One to Take (One to Hold 8) - Page 11
Nodding, my eyes are round as I follow him into the alley and to the stalls. Ranger lifts his head in a very unconcerned manner over his door.
“He does this every day,” I say, attempting to break the growing tension in my stomach.
“He’s a good horse,” Stuart says, opening the door with his leg. “But he’s still temperamental. Dakota and Cheyenne are the least likely to move when you’re learning.”
Climbing onto the wooden rails, I watch as he raises the leather saddle and then places it easily on the thick pad on Ranger’s back. The horse doesn’t even flinch at the weight being adjusted on him.
“Now pay attention.” Opening the door, he stops the horse just outside the stall. I turn on the fence so I’m still higher than the two of them, watching.
Stuart continues with his lesson. “When you fasten the girth, you do a simple front to back until it’s short, then cross it over
and down. Just like tying a tie.”
Watching, I chew my lip. “I’m not sure I can lift a saddle that high.”
He nods. “I’ll help the first few times, but you need to know how to do it. Now come here.”
For a second I pause then I hop off the rail and walk over to where he’s holding the thick leather strap at the heavy loop on Ranger’s belly.
“See if you can tighten it up a little more.”
Stepping back, he watches as I pull the center leather strap up and then slide the excess around the loop and down.
“Good.” It’s not overly enthusiastic, but any words of praise are huge to me. “You have to go back and tighten it a few more times before you get on. They’ll distend their stomachs at first to keep it loose.”
Ranger looks as placid as a lake when Stuart walks in front of him and gently pats his knee-pit. “Sometimes you need to pull their legs to ease out any kinks in the skin.”
Finally he seems satisfied, and without a word, he heads back to the tack room. I have no option but to follow. I watch as he lifts a slim leather bridle off a hook and heads back out the door.
“I have to touch her mouth for this part.” My voice is low and shaky, and I feel slightly nauseated. This is not the time for my first round of morning sickness. Lucky for me, it’s only terror.
“She knows what you’re doing. She’ll work with you.” He stops to open the door to Cheyenne’s stall. “You can’t do this if you’re afraid of them.”
The large brown mare stands passively watching me as I follow him into her narrow room. “I’m not afraid,” I lie.
Stopping beside her neck, he looks down at me. “You ready?”
I know my mouth is open, so I close it. Quickly nodding, I reach for the leather and metal contraption. “I’m too short. I can’t reach the top of her head.”
“Stand beside her neck, put the reins over her head, and reach between her ears.”
I’m acutely aware of how small I am standing beside this massive horse, and I feel my heart beating faster as I reach up high, sliding my palm between her ears. My insides release when she immediately lowers her head, and I fight the urge to squeal, It’s working! I have to be cool.
“Hold the bit on the side…” Stuart quietly directs, and miraculously, Cheyenne opens her teeth for the metal bar to slide in place.
My breath rushes out in a whoosh! “She let me do it!” My voice is small and shaky, and I try to calm my heartbeat. My legs are like noodles.
“You’re not finished.”
Looking up at her, I realize the top part isn’t over her ears, and a skinny leather strap is dangling at her jaw.
“Right,” I whisper, gently tilting her large, soft ears and sliding them under the top of the bridle.
“Now buckle the side.” Stuart waits as I finish the last step.
Backing up, I hold both my hands out in front of me. “I did it!” Looking up at him quickly, I see a hint of a smile in the corner of his mouth. It’s all I need. I jump forward and hug him. “I bridled a horse!”
That makes him laugh. “It’s a pretty basic first step.”
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