A Horse Is Worth More Than Riches

Chapter Eleven - Rescue

"No, Ikon! Naughty girl!" I exclaimed, exasperated. I was lunging the feisty yearling in the warm sun rays of early morning, my preferred time to train, as it was cooler and the harsh burn of the sun had not yet set in. A cool breeze blew several sweaty strands of brunette curls off my hot face. I had been trying for hours to lunge Ikon, but the cheeky yearling refused to yield. She had her nose stuck out and her back was stiff, producing a rather jagged trot.

"Come on, Ikon!Trot nicely, please," I gritted my teeth, frustrated at the filly's behaviour. I took a deep breath. Ikon would not respond if I was angry. My calming strategy worked, and my patience was restored. I shortened the lunge line and drew the yearling back to a gentle walk, then a halt. I walked over the grasped her lunge bridle.

"What's the matter, girly? I know you can be well-behaved, but right now you're being very silly," I spoke calmly and softly, rubbing Ikon's arched neck. I continued to talk in the same tone and I felt her nerves fade away. She relaxed, and, easing her into a walk, I strode alongside her, gradually increasing my distance, until I was back in the middle of the arena. She stepped along nicely, waiting for my signal to trot, and then began to increase her stride, each step flowing into the next. Her head was bowed elegantly, her tail arched and her hooves touching the ground delicately between each floating step. She was moving like her mother, a true dressage mare through and through. I tapped her rump with the lunge whip and she stretched out into a gentle canter, her silky tail flowing behind her. 

Just then, a car pulled into the driveway, and Clancy stepped off the veranda, frowning. 

"Now who could that be?" he muttered, trying to recall any details of a visitor.

The car doors sprang open, and a distraught young woman jumped out and ran towards Clancy.

"Excuse me, sir, but you have to help! I have a foal that has fallen down a cliff!" she panted, her distress evident in her voice.

"Easy, now! I'll see what I can do, but first you'll need to tell me your name and address. What's going on, exactly?" Clancy inquired, his tone changing to the one that he used when working with troubled or distressed horses.

"Well, my name is Erin, and my husband and I own a small herd of horses just down the road. Michael, my husband, has gone to Brisbane to teach a clinic, and left me in charge of the horses. I went to check on them this morning and discovered that a small colt by the name of Riptide had fallen down a small cliff, and it wedged on top of a branch. I'm afraid we'll have to euthanize him!" The young woman explained breathlessly.

"Hmm.. He could be rescued with the help of some horsepower... I'll be there in 10 minutes, just make him comfortable and keep him hydrated," Clancy said authoritatively. 

The woman nodded worriedly and climbed back into her car. Within minutes, she was off down the driveway. Clancy strode down to the barn.

"Halle, I have an idea! We'll harness the colt up to Mercutio, and use this big boy to carefully draw him up the cliff," Clancy explained. "Can you put Ikon away, and call the vet. Tell him to meet us at Erin's property,"

"Will do," I replied, well aware of the crisis at hand.

Clancy unlatched Mercutio's stall, and bridled the big horse. He led Mercutio out in front of the barn and swung up onto the horse's back. With a quick nudge and a word of encouragement, the pair cantered off up the driveway, and down the road to Erin's property.

I led Ikon into the barn, and gave her a quick wash before stabling her next to her mother. We had successfully weaned the pair a few weeks ago, and I was ready to get Electronite's dressage career back on track.

I slipped out of Ikon's stall and into Electronite's. I bridled the mare, and led her out to the aisle, before mounting her, and following the path Clancy had taken, down to Erin's house.

Little did I know, I had completely neglected to latch Ikon's stall....