*Reigned In*
Prologue:
"Alice, Alice where are you?" I heard my mother crying out to me, though why she was so panicked I would never understand. I was completely at ease around these majestic creatures, and would never dream of hurting them, so I should always be safe here. That's the way the world works right?
"I'm right here Momma." I cried back, knowing she would be out of her mind with worry.
"Alice! How many times must I tell you not to run off on your own, it could be dangerous." I heard my mother's voice a second before I saw her rounding the corner out of the stables, climbing over the low wooded railing we have to keep the animals in, and over to the large paddock where I was currently grooming her horse beneath the ancient cherry tree.
"Oh, please momma, Django would never hurt me, as I would never hurt him." I said as I continued my soft patterns over his silky chestnut coat, reveling in the small twitches his greatly toned muscles would make as I moved over a sensitive or ticklish spot.
"No horse is ever completely safe my angel, these are all magnificent creatures brought to us from the wild, they were not born to be tame; they choose to be. They do not hurt us because of the bond we form with them over time, however horses are easily startled my dear, one wrong move and you could be injured, even if it was never Django's intention to hurt a child."
"I'll be fine Momma." I insisted, but never the less she still took the body brush out of my little hand and took over my place in grooming the horse.
"Rather safe than sorry my dear." She said softly. In no time at all the smile that is reserved for when she spends time with her horses was in full bloom over her pretty face. My mother may not be the standard image of beauty, but I think the beauty from within shines outward, making her look ever kind and extremely harmless.
I got my insistent love for these beautiful creatures from my mother, she taught me everything I know. She was right there with me when I was placed on a horse for the very first time. That horse was the very horse we are grooming. The first time I had been placed on Django's back with the intention of really riding him had been two years ago, back when I had been seven. Even before that I was hardly separated from the horses for long, I would always beg to be allowed to lead the horses around bareback, which resulted in my mother taking a halter and leading me around. My mother is very over-protective, but I guess it's just because she loves me, so I tolerate it. With the horses is the very first place my parents come looking whenever I wonder off, which is often.
She handed me back the body brush, and went to the grooming bag to fetch the small silver tail comb. "Here Ally, you continue brushing his stomach, and I'll do his tail." She said with a smile as she stood behind her beloved horse and brushed his tail in wistful strokes, always mindful of the knots and ends.
"When can I ride him again, Momma?" I asked, hopeful that I might get a few minutes to ride whilst my mother is here.
She laughed softly to herself before saying, "Okay, okay Alice. Go fetch his tack quickly and I will help you."
I barely waited for her to finish the sentence before I was speeding into the stables, heading for the
Tack room at the end of the isle that consisted of the stables where the horses rest at night. I grabbed his saddle and the bridle, threw the halter over my arm and dashed over to where my mother was leading Django to the mounting ramp.
She made it quick work to tie on the appropriate straps of the bridle as Django took the bit obediently into his mouth, the saddle was gently lowered onto his back and was strapped into place with the girth. My mother then led him to the ramp and held him still as I climbed onto his back.
The feeling of being on a horses back will never cease to amazing me, I always feel completely free, like I can accomplish anything. We quickly walk our way into the rubberized arena and do a quick warmup trot down the length of it. My mother stopped feeling the need to lead me about a year ago, she said I was a natural at this, and I had been getting better every time I rode. Django listened to the slightest touch of contact flowing from my hands through his mouth.
"Whenever you're ready darling." My mother said from the center of the arena.
Ready? I was born ready.
With one more slight squeeze from my calves we broke into a canter, this wasn't the controlled practiced canter we've been working on for months now under the careful supervision of my mother, no, this was the canter of a girl dying to just ride, and a horse dying to be ridden. We were in perfect harmony, stride to stride we were in precise sync, I could feel him and he could feel me.
Before long we were slowing, into the controlled canter again and then slowing some more into a forward going trot. The concentration that goes into keeping a horse moving like he should is overwhelming, some horses need to be pushed constantly, others had to be held back. Django was happy just going however I felt comfortable, and it was a relief to ride for the sake of riding.
We had been having lessons once a week, but those were all practice for the upcoming training show at the Manor. I would be competing Django there in the 80cm class. The lessons were all exactly the same, warmup, trot, controlled canter, jumping a few jumps and then cooling down, they were pleasant of course because I would still be on horseback, but nothing beats riding just for the sake of riding.
My mother then put a jump up, and we jumped it with ease. Show jumping is exactly my forte, I feel the most at ease when I'm flying through the air with my trusted steed, we never back down from any challenge. The highest I've been allowed to jump is 1'10, but I still feel ready for more. Jumping doesn't scare me, whereas some people look at my jumping and say it's a given talent, that I was meant to do this, I see it more as a way of growing my bond with my horse.
Even though we don't always succeed in whatever we attempted, it is routine for me to brush down whichever horse I was riding, because one should always be thankful, horses have the power to hurt a human at any given time, for whatever reason, people never give they're horse enough credit for allowing them to be carried on they're backs.
Even after Django had been brushed and returned to his stable, I could be found hanging around the stables, just feeling content to be around the horses. The smell of fresh shavings and horses always have been my favorite scent, if there was a perfume with this smell I would always wear it. My favorite time of the day is this time; twilight. My mother allows me to come to the stables alone because the horses are no danger, as they're locked into they're stables. I enjoy being alone with the horses, just watching them.
Most nights I come here to draw the horses, and only leave when my mother threatens to restrict me from coming here. Horses make me feel content and carefree, they make my spirits soar as if they too were riding horses. Horses are the best parts of my day, the only parts I really care to remember.