The Island Stallion's Fury by Walter Farley

Author:Walter Farley [Farley, Walter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-80487-7
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2011-08-16T16:00:00+00:00

EARLY TRAINING

10

It was the third morning after their return to Blue Valley, and Steve knelt beside the foal, feeding him. He watched the quick movements of the colt’s mouth as he sucked the milk through the nursing nipple. The large, bright eyes were on him, fearful that he would take the bottle away. Smiling, Steve turned to Flame, who stood behind them, watching and still curious about all that went on.

Steve talked to the stallion while feeding the foal. There had been slight indications at times that Flame might be a little jealous of all the attention the colt was getting. But never had Flame shown any outright animosity toward the colt. He was careful never to push him when he grazed near him during the day. And at night Steve always put the colt in Bottle Canyon.

Everything was going very well and Steve was thankful. Just as Dr. Mason had said, the foal didn’t seem to mind having his injured leg held from hoof to rump in a fixed position. He went where he pleased at a slow walk, but Steve never let him stray too near the band. His early training had been started, too, for now he wore the soft web halter as if it always had been a part of him.

They were beneath the ledge, and Steve shifted his eyes from the stallion and the colt to where Pitch was sitting above. He saw his friend working on his manuscript. He was glad of that, too. Everything was as it should be again. Pitch was back enjoying the work he loved so much, while he, Steve, took care of the colt. Pitch left them pretty much alone now; perhaps he was still wary of Flame after his terrifying experience with the stallion when he’d tried to rope the bay mare.

The colt finished the milk in the bottle and held on to the nipple with tight lips as Steve attempted to take it away from him.

“That’s enough. Nothing there but air, and that’s not good for you to swallow.” Steve pulled the bottle away, and rose to his feet.

Flame circled them, snorting, while the colt watched his sire. Steve snapped a lead shank to the halter. “Come on, fellow,” he said. The foal, intent on following Flame’s movements, hesitated a moment. Steve waited patiently until he had his attention again. For a few minutes each day he was teaching the colt to be led, to have complete confidence in whatever he asked him to do. His schooling now would make it easier later on, when the colt would be ever so much bigger and stronger and Steve took him home.

Finally the foal started forward and Steve walked a few more steps away. He went to the left, then to the right, the little colt following him. He stopped before the post to which Pitch had intended tying the bay mare. That post was useful to Steve during this early training, and now he tied the end of the rope shank about it and sat down, watching the foal.

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