Horse Mad Summer by Kathy Helidoniotis

Author:Kathy Helidoniotis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

TWELVE

Toeing the Line

The next day Becky didn’t show for the lesson we’d planned for Jenna in our paddock. I tried to convince myself that she was busy preparing for Waratah Grove, but in my heart I knew the truth. I’d hurt Becky without meaning to, without even knowing I’d been doing it. I tried to push my feelings aside and concentrate on Jenna, but it wasn’t easy.

Jenna was mounted and ready to go. I hadn’t told Jenna about Becky. Jenna had enough to worry about. But it was getting hard, keeping all those secrets locked inside.

‘Isn’t Becky coming?’ she asked.

‘I…ah…She’s not feeling well. She called before,’ I stammered out my little white lie.

‘When?’ Jenna peered down at me from Cassata’s back.

I scratched at my fringe, thinking hard. ‘Before. Ready to get started?’

Jenna nodded. ‘As I’ll ever be.’

‘This,’ I said, holding up a long red rope, ‘is a lunge line.’

Jenna frowned and raised an eyebrow. ‘What does it have to do with me?’

‘I’m going to clip it to Cassata’s cavesson—the special headstall that she’s wearing under her bridle,’ I added, noticing the mystified expression that had swept across Jenna’s face.

Jenna patted Cassata’s neck while I secured the lunge line. ‘Lunging is a great way to develop your seat. You can also get a bit of practice trotting without worrying that she’ll get out of control. Ready, Freddy?’ I grinned. Jenna nodded slowly and grabbed at the reins.

I stepped forward. ‘Uh-uh. No reins.’

‘What? How can I ride without reins? It’d be like driving a car without a steering wheel.’ That familiar look of terror crept back into Jenna’s eyes.

‘You have a steering wheel,’ I said, shaking the lunge line at her. ‘Me!’

Jenna leant over to check that her feet were firmly wedged in the stirrups.

‘Uh-uh,’ I said again, shaking my finger like a cranky teacher. ‘No stirrups either.’

‘I’m getting off,’ Jenna said automatically. She was on the ground before you could say ‘palomino’.

I gave her a look and handed her the lunge line, unclipping it from Cassata’s cavesson.

‘I’ll show you what to do.’ I pulled on Jenna’s helmet and mounted Cassata. Once I was comfortable in the saddle I removed the stirrups and tossed them into a clump of grass near the fence.

‘First thing is to do some stretches in the saddle. Like this.’

I demonstrated a few easy toe-touches and some arm swinging. Jenna watched with huge blue eyes.

‘Now for the good stuff. Walk on!’

Cassata, responding to my voice and the signals from my legs, began a slow circular amble. I didn’t have to work very hard to stay in the saddle. She was so perfect for Jenna, such an easy-going horse. I couldn’t figure out why Jenna was so scared.

‘Trrr-rot!’ I called. Cassata jerked awake and began to trot slowly. ‘Watch this, Jen. Horizontal arms.’

I stuck my arms straight out, like wings, and settled into a good natural rhythm with Cassata’s strides. ‘Lunging is a great way to correct any mistakes you’re making in the saddle. Once you’ve found the right position, the rest just happens.

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