I slowly took a deep breath as I shut off the engine. I sat in my truck, parked right outside of a long barn. I hesitated, debating on whether to get out or not. This was the barn where I learned everything that I know, and I come back periodically to visit the daughter of my late coach (someone who was like a sister for me growing up), or to just clear my head by riding one of the lesson horses that need to get out and be worked. I watched in awe from inside my truck as a woman with medium brown hair pulled back into a tight, neat ponytail put a young horse in training through its paces.
She stopped the young horse and broke the intense concentration that was necessary to train young horses. She looked over and spotted me sitting in my truck. With a smile and a wave, she beckoned for me to get out of my truck and go over to speak to her.
I hesitantly exited my vehicle and approached her. An unidentifiable emotion flickered through her eyes before she spoke.
"You have perfect timing. I need help with one of my horses in training. I know that you just got back, but this is a problem that only you know how to fix. It's one that you've always been good at. So will you help me?"
I sighed deeply before speaking.
"Show me the horse."
Her eyes lit up in excitement, but I don't know why. My friend quickly dismounted, and led both me and the horse she was working with into the barn. She tied up the horse in the stall and led me to another stall. The brunette opened the door and gestured at the horse inside.
"She won't even let me near her. I can't catch her, and when I do, she is an utter brat on the ground. However, when I watch her move, she is simply breathtaking. I bought under the impression that this horse would be an amazing addition to the lesson program, but she is too stubborn about being handled. I know that, if you can't win over this mare, then nobody can. So, will you try?"
I chuckle at her mini speech and explanation.
"Wow. First time back after about 2 years and the first thing you ask me to do is gentle a stubborn horse?! Only you would consider this as a welcome back gesture."
I was about to walk into the stall when my best friend's next words made me pause.
"Does your family know that you are back yet?"
I turned my back on her. "No."
I walked into the stall and slowly approached the mare. I held out my hand so that she could sniff it if she felt like it. The mare looked at me with her hard brown eyes. They held both curiosity and caution. I quickly scanned her body; tense joints, hard eyes, quivering muscles. It looked like she was prepared to take flight if I made any sudden movements. I slowly lowered my hand and turned my back to the mare and closed my eyes. I focused in on the sounds of the mare. Slowly moving backward, I extended my hand behind me. Going one step at a time, I moved closer to the mare. I couldn't hear her moving, so I took that as a good sign. But I still didn't look at her.
Suddenly, I felt a warm breath on my hand. I stilled. After a short moment, a soft muzzle rested in the palm of my outstretched hand. I slowly turned so that I was facing the mare, and saw that her eyes had transformed from apprehensive to calm. I reached up with my left hand, which was not occupied by the horse's muzzle, and placed it on her forehead.
My friend held out a halter for me to take.
"Watching you work with horses like this will never get old."
"Thank you." I took the halter and slipped it on over the mare's head. Leading her out, I offered the woman the rope.
She shook her head. "No. You caught her, you ride her. I want to see your training in action. It's been a while since I've seen it."
I nodded hesitantly and led the horse to the cross ties. After tying her up, I quickly groomed her and threw a saddle pad and a western saddle up on her back. Grabbing a bridle with a slow square twist, sweet-iron D-ring snaffle bit on it, I bridled up the mare. I then proceeded to lead the horse out to the arena.
Once in the arena, my friend stood by the gate to watch what I would do. I stared at the stirrup hanging in front of me.
Can I really do this? Can I really get back on a horse after what happened the last I rode?
"What are you waiting for, an invitation?" Her voice broke through my trance.
I shook my head and lifted myself into the saddle using the stirrup. I picked up my other stirrup and the reins and took a deep breath to settle my nerves about being back on the back of a horse. It was nerve-wracking, but calming at the same time. I squeezed the mare underneath with my legs slightly, and she walked forward lightly. An unwelcome smile somehow found its way onto my face.
This feeling...I had forgotten what it was like to just ride a horse. This feeling...I just can't describe it! If I could pick a term that even comes close to this, it would have to be magic.
I closed my eyes as I felt the horse's walk beneath me.
1...2...3...4...1...2...3...4...
I asked the mare to move up into a jog. She tried to refuse, so I pushed harder. She still tried to say no. I tapped. Still nothing. I let out a deep breath and slammed her sides with my signature kick. With a quick gasp, the mare lunged forward. I guess she wasn't expecting me to actually make her do what I had originally asked her to do...
I let her settle down into her trot before asking her to walk. Once the walk was established, I squeezed her lightly and asked her to trot. This time, she stepped up into a cute little jog, immediately. I reached down and gave her a pet.
Now knowing that we had our communication established, I began to perform basic maneuvers that would benefit the mare's overall conditioning. It's obvious that she is fit and in shape, so I don't have to worry about ruining her muscles too much. I also made sure to touch on other maneuvers that someone would need to perform any pattern.
After the vigorous warm-up, I halted the mare in the center of the arena and looked at my surroundings. I observed the letters around the arena. A, K, E, H, C, M, B, F. The letters A and C were on the center line, while E and B made up the middle line. The remaining letters were spaced evenly on the walls of the arena. I was currently in the center of the arena, standing at the invisible X that marked where I stood. I also noticed that there was a line of 5 cones to right, and eight poles to my left. Four of them were set up in an L-shaped chute, one was a single pole near the chute, and the remaining 3 poles were set up 6 ft apart.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes as I tried to remember a pattern from the past. A pattern with this exact setup came to mind.