The Boy Who Loves Horses (Pegasus Equestrian Center Series) Page 12

  Christmas day landed on a weekday that year, and Sierra and River had decided to do the chores that morning as a Christmas present to Manuel. Sierra also baked cookies for both Manuel and Rosa and gave them a basket filled with gourmet coffee and two brightly colored coffee mugs, a package of smoked salmon, some cheeses, crackers, and chocolate.

  They finished chores and walked the short distance to the cottage where Pam was already setting food out on the table. They stuffed themselves on baked ham, mashed potatoes, green beans from Pam’s garden that she had put up in the freezer, homemade applesauce, and homemade rolls that Sierra had made the day before. For dessert, Sierra had also made her first pecan pie while in a baking mood yesterday.

  After dinner, Sierra gave River his presents.

  “This is perfect,” he said appreciatively, holding up the halter. “The red will really look good with Corazón’s black color.” He tried on his gloves and thanked her again. They were sitting next to each other on the floor by the Christmas tree, and to Sierra’s amazement, he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

  She flushed with heat, but fortunately, he didn’t notice for he had already stood up and walked over to where he had left his jacket. Pam noticed however, for Sierra could feel her mother’s eyes from where she sat on the sofa, watching the kids.

  River returned and sitting back down, handed Sierra a small red box with a gold ribbon. “Merry Christmas,” he said.

  Sierra blushed again and ducked her head to open the box. Inside was a stylized galloping horse fashioned out of metal. “River,” Sierra breathed out. “This is so beautiful!” She set the horse in her palm to study it better. “Look, Mom.” She held it up for Pam to see.

  “River, how beautiful. How very thoughtful of you,” Pam exclaimed.

  River’s own face deepened in color; he cleared his throat. “I made it in metal shop.”

  Sierra wanted to hug him, but somehow, after the kiss, she felt too shy. Silly, it’s just a brotherly kiss on the cheek.

  *****

  For River’s birthday at the end of January, Sierra gave him a friendship bracelet braided out of hair from Fiel’s and Corazón’s tails; black and gray strands that she had pulled out a few at a time over several weeks.

  “I like this,” he said as he slipped it onto his wrist. “Thanks.”

  “You’re not going to quit school are you?” Sierra had to ask the question. He had said no more about quitting but she wanted reassurance.

  “No,” he answered, relieving her worries. “I’m actually passing all my classes.”

  “River, that’s great!”

  “You don’t have to act so surprised,” he said.

  *****

  The short, wet days of winter passed, and with the coming of spring, it was time to prepare for the upcoming show season.

  *****

  12 Training Begins

  We shall take great care not to annoy the horse and spoil his friendly charm, for it is like the scent of a blossom – once lost it will never return. - De Pluvinel

  *****

  An attractive rig and horse trailer pulled into the stable yard, bearing the name of a well-known breeding farm in the next state. Tess had been helping Crystal search for a new horse throughout the winter and a few weeks ago had finally found a promising prospect. Today, a Sunday in mid February, the horse arrived.

  Sierra and River watched a pair of men step out of the rig and begin the process of unloading their equine passenger.

  “Do you know anything about him?” Sierra asked River.

  “Tess said she’s a ten-year-old Hanoverian mare.”

  “Oh, a warmblood.”

  “Umhm,” River replied, his attention focused on the tall, blanketed horse now backing out of the trailer. The mare stepped carefully down the ramp and then stood square on all four legs once she reached the level pavement, her head raised high and nostrils flared as she took in her surroundings. Her neck and legs, visible outside of her blanket, glistened a dark bay. She had a regal head with a white strip on her face from between her eyes to the top of her well-shaped muzzle. Her large, wide-set eyes looked around alertly; she appeared curious, not afraid.

  The handler led the mare around in a small circle as River walked up to them. He spoke to River for a few minutes and then River nodded and took the lead from the handler. The other handler joined the first and together they pulled off the shipping blanket and boots, stowed them in the trailer and closed up the ramp, preparing to leave.

  River walked the new arrival around the stable grounds, allowing the mare to see and smell her new home.

  “She’s beautiful,” Sierra whispered as she approached quietly and fell into step with River. With her blanket and boots off, Sierra admired the mare’s well-muscled body, her glistening deep red coat, her fine black mane and tail, four black stockings, and two gleaming white socks on her back legs.

  River laughed and rolled his eyes. “Of course; it’s what you say about every horse.”

  “But she really is magnificent, don’t you think?”

  “Yeah, this one’s exceptional,” River admitted. “Look at her deep chest and well-muscled neck and the slope to her shoulder, the straight hocks and nice slope to the pasterns. She has almost perfect conformation. She seems very level-headed. Look how she’s taking everything in but without tensing up about anything.”

  “What’s her name?”

  “She’s registered as Eager Encounter. Her handler said they called her Diva.”

  “Diva,” Sierra repeated, and stroked the mare’s fine neck. “I think it fits her.”

  River laughed but the mare snorted, and Sierra thought that meant she agreed with her.

  *****

  That afternoon, Tess arrived; unusual for her to show up on a weekend but she wanted assurance that Crystal’s new horse had arrived safe and sound.

  “She’s a proven horse; took regional championship at training level in an adult division last year. Walt paid more for this horse than any other he has bought for Crystal,” Tess commented as Sierra and River stood at the paddock fence beside her, watching Diva. “It took some convincing for him to agree.” Tess shook her head and mumbled to herself, “She whined enough; he gives her anything she wants.” A few minutes later she said, “Since I’m here, come to my office. I want to go over the training schedule for the next few months.”

  They followed Tess into the office and took seats.

  “There are ten riders in this year’s clinic.” Tess referred to a cross-country jumping clinic that she gave every year on the first weekend of March, officially starting off training for the eventing season. “River, I would like you to ride Moose first as a demonstration.”

  River replied, “Okay.”

  “Sierra, are you getting along with Minstrel on the trail?”

  “Yes, he’s good.” Minstrel, a light chestnut, nine-year-old quarter horse gelding was in training with Tess, and had been assigned to Sierra for his conditioning work on trails.

  “I’ve talked to his owner and she’s anxious for him to compete this season and she’s okay with a junior rider. We’ll see how he goes in the clinic but I’d like to skip beginner novice and start him out at novice level. He’s done hunter-jumper shows in the past, so if he handles novice level at a schooling show, we can move him right up to training level for the season.”

  “Okay,” Sierra agreed. She looked at River and he nodded his approval; Sierra and Minstrel were well-matched.

  “River, you’re going to have to start out at training level this year. You need to compete in at least four trials before you can move up to preliminary.”

  “Sure.”

  Tess sighed, sounding annoyed. “If only you had started before now; you could take Moose preliminary this season.”

  River just shrugged.

  “I’d like you to start riding Crystal’s new horse this week. She wants to ride her in the clinic and I’d like her settled in before then.”

&nbs
p; “Is she even going to ride her before the clinic?” River asked.

  “Of course; she will have her lesson on her this week. And she has ridden and jumped the mare when we tried her out, and got along with her very well.”

  “At least she’s not a baby,” River mumbled to himself.

  Tess scowled at him; then changed the subject. “Here’s a calendar of all the horse trials this season. The junior team will consist of the four girls: Crystal, Gloria, Katrina, and Sierra. River, you’ll ride as an individual. I have one adult boarder competing, so her horse is included on the training schedule. I’ve highlighted the events I want Pegasus to compete in and which horses to go.” She handed River several pages stapled together.

  “In addition, I think it would be beneficial to attend a few dressage shows. Sierra, you said you wanted to compete in dressage with Fiel, and Katrina has expressed interest with Calliope. She thinks it will help her dressage scores in combined training and I agree. If you think you are up for riding two horses at the next dressage show, you can enter Minstrel at first level. The first level tests are similar to your training level tests in eventing. I’ll let you and River decide what level for Fiel. Just note the closing date for entries and make sure you get yours mailed in on time.”

  “Yes, I’m up for riding Minstrel as well, and I’ll send in my entry this week,” Sierra agreed.

  “What about Crystal and Gloria?” River asked.

  “I wish I could get those two out here to ride more on their own, and I think they would also benefit from some dressage competitions; but it’s doubtful they’ll agree,” Tess answered, “or, rather they will agree but then they always come up with some excuse.”

  Sierra was surprised at the annoyance she detected in Tess’s tone, and the fact she was confiding this information to her and River. It had never occurred to her how difficult it must be for Tess to coach a student like Crystal, who furthermore was the daughter of her partner. She would always have to use tact and diplomacy, and avoid expressing her negative thoughts.

  “River, I’m going to have you ride Felicity and Pendragon at the March dressage show. I want you to ride Felicity at training level. It will be her first show and it’s an easy test that she can handle. I’d like to move her up to first level, test one, by the end of the season.”

  “She’s a three-year-old,” River protested. “Why are you pushing her? She shouldn’t even start her show career for at least another year.”

  Tess’s lips tightened and she answered with her irritation undisguised. “How many times do I have to explain to you that we are here to serve the clients? I have convinced her owner to only enter her in dressage this year. She’s pushing me to start her right out in eventing.”

  “The owners aren’t always right,” River retorted.

  “They are when they’re paying the bills,” Tess stated emphatically. “Now, Pendragon’s owners are also very anxious to have him compete at FEI levels. That’s why they brought him to me because he didn’t perform very well with their last trainer at third level. You get along with him very well and I have convinced Mrs. Galensburg to allow you to ride him. She doesn’t seem to care whether he’s ridden by an adult or junior as long as he wins. I think you should be able to take him fourth level this year.”

  “What does he have to do?” River asked, already defensive for the horse’s sake.

  In answer, Tess produced a USDF member guide book, found the pages with the fourth level tests, and handed it to River. He scanned them over before he began his protest. “There are canter pirouettes at fourth level. He’s just starting to learn those.”

  “They are not in the first test. And he’s capable and I think will master them very quickly. We have almost a month before the first show. I need to send in the entries by next Tuesday.”

  “You’re going to enter him in a class where he doesn’t even know the movement?” River asked incredulously and with undertones of rising anger.

  “Relax; I plan on entering him in third level, test three, for the first show, and then we’ll progress him through the fourth level tests. I want him ready for FEI next year.”

  “You’re…”

  “River, this is a business,” Tess interrupted him curtly. “My success is built on my willingness to push the horses and take chances. I know what I’m doing.”

  He turned back to the eventing calendar and Sierra noted the tightness of his jaw as he struggled to control his temper.

  “What now?” Tess asked in irritation after a few minutes of watching him look over the calendar.

  “Nothing,” he replied in a tone that sounded very much like he had more issues.

  “This is what you agreed to when I bought that horse,” Tess reminded him with an edged look, daring him to challenge her over this.

  “Fine, but I’m not going to ride a horse at a level I don’t think he’s ready for.” He glared back, meeting her challenge. They stared at each other for a few moments.

  Finally, Tess relented enough to say, “Let’s just take it one show at a time.”

  River looked away with his arms folded tightly.

  “Any more questions?” Tess asked, her own shoulders stiff in determination.

  “Manuel is never going to get any days off with both Sierra and me gone almost every weekend through the summer,” River grumbled, feeling very disagreeable.

  “I’ve already talked to him and he thinks he can find someone to help him out. He’s got a cousin or someone who just arrived in the country and hasn’t found work.”

  “Okay,” he mumbled begrudgingly. “Can we go now?”

  “Of course.” Tess turned to her computer before the kids had even risen from their chairs.

  “Are you okay with all this?” Sierra asked as they walked back to the stable.

  “She’s going to kill me,” River griped. “Cory (the nickname they had started calling Corazón) is worth it but competing every weekend is not quite what I expected.”

  “It will be fun,” Sierra tried to convince him, for she looked forward to the upcoming season.

  He shook his head in disagreement and stated with conviction, “If I were a trainer I would only take clients who would allow me to train as I thought best for the horse.”

  “River, you would be such a great trainer,” Sierra stated, understanding his concerns. “Do you think you might want to as a professional someday?”

  “I don’t know…only if there are actual owners who care about their horse more than the ribbons and trophies.”

  “There’s got to be,” Sierra replied, “like me. I’d hire you.”

  He smiled at her and it seemed to help lighten his mood. “Maybe you should be a trainer.”

  “I’d love to, but I have so much to learn. It’s hard for me to imagine it would be possible even by the time I’m out of school. I think I’ll stick with my veterinarian plans. Maybe we could be partners; start our own barn with you as the trainer and I can take care of all the horses’ vet needs.”

  He actually laughed good-naturedly. “Okay, partner. I’m thinking Cory is ready to start some lunge work. Do you want to help me?”

  “Sure!”

  A month ago Corazón had been moved up into the main barn as soon as a stall became available; to make room for a new colt his father had somehow managed to acquire. River, Manuel, and Sierra could all now approach him, halter him, and lead him without the black displaying aggressive or defensive behavior. They had to give him plenty of warning however, and make their intentions clear, for the horse still had a tendency to spin with his back toward any on-comer, ready to kick out.

  But it was obvious that River had formed a tight bond with his horse. He spent time with Cory every day, bringing him to the crossties to groom him, and then leading him out into the fields to hand graze. Sierra noticed how Cory followed River with his eyes and would often reach out with his nose to touch River’s arm. Whenever River approached, Cory whinnied and trotted up to him, whereas with Sierra
or Manuel, he waited for them to come to him, his posture still wary.

  As River brought Cory to the crossties, an unexpected shiver ran up her spine as a dark thought suddenly invaded from apparently nowhere. I don’t think River could bear to lose Cory. She prayed a silent prayer that nothing would ever part the boy and horse – for either of their sakes.

  Before she started to help with grooming, Sierra stood back a moment to study the horse. He had changed from the ragged, emaciated, and dangerous animal that had arrived last fall. He had gained enough weight to cover his ribs and hip bones. His sores had long ago healed. His feet were trim and in good shape. Picking up a brush, she ran it along his neck and side, noting his coat no longer felt brittle and course. Like all the horses, he was beginning to shed his winter thickness, and his black hair had a healthy luster and silky feel. She pictured him turned out each morning; how he took off running and bucking playfully, like a normal, healthy, and happy horse, glad to be free to move and full of energy. Fortunately, he had never shown any signs of lameness.

  “He sure is looking good,” her musings triggered her to say.

  “Yeah,” River agreed. “What do you think of him now?”

  “He’s beautiful.”

  River laughed and said, “That’s what you say about all horses.”

  She made a face at him. “Well, tell me about a horse that isn’t beautiful,” she challenged.

  “You got me there,” he conceded with a smile. Then he said more seriously, “I’ve been putting a bit and bridle on him for the past few days. He’s not too happy about it. I think he’s been ridden before and I don’t think it was pleasant for him.”