Fifteen year old Isobel (Izzy) Lund used to love riding. That is, until a tragic accident in a showjumping competition at the age of fourteen caused her to become fearful of riding again.
In order to help break Izzy out of her psychological shell, I...
I walk into Bright Fields with Howard the next morning, wearing a long sleeved plain pink shirt and matching jodhpurs, my pink jacket thrown over it. I wear my dreamy unicorn jewellery set as well. I put my stuff away and spot Pin leading Raven to the paddock all racked up for lunging.
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"Hey," I greet, and he glances at me.
"Hey. Are you riding Pegasus today?" Pin asks.
"No. Mind if I tag along?"
"Sure." We reach the paddock and I carefully climb the fence to sit on it as I watch Pin spread Raven out in a circle, lashing the whip out to urge him on. Raven starts off in a canter, but doesn't go in a smooth circle. "Hey! Come on! Come on, Raven!" Raven still wouldn't listen to Pin, and they'd been at this for two hours now. "Steady, steady! Come on, boy! Get back! Come on!" Pin lashes the whip.
"Hey! Stop it!" I look to see Zoe slipping through the fence into the paddock, and beginning to race over to us.
I call to Zoe, "Get out of the field!"
Raven suddenly breaks free from Pin and jumps to the other side of the paddock, causing spin to cry out as the lunge rope scrapes his palm, having slipped free when Raven bolted. I gasp and get off the fence as fast as I could and run up to Pin, clutching his bleeding hand.
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"Pin! Are you okay? Let me see," I say, taking his hand. Pin looks behind me to Raven and I follow his gaze, seeing the black horse is about to charge at Zoe.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, boy!" Pin and I call, straightening. "Steady! Steady, boy, steady! Whoa, whoa!"
I step forward and Raven starts to calm at my voice and presence.
"Easy, boy," I say calmly, slowly approaching him.
Zoe calls, "Whoa, whoa, Raven, relax! Relax!" Raven whinnies as he paws the ground and we both pause. "Wait, wait! We need to stop meeting like this."
"It's alright, Raven. Easy. You're okay," I say, slowly walking up to him. I reach Raven who is gazing at me and grip the lunge rope as I gently shush the black horse as I stroke his neck.
