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Authors: Linda Snow McLoon
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farrier said his feet were healthy, and she wanted to keep them that way. When she had finished, she attached his lead shank to his halter, unclipped the cross-ties, and led him toward the indoor, his shoes ringing on the cement floor.
CHAPTER 6
Trouble Brewing
THE INDOOR ARENA was wall-to-wall horses when Sarah and Prince approached it from the stable entryway. To allow more than one class to ride simultaneously, cavalletti had been placed across the arena to divide it into two working areas. Jack was instructing a group of adults in the far end, while in the closer section, Lindsay worked with a class of intermediate riders. A few well-placed cones marked a boundary that reserved a small portion of the arena for boardersâ horses.
Sarah scanned all the activity. Along with a number of horses that had trucked in for lessons, it looked like every one of the Brookmeade school horses was in the arena. With so many horses going in all directions, Prince became anxious, pulling on the lead shank. He might have some extra energy after all!
Kelly and Nicole were walking and trotting their horses in the tight space reserved for the boarders. This was where Sarah was headed, and the last thing she wanted was trouble with those girls. Having a problem with Rita the day before was bad enough. Maybe she should just take Prince back to his stall and forget this.
No!
she thought.
Iâm not going to let those two keep us out. With the rain, the indoor is the only place we can walk, and Prince needs to get some exercise.
When she saw the entrance was clear, she called out, âGate!â and walked him into the arena.
Thankfully Kelly and Nicole were tracking left. Sarah led Prince close to the rail in the same direction so horses could pass her easily. From the tension on the lead shank, even at walk, she could tell Prince was tense, particularly when a horse came close to them.
Just let them keep their distance! s
he thought. Prince moved with his head high, and his ears flicked in all directions as he took in the activity around him. It seemed like there were horses moving everywhere, and riders in Jackâs class were cantering through a short gymnastic jumping line. When Prince pulled on the shank to go faster, Sarah had to give frequent short tugs to slow down his walk and keep him listening to her. She was glad for the chain shank over his sensitive nose that helped regain his attention when necessary.
Sarah glanced around to check on the riders, hoping they wouldnât come too close. Kelly Hoffman on Midnight Jet was not far away, and when their gazes met, Kelly gave Sarah a dark look before turning away and almost immediately putting her horse into a brisk trot, making as large a circle as space allowed. Glancing over her shoulder, Sarah saw that Kelly and Jet were approaching them closely from behind. To give Kellyâs horse as much room as possible, Sarah pushed her arm against Princeâs shoulder, and with the shank, asked him to move closer to the wall. When she looked again, Kelly and her horse were directly behind Prince, coming up fast. It looked like Midnight Jet might actually brush up against her horse!
âWatch it!â Sarah called out, but it was too late. Crown Prince was also aware of the other horse moving quickly toward his rear, and as the bay Quarter Horse came upon him, Prince kicked out in warning with his left hind leg, causing Jet to shy hard to the left to avoid the blow. Kelly wasnât prepared for the unexpected swerve, and she lurched partially out of the saddle, making her horse shy even more to the left. With a cry of frustration, Kelly fell from her horse and landed hard on the arena floor. Midnight Jet cantered away, his reins hanging loose and stirrups flapping.
Someone shouted, âLoose horse!â and all the other riders in the arena quickly brought their horses to a halt. Lindsay left her class and immediately walked toward Midnight Jet, who had stopped by
CHAPTER 6
Trouble Brewing
THE INDOOR ARENA was wall-to-wall horses when Sarah and Prince approached it from the stable entryway. To allow more than one class to ride simultaneously, cavalletti had been placed across the arena to divide it into two working areas. Jack was instructing a group of adults in the far end, while in the closer section, Lindsay worked with a class of intermediate riders. A few well-placed cones marked a boundary that reserved a small portion of the arena for boardersâ horses.
Sarah scanned all the activity. Along with a number of horses that had trucked in for lessons, it looked like every one of the Brookmeade school horses was in the arena. With so many horses going in all directions, Prince became anxious, pulling on the lead shank. He might have some extra energy after all!
Kelly and Nicole were walking and trotting their horses in the tight space reserved for the boarders. This was where Sarah was headed, and the last thing she wanted was trouble with those girls. Having a problem with Rita the day before was bad enough. Maybe she should just take Prince back to his stall and forget this.
No!
she thought.
Iâm not going to let those two keep us out. With the rain, the indoor is the only place we can walk, and Prince needs to get some exercise.
When she saw the entrance was clear, she called out, âGate!â and walked him into the arena.
Thankfully Kelly and Nicole were tracking left. Sarah led Prince close to the rail in the same direction so horses could pass her easily. From the tension on the lead shank, even at walk, she could tell Prince was tense, particularly when a horse came close to them.
Just let them keep their distance! s
he thought. Prince moved with his head high, and his ears flicked in all directions as he took in the activity around him. It seemed like there were horses moving everywhere, and riders in Jackâs class were cantering through a short gymnastic jumping line. When Prince pulled on the shank to go faster, Sarah had to give frequent short tugs to slow down his walk and keep him listening to her. She was glad for the chain shank over his sensitive nose that helped regain his attention when necessary.
Sarah glanced around to check on the riders, hoping they wouldnât come too close. Kelly Hoffman on Midnight Jet was not far away, and when their gazes met, Kelly gave Sarah a dark look before turning away and almost immediately putting her horse into a brisk trot, making as large a circle as space allowed. Glancing over her shoulder, Sarah saw that Kelly and Jet were approaching them closely from behind. To give Kellyâs horse as much room as possible, Sarah pushed her arm against Princeâs shoulder, and with the shank, asked him to move closer to the wall. When she looked again, Kelly and her horse were directly behind Prince, coming up fast. It looked like Midnight Jet might actually brush up against her horse!
âWatch it!â Sarah called out, but it was too late. Crown Prince was also aware of the other horse moving quickly toward his rear, and as the bay Quarter Horse came upon him, Prince kicked out in warning with his left hind leg, causing Jet to shy hard to the left to avoid the blow. Kelly wasnât prepared for the unexpected swerve, and she lurched partially out of the saddle, making her horse shy even more to the left. With a cry of frustration, Kelly fell from her horse and landed hard on the arena floor. Midnight Jet cantered away, his reins hanging loose and stirrups flapping.
Someone shouted, âLoose horse!â and all the other riders in the arena quickly brought their horses to a halt. Lindsay left her class and immediately walked toward Midnight Jet, who had stopped by
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