Page 46 of Waiting for Ru
Ru wondered if Mike expected him to be nervous of the energetic black gelding, but he wasn’t. He’d had the chance to get a feel for all the horses and though he was only able to build up a picture from snippets as he passed their stalls, or from overheard comments, he knew Midnight could be difficult.
A mint slipped to the horse before he even approached with a rope didn’t help. Midnight shied away, his nostrils flaring. But Ru persisted, talking quietly, hoping Mike couldn’t make out what he was saying.
“You’re a grand lad, so you are.Fìor bhòidhchead.” A real beauty. Ru held out another mint and the horse eventually took it and didn’t protest when Ru tied him to the post with a quick release knot. “So you’re a two mint pony, are you? I’ll remember that.”
Ru groomed him, feeling Mike watching his every move. The horse didn’t need grooming, but it was something that ought to be done immediately before a ride, so Ru did it, all the way through to cleaning the hooves. He checked the saddle pad was clean and thorn free, then put it over the horse from the left side before lifting on the saddle. Once he was happy it was in the correct position, he moved to the right side to fasten the girth. When he moved back to the left and tightened it, Midnight tried to bite him.
“None of that,” Ru said firmly. “Mind your manners or there’ll be no more mints.”
“Put on the boots,” Mike said. “Make sure the strap goes from the inside of the horse’s leg, wrapping around the front, so the end of the strap is facing backwards on the outside of the leg.”
Ru looked at Mike when he’d done all four legs and Mike nodded.
Once the reins, double bridles and martingale were on, Ru checked the girth again and found it was too loose. He suspected Mike knew that Midnight tended to tense his abdominal muscles when the girdle was tightened. But finally, Ru was happy he’d done the job properly and he led the horse out.
When he and Mike were in the yard, Mike climbed on Daze and watched Ru mount up. Ru couldn’t help but feel excited though when he saw the smirk on Mike’s face, he guessed what was coming.
“Now get off. You’re not riding.”
Ru dismounted as he saw Seb heading towards them. He handed over the horse and walked back to his room to take off his boots and helmet. Not reacting was the best response he could make. What he didn’t understand was why Mike was being like this with him.
On his way back to the barn, he saw Jasim approaching. It was all Ru could do not to turn and run away.
“Afternoon, Ru.”
Ru nodded and smiled. He could tell Jasim wanted to talk to him, but Paolo intercepted Jasim and Ru escaped.
