More Than a Memory

High and Mighty Scared

Day 10 On the Job

"I think it's time for your first riding lesson," Joe says at breakfast. "You've been doing fine lunging all the horses, so you can keep doing that with most of them, but I think you're ready to learn the basics," he adds.

"Uh, yeah...if you really think it's a good idea," York says after a few seconds hesitation.

"Of course it is. Bring Belle back into the barn after cleaning the stalls and I'll show you how to tack up."

"Will do," York promises, getting up to put away his now empty plate.

***

"These are called 'cross-ties,'" Joe calls to York when he brings Belle through the barn doors.

In his hand Joe is holding something akin to a lead rope, however it is attached to the wall and the clasp appears to me a much heavier duty one. York stops Belle in front of Joe, who offers the rope to him.

I have no idea how to attach this.

Joe smirks at him, "This one's a bit more complicated. What you wanna do is put the hinging metal part through the square metal piece on this side of the halter, then pull the end of the clasp to the main price of it. You wanna hold them close together with one hand, then pull down on the main piece with your other hand, which will slide it down, allowing it to lock into place."

York tries it several times before getting it right, Joe waiting patiently for him to figure it out.

"I assume there's a good reason for it to be that secure," York says.

"It's just in case the horses get spooked, or pull a lot for some other reason. It's safer for them this way," Joe explains. "And I hate to break it to you, but now you need to connect the one on the other side."

York sighs, walking to the other side, getting the second one secured on the third attempt.

"There."

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it."

"So, what now?"

"Grooming," Joe answers, picking up a bucket full of various brushes and other strange looking tools. He first pulls out an oval shaped plastic brush with a handle strap on one side, the other covered with ridged rings sticking out. "This is called a curry comb," he explains, handing it to York. "You put your hand through the strap, then gently go over the horse's coat in circular motions to loosen up any dirt or dead fur," he adds, picking up an identical brush and demonstrating.

They each take one side and work silently for a few minutes. After they put the curry combs away Joe grabs two regular looking brushes out, handing one to York. These brushes have a rounded rectangular shaped price of wood, almost a foot long, only a new inches think. On top is a cloth strap, while the other side is full of soft bristles.

"These brushes are meant to take the loosened dirt and actually get it off the horse. It's important to do this before riding because the saddle can become uncomfortable to the horses if things like dirt are rubbing against them," Joe explains as they take up their sides. "Oh yeah, and make sure with this one you brush with the fur, not in circles or against it," he adds.

"Got it."

Once finished with that step, Joe takes out a very strange looking tool, laughing at York's confused face. The object is a rod about six inches long, made of hard plastic, one end with tough bristles jutting out to the side. The other end has a metal hook coming out to the opposite side of the bristles.

"This is a hoof pick, it does what the name suggests. Horse's feet are sensitive, and they can get injured if we don't get rocks and dirt out. The hook is for dislodging anything in the hoof, while the brush end will wipe any loose dirt out," Joe explains. "I'll show you how this works the first time, I know working near the horses' hooves can be intimidating," he says walking up to Belle's front left leg, facing toward her rear. As he demonstrates he tells York, "you wanna turn the palm of your inside hand toward the horses leg, just above the bottom joint here, then reach around to hold the front of the leg, which is the back to you when you're doing it. If you put a little pressure on the leg there, towards you, she'll lift her foot right up so you can clean it." Joe scrapes out some dirt from the mostly clean hoof, putting it down gently afterwards. "That's really all there is to it," he says, standing up and holding the pick out to York.