Schooling Horse

by Bonnie Bryant

  WITHOUT THINKING, LISA threw herself forward and grabbed for the reins. Milky’s hooves slashed the air dangerously near her head, and she felt one of his forefeet graze her shoulder before she managed to reach one of the reins and momentarily yank his head down. Carole grabbed David as he tumbled off to one side. Milky fought for his head. Lisa hung on desperately while Carole pulled David out of harm’s way. Milky reared again. Lisa felt her feet being lifted off the ground.

  “Stand clear!” bellowed Max. Lisa let go. Milky’s head snapped back when she released it. She watched in horror as he reared higher … higher … and then one of his hind feet slipped in the dirt. Milky crashed backward, hooves flailing, landing with all his weight on the empty saddle. He scrambled to his feet, shook himself, and went still, looking absolutely unconcerned.

  The Saddle Club and Max stood in horrified silence. David sobbed in Carole’s arms. On Milky’s back, the saddle was twisted and broken.

  Max stepped forward and took Milky’s reins. He turned to Lisa. “How did you know he was going to do that?” he asked.

  “It was her fault,” sobbed David. “She yelled at me. She frightened him.”

  “No,” said Max. “She might have yelled, but she didn’t frighten him. I saw it. The horse was going to rear anyway. Lisa, how did you know?”

  Lisa licked her dry lips. She knew she couldn’t lie to Max anymore. As it was, her untruthfulness had nearly caused David great harm. “I didn’t know he was going to do something,” she said. “I just thought he might, because of the look he had on his face. He reared with me this afternoon. Twice,” she added.

  Max’s face went white and then red. “And you didn’t tell me,” Max said in one of the quietest voices Lisa had ever heard him use.

  “And I didn’t tell you,” Lisa said.

  “Is this the first time he’s acted like this?”

  “It’s the first day he’s reared,” she said. “He’s done some other stuff before.” She hated to have Max upset with her, but she was surprised by how relieved she felt to finally tell him the truth.

  “Why don’t I take Milky back to his stall?” suggested Stevie.

  Max shook his head. “Go get Red,” he told her. “Ask him to put Milky away. None of my students is touching him again.” Max smiled at David. “You’re going to ride Barq in your lesson now,” he told the boy cheerfully. “Why don’t you go tack him up, and I’ll be right out when I’ve talked to Lisa for a minute.”

  David nodded. To Lisa’s surprise, he turned to her. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you,” he said. “I was mad that Max was letting you ride Milky all the time. I’ve been wanting and wanting to ride him.”

  Lisa understood. “He’s pretty, isn’t he?”

  “Yeah,” David said. “I don’t want to ride him now, though.”

  “Go get Barq,” Max told him. “Lisa—office.”

  “Can we come, too, Max?” Carole asked. They all knew that Lisa would be in trouble. Carole didn’t want her to have to face it alone.

  Max smiled at the entire Saddle Club. He put his arm on Lisa’s shoulder. “Of course. I want to talk to Lisa, but I’m not holding an inquisition. In fact, I’d like you to listen to what I have to say.”

  When Stevie came back with Red, the girls followed Max inside and sat down. Max kicked the door shut. “Trouble?” he asked Lisa gently.

  “Every single day,” Lisa admitted. She told him all about Milky’s behavior. The more she talked, the more agitated Max became. Finally he got up and walked around the room. “I think you were right about him trying to bite me last weekend,” she concluded, “but I just really didn’t want to admit it to myself.”

  “Why not?” Max asked. “Why didn’t you tell me about all this sooner?”

  “I kept thinking that he wasn’t really that bad,” Lisa said. She spread her hands in her lap. She could hear for herself how bad Milky’s behavior sounded. “I kept thinking I could change him. I’m sorry, Max. I know I’m wrong now, but I didn’t know I was wrong before. I didn’t want to admit that I couldn’t ride him.”

  “Rearing is very dangerous,” Max said. “I’m sure you could all see that for yourselves. I’ve never kept a dangerous horse in my stables, and I never will. I have too great a responsibility toward my students, and there are plenty of horses that do not have problems. Milky was here on trial, I told you that from the beginning. He’s going back tomorrow.”

  Lisa bowed her head. Good-bye, dream horse. But to her surprise, she didn’t feel disappointed that Milky was leaving. She only felt disappointed that Milky was Milky.

  Carole gave Lisa a sympathetic half hug. “What’s wrong with Milky, Max? I’ve never met a horse that acted like he does. Usually a horse is either high-strung or it isn’t. I’ve never seen one that could be so calm one minute and so mean the next.” Carole had known horses at military stables all over the country. She thought she’d seen almost everything.

  “He always felt like he was angry that I was riding him,” Lisa said. “Whenever he acted up, I felt like he was doing it to get me off him.”

  Max nodded. “I do know what you mean. Fortunately, horses like him are extremely rare. Probably, Lisa, he really did want to get you off his back. I don’t know what makes a horse act like that—whether it’s bad training or something wrong with his brain—but I do know that one who does never belongs in my stable, or in any stable where there are inexperienced riders. I hadn’t heard that anyone had had these sorts of problems with Milky, or of course I wouldn’t have tried him in the first place. But I did know that he’s had several previous owners, so I suspected that something about him might not be right. Usually, people hang on to good horses, especially when they’re as beautiful as Milky.”

  Max quit pacing and sat back down. “Sometimes, if a horse with Milky’s personality is extremely talented, a professional rider might try to put up with it, in order to capitalize on its talents in the show ring. But even most professionals won’t bother. Most of the time, there is no good home for a horse like him.”

  “So what’s going to happen to him?” Stevie asked. It sounded awful, no good home. She had seen what could happen to horses who had bad homes. No animal deserved abuse. On the other hand, she had just seen pretty clearly what could happen to people who had horses like Milky—the mangled saddle on his back was not something she’d soon forget. They were lucky they’d gotten David off in time.

  “I don’t know,” Max admitted. “But since I didn’t buy him, he’s not my problem. He’ll go back to the horse dealer who’s trying to sell him, and maybe the dealer will find him a suitable home. If no one wants him, he may end up being euthanized.”

  “But that’s horrible!” Carole said.

  “Yes, it is,” Max said. “But not nearly as horrible as his hurting David, or one of you, or any other person.”

  “I guess not,” Carole said. It was very difficult for her to accept.

  “I know not,” Max said firmly. “It’s a hard truth, but sometimes life is hard. Honestly, horses like this are very, very rare, but I have seen a few before. I would never knowingly allow one of my students on one. I wouldn’t ride Milky myself.”

  Lisa was astonished. “You wouldn’t?” She thought Max could ride anything.

  “It’s not worth it,” Max explained.

  Lisa blew out her breath. “Then I guess it’s not totally my fault that I couldn’t fix him.”

  “It’s completely not your fault,” Max said. “Did you think it was?”

  “Yes,” said Lisa.

  Max looked solemn. “Is that why you never told me you were having trouble with him? I’m actually fairly angry with you about this, Lisa. You shouldn’t have let this go on so long. And you must have lied to me, because I know I specifically asked you how you were doing, several times.”

  Lisa didn’t know how to explain. “It wasn’t that I was trying to lie to you,” she said. “I wanted him to be right so much that I kept convincing myself he wasn’t
really that bad. I know I was lying, but I really didn’t mean to be—and I was lying to everyone, to Stevie and Carole and even myself, as well as to you.”

  Max nodded. Lisa was glad to see that he understood. She knew he was right—she should have told him long ago—but she was glad that he knew she hadn’t started out trying to deceive him.

  “You put yourself in danger,” Max said. “You put the rest of us in danger, too.”

  Lisa squirmed. “I know, and I’m really sorry. But Max, I didn’t understand that until today. I didn’t know a horse could be like Milky. I really didn’t. I thought that if I was patient enough, and good enough, I could always fix any horse.”

  “I thought so, too,” Carole said in a small voice. “I have to admit, Max, whenever Lisa tried to tell us about the problems she was having, Stevie and I encouraged her to try harder or try different things. We didn’t tell her to come to you.”

  “So now you know,” Max said. “Listen, and listen hard, because I don’t want any of you forgetting this again: You have to tell me when you’re having problems with your horses. Even Belle and Starlight. Red and I are always here to help you, but we can’t solve problems when we don’t know they exist. Okay?”

  “Okay,” agreed The Saddle Club.

  “I’m to blame, too,” said Max. “I should have supervised you a little more closely, Lisa. I also realize that Milky’s problems were beyond your experience. You can’t be expected to deal with something you’ve never even heard about before. But part of this is your fault. You should have told me, and I am going to have to punish you.”

  “Okay.” Lisa bowed her head. She knew she deserved something, but she hoped Max wasn’t going to expel her from the barn for the semester. She hoped he didn’t say she could never ride Prancer again.

  “You’re grounded for a week,” Max said. “No riding. I’ll still expect you here for your lesson and for Pony Club, but you won’t ride. You’ll stand on the sidelines and watch and learn. Next Friday you can ride again.”

  Lisa knew that he was being more than fair. She tried to smile at him, but the smile wavered a little. Max smiled back. “Get out of here,” he told them, waving his hand toward the door. “Go groom your horses. The lecture’s over.”

  “Am I still allowed to groom?” Lisa asked.

  Max laughed. “Yes. You’re also allowed to clean tack and muck stalls.”

  “WELL,” STEVIE SAID as they headed for the tack room, “that really wasn’t so bad. I mean, I know it stinks for you, Lisa, but—”

  “But it could have been a lot worse,” Lisa agreed. “No, I think Max is being fair. I still have the worst part left to come, though.” She sat down on a tack trunk and leaned against the wall.

  Carole sat down next to her. “He’s definitely not your dream horse, is he?” she said sympathetically.

  “Nope,” said Lisa. “And now I’ve got to go home and explain to my parents that I don’t want Milky.”

  “MOM?” LISA CROSSED the living room nervously and stood in front of her parents, wringing her hands. “Dad? Can I talk to you about something? It’s important.”

  Her parents looked at each other. Lisa’s father put down the book he was reading. Her mother clicked off the television. “Of course, dear.” Her mother patted the empty sofa cushion beside her. “Come, sit down.”

  Lisa sat. She was glad she had the chance to speak to both her parents at once, and glad they were both listening, but she still didn’t feel very comfortable. “Keep it simple,” Carole had said. Lisa knew that was good advice: Her parents didn’t understand horses. They would never really understand Milky, and Lisa didn’t want to scare them away from buying her a different horse.

  “Milky and I just aren’t getting along,” she began.

  Lisa’s mother looked puzzled. “You’re not?”

  “No,” Lisa said. “He’s just—His personality is—He’s really very difficult. I’ve been trying hard and spending a lot of time with him this week, but we’re really not developing a good relationship. In fact, I’m not sure I could say we’ve developed any relationship at all.”

  Mr. Atwood nodded. He looked serious. “No relationship,” he said. “I see. And … this is a problem?”

  “Well, of course,” Lisa said. “It’s essential. I mean, how could we be together otherwise? But he doesn’t want to try. He doesn’t want to do what I ask him to do.”

  Her parents exchanged glances. “Maybe you’re expecting too much of him,” Mrs. Atwood suggested. “Did you really spend the whole week together?”

  “Well, of course,” Lisa said. “I felt like I had to.”

  “I don’t think you should be telling him what to do,” Mrs. Atwood said.

  “At your age,” cut in Mr. Atwood. “No need to rush.”

  “Maybe you’re moving too fast,” suggested Mrs. Atwood.

  “Max doesn’t think so,” said Lisa.

  Mrs. Atwood looked startled. “You’ve discussed this with Max?”

  “Yes,” Lisa said. “I didn’t think you’d mind.”

  “Well, no, I suppose not.” Mr. Atwood was also looking a little ruffled. “What did Max advise?”

  “He feels the same way I do.” Lisa pulled herself up straighter and took a deep breath. “Mom, Dad, it’s hard for me to tell you this, but neither Max nor I think that Milky’s a good horse for me.”

  Her parents looked at each other and burst out laughing. Lisa felt exceptionally annoyed. After all she’d been through that week, they thought it was funny?

  “Milky is a horse!” said Lisa’s mother.

  “Well, of course,” Lisa said. “What did you think he was, a pony?”

  “A boy,” her mother said, between chuckles. “We thought he was a boy. From your school. A crush, maybe.”

  “A boy named Milky?”

  Mr. Atwood shrugged. “They all have such weird names these days. Besides, when I was a boy, I had a friend we called Cheese. Milky’s not too far a stretch.”

  “Why would I be spending all my time with a boy?” Lisa asked. She liked being around boys—some of them—but really, it sounded like a waste of a week.

  “I don’t know,” her mother said, more seriously now. “We’re glad you’re not. You had us worried for a moment there. So, what’s the problem with this horse?”

  Lisa realized that her parents might not be recognizing the nickname Milky. “It’s Au Lait,” she said. “The Thoroughbred? Remember?”

  “I don’t see what the problem is,” her father said. “If you’re not getting along with him, ride a different horse. Max has got a stableful, hasn’t he? Is he trying to make you ride this one?”

  “No,” Lisa said. She finally realized that her parents really didn’t know what she was talking about. “I thought you were—I mean—I thought you wanted to buy him for me.”

  Lisa’s father shook his head. “Max lets you ride whenever you want,” he said. “Why would we go to all the trouble of getting you one?”

  “Sweetie.” Lisa’s mother reached for her hand. “Why did you think we were getting you a horse?”

  Lisa didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. So this whole horrible week had been for nothing! Suddenly it did strike her as funny, sort of. She shook her head. “I heard you talking to Max on the phone,” she told her mother. “I didn’t mean to hear, but I did. You were asking him if something had arrived, and it sounded like you meant it to be a secret, and that was the afternoon that Milky arrived at the barn. So I thought he was the secret.”

  Mrs. Atwood patted Lisa’s hand. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, dear, though I guess you can’t be too disappointed if you don’t like the horse anyway.”

  “I guess not,” Lisa said.

  Her mother grinned. “I’ll tell you what the secret is, even though it’s still not ready. You’ll love it! I’ve ordered you a new show jacket. Max said you’d probably be riding in some competitions early next year, so I got him to help me pick out exactly the right kind of jacket�
�you know, a good brand, well made, the right style. Max said navy blue pinstripes are considered very correct right now, and I thought that would contrast beautifully with Prancer’s red fur. Max ordered it from a catalog, but it hasn’t come in yet. Won’t that be wonderful?”

  “Sure.” Lisa felt a little bewildered. Trust her mother to think of horses in terms of clothes! Still, it was very sweet of her to buy Lisa a new coat and to go to so much trouble to be sure it was a good one. “I bet it’ll be a super coat,” she said. “Thank you.”

  “We want the best for you, Lisa,” said her father. He picked his book back off the floor.

  “Weren’t you … Weren’t you thinking about getting me a horse at all? You wanted to that one time.”

  Her parents looked at her quizzically. “Now that we know more about horses, it seems like a lot of bother,” said her father. “Doesn’t Max let you ride whenever you want?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “Don’t you love riding Prancer?” asked Lisa’s mother.

  “Yes, but—” Lisa shook her head. Maybe someday she’d talk them into changing their minds again. Meanwhile, she could ride Prancer almost any time she wanted. “Yes,” she agreed. “I do.”

  “SO, DID THEY understand?” Stevie asked eagerly. They’d made Lisa promise that she’d call them right after she talked with her parents.

  “Not at all,” Lisa said. “They thought Milky was a boy, and they didn’t understand why I was worried about our relationship. I think for a few minutes they were pretty worried about me. But it doesn’t matter, because they were planning on buying me a show coat, not a horse.”

  “A show coat?” asked Carole.

  “Pretty hard to ride one of those,” commented Stevie. “Though I guess it wouldn’t rear or try to buck you off.”

  “Don’t remind me,” Lisa said. “I’d like to forget this week. The worst part is, my parents aren’t even close to getting me my own horse.”

  “We’re so sorry,” Carole said. “I never really thought that you and Milky were a great match, but I did want you to have a horse of your own.”