Bridled Passion: A Horse Trilogy

EXCERPT FROM "Kelly: The Horse I Didn’t Want":

The next few months were busy. I exposed Kelly to everything, including showjumping, hunter trials and combined training.

She systematically jumped out of dressage arenas, ditched me at ditches, and steeplechased everything she did jump at a hundred miles an hour. She would kick me in the thighs when I tightened her girth at shows if I forgot her tidbit. Those were exhilarating times.

So why did I, the most average of average horsewomen, persevere?

Because, slowly, something good was happening. Her anxiety level at shows decreased. She began to trust me and jump fences she once refused. My confidence as her owner and rider grew: we were becoming a partnership.

She showed this one day at a competition. I was walking the course of jumps, while two friends tacked her up for me, and returned to find Kelly piaffing and throwing her head up, preparing to break loose.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“She won’t let us put on her tendon boots,” came the reply.

I patted her neck, saying quietly, “It’s Mum, Kelly.” She immediately stopped fretting and let me apply the boots.

My friends were astounded and so was I.