The Boy Who Loves Horses (Pegasus Equestrian Center Series) Read online

  In the warm-up ring, Felicity threw her head up at every passing horse and shied in every corner of the ring. Tess called out instructions every time River passed near where they watched at the rail, but he kept his attention focused on the nervous filly, ignoring Tess.

  “I don’t see how he’s ever going to get her through the test,” Katrina whispered to Sierra.

  But by the time the ring steward called River’s number as on deck, he had the filly trotting with her neck forward and round, stretching into the bit, and at least appearing to be in a more relaxed frame. As he brought her back to walk, he gave her all the reins, encouraging her to stretch even more as he walked her out of the arena. Sierra doubted she would have had the courage to give the filly that much leeway. But Felicity did stretch forward, and River stroked the side of her neck, wet with nervous sweat, as he walked her to the test ring.

  He was halfway there when someone walking by suddenly raised a hand carrying a whip to wave in greeting to someone beyond, and shouted out the person’s name.

  Idiot, Sierra thought.

  Felicity half-reared and spun, preparing to take off at a run from the perceived danger. Sierra sucked in her breath in alarm and she heard Katrina gasp out. Other onlookers exclaimed their surprise and one woman unabashedly said, “Watch what you’re doing,” to the person with the whip.

  But River had quickly gathered up reins, and mostly with his seat, brought Felicity back around and had her stepping forward. She snorted and jigged into the test arena.

  “How unfortunate,” another bystander commented.

  But by the time River had walked Felicity half way around the outside barriers of the actual test ring, she had stretched once again into her bit, her ears flicking as she listened to her rider.

  The judge rang a bell, the signal that River had forty-five seconds to enter the ring. He touched Felicity’s neck and asked for trot. He continued around the outside barrier, and then entered the ring down the center line to halt at X, and salute the judge. After the judge’s returning salute, River moved Felicity forward and into the simple movements of the test. She seemed a different horse from the flighty animal of minutes ago. Flicking her ears and swishing her tail rhythmically, she moved energetically and in a relaxed frame. She performed the simple movements of the test; twenty-meter circles in each direction at trot and canter, a ground-covering free walk, and stretched her neck generously in a trot circle when River gave the reins. Only once, when a movement at the judge’s table caused the cloth to waver, did she lift her head slightly and roll her eyes. But River talked to her through his seat, legs, and hands and regained her attention.

  A round of applause congratulated them as River gave the reins and Felicity walked calmly from the ring.

  “Well done,” Tess exclaimed as River rode up to where she and the two girls stood watching.

  “She did very well,” River agreed as he dismounted and patted her neck. “But she would do much better if you waited a year before exposing her to all this.”

  “She’ll be fine,” Tess scoffed. “It’s good for her and each time out she’ll be more settled.”

  “If she doesn’t hurt herself or get an ulcer,” he grumbled as he led her back to the stalls.

  “River, that was so awesome,” Katrina exclaimed as she and Sierra walked with him.

  “Yes, she really settled down in the test and did great,” Sierra agreed. “I don’t think anyone could have calmed her down the way you did.”

  River nodded without further comment.

  “Okay, girls, time for warm-up for first level tests,” Tess stated after Felicity had been cared for and back in her stall. “River, you can hold Fiel while Sierra warms up Minstrel. Sierra, as soon as you finish Minstrel’s test, give him to River and start warming up Fiel. And girls, remember to halt at X and salute the judge,” she reminded them. “That’s different from your eventing tests.”

  “Tess seems really up tight today,” Sierra commented to Katrina, “more than usual.”

  “Yeah, I think it’s because she expects Penny’s owners to show up this afternoon for his test. I heard they actually had tickets for the last Olympics, and were really impressed with the dressage. Mrs. Galensburg especially wants to own an Olympic winner, and she thinks Pendragon might be a candidate. They have tons of money and I know Tess wants to do everything possible to keep them as clients.”

  “How do you know all this?”

  “Actually from my parents; they were at some party with Crystal’s folks and Mr. Douglas was going on about the Galensburgs. Well, catering to them can only help Pegasus financially.”

  “Hmm, I guess.”

  “I think Tess wants to get River to the point where he qualifies for an Olympic trial.”

  “Does he know that?”

  “Probably not.” They both laughed sardonically.

  *****

  Riding first level, test one, was great practice for the similar dressage test they would ride for training level in eventing. In both tests, the circles were smaller, fifteen meters rather than twenty meters, which required more bend and balance; and in test one, ten-meter half circles at the trot. The horse would also be asked to lengthen the stride in trot and canter; pushing forward from the hind end as opposed to becoming faster in the gait.

  It was the lengthenings that especially worried Katrina. She had been struggling with them in her lessons with Tess. Once or twice she believed she had achieved a few true strides of lengthening, but most of the time, Calliope just trotted faster, becoming unbalanced.

  Sierra had an advantage in that Fiel was well trained in dressage movements all the way to the upper levels. He knew how to lengthen his stride and with River’s coaching, all Sierra needed to do was learn how to ask him. When she worked Minstrel on the flat, she thought of what she did and how it felt on Fiel, and was able to get Minstrel to lengthen.

  After riding Minstrel in test one, Sierra then rode Fiel at first level, test three. In addition to the trot and canter lengthenings, she also needed to ride leg-yields, and counter canter. Again, since Fiel knew these movements, it was Sierra who needed to learn the proper communication so that he understood what she wanted him to do.

  They had finished caring for the horses and had a two-hour break before River needed to warm up Pendragon. He would be riding third level tests two and three. They sat in front of the stalls on canvas chairs, eating lunch. Tess had left to pick up their test results.

  “Here she comes,” Katrina announced apprehensively. “I don’t know if I want to see my score.”

  Tess arrived and handed out the score sheets. “Not bad for your first dressage show,” she said encouragingly.

  Sierra looked first at Minstrel’s score; not great at fifty-eight percent, but she felt it was fair. She knew he was leaning to the outside on the ten-meter trot circle to the right, and he had fallen onto the forehand in both canter departs. But at least they had done well in the lengthenings; a score of seven for the trot in both directions, and a score of six for the canter to the right and seven for the canter to the left. It looked like the judge thought they needed more impulsion at times (probably true), and Minstrel tended to fall onto the forehand in many of the transitions.

  Then she looked at Fiel’s test and broke into a smile at her score of sixty-five percent. The judge’s comments were mostly positive and she had given them many sixes and sevens, and even one eight for the trot circle where she gave the reins to allow Fiel to stretch down into the bit. The negative comments were about maintaining the bend on her smaller trot circles; both scores of only five. One comment said, ‘tilted to the outside’, and another, ‘stiff in back’. These were similar comments about her circles in Minstrel’s test, and perhaps the problem was with her, the rider.

  She looked up and noticed Katrina’s crestfallen expression.

  “It’s what I expected,” Katrina said mournfully. “Fifty-one percent; we got fours on our trot-lengthenings and fives on our canter. At lea
st we got sixes for our last halt and for the free walk.

  “You know what you’ll need to work on over the next few weeks,” Tess said.

  “How did Felicity do?” Sierra asked.

  In answer, River handed her his test.

  “Wow, seventy-eight percent!” Sierra read out loud. “You got all sevens and eights, except for one six.”

  “When Felicity shied just a little bit at the judge’s table,” Tess said scornfully. “That’s really splitting hairs for a training level test.”

  River placed first and far ahead of the second-place horse and rider. Sierra was pleased that she placed second on Fiel, and fifth on Minstrel. Katrina did not place at all.

  “They are just finishing the second level tests now,” Tess announced. “Time to get Penny warmed up.”

  Sierra and Katrina helped River groom Pendragon, and then tacked him up while Tess fussed over River’s attire.

  “Why didn’t you get a haircut?” Tess complained as she used a clothes brush on River’s jacket. “I told you to cut your hair.”

  “I did,” he answered.

  She snorted and said sarcastically, “Which hair?”

  “I trimmed it.”

  “River, you need a professional haircut, and short; above your ears so it looks tidy underneath a helmet.”

  “I can pull it back,” he argued, reaching up to grab his shaggy hair.

  “Stop,” Tess ordered. She pulled out a comb and aggressively went through River’s hair before fastening it back in a short tail, ignoring his protests. Then she fussed with his shirt collar, straightened his tie, and smoothed the jacket lapels. “Appearance is very important in dressage; a well-turned-out rider compliments the elegance of the movements. River, you could look so nice if you’d put forth a little effort. You’re very nice looking…like your father.”

  “I don’t look like my father,” River snapped back.

  Tess huffed, “Yes, you do. Just because you don’t get along with him is no reason to despise how he looks.”

  “I look like my mother,” River stated in a tone that sounded like a warning.

  Tess started to respond and then thought better of it. “Penny’s owners will be here soon and I need you to make a good impression.”

  As she spoke, a couple strolled up to their group.

  Tess greeted, “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Galensburg. I’m glad you made it.”

  “Good afternoon,” Mr. Galensburg politely responded.

  His wife did not look at Tess or any of the others, but focused on Pendragon, coming up to stroke a gloved finger along his neck as if checking for dust. Dressed in tailored brown slacks with short, fur-topped boots, a burgundy wool vest over a silk, cream-colored blouse with a coordinated scarf, a brown leather blazer, and accented with expensive large-stoned jewelry; Mrs. Galensburg’s wardrobe confirmed her moneyed status.

  “How is Pendragon today?” she finally asked.

  “He’s ready,” Tess answered with an ingratiating smile.

  “I’m disappointed that he is entered only at third level.”

  “I’m sure he’ll be ready for fourth level soon. I want him to have on record better third level scores than he achieved last year,” Tess responded diplomatically. (She didn’t tell her client that she wanted the scores for River as well, so that he could earn points for rider’s awards.)

  “So you’ve been saying,” Mrs. Galensburg sniffed.

  “Um, Mrs. Galensburg, this is River Girard. He’s the rider I told you about.”

  The woman stared at River and her eyes opened wide in shock as her lips compressed and the corners of her mouth sank. “He’s just a little boy,” she declared.

  “He won his class this morning with a score of seventy-eight percent,” Tess defended.

  “Then I expect a better score on Pendragon,” she stated as she grabbed her husband’s arm, turning him away and said without looking back, “we’ll be watching from the stands. Come, Harold.” The couple marched away.

  “Horrors,” Katrina breathed out.

  “I’m ready,” River said, sounding very calm and unperturbed.

  “Never mind her,” Tess said. She handed River a pair of white cotton gloves.

  “I hate these clothes,” he said under his breath as he put on the gloves and then took Penny’s reins from Sierra to lead him to the warm-up ring.

  “He is so handsome,” Katrina whispered to Sierra as they trailed behind.

  “Who...River?” Sierra asked and scrunched up her face at Katrina.

  “Of course.”

  Sierra looked at her friend from the corner of her eye and noted the way she watched River with a look of worship on her face. Oh my God; she has a crush on him!

  River warmed up Penny with a series of trot and canter circles, ignoring Tess’s insistence that he at least execute a few flying changes of lead. When his number was called and he left for the test arena, Tess and the girls hurried to the stands and found seats behind the Galensburgs.

  “Pendragon warmed up well,” Tess informed them. Mr. Galensburg smiled blandly, but his wife ignored the comment. She fixed her eyes on her horse as he entered the ring.

  When the judge rang the bell, River touched his fingers to Penny’s neck and the big bay entered at a collected trot, his neck arched regally. After the salute, River moved him forward and into the movements of the test, all his communication invisible to the onlookers.

  “What a magnificent horse,” someone nearby commented. Sierra noticed Mrs. Galensburg lift her chin proudly.

  When River completed the test and left the ring, the onlookers in the stands burst into enthusiastic applause, and Sierra heard more comments of ‘talented horse’, and ‘beautiful ride’.

  “What do you think?” Tess asked Mrs. Galensburg, smiling in expectation.

  “I want to see the score.”

  Sierra could not believe the woman. Her horse had performed exceptionally well and the obvious appreciation of the audience confirmed that. If Pendragon had been her own horse, she would be rushing down to praise him right now.

  They remained in the stands as there was only one horse between River’s next test on Pendragon; third level, test three. It didn’t seem possible for Pendragon to perform any better than his first test, yet the big bay seemed to have tapped into an inner source of pride and grace, for he and River danced through the movements in complete harmony. They finished the test again to the most enthusiastic applause given to any horse that day.

  “We’re going to help River,” Sierra stated to Tess, and she and Katrina left the stands, leaving Tess to deal with her clients.

  “That was so amazing,” Katrina gushed.

  ‘Yeah,” Sierra agreed. “Can you believe that Mrs. Galensburg? Why do people like that even own a horse?”

  “For the glory and recognition,” Katrina answered logically. “It’s sort of like art collectors. In a way, she’s like Crystal.”

  “I think you’re right.”

  They found River where he had dismounted amid a small group who had come up to compliment his ride and ask questions. He nodded at the girls and they joined him to take Penny back to the stalls.

  Mrs. Galensburg didn’t need to worry. Pendragon earned a score of eighty-five percent on his first test, and eighty-seven percent on the second, and won second and first place since both tests were in the same class. Sierra thought Mrs. Galensburg might at least come over to congratulate River, and maybe give Penny a pat and a carrot. She never came by, and Sierra caught a glimpse of the couple walking toward the parking area, proudly carrying their ribbons and trophy.

  Later, with the horses loaded in the trailer and ready to return home, Sierra and Katrina dashed to the restroom. On the way back, Katrina said to Sierra, “You’ve only been riding two years but you already ride better than me.”

  The comment surprised Sierra, who had never really thought about how her riding compared with the others at the stable. She thought for a moment before she replied, “
I’ve been very lucky to have two great teachers.”

  “Yeah, and I know you’re not including Tess as one of them,” Katrina said in a bitter tone. She stopped suddenly and grabbed Sierra by the arm. “Do you think River would give me lessons?”

  “I don’t know,” Sierra answered honestly, but also surprised. She had always assumed that Katrina along with Crystal and Gloria, thought they had the best instruction from Tess, with her show career and reputation to back her up. “Why don’t you ask him?”

  “If I ask him I’m sure he’ll say no. I was wondering if maybe you would ask him.”

  “Katrina, I…” Sierra wanted to say that Katrina just needed to speak for herself, but then she visualized the scene. She knew River still thought of Katrina as one of Crystal’s friends and did not like her. But if she were to intervene on Katrina’s behalf, explain that Katrina was not in Crystal’s circle anymore, he might…especially if she pointed out that ultimately it would be for the benefit of Calliope. “Okay,” she consented. “I’ll mention it to him.”

  “Do more than just mention,” Katrina pleaded.

  “The thing is…” Sierra hesitated again. “Well, you’ll have to work it out with Tess if you quit taking lessons from her.”

  Katrina had an almost sick expression on her face. “I know.”

  *****

  15 Schooling, Soapsuds, and a Pharmacist

  The overall riding must be in harmony. It’s all a matter of trust. Trust is so important – otherwise there can be no partnership between horse and rider. – Walter Zettl

  *****

  “You really think he is ready?” Sierra asked, her eyes growing wide. River stated he was going to mount up on Corazón today and asked if she wanted to help.

  River shrugged and smiled, and Sierra noted the glint in his eye.