Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 146th Lesson

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.