Leap of Faith (29 page)

Jessica wasn't a huge fan of having a horse go 'round and around at the end of a rope, but it was useful to warm them up, get any excess energy out of the way and check for any lameness or ailments. She preferred to long-line them, which, like driving horses, involved two long reins. It meant she could turn and change direction without stopping them to unclip and change the rein to the other side.

But Jessica wasn't about to run two reins down the sides of Faith in case she'd never experienced that before, especially while she was alone. If the horse got a fright and freaked out and kicked her in the head or bolted and dragged her, she'd be in real trouble. This was a pleasing start. Best be satisfied with this and not push things too hard or too fast.

‘Who's a good girl?' she said, rubbing Faith's forelock. ‘Okay, how about the other way?' She unclipped the rein and went around to clip it onto the other side of the lunge cavesson underneath the bridle. She gave the horse a final pat on the shoulder.

‘Okay, off you go. And walk on,' she commanded. Again the horse obediently moved away from her and started on a large circle. ‘Walk on. Good girl.' She really did have a lovely stride. ‘And trot on.'

Jessica marvelled at how the horse seemed equally happy and smooth and balanced going this way. She smiled at her calm, long frame. Yep, when she was well covered and her coat was healthy and shone, Faith wouldn't be a bad looker at all.

Jessica became mesmerised by her rolling gait as she watched her canter. And then she felt the ember of excitement that had been bubbling within her ignite into a fire. She was going to hop on the horse – right now. See if she really was as comfortable as she looked.

Shaking off the niggle of fear and trepidation – mainly about being home alone – she called Faith to a halt, rolled up the lunge rein, unclipped it and dropped it on the ground. Excitement fluttered in her belly. She tried to keep it down – she didn't want it to turn into full-blown nervousness and transfer to Faith and upset her.

She double-checked the girth and stirrup length, gathered up the reins and put her foot into the stirrup. Normally she used a mounting block so she couldn't drag the saddle painfully on the horse's withers, but Faith was so much smaller than anything she'd recently ridden she figured it would be fine. Hell, if she was fitter and about five years younger she'd probably have been able to vault onto her bareback!

Jessica sprang off the ground and leant her weight on the saddle a moment to test how Faith was going to react. Just an ear-flick of acknowledgement in her direction. She swung her leg over slowly and carefully, and lowered herself gently into the saddle. The horse shifted her weight to account for Jessica, but stood calmly and to attention. Careful to keep her wits about her, Jessica rubbed the horse's mane reassuringly.

‘Good girl,' she murmured, and stroked the horse on the shoulder. ‘Who's a good girl?' She tightened her reins after a few moments sitting quietly, applied a little leg pressure and said, ‘Walk on, Faith.' The horse responded.

Jessica made her way around the outer edge of the arena, concentrating on feeling the horse's stride beneath her. Just as she'd looked on the lunge, she felt smooth, even and light. After one full lap she gathered up the reins tighter to indicate something was going to happen and that the horse needed to pay attention, then applied more leg pressure, and said, ‘And trot. Good girl, trot on.'

Jessica was instantly surprised and impressed at how even Faith's trot was – even better than she'd looked from the ground. As she made her way around the arena, Jessica found Faith's stride was equally comfortable to sit-trot to as it was to rise to.

Gosh, what a lovely little horse
, she thought, looking along the neck that was lowered nicely in front of her. She longed to really gather her up into a shortened frame and then, after that, ask for a longer, medium trot – really put the horse through her paces. It was just so exciting. But she curbed her enthusiasm; pushing for too much too soon could end in a boilover and huge setback. She didn't think it would happen in this case – Faith seemed far too at ease and willing – but horses were horses and she'd been well indoctrinated by her father to always expect the unexpected and not become complacent.

Horses had brains and anything could go wrong in a split second. As well she knew. She shook the thought aside. She wasn't going to allow any negative memories to seep in and ruin this.

Dare she try for a canter? Yes, just a few strides. She gathered Faith up and applied her legs correctly. ‘And, canter.' Again the horse responded beautifully. Canter could often be a little tricky but there wasn't even the extra leap that so often happened with a new combination before they figured out how much pressure was needed and what response was expected.

Jessica wanted to let out a cheer, feeling like she was a little girl all over again, saying, ‘Look, Dad, no hands,' for the first time. But she didn't want to scare Faith. And, anyway, there was no one around to hear or see. She felt a wave of disappointment, but pushed it aside. She was a grown woman with years' worth of similar horse experiences, for goodness' sake.

As with her other paces, Faith's canter was beautiful and easy to sit to, just like a nice comfortable rocking chair. After a lap of the arena, Jessica brought Faith back to trot, then walk, and then halt. She didn't want to push her luck. Another golden rule with horses was to always aim to end a work session on a good note. Anyway, the poor horse was starting to darken with the first signs of sweat. She probably hadn't been ridden at all in the two years since that accident.

Jessica got off and made a big fuss of the horse, who lowered her head and buried her face in Jessica's chest in what Jessica took to be affection. Although she might just be tired and relieved her rider had dismounted.

‘What a gorgeous girl you are. Thank you,' Jessica said. She was surprised to find tears filling her eyes, and a few escaping down her cheeks. Her heart swelled and her chest began to tighten.

‘Would you like a hose off?' she asked. ‘I think you would, since you seem to like water so much, cheeky thing.' She put an arm over Faith's neck.

As she turned to walk back to the stable yard, she started slightly at seeing Tiffany standing in the shade by the corner of the building, almost out of sight. The dogs were beside her.

‘Hi,' she called.

Tiffany responded by clapping her hands and then saying quietly, ‘Bravo! Woo hoo! Well done, you!'

‘Did you see?' Jessica called excitedly. ‘She's gorgeous!'

‘I did. And, yes, she is,' Tiffany said, making her way over to Jessica. ‘You looked great together.'

‘She was awesome,' Jessica said, grinning like a kid at Christmas.

Tiffany beamed back. ‘I'm so pleased for you.' She hugged her friend briefly before reaching out and patting Faith, who offered a friendly nudge in return. ‘What a sweetie.'

‘And did you see her move? I would never have believed it.'

‘Is she easy to sit to? Looks like it; though you always look effortless in the saddle.'

‘Beautiful,' Jessica said with a sigh. ‘I'm just going to hose her off since she seems to like water.'

‘Okay. I'd offer to help, but …' Tiffany said, indicating her uniform with both hands.

‘No worries. Just a quick hose off then I'll be with you. Are you on your way to or from work?'

‘Both. I had an early start to supervise a delivery. I'm on an early, extra-long lunch break. Sorry, but I need some company and a fortifying cuppa after having Betty Green in for an hour, quizzing me over pellet composition.'

‘Oh God, you poor thing,' Jessica said, rolling her eyes sympathetically. Betty Green was well known in horse circles as being all talk and no action. She'd been on the dressage circuit for ever, but had never progressed beyond the basic levels. But by the way she spoke, the money she spent on gear, horseflesh, etc, she gave the impression she was on the Olympic team.

She apparently came from an ‘old money' family – not horsey old money – and was desperate to fit in, but didn't seem to grasp that doing well in horse sports required some talent and a lot of hard work, and not simply tossing wads of money around. Jessica and Tiffany often chuckled that she'd be better off donating a stack of cash to the Olympic team and have it as a tax deduction rather than waste it on lessons with the Olympic riders. Though at least she helped keep money flowing in the industry.

They giggled as Faith turned her nose up playfully and then grabbed the end of the hose in her teeth.

‘My Brandy hates being washed. This one's a real water baby,' Tiffany said in awe.

‘Yeah,' Jessica said. ‘See the new mini water feeders over there? That's because she definitely seems to have somewhat of an obsession – wouldn't leave the tub alone. Wasteful child, aren't you?' she said. When Faith released the end of the hose, Jessica put her finger over it and squirted her. She tilted her face into the spray and let out a snort.

‘Righto, enough is enough, let's see how you enjoy the sand,' Jessica said, reaching over and turning the tap off.

The girls stood shoulder to shoulder, their arms crossed on the top of the railing of what had once been Jessica's round yard, but was now a dedicated sand pit for horses to frolic in. The sun beat a beautiful drum on their backs.

‘I wonder if she knows what she's meant to do,' Jessica said, as they watched Faith slowly checking out the new space, having shaken the excess water from her coat.

‘It seems so,' Tiffany said when Faith, having dug up a patch of sand to make it softer, began turning around and then bending all her legs, preparing to roll.

‘Clever girl,' they said in unison as the horse gave a big harrumph and lowered herself to the ground with a flop.

Faith rolled over one way, paused to rub her back, and then continued onto her other side, covering her wet coat in sand. She rubbed her face against the ground and they laughed at how well she'd managed to plaster herself so fully.

‘She's clearly done this before,' Tiffany said.

‘Hmm. She looks happy enough,' Jessica said, after Faith stretched out on her side in the sun. Jessica smiled and made a mental note to not panic if she came out one day to find Faith lying in the paddock like this. When most horses lay on the ground, it was with their legs tucked up underneath them. Faith clearly preferred a pose that made her appear dead. It was a great sign she was so relaxed and trusting that she was prepared to lie in such a vulnerable position.

‘Come on, let's leave her be,' Jessica said. She packed everything away in the stable before they made their way back to the house.

‘So how's the ankle feeling after your first ride?' Tiffany asked as she settled at the kitchen table and Jessica set about putting the kettle on.

‘Great. Wouldn't even know there was anything wrong with it,' Jessica said, her voice coloured by the hint of surprise she was feeling. She hadn't actually given it any thought while riding, and hadn't noticed if it felt any different. Now she was focussed on it, though, the joint was aching. She decided it was a good ache; riding used different muscles and tendons to walking and running. In fact, she felt a little tight all over. But, again, it was the lovely feeling of tired muscles that told her she'd exerted herself. It felt good. But, crikey, she was unfit!

‘It's incredible that she's so trusting and relaxed, considering what she must have been put through at the hands of humans,' Jessica mused a few minutes later as they sat clutching their mugs.

‘Hmm. She's a smart horse,' Tiffany said. ‘Has clearly figured out what side of her bread is buttered. But seriously, this unconditional love and capacity to forgive that's part of most animals' makeup is just so amazing. I'd want to kill someone.'

‘I do,' Jessica said forcefully. ‘I'd love to track down the bastard who treated her badly.'

‘Hopefully the RSPCA did and whoever it was got prosecuted.'

‘Even if they did, the sentences are never enough.'

‘Don't go there. And don't go looking online for court transcripts. Just don't think about it at all. Knowing exactly what happened to her and who did it will only upset you. Just be thankful that you've given her a good home.'

‘Well, Steve did,' Jessica corrected.

‘It doesn't matter who did, Jess. She's here, and she's loved.'

‘I feel awful for thinking so badly of her when she arrived.'

‘Well, you've been in a pretty bad place. And it's not your fault you were raised to be a horse snob.'

‘Yeah, I was, wasn't I?'
On both counts.

‘Yes, but I still love you.'

‘Thanks. I'm really starting to see how messed up I am, thanks to Dad.'

‘God, Jess, that's a bit harsh on him – and you. It was what it was. And look where it got you. You were picked for the state team, for Christ's sake – that's one hell of an achievement. It was one of your big goals.'

‘You know what?' Jessica said, looking up at her friend.

‘What?'

‘My ride today was one of the most rewarding and satisfying of my life.' She was slightly shocked at the forcefulness of her words, but she meant every one of them. She'd thought she'd enjoyed eventing, but perhaps that had been for all the wrong reasons.

‘Wow,' Tiffany said. She raised her eyebrows and looked at her friend with a quizzical expression. ‘Faith really has got under your skin.'

‘I'm serious. I know I was on her for only about two minutes, but I felt a connection with her I haven't felt since I was a kid. It's always been me who's been the boss, demanded respect, performance. Of course I've had great partnerships over the years … God, listen to me. I'm not making sense. But I feel like something big has happened to me. At a soul level.'