The Black Beauty (Wattys 2015)

©Á®É~~ The Black Beauty-Part Five~~ É®Á©

By morning, John had drug the arena and set up a jump course, different from the one I was originally worked on.  John saddled me and bridled me and took me the arena. He got on me and warmed me up at a nice extended walk. He started talking to me, but I didn’t understand what he said.

“The horse, with beauty unsurpassed, strength immeasurable, and grace unlike other, still remains humble enough to carry man upon his back. His is a power enhanced by pride, a courage heightened by challenge. His is a swiftness intensified by strength, a majesty magnified by grace. His is a timeless beauty touched with gentleness that a spirit that calls our hearts to dream. Reins never reach their full potential until they are no longer necessary. When we think of those companions who traveled by our side down life’s road, let us not say with sadness that they left us behind but rather say with gentle gratitude that they were once with us.”

I pondered that saying, and came to realize what it meant: Humans and horses can be friends. I gave it a chance. I listened to John as he cued me over the jumps and through the pattern. It all came down to the four foot oxer that was placed in a mud puddle. I didn’t like water that much, and a jump in the water was a no go for me. I ducked out of the fence, making John come unseated and get a little angry. I never ran out of jumps with John on my back. I knew there would be consequences to follow.

John brought me back to the four foot oxer in the water. I hesitated at first, but John pushed me on. It was hard for me to launch into the air since my feet stuck to the mud. I had to make an effort to clear the jump by mere inches. The landing, well it wasn’t too pretty.  When I landed, my feet slipped out from under me. I caught myself though, but John fell over my shoulder. He was lying there in the mud.  I turned around and went over to him, to see if he was okay. I nudged him, but he didn’t respond back. I got tired of standing there, so I lied down next to him in the mud.

Sarah was just pulling into the drive when I got up. I ran over to the fence and galloped, trying to keep with the car.  She finally noticed and stopped.  I circled back around, and met up with her. She jumped the fence and hopped on my back. I took her to John.  She slid off and ran to his side. I stood there, wondering if he would be okay.  John finally moved.

I sighed with relief, knowing that he was much better. He got up and came over to me. He got on me and sent me at a working trot. He asked for me to pick up the canter, and he took me to the oxer. I wasn’t sure about his decision, but pressed on anyways. I wasn’t going to let him fall off this time. We were five strides from the jump, and I could tell the footing would be troublesome.  I launched myself into the air, was in flight for a good five seconds, and landed in a dry patch of the arena.

I could tell by the way I landed; my leg still wasn’t quite healed all the way. I had a hard time recovering from the landing, so John tried to help me.  I was trying not to fall, but I couldn’t help it. I fell to my knees, and slid a good five to ten feet. John jumped off and stepped aside, letting me figure it out on my own. I finally gave up, and my momentum carried me forwards. I flipped over on my back, and landed on my side. I didn’t know what to do.

John ran over to me, and he quickly undid the saddle. I was breathless, my sides heaving with every breath I tried to take. John and several other people came to my aid. I didn’t know them, for I was scared. Sarah was on the phone with Mike, and John and the other people were by my side, keeping me still.

There were horses in the arena right by the one I was in. They just stood there in astonishment.

“Please stay still. Don’t move, trust me. I don’t want you to get hurt.” I heard Splash talking to me, but I didn’t listen.

I thrashed around like a cow about to be branded. My legs hurt, my knees were skinned, and my back hurt from the saddle. John and the other hands tried to keep me calm, but they couldn’t.  Mike wasn’t able to get there soon enough.