“I don’t believe that, Mama.”
“Well, it’s the truth. I was a little bit on the wild side as a teenager and very shallow. But having you was the best thing that ever happened to me. You gave me purpose. You gave me the motivation to dream, but also the necessity to dream for my own future.”
They both laughed as Sierra tried to picture her mother as a wild teenager.
After the short drive to Pegasus and as they pulled into the stable yard, a lump rose up into Sierra’s throat at the familiar sights. Manuel and Enrique were leading horses out to the paddocks for the day. My job! What was I thinking to leave all this?
“Say your goodbyes quickly, Kitten. We have a long drive ahead of us.”
Swallowing down the lump, Sierra nodded. “Come on, Charlie, go find Storm and I’ll look for River.” Charlie jumped out and didn’t have to go very far before Storm came wagging up to meet him. They touched noses, and then sauntered off together.
Sierra saw River walking back up from the lane; probably having just turned out Oberon. The bay still behaved his best when River handled him. He was dressed in school clothes, for classes at the community college had started two weeks ago.
“Hi,” she greeted him and then fell into his arms when he held them out for her. She wanted to make this moment last, but knew her mother was watching and impatient to get on the road. She leaned away and they kissed, and then she asked, “Is Fiel out yet?”
“No, he’s one of the last ones.”
They walked together into the stable where three horses still waited impatiently in stalls for their freedom. Fiel whinnied as they approached. Sierra picked up his halter and went into the stall to put it on. River waited by the door, kicking his toe at the shavings while Sierra said her goodbyes.
As she led her horse out and they walked together down the aisle, she said, “I know you’ll look after him for me. Will you be sure and give him a carrot every night?” She knew River would check on Fiel every day and he had promised to ride him two or three times a week to keep him in condition. But she wanted to be sure he would pamper her horse a little as well.
“Of course,” he answered, laughing. “I thought of something last night after I dropped you off.”
“Yeah?”
“Will it be okay with you if I give Delia some lessons on Fiel?”
Sierra’s steps slowed as she looked over at River, surprised at the suggestion.
“I mean, she’s really doing very well and I remember when you first started taking lessons on him from João, and how much this guy taught you. Del could really benefit from a school master like Fiel.”
“Um…wow, it never occurred to me to offer him for lessons. You know, I think it’s a really good idea. After all, we both owe a lot to Del.”
“Yeah, we sure do.” They reached the paddocks, and River waited at the gate as Sierra led Fiel inside, and then again, hugged her beautiful horse around his neck, and whispered her goodbye. Then she and River walked back up the lane and stopped just before the stable yard. River pulled her into his arms again for one more parting hug and last kiss.
“I love you, Sierra, mi angelita,” he whispered into her hair.
“I love you too,” she whispered back.
*****
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.
Haunches-In
See Travers
Haunches-Out
See Renvers
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 learn 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
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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.
Renvers (Haunches-Out)
A lateral movement in which the horse moves forward on three tracks, his shoulders on the track and the hindquarters to the outside track (in an arena with a wall, the movement is brought inside the track to allow room for the haunches out). The horse is bent in the direction of movement and the inside legs cross in front of the outside legs as he moves forward.
Shoulder-In
A lateral movement in which the horse moves forward on three tracks, his shoulders to the inside of the track and his hindquarters on the track. The horse is bent away from the direction of movement and the inside legs cross in front of the outside legs as he moves forward.
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.
Travers (Haunches-In)
A lateral movement in which the horses moves forward on three tracks, his shoulders and front legs on the track and his hindquarters to the inside of the track. The horse is bent in the direction of movement and the outside legs cross in front of the inside legs as he moves forward. The travers becomes a half-pass when the horse moves off the rail on a diagonal line.
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.
Volte
A small circle, about six meters in diameter.
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
Age Levels
Junior – up to the age of eighteen
Young rider – age nineteen to twenty-one
Adult – over the age of twenty-one
Acknowledgements
Without the encouragement, support, editing, and suggestions of my wonderful husband, Dom, I would be unable to finish any book. Without my wonderful readers, especially those of you who have sent letters of encouraging praise and helpful suggestions, there would be no point. Thank you.
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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]
For The Love of Horses (Pegasus Equestrian Center) Page 39
