THE RIDE

The door flew open and she jumped out of the bus, running with her long hair flowing in the cool-spring breeze. She lept to the gate and holding on to the top rail hollered, "Come Boy!"

Almost immediately a rumble of hooves could be heard from beyond the hill above the sound of the wind whistling through the barren trees. A whinny loudly blared as he crested the hill, long dark mane and tail flowing out behind the chestnut gelding as he raced to the corral in anticipation of treats and play-time. He ran up to her on a full gallop, stopping just short of the gate in a whirl of snow. He nuzzled her with his nose and she leaned forward to give a big hug, and cleverly threw the lead shank of a halter around his neck with a giggle.

He calmly stood still while she haltered him, and obediently followed her over towards the barn where she tied his lead to the top rail. Soon she was out with the brush. She started at his mane and worked her way back and then down, how he loved being brushed.

"There you go Total, that feels good doesn't it" she said while brushing his rump, his lip curling in delight.

She placed the thick soft saddle pad on his withers, sliding it back into position. Then she threw the saddle expertly into place on his back, and tied the cinch.

Total looked back over his shoulder at the horse and rider standing patiently at the corral gate and acknowledged them with a soft whinny.

"It's OK there fella," she said while leading him out of the barn.

She mounted him easily, seeming much older than her 13yrs suggest, and placed her feet in the stirrups. She felt at home again, free of the stress of the school day and general teenager stuff.

As they walked slowly into the field, a gust of cold wind caused her to shiver and roll up the collar of her slicker, and a few flakes of snow began to fall.

The lone rider patiently waited in the field for her, and pulled up alongside her. The little sorrel mare gently nuzzled Total as she walked alongside, and he nuzzled back. They are very familiar with each other.

"I'm very proud of you," said the grizzled cowboy dressed in an old weathered jean jacket, jeans, cowboy boots and an old Indiana Jones type hat, "You really handle him well."

They continue walking silently with the horses shoulder to shoulder, up around the corner of a bush and down an old path through the trees. It was snowing large fluffy flakes now. The trail meandered for another quarter-mile and then opened into a hay field.

"Look

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