Overcome

Chapter Twenty-Two

Once we got to the barn I admidiatly take the bridle out and out it on Harry. Not riding him for two days was like being locked in a room for tthree months, and it is awful. After brushing and tacking him I lead him into the indoor. I mount up without hesitating and walk off to the rail. I look at Justing standing in the middle of the ring already in trainer mode.

Start asking for his head. Get him to collect" he he instructed.

I put pressure on the bit and squeezed Harry's sides with my calf. Harry gives in instantly and collects his head.

"Good! Bring him to a trot, but keep him collect!"

I sqeeze my legs again and Harry eases into a smooth trot. I smile remembering the first time I ever rode him. I was new to this barn and looking for a horse that can move me up a level. I must have tried eight horses that day and twenty the day before at another barn. But she pulls out this giant, bay Warmblood that, at the time, looked like he would rather cuddle all day than jump. But I tried him anyway not wanting Maggy have the grooms tack up another horse. The second I got on him he snapped into an actual horse and was willing to do anything I wanted. I used to be a very vocal rider, kissing and clucking, or talking to the horse. But along the way I realized that everytime i would kiss or cluck or even talk to him while i was on his back, he would run away or buck or just stop. So I caught on and learned to be a really silent rider and I kind of like it better.

"Move him up! He's being lazy! Then start circling the corners!"

I do what he says. It amazes me that Justin knws how to give a lesson, I thought he would tstand in the middle and just tell me to walk, trot, canter.

"Pick up the canter. Make sure he's using his hind ebd and not just trantering around the ring!"

I put my outside leg on and Harry easily picks up the left lead canter. I move him up even though Harry has never trantered in his life. His stride is and was always so even and so comfy.

"Circle half the ring!"

I turn in at the halfway point and then continue cantering on the rail. Three times aroung the ring later Justin tells me to go accross the diagnle and do a lead change. I smile because I love doing lead changes on Harry considering I don't even have to ask him. He just sawps onto the correct lead everytime. But I can also have him not swap and counter canter just as easily. We do the lead change and continue to the right.

We end trotting spirals left and right. In all the months that Harry hasn't been riden, he still is fit! He's not even hot from the lesson!

"Good job" Justin says when I dismount.

I smile "Since when did you know how to teach a lesson?" I ask sarcastically.

He grins "Well... since I've watched a million lessons a week. You catch on after a while."

Fifteen minutes later Harry was cooled, groomed, and in his stall muching happily on hay.

"Ready?" I ask him.

"Sure" He yawns.

I frown. I really shoudn't have him coming out here. He bairly sleeps when he get back from here and he has to work. As much as I love it I can't let Justin do this!

Once home I change and about to crawl into my bed when Justin appears at the door.

"you okay?" I ask concerened.

"Thank you" He smiles.

His smile automatically makes me smile. "For what?"

"For being there for me. You didn't leave it along beacuse you knew something was wrong. Thank you"