After school, she rode Fiel, groomed him, and then put him up for the night with his supper. She planned her time so that she could take the shortcut to Pegasus and meet River on his way home, and try to talk him into coming to the cottage for dinner. Sometimes he would. River was as quiet as ever, but Sierra believed there was a welcoming look in his eyes now whenever he saw her. Once, when he had finished early at the stable, she found him waiting for her; and that filled her heart with a warmth that spread throughout her body like a cherished blanket. The loss of João, and possibly even the loss of Magic, seemed to have tightened a bond of friendship between them; a knot that helped fill in the painful empty spaces.
River talked to Tess, and although Tess never spoke to Sierra directly, through River, she offered Sierra the stall cleaning job on weekends with minimum wage pay. Sierra accepted the job, but on her own terms.
The owners of João’s farm had found new tenants and Sierra needed a place to keep Fiel. So she offered to clean stalls on weekends in exchange for Fiel’s board at Pegasus. Even though she had the money in the fund to cover the expense, she just thought it was a good idea. She wanted to participate in as much of Fiel’s care as she could manage. Tess accepted if Sierra would also agree to trail ride two or three horses each week as well. Sierra happily agreed, feeling it was a good bargain.
Katrina often sat for a few minutes with Sierra and Allison in the cafeteria, and then would go join her other friends when those two left for the library to study. Katrina was thrilled to hear Sierra was going to board Fiel at Pegasus. Sierra was surprised but also pleased to have a friend that shared her love of horses. Allison easily accepted Katrina, stating she liked her well enough, although she thought she was a bit lacking in academics.
Luke was incredibly kind and sympathetic when he heard about João. He often came by the girls’ table in the cafeteria to chat for a few minutes before joining a tableful of football players. He and Justin had both made the junior varsity football team so had earned the right to sit at that table.
Two weeks after João’s death, Luke caught up to Sierra as they were leaving home room. “Um, Sierra, you got a minute?”
“Sure,” Sierra replied. He took her hand and pulled her in the opposite direction of the kids leaving the classroom.
“Look, I know your friend just died, and it’s a really sad time for you, so you might not feel like doing this right now. But maybe it would help cheer you up, so I was just wondering if you wanted to go to the homecoming dance with me.”
Sierra nearly fainted. Luke Abrams had asked her out! She wanted to cry out, yes, of course! Blushing, she answered, “You know, I hadn’t thought about going to the dance. But that’s a good idea. It probably would cheer me up. Thanks.” Funny how much she had changed from last year. Going out on a date with Luke…now that just might be fun.
“Great!” he said, breaking into his sunny smile.
*****
Arrangements were made and Manuel drove the Pegasus two-horse trailer to João’s place to pick up Fiel. Sierra had him ready to go, with shipping bandages on and his gear in a tack trunk and bags.
“Ohhh,” Manuel exclaimed in appreciation when he saw Fiel. “A Spaneesh ‘orse.”
Sierra didn’t have the heart to tell him that Fiel was a Portuguese Lusitano, not a Spanish Andalusian.
They made the short trip to Pegasus and Sierra unloaded Fiel and led him around the stable yard and up and down the lane between the paddocks to let him take in his new surroundings.
“Reever, ‘ee ‘as a stall ready for ‘eem.” Manuel found her after he had parked the truck and unhooked the trailer. Sierra followed him inside the stable and he led her to Magic’s old stall; still empty.
River came up behind them. “Is this stall okay?” he asked.
Sierra smiled and nodded. She knew what it meant for him to put Fiel in Magic’s old stall. “It’s perfect,” she answered. Then she led her own horse into his new stall and slipped off his halter. She gave him one last carrot and stroking his neck, leaned her face close to him, breathing in his warm smell. She whispered, “I miss you, João. Thank you.”
The End
*****
Glossary of Equestrian Terms
Aids
Tools used to communicate with a horse. The natural aids are the seat (weight), legs, and hands of the rider. Artificial aids include whip and spurs.
Bend
A term used to describe how a horse’s body curves in the direction of his movement, such as on a circle or around a corner.
Bit
The part of the bridle inserted in the horse’s mouth as a means of communication or control. Curb – the most severe type of bit that uses leverage for control; Pelham – combination of a curb and snaffle bit and uses elements of both for control; the rider will have two sets of reins; Snaffle – direct pressure is applied to the lips, tongue, and bars of the horse’s mouth; frequently it is jointed in the center; generally the mildest bit.
Canter
The third of the basic three gaits of the horse: a three beat gait in which the horse propels off of a hind leg while the other three are moving forward; on the second beat the horse touches down with the front leg on the same side and the opposite hind leg; on the final beat, the opposite front leg touches down. In this movement, the leg that touches down in the third beat is slightly ahead as well as the hind leg on the same side, which is called the lead.
Canter Pirouette
While in a collected canter, the horse executes a turn; half pirouette is 180 degrees and full pirouette is 360 degrees.
Collection
The horse shortens his stride, but the tempo does not change. The horse must bring its hindquarters underneath and carry more weight on the hind end which lightens the shoulders or front end.
Diagonal
In an arena, an imaginary line across from opposite corners.
At the posting trot, the rider rises out of the saddle when the horse’s outside shoulder is forward, and sits in the saddle when the inside shoulder is forward.
Dressage
The training of a horse to develop, through standardized progressive training methods, a horse's natural athletic ability and willingness to perform and to maximize its potential as a riding horse. In dressage competitions, the horse is trained to perform precise controlled movements in response to minimal signals from the rider.
Extension
The horse lengthens its stride to the maximum length through great forward thrust and reach; the tempo or rhythm of the gait does not change.
Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI)
International governing body for all Olympic equestrian disciplines.
Flying Lead Change
The horse changes the lead at the canter without breaking the gait.
Half-Pass
A lateral movement in which the horse moves on a diagonal; moving sideways and forward at the same time while bent slightly in the direction of movement. It differs from the leg yield in that the horse is bent in the direction of movement which requires more balance and engagement. In the leg yield, the horse is bent slightly away from the direction of movement.
Halt
The horse stops all forward movement; when performed correctly, the horse brings his hindquarters underneath and distributes his weight evenly on all four legs.
Hand
A unit of measure to determine a horse’s height from the top of his withers to the ground. A hand equals 4 inches. Example: a horse that is said to be 15 -1, (fifteen hands, 1 inch) is 61 inches.
Inside
When riding in an arena, the side toward the center of the arena.
Lead
In the canter gait, the leading front and hind leg. In general, on a circle the correct lead is the inside lead, therefore if the horse is cantering on a circle to the right, it should canter on the right lead. Counter canter is a canter on a circle on the outside lead and is an exercise often used to help the horse l
earn balance at the canter.
Leg Yield
A lateral movement in which the horse moves sideways away from the rider’s leg and forward at the same time, crossing his legs. The horse is fairly straight with a slight bend away from the direction of movement.
Lengthening
The horse lengthens its stride without an increase in tempo; performed at the lower levels of dressage before learning true extension of gait.
Long Rein
The reins are allowed to lengthen between the rider’s hands and the bit, the rider often holding the reins at the buckle. There is often no contact with the mouth when riding with a long rein. The long rein is used to allow a horse to stretch his head down and forward and encourages relaxation.
Near
The left side of the horse.
Off
The right side of the horse.
Outside
When riding in an arena, the side toward the wall of the arena.
Passage
An advanced, collected movement at the trot in which the horse seems to pause with a moment of suspension between placing each foot on the ground; the horse almost appears to float in slow motion.
Piaffe
An elevated trot in place, an advanced movement of dressage and the ultimate in collection.
Rein Back
Walking steps backward; backing up.
Sound
A term used to describe a horse in good health without any lameness or other injuries.
Tempi Changes
The horse changes his lead at the canter every third stride (three tempi), every second stride (two tempi), or every stride (one tempi).
Training Pyramid
A guide for training the dressage horse; it begins at the base with rhythm and regularity, then moves up through relaxation, contact, impulsion, straightness, and collection at the peak of the pyramid.
Trot
The second of the basic three gaits of the horse; a two beat gait in which the horse moves diagonal legs in pairs such as left hind, right front together, then right hind, left front together; there is minimal head movement. The trot is the working gait of the horse.
United States Dressage Federation (USDF)
Governing body in the United States for dressage with the purpose of promoting and encouraging a high standard of accomplishment in dressage.
United States Equestrian Federation (USEF)
Regulatory organization for United States equestrian sports, formerly the American Horse Show Association.
United States Eventing Association (USEA)
Governing body in the United States for the equestrian sport of combined training or eventing.
Walk
The first of the basic three gaits of the horse; a four beat gait in which the horse moves one foot at a time in sequence such as left hind, left front, right hind, right front; his head moves in rhythm with the walk.
Dressage Levels
Introductory
Training
First Level
Second Level
Third Level
Fourth Level
FEI levels:
Prix St. Georges
Intermediate I
Intermediate II
Grand Prix
Combined Training (Eventing) Levels
Beginner Novice
Novice
Training
Preliminary
Intermediate
Advanced
*****
Acknowledgments
Thank you, my dear husband Dom, brother John, daughters Adrienne and Monique, and all my stable friends - Bonnie, Katie, Jessica, and Roxanne, and Jessica at the hospital; all who read the manuscript. Without your wonderful advice, criticisms, and encouragement, The Girl Who Loves Horses would not have been possible.
Thank you for reading The Girl who Loves Horses. If you enjoyed this story, please help other readers find this book:
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Look for The Boy who Loves Horses, book 2 of the Pegasus Equestrian Center series.
About the Author
Diana Vincent’s passion for horses began at the age of three when she caught her first glimpse of a horse. Ever since, she dreamed of owning her own horse, read every book about horses she could get her hands on, and finally, at age thirteen, acquired her first horse, Romeo. Since then she has owned several horses and has competed in hunter/jumper shows, eventing, and dressage. Today, Diana resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, and her Morgan horse, Midnight.
Diana loves to hear from readers. You may contact her at [email protected]
The Girl Who Loves Horses (Pegasus Equestrian Center Series) Page 26
