps to start out slow to
begin with for it’s much easier to maintain a slow pace than it is to slow a fast one. I
like the way Flossie holds her head at a canter. She gives me a nice supple top line and
curves her neck which makes it easy for her to move under me. I think that’s why she can
go so fast, but I also think that’s why I can get that up and down motion out of her,
too. Her canter is to die for. Really, it’s just so perfect.

Once the lesson was over, I got Flossie up to the wash rack without any help from Des. I
didn’t unsaddle her until I had her tied up, though, so I could bang the crop against
it, which makes a sharp crack, enough to give her incentive to move forward. Plus, I
figure the more time she spends on the bricks, the quicker she’ll get used to being
there. She doesn’t mind the water at all, so I hose her off from head to toe. I just
know it’s got to feel good! Especially now that the temperatures have been reaching the
mid-eighties.

Gary has another pony, but Des told me he’s only here on trial. It turns out he’s not a
very good pony for the kids, so Gary’s not going to keep it. I don’t know what he calls
him, but he’s a bay gelding with a strip down his face.

I took my tripod to Des’ with me this morning and set up my camera so I could video
myself at a circle but when I finished, I read the manual and discovered you can only
take videos for as long as the button is held down. Once released, the camera stops
recording. No wonder I couldn’t get videos of my ride when I had my camera fastened to
my belt months ago! This means I have to find a cameraman or I’ll never have any videos
of myself riding Flossie.

I was thinking of offering Des’ neighbor, the man across the street who owns goats and
sheep, a six pack in exchange for his time filming me. I told that to Pat and he just
nodded. Pat would have taken some footage for me this morning, but he had to leave and
when he came back, I was already done riding. I told Des I wouldn’t think of asking him
to help me out since he can barely walk from his house to his yard, what with his bad leg
and all. I can’t think of anyone else to ask. Since I’ve already begun a rapport with
the “Goat Guy”, I wouldn’t feel bad about asking him.

I think I’ve mentioned everything I had to say about my ride today, so I guess I’ll just
mosey on out of here and say Aussie ya af-tah. The sun is about to set, so I guess you
could say I’ll be riding off into the sunset. Now where is my horse . . . I can never
find her when I need her. Flossie? Flossie?