by Connie Foss
I can always count on Tom to say it like it is. Interesting. He’s using some of the same words Mr. O used, so I reckon they’ve been doing some serious talking.
“Tom, I haven’t heard how your newest little family of kittens is doing? You getting any help from Mr. O on the rat supply?” Being able to think about someone else’s life really helps. Gosh, I’m glad I thought to ask. I’m feeling better already.
“Yeah, that big bird drops a rat by the feed room door most every day. Helps a lot.The missus and I ain’t had to ration the grub at all. grin on his grizzly mug.
“Thanks for the kind offer,Tom, but a rat steak is not on the list of things I’m allowed to eat. Mighty thoughtful of you, though.” If Tom can play that game, I can, too.We go back so far, that we totally understand each other. It’s a good feeling.
“Good morning, Bubba.” It’s Lilly, and I know by the look on her face, as she comes in my stall that this is a hard moment for her. “I’m so sorry, Bubba. I would do anything to do that jump over again, and this time stay balanced. I feel so bad. I wish it had been my leg that was broken. Not yours. I don’t know how to make it up to you, for I know how much jumping means to you. You’ve always been happiest when you’ve been jumping.”
Lilly can’t continue, for she is crying too hard. She wraps her arms around my neck and I feel the tears dripping on my shoulder. I nuzzle her shoulder and try to let her know that it’s all right, that I’m all right. I nicker softly and hope she understands that she is forgiven.
“It’s hard, isn’t it, Lilly?” That’s Meg’s voice, and I look up to see her standing with us, with tears joining into rivers down her face, too. “Sometimes things happen that seem more than we can bear. But when our intentions are always good, we can’t blame ourselves.The best thing we can do is continue to do the best we can with our lives, trying to be a blessing to whatever and whomever we are working with. Bubba will be okay…and so will you.
“By the way, Bubba, Jack has lined up several more adults, who want to work with you on their therapy. John is coming by today to do your grooming, but Doc says he is not to ride you until your leg is
Bubba.You have breedings booked for every other day for the next two months.The mares are lining up for you. Some of them are for natural
to supply the semen for the AI breedings in a couple of weeks. In fact, you are one lucky boy, Bubba, for if it were a hind leg giving you trouble, you would probably be out of the breeding business.Well, I have to get back to Brett. See you both later.”
With that the ladies leave my stall, Meg heading for the house and Lilly to work with the other horses.
Hmm. More to think about, and my spirits are lifting.There’s only one thing wrong in my world; all the rest is wonderful.
“Bubba, here’s John to clean you up. How are you, big boy?” Jack, with her ever-present smile would never treat me with kid gloves. She is as honest in how she talks as Tom is. I like that.
“Well, John, here is a comb and a brush, so get to work.When you’re through come on over and we’ll get Geoffrey ready,” and she is gone.
John seems hesitant, as he comes in my stall. He puts his hand on my shoulder and then he seems to relax and know just what to do. “Bubba, you and I both have problems.You are so good to understand and help me, so I want to help you. I think we make a pretty good pair.” As John brushes me, he is helping, for I feel his concern. “I will miss being able to ride you while your leg heals, but if it’s okay, Bubba, I’d like to come talk to you anyway.You see I’m beginning to feel that you’re opening a door for me. I never really met a horse before I met you.With you, my world is expanding, and I can see possibilities I didn’t see before. One of them I’m wondering about. Maybe you can help me
here every day. Do you think Jack and maybe Bill and Lilly would let me do some stuff around here?”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:
Am I Too Big?
I am now spending my afternoons over in a therapy stall. It’s a nice change everyday, for I get to watch what’s going on with Jack’s program. Doc told Meg that my leg is strong enough now for me to do slow walking and maybe even carry a small child. The walking is going okay and sure beats standing in a stall, but I’ve not gotten to have a passenger yet.
“I’ll do my best, Meg, you know that.” Jack and Meg are talking about Brett and how the therapy program might help him. “Brett is a special boy, and I know this program will help. I have just the right horse for him. It’s Beauty.”
“I do not doubt your capabilities, Jack, for I’m already seeing good results. Nor am I refusing to take your suggestions. It’s just that this is my child I’m talking about. Funny how much more critical I am when it comes to what’s best for Brett. It’s hard to be objective.That being said, I don’t want Brett to ride Beauty. I want him to ride Bubba.”
There is a long silence after Meg says that before Jack responds. The two of them are having this conversation in the therapy tack room next to the stall I’m in. Brett is not with Meg this afternoon, so I suppose Meg’s mom is at the house with him. It sounds like Brett is about to start horse therapy. It’s sure helping Whysper so it should be good for Brett, too.
“I understand that you know Bubba, but you haven’t had a chance to know Beauty.” I’m impressed with Jack and her attempt to handle a
trapped in an overturned horse trailer and is left with his own form of
Post Traumatic Stress, he is perfect for this program. He is patient and understanding, very cooperative. Bubba is all of that, too, but he is so much bigger than Beauty. Brett’s little legs couldn’t possibly grip that big barrel.”
“You are the professional when it comes to therapy, but this is my
determination written all over her face, Meg turns and walks toward the door.Then she says,“I will have Brett down here ready to start the program in half an hour. Please have Bubba ready.”
”Yes, ma’am,” is all Jack says. It’s all she can say.
Meg is not the easiest person to get a long with, and I feel sorry
the correct thing or pleasing her boss.Which will it be? Knowing Meg, if Jack gets Beauty ready instead of me, Jack will no longer have a job. Then where will the therapy program be?
“How are things going, Jack? I just saw Meg heading for the house. Is she going to get Brett so he can start therapy? We decided last night
training workout.
“Well, yes is the answer to Meg going to get Brett, and not good
is the answer to how things are going,” and Jack doesn’t hesitate to tell
Bill about the disagreement with Meg.“What should I do, Bill? Meg will
not allow me to do what I think is professionally correct.” I wish I could see Jack’s face, but I can see Bill’s and the frown
leaves no doubt that he is not happy…trouble may be brewing. “I’m
sorry, Jack. Meg is not always easy to get along with. She’s a strongminded person who sees the way she wants to go and others need to
step aside. Fortunately, she can sometimes be reasoned with. Let me
put Geoffrey away, and then I’ll come back and see if I can help resolve
this. Hang tight, Jack.We’ll work it out.”
I don’t know who is right, but I do know I would love to have
Brett ride me. I don’t know that it could even work, for no way would
totally focused on Brett. She is giving her days to Brett this whole year, denying herself, and she is not happy. Sometimes when she comes in the evenings and we go for a moonlight walk, she tells me how frustrating it is for her, and how much she misses being with all of us in the stable. I know she trusts me and, like Jack said, she doesn’t know Beauty. Oh, I hope Bill can help settle this so neither Meg nor Jack suffers.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN:
More of John
“Let’s take the girth off of Bubba’s saddle and put it on the small one,” Bill suggests.“Here, I’ll do it, Jack.”
The decisio
n has been made, and I think the conclusion is good. Brett will start on me. If it doesn’t work, Jack will switch him to Beauty.
that she can watch the therapy lesson but not interfere.That agreement took longer for Bill to negotiate than which of us horses was to be the lesson horse. Meg is very much a take-charge gal.
I’m glad I’ve known Brett all of his life, so I know a lot about him. Of course, it has only been the last year or so that he has begun to show symptoms of autism.As a little toddler he was all over the place, jabbering constantly. Now if you look at him or speak to him, he shuts down, withdraws from people. He seems to need his own space, hidden away from everyone. Since Meg says he won’t accept change, needing sameness, I’m wondering how hard it will be for him to accept riding
fun riding when he was younger will allow him to give it a fair try. “Remember me, Brett? I’m Jack.”
Meg has brought Brett to the work arena, stands him in front of
Jack and swiftly slips away. Brett is looking at the ground. Jack says,“You remember Bubba, don’t you? He’s your friend, and today you can ride him. Here let me help you sit in the saddle.”
the stable, and Brett throws himself on the ground, displaying a classic temper tantrum. Meg, who has been peeking around the corner of the nearest stall, runs to help, but stops when she sees Jack turn on her and gesture to stay away.“But he doesn’t like to be touched,” Meg sobs.
“I’m sorry, Brett,” Jack says calmly.“If you don’t want help to ride Bubba, Georgia will get some steps and you can climb up by yourself. Does that sound better?” Georgia and Ruth are volunteers who will be on each side of Brett and me to make sure Brett is safe.
When Georgia brings the stairs, Jack positions me so that I’m up against the stairs, which are higher than the middle of my side, a perfect height for Brett’s short legs to be able to climb into the saddle. Whether he will or not, is the question.
“Brett, would you like to climb the stairs now? Bubba would like you to, and so would I.” I turn my head to see what he will do. He still refuses to look at Jack, but at least he hasn’t run off.“If you’d rather not ride Bubba today, Brett, maybe you would like to pet him. Does that sound better? If you climb the steps, you can pet his shoulder. He’d like that.”
Brett just stands there, looking down. Jack waits patiently for a few minutes and then slowly and quietly says,“If you don’t want me to lift you up, then you need to climb the stairs by yourself.Which will it be?”
Again nothing. Finally Brett moves, raises his head enough to look at the bottom step then rocks back and forth. All is quiet as we wait. Brett slowly puts one foot on the step and then the other. Then we wait.Again he raises his eyes just enough to look at the next step.Then we wait. In this way, Brett gets to the top of the steps. Now he is looking over my back, a perfect place from which to climb onto the saddle.
Jack comments, “That was well done, Brett. Now when you’re ready you can pet Bubba.You know how to pet a horse, for you’ve done it all of your life.”
I feel a soft little hand on my shoulder and then it’s gone, for Brett is climbing down.
“Thank you, Brett, from both Bubba and me.Would you like to go see your mom now?” and Jack gestures to Meg that she can come get Brett.
“Please call me, Meg, when Brett is asleep and we will talk about how to continue. Though to you it may not seem as though we made
deliberate process.”
As Meg and Brett go out the stable door, Jack comes over to me and says, “Well, big boy, you were great. I think Meg might be right.
willing to do. It may take a couple of tries before he actually sits in the saddle, but progress is not measured by time.”
“Thanks, Georgia and Ruth,” Jack says, turning to the volunteers, “since it will be a little while before Whysper and her mom come, maybe one of you can change the girth back for Clarence, and the other one please get Clarence groomed, then tacked up for Whysper.”
Back in my stall I think about what just happened with Brett, and I can’t help but wonder why he acts the way he does. Strange, for he didn’t used to be this way, but I heard Bill say one day that Brett is already reading books. He is smart, Bill says, but just doesn’t know how to relate to people or things that he can’t control. I guess we’re all different, and when he goes to school next year, he’ll probably do just
“Hey, Bubba, would you like a good back rub and brushing?” It’s John! “I stopped in to talk to Bill and want to say hi to you before I head home.” John already has a brush in his hand, and he certainly knows how to use it. Mm, that feels so good. “Want to hear my news, what Bill has agreed to? You remember I told you that I want to be around horses more, so I asked Bill if there are some things I can do here.You know what, Bubba? He hired me on the spot! I wasn’t even thinking about it being a job, but something that I could do that would let me be here more. Isn’t that just great?”
John is more energetic and just plain happy than I’ve ever seen him. I’m so glad, for he’s a nice man.
“I’m going to come every morning, and do whatever needs to be done, but especially help Josh, the Breeding Manager, with the breeding. So I’ll be seeing a lot of you!” I’m glad John can talk and brush at the same time, for I’m enjoying both. “How’s the leg coming? I’m missing getting to ride you, so when you’re well, I’m ready for us to canter. How about that?”
CHAPTER NINETEEN:
Annie
“While we’re waiting for Whysper, Bubba, I’m going to do something that you will be tickled with. Just you wait.You are going to be so surprised,” and Jack walks quickly away and turns the corner. I don’t know where she’s headed, but if I’m going to be “tickled,” as she said, it must be something good. When Jack comes back around the corner, she is leading… You’ll never guess, so I’ll tell you. She is leading Annie.
“Guess what, Annie is going to be in the stall next to you, so when you come each afternoon you can enjoy each other. I know your friendship goes way back to the jumping days.” Even Jack’s reminding me that jumping is a thing of the past doesn’t dampen my spirits.To get to see Annie everyday and talk things over! What could be better!
Though I had wanted to see how Whysper is doing, I have to admit that I am really not paying attention. How could I when Annie is right here?
I did see one new thing, though. As Clarence was walking with Whysper perched in the saddle Jack told Whysper to stand up on her stirrups and then after a few yards, to sit…up, down, up, down. Hmm. That must be to help with balance, for her legs look kind of weak. As I watch Whysper and am reminded that each student must wear a helmet, I wonder how Brett will react to that.
“Well, are you two love-birds happy now?” Jack asks, after Whysper and her mom leave. “Time for you to do your thing, Annie, so I’ll have to break up this conversation. Don’t worry, Bubba, she’ll be back as soon as Mickey’s lesson is over.”
I’m glad I’m in a stall that’s so close to where the student mounts the horse.That way I get to hear Jack’s instructions.That might be helpful for me when Brett actually rides me.
“How’s school, Mickey? Are you enjoying it?” Jack asks. “Okay,” Mickey says. It’s funny to listen to him. He sounds like a
interesting story.
Gosh, that was a long time ago, when Julie was still alive. Bruce brought Mickey to us because of what had happened when Mickey went to work with his dad, Bruce. Bruce worked at the racetrack, and Mickey fell in love with a racehorse named StrumBum. Mickey was four years old and had never said a word, until one day he surprised everyone by saying, “StrumBum.” That was why Bruce decided horses might help Mickey open up. Obviously, he was right. I hope Brett will show as much improvement as Mickey.
I notice that Mickey doesn’t need Georgia and Ruth walking beside him, though Jack still uses the lead rope.“Mickey, after we warm up a bit with the balancing exercises, I’m going to take the lead rope off of Annie and let you have your own ride. I will
still tell you when to walk and when to trot, and then you will tell Annie. Sound okay?”
As Jack is talking to Bruce after Mickey’s lesson, Mickey is playing with Boo,. Jack says,“Mickey is doing so well. I’m sure you’re as pleased as I am. How is school going for him?”
“He is challenged, but that’s what he needs.The program is geared to each individual’s needs, which may be one of the reasons he is talking much more freely. He still has problems looking people in the eye, and he still shuts down when things get too complicated.” Bruce stops for a minute and then says, “I think his mom and I are learning as much as he is. We’ve learned that we are to work on symptoms not the label, and accept the fact that the differences in our brains is what makes us individuals, and that’s good. Did you know that half the people in Silicon Valley would be diagnosed as autistic? Gifted people are often autistic.”
“That is interesting! I didn’t know that, but Mickey seems really smart. Oh, yes, by the way. I’ve been meaning to tell you that about the time he is comfortable doing most of the riding without a lead, we should have an outdoor trail ready. But maybe you already know about the Boy Scout, Jimmy, who is going to build one for his Eagle Scout project. John is going to help.”
“Yes, Bill told me the other day about the plans.Actually, that scout
is a neighbor of ours and had heard us talk about your therapy work. He even commented on how much better Mickey seems. I’ve ordered a mailbox and a post plus a load of rocks for the trail. Still have to get my hands on a structure to bury in the ground to hold the water for the water hazard.There is an organization in town where physically and mentally challenged young people are given employment building picnic tables and such. I’ve asked that they build a bridge for our trail. Got any ideas that we haven’t thought of?”
