"Morning, Marion, Jack." She said, smiling to each of them in turn.
"Morning." Jack and Marion echoed.
"Okay, so what's the plan for today?" Lisa asked, rubbing her hands together nervously.
"Well," Marion said, "I'd like to start just by watching you interact with Aztec. And then we can see how far we get. I asked my dad to join us," Marion nodded at Jack, "thinking that maybe we could use Paint to pony Aztec, since he's used to that from the track." Jack and Lisa both nodded in agreement. "Alright, let's get started!" Marion clapped her hands together.
They walked to the barn and as they approached Aztec's stall Marion and Jack stepped aside and allowed Lisa to work with the horse.
Lisa picked up the lead rope and slowly opened the door to the stall. Aztec ran forward, mouth agape as if to bite her in the face. Lisa stood still, her breathing normal. She didn't flick the leadrope or shout. She just stood there and raised her right hand. With her hand she made a pushing movement at the air. And to Marion's surprise Aztec took a few steps backward.
"What is that you did with your hand?" Marion asked.
Lisa turned, one hand on the leadrope and the other on the door. "Oh, my groom Harry noticed that Aztec hates to be touched, especially when he's in a mood, so he came up with a few hand gestures that seem to deescalate the situation."
"Like sign language." Marion said.
"It's nothing that elaborate." Lisa replied. "Just a few simple movements that he can understand. Touching him just seems to rev him up."
"Interesting." Marion said, "This Harry sounds like a great horseman."
Lisa smiled, her face brightening, "I am lucky to have him, he's been such a help these past few years."
And, as Lisa and Marion's attention was turned away from Aztec, he struck. He spun quickly and double-barrel kicked at Lisa's head.
Jack caught the horse's eye change and shouted, "Lisa, look out!" He grabbed her arm, and she jumped to the side, as Aztec kicked the air where her head had previously been. They stood, Lisa clinging to Jack. Both were both breathing heavily, still shocked by what had happened. Lisa stepped back, smiling nervously up at Jack. As Jack stepped back and slowly let go of her shoulders, "Are you okay?"
"Fine. Thanks to you." She said, a bit shaken.
Horrified at almost getting her client killed, Marion said, "Okay, well I think that's probably enough for today."
"No," Lisa said, shaking her head. "He's worse every time he gets away with something like that. Plus it's my fault, since I got distracted. I'm okay. I'd like to try again."
"You're sure?" Jack said, touching her arm gingerly.
Lisa nodded and Marion said, "Alright. If you're sure."
Lisa approached the stall again. Aztec came at her, even faster this time. Rearing, his front feet striking and flashing. Lisa stood her ground and made the same motion with her hand that she had previously, but a bit faster. He threw his head up in the air and took three angry, quick steps backward.
Lisa lowered her hand slowly, as if she were stroking the horse's head from a distance, and he dropped his head, exhaling loudly. Lisa approached and attached the lead rope to his halter. Then she walked him out of the stall.
"So you use your hand motions to back him up." Marion said.
"And to cue him to put his head down or up." Lisa said. "As I said, it's rudimentary."
Marion nodded, "But that gives me something I can work with. Okay, dad, grab Paint, and let's take them to the round pen!"
They walked to the round pen and Jack put his foot in the stirrup and mounted Paint. Lisa walked Aztec next to him, as Marion instructed, letting the two horses get to know one another.
"Okay, Lisa," Marion called, "Hand my dad the leadrope!" Lisa did as she was instructed and stepped aside as Aztec followed Paint around the pen at a walk and a trot.
Marion and Lisa watched from the rail as Jack put the horse through its paces and used the leadrope to communicate with him.
"He looks good, dad." Marion called.
"Yeah, he's handling real well." Jack said, "Doesn't seem to have much trouble when his handler's on a horse."
"Yeah. He's always been okay when ponied or in the tack. It's just on the ground he's a holy terror." Lisa said.
"Okay." Marion said, clapping her hands together. "We're going to work backwards with this guy. We're going to work with him under saddle and using a pony horse, and see if we can't get him to be more respectful on the ground that way."
"That's fine by me." Lisa said.
"You may never be able to sell him as a racehorse." Marion warned, "That atmosphere may always be too charged for him."
"I'd just be happy, if we could find something he likes to do, or if he can stand at stud." Lisa said. "I just want him to have a good life. And not to have to be euthanized for being a dangerous horse."
Marion nodded. "Okay. Let's tack him up!"
Jack froze, saying, "You're going to ride this horse…" while looking at Marion.
Marion shook her head. "No." she said. Jack took a deep breath, before she added. "Lisa is."
Jack looked at Marion as if she couldn't possibly be serious.
"You alright with that?" She asked Lisa.
Lisa nodded. "If you think it will work, let's try it!"
Jack stared between the two women and opened his mouth to object.
"Dad," Marion cut him off, "Lisa is the best person to have ride him. First off, I think he eventually might like the sort of riding she does." Lisa nodded in agreement. "And secondly," Marion continued, "I did a bit of research on your career, Lisa, after my eldest daughter told me all about Fairfield, and unless I am mistaken, you used to work as an exercise rider."
She nodded. "Many years ago, when I worked for my dad." Lisa admitted, "And when I left Hudson, that's what I did professionally before I got married."
Jack nodded, understanding now where Marion was coming from. "Alright, let's do this!"
They tacked Aztec up in an English saddle, and gave him a few minutes being ponied around by Jack and Paint to adjust to the heavier weight of a heavier saddle. Lisa then got a leg up from Marion. And Jack and Paint ponied Lisa and Aztec around the round pen. Aztec relaxed and trotted around happily as Jack and Paint led the way.
"Okay," Marion said, when they came down to a walk. "I think that's enough for one day. Good job, both of you!"
Lisa smiled at Jack and they both dismounted their horses and led them back to the barn.
Marion looked from Lisa to Jack. "Are you both okay, if we move forward in this manner, working with Aztec and Paint."
"If you think it'll work, I'm in." Lisa said.
"Me too," Jack said. "I'm happy to help in any way I can."
"Alright." Marion said, clapping her hands. "Let's meet at the same time tomorrow!"