Unbridled Beginnings

Chapter 13: Improvement

I roll over again and again under my light summer duvet. I feel restless from a few of my disturbed thoughts and unanswered questions. 

I give up trying to fall asleep and turn towards my clock. The bright light gleams in my eyes but when they adjust, the time shows 5:49am.

Reluctantly, I decide to put my Saturday time to use and go to train Nova again. Even though it is still early, I get changed and silently sneak downstairs. I know that Jack and Alison won't care that I'm not at home when they wake up. But just incase I leave a note.

"Gone out. - Hayley." It says.

I grab a muesli bar from the kitchen, and pull on my boots that are waiting by the door.

......

Once I'm on my way, I think about all my thoughts and questions again.

Why are they getting paid when I go to school? Why don't they care about my first horrible day at school? And lastly, why are they my foster parents? 

The words circle around my head multiple times before I turn my thoughts away, and watch the beautiful orange sunrise coming up through the mountains.

......

When I arrive, Janet is not inside the stables for once. Glad that I have the place to myself, I smile and go over to all the horses and pat them. Once I'm finished giving all the horses attention, I go over to Nova's stall and bring her out on a halter and lead rope. I start by grooming her on her back and neck, careful not to frighten her again by brushing over her rump. But since she is acting calm I try lightly running the brush over her hind end. She throws her head up and flicks her ears back, but I reassure her and continue on. Soon she realises that I won't hurt her and stands nicely.

As I finish grooming her, I look up at the clouds and see that the orange and pink colours are disappearing from the sky. I realise it must be around eight o'clock so continue towards the tack room. I get out the same gear I used on Sharki as well as a lunge rope and go outside to put it on the arena fence.

I come back and take Nova off her tie and into the arena where I clip the lunge rope on to her halter. She automatically turns away from me and starts walking around in a circle, obviously remembering last time's boring routine. Once she has politely walked both ways, I gather her in towards me and show her the saddle blanket and saddle. She sniffs it warily but doesn't seem too interested in what it could be, so I gently place the blanket over her withers. Surprisingly, Nova doesn't seem bothered by it so lift up the saddle and carefully place it on her back. She swings her hind end around and tries to nibble at the leather seat, attempting to get it off her back. But I hold it in place and soon she gives in and stops moving.

I get the girth from the fence and buckle it loosely around her stomach. She tries the same manoeuvres to get the object off her back, but since the saddles tied down, it doesn't move. She moves side to side and back and forth while I lead her around the edge of the arena, confused and annoyed at the strange, new objects. But after some time she gets used to them and casually walks around beside me.

Now I need to try the bridle.

Again, she warily eyes the suspicious object but soon doesn't seem bothered by it. I leave the halter on while I gently push the steel metal bit into her mouth and pull the top up over her ears. At first Nova chomps down on the metal but soon calms and accepts the bridle. I do up the straps around her jaw and cheek, fiddling with the buckles and adjustable lengths. I can't remember exactly how tight or loose the straps need to be, but I'm sure it will be fine until I ask Janet.

I take the reins off her bridle and hang them over the fence before sending her out in a circle again. She walks around a lot better than I thought she would. Nova throws a couple of bucks and head flicks but other than that she has improved so much from last time.

After I've walked her both ways, I decide not to trot as I want to end the session on a good note. I untack her inside, give her a treat then put her outside in a paddock with a small, white Connemara called Solly. Once Nova is happily grazing next to her paddock mate, I go back to the stable and lead Sharki out. The time now is around nine o'clock so I know that Janet will be out soon to do the daily chores in the stable. 

I quickly groom Sharki and give him lots of attention before putting him in a paddock next to Nova and the little Connemara pony.

"Hayley! Your up here early!" Janet exclaims as she walks up behind me.

"Yeah I thought I should train Nova again this morning while no one was around," I reply.

"That's great! Do you have time to stay for a while and help me clean the stalls?" She asks me.

"Yes sure," I say.

We spend the next two hours putting the horses in paddocks and cleaning out their stalls. When we are done Janet invites me inside for a refreshing drink to quench both our thirsts before I head back home.

......

"Thanks for coming!" She calls as I pull on my helmet and mount my bike.

"Bye!" I shout back.