Hoof Blogs

Flossie's 229th Lesson

FLOSSIE'S 229th LESSON

I didn’t get to ride until almost lunchtime, the hottest time of the day, and even though
I spent an hour in the saddle, because it was 90 degrees I only worked Flossie for a half
hour on the track. I didn’t even bother taking her to the corner so we didn’t do any
circling.

The two loose mares started running around us again just before I mounted. I have no
idea what se them off this time. Maybe it was the water truck that came by the track on
the new road, making noises like the kind big trucks make when they back up. They didn’t
run with as much enthusiasm as they did last week, though, nor did they carry on for as
long a time, either. As before, Flossie just ignored them.

I worked her in both directions at every gait and then I parked her in the shade and I
had her rest for a good half hour. Bambi and Kicky came over and the four of us just
stood around together. Well, actually, I stayed in the saddle. Flossie cooled out
completely in that time, and eventually her breathing returned to normal, but I didn’t
fare so well. I hadn’t eaten anything at home before I left the house, and I didn’t
drink any water, so the physical activity on an empty stomach in such hot weather gave me
heat stroke and I got sick to my stomach. My head went black and I thought I was going
to die, or at least faint.

I dismounted and sat on the ground in front of Flossie for the longest time. When I got
up I felt even worse than before. I handed Flossie to Pat and he put her in the wash
rack and untacked her while I went for some water. I drank and ate some peanuts and
poured cold water on my face and sat down. I eventually hosed Flossie off, still feeling
sick as ever, letting the cold water splash me as I worked.

I didn’t ride Flossie down the driveway, and once I had used the sweat scraper to get the
excess water off her, I turned her out into the paddock. I did not walk her around the
track as I usually do, and I didn’t even give her a good grooming before I left.
Instead, I took my hot riding pants off and slipped into a pair of shorts, then I sat
down and had an orange. The orange is what finally revitalized me. I could feel it
doing me some good with every bite.

When I was up to it, I took the carrots to Flossie and Bambi. They were near the dam, so
I called them over to where I was sitting in the shade. Bambi came immediately when I
called, but I had to go to get Flossie with a carrot in tow before she’d follow me back
to the shade. I just stayed seated on the ground while they munched, one at my left
foot, the other at my right foot. Kicky came near, eventually, which set them all to
dancing a two-step around me. I put my hands up to wave them away from me. Kicky got
the hint pretty quickly that there was nothing for her (she doesn’t like carrots) so she
wandered off and left the three of us alone again.

I enjoyed that moment with the mares even if I did get covered in orange drool and pieces
of wet, slimy carrots. Bambi let me kiss her on the nose and Flossie had her happy eyes
all lit up, so I was content and at peace with the world, hot as it was. I was still
glad I had chosen to ride today, and I know I’ll be smiling even harder when I watch all
that rain come down that’s supposed to start tonight and continue, daily, off and on,
until Friday. I had my ride. Let it rain!