My lessons with Flossie, a roan Standardbred mare |
FLOSSIE'S 225th LESSON I rode from 7:30 until 8:30 this morning. I know today’s high was 92 degrees, and even though I doubt the temperature was already that hot so early in the morning, it sure felt like it was. There were trucks and men and small machines mousing around near the track on the new road and although Flossie veered away from the side of the track nearest to them, she never stopped moving forward and I worked her for 20 minutes on the track before giving her a rest. I walked her and then had her stand in the shade for ten minutes before taking her to the circle where we walked some more. When she was ready, I worked her at a faster gait, keeping her as slow as possible. I even got a nice slow canter where it was more up and down than forward. I did this by pulling and releasing with the reins, or, I should say, lifting and lowering because that’s how it felt. I kept a nice even rhythm and had her nice and slow, moving with her motion, for almost a full lap. She has never cantered on a circle so slow before and I was very happy to see her coming along so well. I didn’t work long on the circle, however, because it was so hot, but, as if turned out, I didn’t have to, anyway, since I managed to accomplish everything I had set out to do very early on. Afterwards, I had her relax in the shade for another ten minutes before she started getting antsy. I took her down the driveway, then, and had her stand in the shade there, too. By then she was well and truly breathing normally and wasn’t so hot to the touch. She wasn’t as sweaty, either. Then I took her to the wash rack and hosed her off. I spent a lot of time doing that since she tends to enjoy it and since she worked so hard in the sun, and flew around the track, I knew she needed the shower. I put her carrots on the tarp again when I fed her. Des has another horse in the paddock with Flossie and Bambi. He was there last week, too. He didn’t come around when I gave the mares their carrots last week, but he did today. I tossed him a carrot to keep him busy, but he wouldn’t eat it. He kept wandering over to the mares which stirred Bambi up, which stirred Flossie up because Bambi would barge in on Flossie’s territory to make a try for her carrots. So I ended up chasing the gelding off every time he came near which kept the mares happy. It also kept Flossie from eating too fast. I talked to thirteen-year-old Jack when he came down with Pat to do some work around the property. He’s grown up with horses and has been riding and driving them all his life. When he turns sixteen he plans to get his license so he can race the horses like his father does. (Pat is not Jack’s father. He’s just staying with Pat for a couple of weeks while his father is out of town). We noticed Billy’s horses needed water, so we cleaned out their buckets and filled them up. One gelding was so thirsty, he would not leave the bucket. He just kept drinking and drinking. I have never seen a horse so thirsty! If it hadn’t been so hot and humid, I would have hung out with Flossie and Bambi in the paddock when I gave them their last carrot for the week, but such heat makes me feel ill and I had to retreat back to the barn after just a few minutes in the sun. I looked for a nice shady spot to park myself in, but the grass was way too tall in the area where the horses were at the time, and I wasn’t able to find a comfortable spot. It’s supposed to reach 90 degrees for the next seven days, but I hope they’re wrong and we get a cool break next week. Speaking of a cool break, that’s where I’m headed now; to look for a cool spot to relax in for the rest of the day. |