Brumbies in the Snow by Paula Boer

Author:Paula Boer [Boer, Paula]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781925496932
Publisher: IFWG Publishing Australia
Published: 2018-02-26T16:00:00+00:00

Saturday dragged by. Louise struggled at the desk in her bedroom to finish off her assignment on the chemical properties of cleaning fluids. Boring, boring, boring. Ben had obviously been disappointed when she spoke to him at school on Friday and explained she wouldn’t be able to come to the farm today.

She thought about what he would be doing. Was he working Brandy? Perhaps he had gone for a ride in the park? What was Honey doing? Would the mare have forgotten all her lessons from having a week off?

Lessons. The word reminded Louise she had to finish her homework.

The following morning, having gained her parents approval, Louise rode over to Mirraburra. A thick layer of cloud hung low in the sky though no wind rustled the trees. Despite Everywhere looked grey and dismal, Louise felt in high spirits. Hopefully by the end of the day she would have ridden Honey.

Brandy’s head stuck out over the stable door as Louise propped her bike up in the hay shed. She wandered over and stroked his nose. “Hello, boy. Where’s Ben?”

“I’m in here.” The voice came from behind the liver chestnut stallion.

Louise peered into the gloom of the stable. “What are you doing?”

Ben straightened up and came over to the half door. “Trying to get the mud off his fetlocks. They’re caked solid. I’d go and catch Honey if I were you, she’s filthy too.”

“What did you get up to yesterday?” Louise wanted to find out how far behind she was with her horse. She hoped Ben hadn’t already backed Brandy.

“Chores. Dad decided that if you had to do homework, I should do farm work. I guess I’ve been getting a bit behind with helping out. Come on, hurry up, let’s not waste today.”

Louise didn’t need any further encouragement. Grabbing a headcollar from the hook in the tack room, she went out to the home paddock to look for Honey. She needn’t have worried about finding her; the buckskin mare stood at the rack tugging out long wisps of meadow hay. Ben had been right, she would need a lot of grooming. “Look at you. You must have been rolling in the muddiest spot you could find.”

Slipping the rope around the mare’s neck, Louise gave her a scratch on the crest before buckling on the headcollar. “I’m glad you don’t try to run away any more. I think you know where you’re well off.”

After leading her into the stable next to Brandy, Louise went and retrieved a grooming box and Honey’s saddle and bridle. Although Ben had made up a bridle for her, Louise used Ned’s saddle. Fortunately it fit the brumby’s broad back perfectly.

Ben came and looked over the stable door. “You can have the round yard if you like. I had a chance to work Brandy a bit in the week. Maybe we can try leading them out again this morning, and back them this afternoon?”

“Okay.” Louise quickly finished grooming her horse before saddling her up. She left the bridle off and led her out to the round yard.

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