John comes in around eight o’clock and begins feeding. He gets to Splash and feeds and waters him, plus takes his blankets off. He comes around to feed me next, but drops it down by my stall and goes to Lucas. I just lay there, not caring anymore. John gets back to me. I got to the point to where I was laying down, stretched out in my stall. I wasn’t feeling bad, I wasn’t sick, just not in a good mood. I was forgotten last night, I nearly froze to death, and I was the last to get fed. I sat up and ate from where I was, just too lazy to stand up and eat. I ate everything, so I knew nothing was wrong.
John grabbed me and took me out for a ride. He tacked me English and changed my bit to a leverage bit. It put a lot of pressure in my mouth and needed someone with soft feather like hands. The less pressure the more advantage of the bit. John walked me to the arena and longed me for a while. I listened to everything and gave a little buck or kick every now and then. John called me in and praised me for the work. He got Sarah to come in and watch. John got on me and warmed me up nicely at the walk, trot and steady canter. He took me over a few jumps, and didn’t snatch me in my mouth at all. The leverage bit was a little harsh for me at times, but that’s only if you didn’t know how to use it.
Sarah put her helmet on and climbed on after John was done with me. As soon as she sat on my back, she snatched up the reins and put a lot of pressure in my mouth. She nudged me forward and I went, my ears lying flat against my neck.
“Sarah, let the reins be loose, you want them to look like they are smiling, not straight as a board. It puts pressure in her mouth since it’s a leverage bit. And plus she is a lot nicer if you aren’t in her mouth constantly.”
“John, I know what a leverage bit is. I am used to a full contact bridle, not a leverage one that puts like 25 pounds of pressure in her mouth.”
John just turned his head, not wanting to start an argument. Sarah made me work hard, since I was grumpy.
Lady I wish you were a horse that way I could kick the crap out of you. You try being forgotten at night, forgotten to be fed and watered, forgotten to be worked, even forgotten what it’s like to be free. It’s not easy being a horse, having to carry around you humans anytime you want, instead of when we want. It’s all about you, never about us.
Sarah and I made our way around the arena at a slow steady canter. She loosened the reins a little, enough to take some of the pressure off my mouth. Every time she tried to steady me up, she yanked back on the reins several times and I would give a little buck out because of the pain. Then she just pushed me on even more. John was standing in the center of the ring watching me. He frowns upon me when I buck out, but hey it wasn’t my fault. Sarah keeps snatching me in my mouth. I’m not bucking on purpose!! It hurts every time she does that, John.
“Sarah, bring her down to a trot, only by using your seat. I want you to drop your hands on her withers and sit deep. If you snatch her in the mouth I will be able to tell because you moved your hand.”
Sarah dropped her hand on my withers and sat down. She exhaled deeply, making all of her weight shift down. Her energy came down, thus letting me know to slow down. I slowed to a trot, and finally got relaxed enough not to worry if she would snatch me in the mouth.
“Now, I want you to stay put Sarah and I am going to change her bridle back to the English bit. We have enough daylight left to do a few jumps.”
I gladly gave up the leverage and took the English Dr. Bristol bit. It was my favorite bit and practically the only bit I would be ridden in.
YOU ARE READING
The Black Beauty (Wattys 2015)
WerewolfHave you ever experienced the wind flapping through your mane and forelock as you gallop through vast plains and over rocky slopes? Have you ever known what freedom feels like, knowing that it isn't free? Of course you haven't. You aren...
