“He is really big.”

“Yeah, but he’s gentle; you’ll be fine.”

Daubber flinched when the saddle landed on his back, but he remained still allowing the girl to pull the straps tightly across his chest.

“Did you slap him?”

“No, he stood still; there was no need to slap him.”

“Yes there was. You don’t slap him because he moves; you slap him so the saddle won’t. If you slap him just before you tighten the straps he exhales. When he inhales with the straps in-place they remain tight. Then the saddle won’t slip while you’re riding.”

“I don’t want to slap him.”

“It’s okay, I’m sure he understands. Here you put the bit in his mouth, I’ll tighten the saddle.”

Barbara was a good friend. Amie met her at choir practice. The two girls were a perfect match. Barbara was tall, Amie was short, Barbara lived on a farm, Amie lived in a high-rise condominium, Barbara wore blue jeans and boots and, except for today, Amie wore dresses and patent-leather sandals. Opposites attract and they certainly did.

“Where do you go when you ride?” Amie still wasn’t comfortable about getting up on the big animal.

“Down past the pond, and through the woods. There’s a path...a trail, then back home. It’s fun.”

“How do you get the horse to go where you want?”

“Don’t worry, Daubber has done this before, he knows the way. I’ll show you how to direct him later if we decide to go somewhere else.”

Amie watched Barbara put a foot into a stirrup and swing herself up onto her hose and settle into the saddle. Amie tried to copy Barbara, but because she was short the stirrup was too high. “Take the halter and lead him to the fence. Climb up that way.”

When both girls were settled into saddles the horses began a slow swaying walk toward the pond. “Isn’t this exciting?” Barbara asked the rigid Amie.

“Yeah, it’s not as scary as I thought.”

“Wanna’ go a little faster?”

“No,” Amie answered to a laughing Barbara who was already several paces ahead.

Daubber responded to the change and began a slow gallop to stay with Barbara’s horse. By the time they reached the trees, both horses were at a full trot, and Amie was holding on for dear life. “Keep your head down, so low branches don’t hit you in the face,” Barbara yelled to Amie who already had her face buried in Daubber’s mane.

When Daubber stopped and stood motionless, Amie lifted her head and opened her eye. Barbara’s horse had an empty saddle, and was nibbling the short underbrush next to a contorted Barbara. “Are you okay?”

“No,” Barbara groaned. My shoulder is messed up and I think my leg is broken.”

“What should I do?” a shaking Amie asked.

“Ride Daubber back and get some help.”

“How? Remember I don’t know how to steer him.”

“You don’t have to. Just tell him to ‘go home.’ He knows the way.”

Barbara was correct. Daubber did know the way; soon Amie was explaining what happened to anxious parents. Responding paramedics prepared a waiting hospital for arrival of a dislocated shoulder caused by a low tree branch, and possible simple tibia fracture resulting from a fall.

Nearly two months after the accident, when Barbara no longer required a cast or crutches she approached her friend, “Hey Amie, wanna’ go horseback riding?” she asked smiling. “I was told I had to get back on that horse.”

By Robert L. Scarry

From: United States

Twitter: usnavy1990bob

Facebook URL: https://wwwfacebook.com/Robert.Scarry.3