Braveboy: The Untouchable Horse

New Friends

Chapter Three: New Friends

A girl with straight black hair done up in a low ponytail, stepped out of the horsebox, slowly followed by a blonde curly haired man in a quilted jacket and faded jeans. Emily stepped out of the house to greet them. They shook hands and then made their way towards me, engrossed in a deep conversation. As they came closer I could see that the black haired girl had beige jodhpurs on and a smart white blouse tucked into them, she also had a black show jumping hat under one arm.

“Click, click!” she reached out to stroke my forehead before feeding me a peppermint. She looked into my eyes and I instantly knew I could trust her. My owner came and slipped my old knackered blue head collar on before the curly haired man came and poked and prodded me and I shied away, unsure of what to do.

“Well he feels and looks like a well fed strong horse, does he have any specialities?” the curly haired man said in a gruff voice.

“Actually he was bred and trained to hunt at an early age, I ride with the local hunt at least once a year.” She replied.

“Yes, he does have the build of a hunter.” He said, eyeing me closely. “Well, why don’t we get a saddle on him then Emily?”

“I’ll just go and get his tack, if you would hold Tom, Loxie or Rich?”

Emily ran off to the shed next door to my stable, which contained my tack and feeds. Loxie stroked my neck and spoke to me softly.

“He comes with all his tack, rugs and equipment.” Emily said as she returned holding my black bridle and a black multi-purpose saddle with a thin blue numna.

“I groomed him this morning so we just need to tack up.”

Emily hoisted the saddle onto my back before tightening up the girth. Loxie slipped on my bridle with ease.

“Just take him round on a warm up; he only bucks if he is happy or annoyed.” Emily told Loxie as she led me over to the mounting block.

Before Loxie mounted she breathed in to my nostrils, which I later learned was called sharing chi. Once mounted Loxie steered me towards the paddock using her leg aid, she was strong on leg but gentle on the hands. We did one lap in walk before she pressed me into a fast trot, around the small space.

“He moves nicely, why don’t we try some trotting poles?” rich asked Emily.

Emily put two trotting poles in the middle while Loxie cantered around the outside. She turned me down the middle and aimed me at the poles, I sharply veered to the left unsure of what to do.

“Try again.” Rich called out.

She aimed me at them again and I remembered, one, two, and three. Loxie patted my neck.

“Good boy!” she whispered, before patting my neck again.

Rich pointed at the wings and poles, to Emily. She nodded, and walked across the arena to them.

“I thought we could try Jumping 2ft9?”Rich told Loxie.

“Sure how high has she jumped before?” Emily asked Rich.

“Apparently only 1ft3.”

“I hope he goes well!”

Loxie trots me around the paddock, again she sends me down the middle but this time a jump has replaced the trotting poles I take it in my stride and start to canter towards the jump eager to jump high after so long. Loxie checks my stride before gathering me up and I lift in to the air and I through a huge buck at the end. Loxie stays seated and just laughs at my antics.

“I’m so sorry about that” Emily says

“It’s alright, my old pony used to throw a buck or two.” Loxie reassures Emily.

They untacked me and brushed off my small sweat patch were my girth was, then they all headed up to the farm house before disappearing inside. I plod off to the bottom corner of my field to graze on the fresh grass. A while later Loxie and Rich appear and wave goodbye to Emily stood on the steps.

“We will be back next Saturday.” Rich shouted from the door of his car, before they drove off down the gravel drive.