Overcome

Chapter Thirteen

Leading Harry around now is a breeze. I even started lunging him, getting him back in shape. I loosened up the lead on the lunge line and asked Harry to trot. He quickly picked up a flicky trot. Well at least I call it flicky. It's when your horse is walking or trotting and they flick their front legs out and point their toes to show off.

He was feeling good today! As I watched him trot, I listened to his hooves land on the soft sand. I could close my eyes and just listen to that if I really wanted to. But today I was glued to the way Harry moved. He always moved with such grace, such confidence, so much power, he always knows where his hooves are going to land. I loved to watch it.

I clicked at him and put my arm out to signal him to canter. As always, he picked it up without an issue.

After awhile I asked him to change direction and start again. Then I had him stop and walk to me. I always loved lunging or round penning. When I was little I always used to watch Heartland. My favorite scene was the join up. To see the horse lick his lips, stretch out his neck, then walk to you.... Ahhh! I love it!

"Good job with him today!" Justin said, breaking my thoughts.

"Thanks, he's finally starting to turn nocturnal." I joked.

"Oh my god, remember when we first took him out to lunge?"

"He didn't want to move! I thought he was sick or something, but he was just sleepy!" We both laughed.

I yawned and looked at the clock in the car, 1:04am.

"Another morning, another tired Gina." I mumbled.

Justin didn't hear me because he went on and said, "What do we have on the agenda today?"

"Lunging" I yawn again.

"It's been two weeks of lunging, don't you think you should do something else?"

"no." I say mid-yawn.

We pull into the parking lot then make our way into the barn and to Harrys stall.

I bring him into the indoor and ask him to trot. He went two times around when he stopped and turned towards me.

"no." I correct and send him back out, but again he turned back in. I go to chase him back out but he doesn't move. "Harry, common!" I say a little annoyed. I try to chase him out again but he doesn't move.

"He is probably bored of lunging." Justin says behind me somewhere.

I walk to Harry, deciding on if I should bring poles out and have him trot over them.

Harry looks at me, and then turns his head to look at his back.

I'm astonished, how?

"No" I said to Harry.

He looked at me, and then looked at his back. Really? Out of all the things he could be doing!

"Harry, it's not happening. Let it go." I protested.

"Are you having a full convo with you horse right now?" Justin asked sarcastically.

I ignored him and stared right at Harry, who, once again looked at his back. I could almost hear him say, it's ok, nothing's going to happen. I'll take care of you."

I sighed and suddenly had a lot of courage. "You owe me for this" I turned and left the ring, and came back with my Charles Owen JR8 helmet.

Justin's jaw dropped down to the floor when he saw me.

"Give me a leg up" I say as I walk past him.

He came over to where me and Harry are standing and I picked up my leg.

"One" he said and my heart started racing.

"Two" why am I doing this?

"Three" I can't do this!

I folded onto the ground to get away and as I got back up Justin was staring at me.

"Common, you're getting on today."

I started to make a run for it but Justin caught me, picked me up.

"Put me down! I yelled

He ignored me and put me on Harrys back.

I was to scared to get down, move or talk. I just stayed there frozen.

5 minutes pass and Justin starts talking to me, I don't hear him.

10 minutes pass, and I loosen up on my death grip. Then I look around, then a smile comes across my face.

Ok, I missed this.

"There's that smile" Justin said and smiled too.

Then he started walking forward, leading Harry with him.

"Justin!" I said scared again.

He ignored me and kept walking.

"Justin stop!" I grabbed the biggest clump of mane.

"Justin! I'm not kidding! Stop!"

"shhh, calm down, look, you're okay. Calm down." He said calmly.

Something in his voice made me actually calm down, to a certain extent.

10 minutes and a million "calm downs" later, I was enjoying finally being on Harry again. I was on my horse! It makes me so happy! I couldn't help smiling! I was sad when I had to get off and leave. Even Harry seemed sad. I said goodbye to him and promised I would ride him again tomorrow.

I smiled the whole car ride home.