Page 45 of Christmas at Sturcombe Bay
The horse nuzzled against her shoulder as she stroked her neck. Cassie skipped down from the gate and opened it, and the horse walked through. She put her hand in her pocket, produced a Polo mint, and gave it to Jess.
“Here, give her this and she’ll be your friend for life.”
Jess smiled. “Thanks.” She laid the mint on the palm of her hand and held it out to the horse. With a lap of a soft pink tongue and lips, it disappeared. She stroked her hand down the long muscular neck. “She’s a beauty.”
“She’s a three-quarter bred Irish Draught. She’s twenty-four years old so she’s come here to retire, but she still likes a nice steady walk now and then. I’ll saddle her up for you while you find yourself a helmet that fits. There’s plenty to choose from in the tack room.”
“Thank you.”
She followed Cassie to the room at the end of the row of stables, the horse ambling along behind them. A rich smell of wood, leather and liniment hit her nostrils. It was like an equestrian Aladdin’s cave with every kind of horse-riding equipment stored neatly on hooks and shelves.
“I’ll saddle up Missie and come out with you,” Cassie said. “She likes a steady walk too.”
“Can I help?” Jess asked, eager to learn.
Cassie smiled. “Of course. I’ll show you what to do. You can be my first pupil.”
“Oh?”
“I’m going to set up my own training school.” Cassie’s voice lilted with enthusiasm. “Working with horses and owners, teaching the natural horsemanship methods I learned in Montana.”
“That sounds great!”
“My nanna left me some money and I’ve found the ideal place for it, just up by the main road. There was an old farmer called Harry Ellicot, and when he died Tom Cullen bought his land. But there’s a good-sized paddock and a big barn which will be ideal for what I want.”
She selected a bit and bridle from the hooks along the wall, and walked back out to where Bella was waiting patiently. “Okay now, you always approach them from the left.”
“Why’s that?”
“It’s standard practice, so they expect it. It’s supposed to date back to when soldiers wore their swords on the left, so mounting from the left kept the swords out of the way. Speak softly to them, to let them know you’re there.”
Jess nodded as Cassie murmured sweet nothings to Bella, stroking gently down her sleek neck.
“You need to be smooth and easy with them. They’re big, but they evolved as a prey animal so they startle easily, and they have a helluva kick.”
Jess smiled. “Thanks for the warning.”
“Okay, to fit the bit, coax the horse to open her mouth with your left thumb,” Cassie went on. “Guide the bit in gently and be careful not to let it knock against her teeth. Then you lift the bridle with your right hand. See how it moves the bit up into the corners of her mouth?”
“Oh, yes. I always thought it looked a bit cruel, putting that piece of metal in their mouths.”
“They don’t mind it,” Cassie assured her, “so long as you’re gentle with them.” She went on fitting the tack, explaining as she went. “Now, check that it’s all straight, then tuck the reins up while you put on the saddle, so she doesn’t tangle her foot in them.”
She went back into the tack room to fetch a saddle.
“Pad first, then take the saddle and hike it onto your hip like this. Then swing it up and lay it gently over the pad. Never, ever, just dump it on her back.” She huffed out a sharp breath as she hoisted the saddle over the horse and lowered it carefully.
“It looks heavy,” Jess remarked.
“This one weighs about twenty pounds. English saddles are a lot lighter than American ones.” As she spoke, she continued demonstrating how to adjust the saddle and tighten the girth. “Right, all done. Take her over to the mounting block. She only needs a light hand on her bridle — she knows what to do. One foot in the stirrup, a hand on the pommel, then up and over. And lower yourself gently . . . perfect.”
Jess laughed. “It’s pretty much like getting on a motorbike.”
“Feel okay?”
“Yes.” Jess couldn’t help smiling. “Fine.”
“Good.” Cassie adjusted the stirrups to the right length. “Now, let yourself relax. Don’t squeeze her with your knees, just give her a gentle nudge with your heels to coax her forward. Walk her slowly round the yard to get used to it while I saddle up Missie, then we can get going.”
