Horsemen Trials, A Fantasy Story about Horses

Chapter 14

They struggled on like that for awhile, and by the end Checkmate was thoroughly spent, yet neither Lillian's seat nor Checkmate's canter had improved at all. That further cemented my choice not to take my lesson. Mr. Bellton had not produced results, unless you count the bad side effects to Checkmate. I didn't.

"We'll crack it next week Lillian, in the mean time, keep working on those circles," said Mr. Bellton. Yeah, he'd crack it all right. He'd crack poor Checkmate's giving spirit.

"Same time and day Mr. Bellton?" Lillian asked.

"Yes."

I bit my lip to hold my tongue as Lillian handed Mr. Bellton her money. I didn't think he deserved it. Well, okay, he had invested his time, I'd give him half for that.

I held the gate open for Lillian as she came through, but instead of going in myself I closed it.

"Aren't you here for a lesson?" Called Mr. Bellton.

"I was. Look, Mr. Bellton, I can tell your harsher method will not work good with me or my horse. I'll pay you for your time, but I will not take the lesson."

He shrugged. "If that's what you want."

That sent alarm bells ringing. He didn't seem to care about me or my horse, so long as he got the money.

I paid him, mounted Destiny, and practically dragged Lillian out of there.

She gave me a strange look once we were on the road and far down from Mr. Bellton's property. "Why didn't you take your lesson?"

"Lillian, let's be honest here." I turned in my seat to look at her. "Mr. Bellton didn't do a thing for you. He only deserved half of the money you gave him. Not to mention he was very hard on you and Checkmate."

Her face wrinkled as she protested. "No, he did do something for us. Checkmate got the left lead a couple of times! I've never been able to do that by myself."

"Because you weren't brave enough to force the circle that small," I countered. "You basically put Checkmate between a rock and a hard place, making it nearly impossible for him do what you asked, yet demanding it of him anyway."

"No I didn't, Checkmate was just being stubborn."

I wanted to through my hands up. "No, no, no! Don't you see, it's-" I interrupted myself, not wanting to hurt her feelings, and knowing she wouldn't very easily accept the truth from me.

"It's what?" She prompted.

"Tell you what: come with me tomorrow to Mr. Blair's place and tell him about Checkmate's problem. I'm sure he can fix it, with a lot less work and harshness."

Lillian hesitated, looking conflicted.

"Please Lillian. I came to Mr. Bellton's, didn't I? And Mr. Blair won't charge you anything." I pleaded with her, unable to bear the thought of Checkmate going round and round on small circles relentlessly, only to keep getting the wrong lead.

"Alright," she reluctantly conceded.

"Oh thank you, I know you won't regret it!"

"I hope not."

We parted ways and I made my way on Destiny to Mr. Blair's place. We still hadn't done our training for the day, and she was ready to go.

Mr. Blair was instructing Norah when I arrived. He heard Destiny's hoofbeats and turned.

"Iris?" Mild surprise shown on his face. "I thought you were going to Mr. Bellton's?"

"I was." I halted Destiny next to him. "But after watching Lillian's lesson, I just couldn't."

I shook my head. "It was terrible. Checkmate was 'refused' to get the left lead. But he couldn't because Lillian's seat and leg was blocking him. They just kept working him and working him on this tiny circle that he couldn't balance on. I know he wanted to get the left lead, I know he would've, but Mr. Bellton never corrected her seat. He never corrected her at all!"

Mr. Blair gave me a faint smile at my tirade. "I'm glad you could see what was wrong. Just be careful, Iris, that you don't get prideful about it."

I blushed, fairly chagrined. "True enough sir. I invited Lillian to come over tomorrow to have a lesson with you, I hope that's alright."

"It's fine Iris. And I'm assuming you want your regular lesson?"

I smiled at him. "If you please."

After Norah was done, I had my lesson. And it was much better than having Mr. Bellton screaming at me.

I never went back to him again.

The next day I met Lillian under the willow tree again. I couldn't deny I was the tiniest bit excited to see Lillian suddenly realize what was wrong with Checkmate, or rather, with her. But I kept my trap shut about that. I didn't want to offend her.

"I don't know, Iris. I mean, what could Mr. Blair possibly do that me or Mr. Bellton hasn't tried already?" She complained as we came to Mr. Blair's place.

I gave her a slight grin. "You'll see."

She frowned at me in disbelief, then shrugged. "Well, what have I got to loose anyway?"

Mr. Blair was schooling Rejem as we came up the road through the trees. I became enraptured as I watched them work together, dancing in an elegant piaffe.

"Wow," whispered Lillian.

I simply nodded.

Mr. Blair let Rejem trot on, then brought him down to a walk. "Good day, Iris, and?"

"Good day, Mr. Blair. This is my friend Lillian, who I told you about yesterday."

He nodded. "Welcome, Lillian. What is your horse's name?"

I saw some surprise on Lillian's face, Mr. Bellton had never asked Checkmate's name. He had simply called him, 'horse.'

"Checkmate, sir."

"A fine name. Iris said you were having some trouble with him, he won't pick up the left lead?"

Yes sir, he just won't do it, unless you put him on a tight circle."

"Alright. Well, let's get started. You girls start warming up while I finish up with Rejem. Lillian, canter on the right rein first, but not the left until I'm watching you."

We voiced our agreement and began our warm-up. I did slow stretchy walk to begin with, Destiny was getting really good at that. Then I gently asked her to raise her head, shortening the reins, and did some circles.

After that I asked for trot, and did more circles to encourage her to step under herself. Once that was good I took a small walk break, then gathered the reins again.

I got a good forward trot, then sat and moved my outside leg back. She sprung up into canter like she should and I made sure that my seat complimented her. If I wasn't careful, she'd end up breaking into trot.

We cantered for a lap or so, then I brought her down to walk, changed the rein, and asked for a canter again. Another lap of canter, then we were done with the warm-up.

I walked Destiny over to where Lillian and Mr. Blair were talking about Checkmate's lead problem, and what had been done to try to solve it.

"Alright. Go try cantering on the left lead, let me see it," urged Mr. Blair.

Lillian nodded and took Checkmate to the edge of our makeshift arena. At a corner she sat and asked for the left lead, but of course Checkmate got the right lead instead. I could see the frustration of Lillian's face.

She brought Checkmate back to us. "See? He does that every single time."

"And no wonder. You are telling him to canter on the right lead."

"What? No I'm not."

"You are, not with your leg but with your seat. He can't canter on the left lead or he'll be unbalanced."

Lillian looked confused.

Mr. Blair dismounted from Rejem and walked over to her. "See, the canter is a diagonal gait, and your seat must move to accompany it. It doesn't have to be much, but it has to be there."

"When you're cantering, be it with the right lead or left, your inside hip has got to come forward to accompany it. Otherwise, he is unbalanced, and he hates that."

"When you're asking for the left lead, without realizing it, you are in position for the right lead. Your outside hip is forward, when it should stay in it's place."

"So when you go to ask again, make absolutely sure you are in position for it. Your inside hip doesn't have to be too forward, but it must be forward."

Lillian went out and tried again. This time her position was better, and I watched eagerly.

With a pensive face, she sat down and asked for the left lead.

Checkmate sprung right into it. I could almost hear him saying, "Finally!"

Lillian's face transformed into surprise.