Boot Camp

Day Six- Granger

I stumbled out of my house 9:00 am meh could have done better. I walked outside and took a deep breath, I got a text from my mom and oh god if I don't respond she will rip my head off. I pulled out my phone and started replying, hey mom, good morning! Ivey still hasn't thrown me yet so I'm good and-. "ABBY!" Noah was running towards me dropping his helmet, I heard hoofs and looked to the side, a black Arabian was galloping towards me. And right before I could move the gelding almost got me, but I was thrown onto the ground, well onto something. I looked up and I saw Noah under me. OH MY GOD! I quickly scrambled off him and dusted off my pants, "oh god thank you so-" I caught a glimpse of the barn someone was on the ground, Mason. "NOAH MASON! He shot back at the barn and back at the horse, " that's Granger Mason's horse!" I'll get him go get Mason." "But Abby..." "GO!" I shouted he, ran to the barn and shut the door. Granger was trotting in circles, he was so agitated. I looked around, other people were looking out their windows staring at me and Granger, it's like singing wasn't enough for these people now they get to watch a full blown Amy Fleming power move. "Whoa Granger, easy buddy." He shot his head up and stopped, I started to walk to him, he snorted and started backing up. "Ok, ok." I stopped, I needed something to work with, I looked around, the gate! I ran to the gate and opened it all the way. I poked my head in the barn, Noah and Mason were watching in the window, "Abby what do you need?" "A lead rope." Noah handed me a lead rope and I shut the door, ok I'm going to do this, I'm going to do this. I walked closer to Granger and started spinning the lead in my hand and I got closer and started clicking, "come on Granger come on buddy." He stuck his head up faster that a bullet and looked at me like I was stupid, he probably thought I  was. He wasn't budging, I clicked louder and got closer, he started trotting towards the field, I clicked louder an started jogging , he bolted to the  left charging for someone that stepped out of their house, "LOOK OUT!" I screeched she looked at the horse and dropped her helmet and froze, Granger was going with no hesitation, I had to do something, I started running at Granger. "GRANGER!" he stopped, all he wants is to run. "Alright fine, if you want to run, run! COME ON GRANGER!" I ran and didn't back down he bolted towards the field and galloped in. I ran for my life and shut the gate. Noah came out with Mason, they walked over to the fence, "Nice job miracle girl." I looked at Noah, "Really." "My sister was obsessed" I chuckled, I put my arms on the gate and watched Granger canter trot and gallop in circles, "Hey Mason do you know why he's like this?" "No, he was always so calm and even sometimes lazy but nothing like this, the problem is if its riding he needs I can't do it my arm is a little sore from the gate hitting it." "I could ride him, I mean if you want." Noah looked at me, "I don't think so Abby, look at him." I looked back at the horse, "Yes I'm aware, Mason if your ok with it I'd like to take him to a trail, just beyond that trail there is a field and he can gallop and canter all he wants." "If your up for it!" "Indeed I am." Noah and Mason walked into the barn so did Raya, "Hey Raya, trail ride later?" she hit me with a thumbs up and walked in. I crawled under the gate and pulled a carrot out of my pocket and held it out, "Granger." he walked over and sniffed the carrot and took it. I looked over at the fence, there was a new shiny leather halter that said Granger on the nose band, I took it off and went closer , he sniffed the halter and walked closer, "that's yours bud." I took a step closer and pet his neck, he looked at me with delight and he nickered, I put his halter on and started to lead him around the paddock, he was calm I started to jog and he trotted smoothly beside me, "That's it good boy!"  I started to go faster  and he picked up the best canter I've ever see, I brought him down to a walk and I ran to the barn and got his tack and brushes I threw them up on the fence and walked in, I grabbed his bridle and put it in and walked him to the fence and got on bareback, I picked up the trot and let go of the reins he was fine, I asked for a canter and it was perfect, his stride was perfect it felt like I was in heaven, "Good Boy!!" I knelt down and pat his neck, I slid off and picked up a long stick and signalled for him to bow, it took him a second but he bowed, hmm, I waved the stick along and he picked up a canter and went in perfect circles, I brought him down and chucked the stick he didn't flinch, that's odd. I grabbed his saddle pad and put it on, still nothing. I put on the half pad, barely moved, I out on the saddle and he stepped to the side, nothing abnormal though, he didn't even move when I put the girth on. I walked him out of the paddock and closed the gate I got on and he amediotly started backing up and side stepping, "Whoa boy whoa." he didn't stop, "Hey Abby you ready to hit the trails an- whoa is that Granger what's up with him?" "That's the thing Raya I don't know, I litteraly just cantered him bareback with no reins in the paddock and his stride was perfect his circles were perfect, heck I pretty much sat there and did nothing and he was acting like a top notch trainer was stearing him."  I got an idea, "wait a minute, was Granger acting like this in the lesson yesterday?" "You know when you think of it, yes, he was stopping at the jumps and rearing!" "Wow." Raya got on Bella and I took the saddle and all the pads off Granger. I lead him to the mounting block and got on, he was... fine. I stood there, both me and Raya were in disbelif, how? We trotted to the trail and soon disapeared into the woods, ten minutes later we aproched a log I squeezed Granger and he soared over the log like it was nothing, and I mean it practicly was nothing it was a log! Twenty minutes later we came to a large field, "Hold on Raya I want to try something." I squeezed Granger into a gallop, as he gallped through the tall green grass I felt the wind rushing against my face, it felt like freedom. Raya, Bella, Granger and I had fun fooling around on a run down cross country course. Soon the sun started to set and it was time to head back, and by the end of the afternoon Granger had no more energy and so did I. Just before it got darker Raya and I put the horses away and we went back to our house and fell alseep watching Harry Potter on the couch.