For The Love of Horses (Pegasus Equestrian Center)

by Diana Vincent

  “You’re not mad?” Sierra asked, stunned.

  “No, but it was very foolish. Walt is my partner, Sierra, and he is also good friends with the Clarks. Please consider our relationship before you make unwise choices.” And that was all Tess had to say on the matter.

  River looked at her and smiled.

  “Unwise choices, hmph,” Sierra muttered. “What do you think she will say about our plan?”

  “She doesn’t ever have to know,” River answered.

  *****

  Chapter 17 Thieves

  The secret of success lies in maintaining determined forward movement, which obliges the horse to swing his legs powerfully and to make long, bounding strides. – Udo Buerger, The Way to Perfect Horsemanship

  *****

  The next few weeks, Sierra and River discussed and argued over Sierra’s plan of how to steal Corazón. The major point of dissent was River agreeing to Sierra helping him.

  “I should never have said anything to you,” he said in frustration. “Sierra, I couldn’t stand for you to get in trouble.”

  “We just don’t get caught,” she stated in determination. Sierra was truly a good girl; seldom disobedient even as a young child, and possessed of strong moral and ethical principles. (No wonder kids at school often teased her as a ‘goody-goody’.) Her conviction that stealing Cory was the right thing to do was firmly based on those principles, and she planned the theft with a clear conscience. In fact, she was getting quite excited to execute their plan, feeling like a heroine; a Maid Marion with Robin Hood, or a Joan of Arc. She felt noble. And, her plan was a good one, but only if River agreed to the part she needed to play.

  He finally agreed but only on the condition that if he did get caught, she would deny that she had been an accomplice.

  When River finally agreed to let Sierra ‘aid and abet’ his crime, she asked her mother, “Are the tags and all that kind of stuff current on João’s horse trailer?”

  “Yes, I’ve kept up with them.”

  “I’d like to leave the trailer at Pegasus. I want River to teach me how to pull a trailer and we might be able to fit short lessons in between our rides,” Sierra explained.

  “Sounds like a good idea.”

  That evening, River and Sierra hooked the trailer up to her truck and hauled it to Pegasus. A large, covered shed behind the stable housed all the Pegasus trailers, tractors, and other large equipment. Behind the shed was a large space out of sight from the stable yard and most of the riding areas around Pegasus, where Tess allowed boarders to park their own horse trailers. They found a space to park Sierra’s trailer in between two larger ones. It was a place that Sierra called ‘hiding something in plain sight’. No one would find it strange to see her trailer parked among the others, if they noticed it at all; nor would anyone notice if the trailer was gone. Then, after they made sure the trailer hitch and electrical hook-ups were all compatible with River’s truck, he started parking his own truck behind the lounge. Again, no one would think it odd for him to park his truck close to his own living quarters, and it was another space not readily visible from the stable yard and riding areas. They stored a pair of shipping boots, halter and lead in the tack compartment of the trailer, and kept the feed trough filled with fresh hay. Also in the tack compartment, they stowed a pair of generic coveralls, identical to what many exhibitors wore at shows to protect their show clothing when they groomed and tacked up their horses; and an equally generic baseball style cap. Part one of Sierra’s plan was set.

  *****

  Mid-April, Sierra and River competed on Fiel and Pendragon at the first dressage show of the season. They were both moving up a level this year, but at this first show, River had insisted that they both at least ride their first tests at the same level that they ended last season.

  Sierra rode second level, test three for her first ride, and then third level, test one for her second ride. She and Fiel placed third in their second level test and she was happy with the score. They didn’t place in the third level test but Sierra was still very pleased with Fiel’s performance. It was her fault they messed up the flying changes of lead at the canter, for she knew she had tensed up in anticipation since this was a new movement for her (but not for Fiel). She realized afterwards, she had been too abrupt asking for the first change and Fiel actually took two trotting steps before switching his lead. On the next change, she didn’t quite have him balanced before she asked, and he fell onto the forehand to change his lead, and it was several strides before he was able to re-balance in the canter. She knew Fiel would have placed higher if she had been clearer in her aids communicating to him. He knew the movements; it was her fault when she didn’t prepare him ahead of time so that he could perform them correctly.

  River placed first in the Prix St. Georges test, and second in the intermediate I test. There were only two points difference between the first place score and his score; still Mrs. Galensburg left the show with a puckered mouth and creased brow.

  “The horse that placed first is an awesome horse,” River said to Tess. “He has an exceptional extended trot, and even though I think Pendragon did the best he could, he can’t match it. Couldn’t that lady just enjoy the first place horse’s magnificence?”

  “Only if she owned the horse,” Tess said wryly.

  *****

  The following Sunday, Ben came out to check on Oberon’s progress. After the first few minutes of watching River work him on the lunge line, he said, “I hope I’m not too optimistic but his attitude seems quite a bit more positive today.”

  “Yeah,” River agreed. He was pleased that Ben noticed, for ever since the day he had lost his temper with Oberon, the horse had not displayed any aggressive behavior, at least with River. He still didn’t exhibit what could be called enthusiasm, but River began to actually enjoy working with the big bay.

  He asked Oberon to walk, trot, and canter in both directions, conscious of Ben watching, and feeling proud of the big horse’s obedient and quiet responses. “Good,” he called out, drawing out the word, and bringing the horse to a halt. Oberon stood quietly with ears cocked and allowed River to walk up to him and undo the side reins attached to the bridle without objections.

  “Want to try getting on his back?” Ben asked when River led Oberon over to the rail.

  “Today?” River asked in surprise.

  “Look at him,” Ben said, chuckling.

  Thoughtfully, River stepped back from the horse and noticed how he had lowered his head with his eyes half-closed and his ears flopped to the side. “He actually looks bored,” he said, and then he also laughed. He glanced at Sierra’s smiling face and noted the impish look in her eyes. She stood next to Ben and he realized the two of them had already talked about this idea while he was lunging the horse. “Okay,” he enthusiastically agreed.

  “Time to give you something more to cogitate on,” Ben said as he quietly entered the round pen and came up to the horse. “This is what I suggest,” he continued talking softly as he slowly approached the bay’s shoulder and stroked his neck. “I’ll hold his head, and you just step in the stirrup. Let’s see how he reacts before you swing a leg over.”

  “Okay,” River agreed. Sierra, still watching from the rail, remembered how this was the same way River had slowly begun to ride Cory.

  Ben held the bridle and talked soothingly to Oberon as River moved into position and placed his left foot in the stirrup and then shifted up so that he stood in that stirrup, holding up his weight with his hands on the pommel and cantle of the saddle.

  Oberon tried to jerk his head high, his ears flattening. Ben gave a little with his hand on the bridle, but then provided resistance. “That’s it,” he murmured to the horse, and then to River, “Good, hold your position just until he gives; when he drops his head, jump down.”

  River watched Oberon, and when the bay’s ears pricked up from flat to flicking and he gave slightly to the pressure of Ben’s hand by dropping his head, River lightly jump
ed back to the ground. Both he and Ben praised the bay lavishly.

  They repeated the exercise twice more. The third time, Oberon kept his head lowered respectfully into Ben’s hand, and quietly, Ben said, “Swing your leg over but keep your weight off his back.”

  River complied and balanced in both stirrups as everyone watched Oberon’s reaction. The bay flattened his ears briefly, but stayed relaxed with his head.

  “Excellent, good fella,” Ben praised him in a soft tone. “That’s enough for the first time,” he said to River, and River dismounted.

  “I can’t believe it!” Sierra exclaimed quietly, as she joined Ben and River leading Oberon back to the stable. “There’s hope for him.”

  With an amused chuckle Ben said, “There’s always hope.”

  *****

  Finished with Oberon, River walked with Ben to his truck. Ben slid into the driver’s seat, and River, steeling his nerves, leaned in over his arms on the window frame and said, “Uh, Ben, I kind of have a favor to ask.”

  “Yeah?” Ben said, buckling his seatbelt.

  “I know of a horse in a bad situation, and if I can get him out of it, I’ll need a place to keep him with someone I know who can handle an abused horse. I’d eventually send him to a friend of mine but he’ll probably need a little work to settle him down.” River thought if things worked out he might eventually ask Amy to take Corazón.

  Ben cocked an eyebrow at River. “Uh huh, and you can’t bring the horse here?”

  “We’re full and Tess doesn’t want any more horses here that aren’t in competition,” River lied, already feeling guilty for the deceit, and his color deepening. “I’d pay you of course; board and training fees or whatever. I mean, I know you take in rescue horses all the time. João always talked about you and how he admired that.”

  Ben didn’t know what River seemed so nervous about. He had always known him as a quiet, somewhat withdrawn kid, and maybe it was hard for him to ask for favors; although he hadn’t seemed this nervous back when he asked for his help with Oberon. Was something else going on? “When would you want to bring this horse?” he asked.

  “In the next few weeks, but I might not be able to give you much notice, like maybe only the same day.”

  “I do have room, but it would be nice to have a little warning,” Ben said.

  “If I get the horse I’ll call you right away,” River said, and met Ben’s eyes, his own full of pleading.

  “Okay,” Ben agreed.

  Part two of their plan, a place to take Cory that the Clarks would not know about, was arranged.

  *****

  “We need to find out what shows they’re going to enter Cory in. I picked up the show calendar they give away at the tack store. It has every competition in this region listed - everything; all the open shows, western shows, hunter/jumper shows, as well as combined training and dressage. It shouldn’t be too hard to anticipate where they might take Cory.” Sierra handed River several stapled-together sheets of paper. “But we need to pick a show close enough that you can get there in a half hour or less, or else is on the way to Ben’s place.”

  They sat together in the lounge after evening chores. Now that he had a place to take Cory, River was anxious to get on with the last part of the plan. He flipped through the pages, focusing in on the hunter/jumper shows and combined training events.

  “We need someone at the shows that Crystal or Dean would not recognize; someone who could communicate with us. I don’t know anybody around here that doesn’t go to our school. Do you know anyone who might be willing to spy for us?”

  “There’s my cousin…not Warren, the other one,” River said, thinking. “He might do it for money, but I wouldn’t trust him.” He thought for a few more minutes and said, “Laila might do it.”

  In spite of her initial reaction of not wanting to involve Laila; Sierra had to admit that she did seem a likely candidate. Even though Laila had graduated from their high school, she was two years ahead of Crystal, and had hung out with a very different crowd from Crystal and Dean. Chances were those two did not know her at all; but especially if Laila changed her gothic look and appeared in nondescript clothing. If she wore plain jeans and a tee-shirt, took off her piercings, and wore a hat with a brim, they surely would not recognize her. “Yeah, do you think she would help you?”

  “I can ask. She works a lot of weekends but I think in the evening, so I guess it would depend if she had the time.”

  “Okay, ask her. Now, here’s what I think we should do. I know you want to get Cory as soon as possible; so do I. But if we succeed, we need to at least scope out ahead of time their usual routine at a show; like how many grooms, does Caroline or Dean ever come to the stall area, are there times when he is left unattended and for how long?”

  “What if they have someone there all the time?” River asked.

  “You said it before; we’ll have to create a distraction.” Sierra added with a short laugh, “I bet Laila would know how to draw a man away. It’s only going to take a few minutes for you to get Cory out of the stall. I would imagine even the groom needs to use the bathroom.”

  “But there are people around everywhere.”

  “Think again about how we are at a show. Think about how focused everyone is on getting their horse ready. Do you think you’ve ever actually paid attention to anyone taking a horse out of the stall?”

  River nodded as he thought about all the activity at a show.

  “You just have to act like you are going about your business.”

  “Yeah…”

  “If Laila is willing, we have her go to the show grounds and check things out. If it’s like eventing, they will probably have a posting of all entries near the arena. If we’re in luck, Cory will be entered in several classes but there should be breaks in between. Laila can call us as soon as she sees the postings and gives us a time; whenever there is the longest break between his classes or a lunch break. That’s when you head out.”

  River listened, his brow furrowed in concentration. “Sierra, it just might work.”

  River called Laila, and not only was she willing to spy for them, but was quite enthusiastic.

  “She is very impressed with your criminal mind, Sierra,” River said after disconnecting.

  *****

  The first opportunity for Laila to attend one of Caroline’s hunter/jumper shows finally came the first Sunday of May.

  Early in the week, Sierra and River had just reached her truck in the parking lot at the end of the school day, when Crystal and her ever-present followers suddenly appeared from between nearby parked cars, acting as if they were just passing by.

  “Isn’t it amazing what modern drugs can do?” Crystal declared loudly as soon as they were close enough she could be sure Sierra and River could hear. “My friend Caroline wanted to show her new horse in a jumper show last weekend, but he had swelling in his hind leg. They gave him something that totally took the swelling down. She was able to compete in six classes and she won the high point award for the show.”

  Her friends made appropriate comments, all casting sidelong glances at Sierra and River.

  “She says he’s still lame, but she’s still planning on showing him again in two weeks.” Crystal stopped suddenly, pretending as if she had just noticed Sierra and River. “Oh dear, I’m so sorry you had to hear that your ex-horse is lame,” she said with feigned sympathy and emphasizing ‘ex-horse’.

  “Get out of here, Crystal,” Sierra said in a disdainful tone, and trying very hard to hide how upset she was at overhearing the gossip.

  The group laughed raucously and walked on. Crystal looked back once at Sierra’s and River’s stricken expressions, and a very satisfied smiled passed over her face.

  “They’re going to cripple him! We’ve got to get him away, Sierra,” River said under his breath.

  “Soon,” Sierra agreed. She climbed into the driver’s seat, but before pulling out her keys, she pulled out the show calendar and flipp
ed to the month of May. “Here,” she said when River got into the passenger seat. “This must be the show she’s talking about in two weeks. It’s the same weekend as our first rated horse trial. Call Laila.”

  *****

  Two teams from Pegasus entered in the first rated combined training event of the season. In spite of how Sierra and Felicity had fared in the schooling show, Tess still wanted Sierra to ride the young mare at junior novice level. Sierra and Felicity, River riding Meridian at training level, and Katrina and Calliope at intermediate level, made up the junior team. Candace would ride Moonshadow at adult beginner novice, Laurel with her horse Pan, and Mary with Raider, would both ride adult novice level, and Kate, trailering in her own horse and riding adult preliminary, would make up the adult team.

  Although overcast and drizzly, at least there wasn’t the wind they had endured at the schooling show. The night before as Sierra lay in bed; she had visualized herself on Felicity and had imagined herself calm and confident and instilling that confidence in her mount. She imagined all sorts of incidences with the timid youngster shying, and practiced deep breathing and staying relaxed. Perhaps that practice helped, for every time Felicity shied (which was often) Sierra avoided snatching the reins and concentrated on communicating a relaxed attitude, and using her legs to push the mare out of her tense reaction and into work.

  “Nice,” River praised her during her dressage warm-up. “Keep her working and that will help keep her attention.”

  Nevertheless, Felicity shied twice during her dressage test; first when something glinted off a water bottle on the judge’s table, and then when her attention drifted outside the test arena where another horse had spooked at something.

  “Well-handled,” Tess said, much to Sierra’s surprise after the test.