Horsemen Trials, A Fantasy Story about Horses

Chapter 8

I led him to my camping spot. Destiny picked her head up as we entered the clearing. As I walked over to set my saddle down under my makeshift tent Torin ran his eyes over her.

"Well, what do you think?" I asked.

"She looks familiar..." He murmured. He walked up to her and ran his hands over her. Then he backed away and eyed her again.

Finally he set his hands on his hips. "Iris, I'm almost sure I've seen this horse somewhere before. But I couldn't tell you where. She's a nice horse though. What's her name?"

"Destiny," I replied as I stepped up to her and stroked her neck. My fingers snagged on knot in her mane and I tried to work it out.

"Destiny? What kind of name is that for a horse?" My brother teased me.

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever Torin." The knot in her mane came free and I smoothed her hair out.

Later on, as he and I took fresh baked bread and slathered it in the honey mother had sent, I told him about the incident with Nadia Veldworth at the claiming station. "She really wanted Destiny. She even offered me over a thousand for her."

Torin crinkled his brow. "Veldworth was her last name? Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm pretty sure," I replied as I finished drizzling honey on my bread and popped it in my mouth. Sweet goodness filled my mouth and I rolled my eyes back in pleasure.

Torin looked back over at Destiny, who was cropping grass and swishing flies. Suddenly his face lit up. "That's it!"

"What?" I asked, puzzled.

"That's where I've seen Destiny!" He replied excitedly. Calming down he explained. "You remember last year when Father and I went to help with a barn raising?"

"Yeah," I said slowly, still puzzled.

"That was on Mr. Veldworth's land. He's rich from the mines he owns up north. Well, anyway, that's where I saw Destiny. I'm sure it was here. I know because I distinctly remember that big 'ole white spot on her chest. I thought it looked like a tree."

My forehead wrinkled. "Do you think that's why she wanted Destiny so bad?"

He shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not. Don't jump to conclusions. Nadia strikes me as only competing because it's what everyone else is doing, and of course, she must show herself to be the best at it. She may have never even known Destiny existed on her father's land."

"Yeah..." I agreed. "I won't assume she knew Destiny. It would explain why she wanted her so bad. But so would not being used to not getting her way."

Torin left and I proceeded to try out the saddle on Destiny. I didn't know how she was used to being saddled, so I proceeded slowly, watching her for any signs of discomfort. She didn't pin her ears back once though, and soon the saddle was cinched up.

I shifted the saddle, trying to determine it's fit. I couldn't be sure but it seemed to fit her pretty good for now. I could adjust it when her top line filled out more.

I decided to try bridling her. I didn't know how she'd take it or what bit she'd been used in before. The bit I was going to use was very mild, a french link snaffle.

I took her halter off and put it around her neck. As I lifted the bridle she raised her head slightly but let put my hand over her poll. I lifted the bit up under her mouth.

She wouldn't open, so I stuck my thumb in and wriggled it around on her tongue. She opened and I stuck the bit in. Okay, so she wasn't quick to take a bit, but she wasn't steadfast against it. It could get that way though, if I wasn't careful.

I did up the throatlatch and noseband, checking to see what adjustments I needed to make. Surprisingly it fit just about perfectly. I let out a hole on the noseband and we were good to go.

Satisfied I took the bridle off and then the saddle. Destiny seemed a little surprised that I wasn't riding her. But I wasn't about to get on without someone there for the first time, in case she pulled something.

The next day I woke up to another gorgeous sunrise. I sat up and admired it, deciding that I could get used to this type of life. But that wasn't the best part.

The best part was the Destiny was laying down, looking very relaxed. I held my breath, knowing that if I made a sound she might get up. For a long time I just laid there, staring at her. It was beautiful.