by Paula Boer
“She’ll be here soon. She wanted to go to Patti’s early this morning. The vet was coming to do an ultrasound to check of Honey’s in foal. It’s been three weeks since she was served.”
Graeme expressed his surprise that Louise was going to the expense of having a vet check her horse. “Couldn’t she do a blood or urine test?”
Ben shrugged. “Patti is covering the expenses as part of their deal and the vet was coming to check the other mares anyway. I guess it’ll make it easier for Louise if she knows for certain that Honey is in foal. It’s tough her having to move to Africa.”
Although he still hadn’t given up hope of keeping Brandy, Ben hoped Honey would have a colt. That way he could at least have a chance of continuing the stallion’s line. He hadn’t shared these thoughts with Louise, not wanting to jinx his chances of getting a job with his horse. “At least this way she knows Honey will still be here when she gets back.”
Simon walked over and joined them. “Where’s your swag, Ben? I’ll put all our gear in the float.”
“Thanks. I’ll go and get it. Louise is going to borrow John’s so I’ll get that too.” Ben rushed off to organise his sleeping gear and clothes. He’d had no idea that staying away a couple of nights with the horses would take so much organisation. It seemed they needed about every item they owned in case the weather was hot, or cold, or a horse was injured.
As he returned from the house Patti’s ute pulled up near the hay shed. Louise clambered out of the passenger side and raced across. “She’s in foal. Everything is fine.”
Pleased for Louise and delighted that Brandy had another chance of proving himself, Ben frowned at his friend’s expression. “That’s great. So why don’t you look happy?”
Louise threw her arms in the air. “I am. I’m pleased she’s in foal and I know Patti will take wonderful care of her. But I won’t be here to see her give birth. I won’t get to share those precious moments like we did with Peach when the foal first stands and sees the world.”
Ben couldn’t understand girls. “It’s better than her being sold, isn’t it? I thought you were happy with the solution.”
“Of course, I just don’t want to leave here. Oh, you know. Here, give me some of that stuff. I can hardly see you for coats.” Patti joined them and retrieved a basket of food that threatened to slip to the ground from under Ben’s arm. “I’m glad to see you’re prepared for every eventuality.”
Glad of the help, Ben wiped the sweat off his face before ushering Louise into the kitchen. He decided to say no more about Honey. More boxes and bags waited, plus a big cooler containing meat and drinks.
Louise groaned as she hefted one of the cardboard boxes. “What’s in here? It looks like there’s enough cooking equipment to open a restaurant.”
Mrs Naylor closed the lid of another box. “There’re tins of baked beans and a bag of potatoes in this one. I don’t expect you will want to cook anything fancy. There’re chocolate and cake in that tin.”
“We won’t starve, Mum. Louise can cook.”
Louise snorted as she opened the kitchen door with her hip, holding it wide for Ben with her foot. “I thought I was strapping for you and Brandy, not being the camp slave. I’m happy to live off chocolate.”
Before turning back to the stove Mrs Naylor waved them off. “I’m sure Graeme and Simon can cook a few steak sandwiches for you. There’s plenty of bread. Have a great time, and take it steady with that horse of yours, Ben. I don’t want another broken man around the place.”
Ben and Louise called back their assurances before stashing the last of the boxes in the float.
Simon closed the ramp. “The truth is you need enough stuff for two nights as you do for two months. Gone are the days when we’d take everything we needed on a single packhorse.”
Graeme joined in the reminiscing. “Back in the droving days we didn’t push our horses to the limits that you’re going to over that mountain. I hope we won’t need any of the medical supplies, for you or the horses.”
Squatting down, Louise patted Snifter. “Why aren’t you riding, Graeme? You must have horses fit enough for the race.”
“My days of wanting to break my neck are far behind me. I’m happy to strap for Simon. You and I will be quite busy enough working for these two mad hatters.”
Ben pushed his hat back off his forehead and looked at the sky. “Do you think it will stay hot like today? It’ll be hard on the horses.”
His uncle shook his head. “You know what the mountains are like. It might be fine here but be blowing a gale fifty kilometres away. An hour later it could be different again. Let’s get the horses loaded and hit the road.”
The metal pickets clanged as Ben rammed in the last of the posts for Brandy’s temporary yard. Setting up camp distracted Ben from the upcoming race. His hands shook as he rummaged in one of the boxes to find the electric tape. Looking up, he searched for Louise who was walking Brandy to keep him calm. To his horror he saw them over near a yard of mares with Brandy arching his neck with interest. “Louise! Get him away from there!”
Waving, Louise tugged the stallion behind her and dawdled back to camp.
Ben finished the temporary yard as they arrived. “He should be okay in here. He’s used to electric fencing at home.”
“He’s feeling very fresh.” Louise unclipped the lead rope, leaving on Brandy’s leather headcollar.
“Frisky, more like. Don’t let him get excited before the vetting. I need his heart rate as low as possible. Have you woven the blue marker in his tail to show he’s a stallion?” Ben couldn’t believe Louise was acting as if they were out for a ride in the mountains rather than getting ready for the race that would determine Brandy’s future.
Louise pulled a sapphire ribbon from her pocket. “I’ve got it here. How am I supposed to plait it in?”
“I don’t know. Any way that it will stay near the top.” Fetching two buckets, Ben headed off to find the water point.
As he strode away from their camp he passed Graeme already lugging full buckets. “There’s a hose near the secretary’s tent. When you’re ready, you and Simon need to go and enter. Take your saddle so they can weigh you with your gear.”
Hurrying back with the water Ben spilt half of one bucket into his boots. Squelching past Simon he admired his bay gelding. The horse was short and compact with muscles gleaming over his dappled rump. With his head raised high and ears pricked to take in all the activity he remained calm and well behaved. Ben hoped that Brandy made the same impression.
Simon picked out the desert brumby’s hooves before straightening up. “You about ready for vetting, Ben?”
“Yeh, I suppose. Louise is getting Brandy ready. Magnet looks great.”
Simon stooped through the electric tapes and swung his saddle off the back of the ute. “Come on then, let’s give these people our money.”
Having weighed in and paid their entry fee, Ben and Simon headed back to camp. With the vet card in his hand the reality of the hard race ahead started to sink in. “Are we going to ride together? How do we know where to go?”
Simon rammed his felt hat down onto his head. “I expect we’ll go different paces. Better to ride on our own. Follow the arrows and you’ll be right. They’ll tell us more at the pre-ride talk tonight.”
Flies buzzed up from the cattle manure that covered the plains where the ride base was located. Ben thought Platy Flats well named. Open paddocks stretched for kilometres in each direction bisected by two wide creeks. “I thought this was a mountain race. It looks like much of it will be across open country.”
Simon gave another of his shrugs. “Who knows where it will go. I’m sure it won’t be easy.”
Graeme and Louise, leading Magnet and Brandy, met them between the dozens of other camps that strewed the ride base. Louise wore a deep frown as she kept a tight hold of the prancing stalli
on.
“Don’t let him behave like that.” Ben reached out to grab the lead rope from her and smacked his stallion on the shoulder. “What’s up?”
“Robert Smythe-Waters is here. He’s brought a big grey Arabian. It looks as if he has a professional jockey to ride him.” Her once-white T-shirt showed signs of grass slobber and horse dirt as she tried to wipe the sweat off her face on her shoulder.
Ben had hoped the landholder wouldn’t enter a horse. “I’m not surprised. He is on the ride committee.”
Graeme peered around Magnet’s head. “He wouldn’t want a chance to miss out on his own prize money. I hear he donated a huge sum as well as a service from that horse.”
A ragged queue of milling horses led from the veterinary area. Simon and Ben held their places in line while Graeme and Louise walked their horses away from the others. Ben kicked his toes in the dust. “They should be better organised so we don’t have to wait. Brandy’s heart rate will go up again with all this excitement.”
“Don’t fret. The vets’ll take all that into account. Use the time to watch your opposition. See that one, I doubt she’ll get a start.” Simon pointed out a leggy Thoroughbred caked in thick cream sweat, quivering with extended nostrils.
Ben noticed another horse with a raw gash on one shoulder. “They won’t let that one race either, will they? It must have injured itself on the way here.”
“There’s our competition.” Simon nodded in the direction of a paint gelding with a hogged mane. The horse stood still and relaxed, powerful neck and shoulders over sturdy legs.
Amongst the people and horses gathering Ben noticed another prospect. “What about that black mare? She looks like she could go all day and still throw a buck in at the end.”
As they waited for the line to creep forward Ben and Simon continued to assess the other horses and riders. It was a big field of over a hundred horses. As each trotted out around the markers Ben looked for signs of lameness. Some horses ran straight, others high-jinxed their way up and back. He started to wonder whether he’d put enough ground training into Brandy. The last thing he needed was to be eliminated before the start for misbehaving like one horse they watched.
A steward in a bright orange vest approached them. “Who’s next?”
With a wave of his hand Simon signalled for their horses and encouraged Ben forward.
As Louise brought Brandy to a square standstill a deep voice boomed behind her.
“You can’t enter that horse. He isn’t old enough.” Robert Smythe-Waters glowered with his hands on his hips.
“He’s five. That’s the minimum age, so he’s fine.” Ben focused on Robert’s red nose, which seemed to have grown larger than ever.
The gruff landholder didn’t give up. “Well you can’t enter a horse that’s not shod. It’s against the rules. Even you should know how rough that mountain country is.”
This latest information floored Ben. He stood flummoxed, trying not to think of the implications of not being allowed to race.
Graeme laid a supporting arm over his shoulder. “That’s up to the vet. Let’s see what he has to say.”
The steward agreed and turned to take Brandy’s temperature, heart and breathing rates, noting them down on the vet card that Ben held out.
Ben soothed his stallion with quiet nonsense words and stroked his mane. Feeling the shadow of Robert Smythe-Waters behind him, he walked into the first vet bay. Relieved to see that Oliver was his allocated vet he asked about Brandy’s feet.
After picking up all four hooves Oliver straightened and answered loudly. “This horse has well-conditioned hooves for going barefoot. The rules state that hooves must be adequately protected. These are, in nature’s own way. Thick soles, broad thick frogs and strong hoof walls. Let’s check the rest of him.”
Releasing his tensed muscles, Ben tried to hide his grin as Robert Smythe-Waters spun on his heels and stormed away, mumbling under his breath. Ben only heard the words, “—anything can happen on the mountain—”.
Chapter 11
A cool mist wisped across the flats from the river. Dew sparkled on the gum leaves overhead as Louise brushed Brandy’s mane. Graeme had suggested they arrive early yesterday and Louise was glad they had found a sheltered spot under a copse of trees away from the other camps. She knew Ben didn’t want his stallion to be distracted by horses, especially mares that might be in season.
Kookaburras chuckled their morning chorus as activity increased around the ride base. Simon and Ben had gone to listen to last minute instructions from the chief steward as high winds had felled a number of trees. Despite the bad weather overnight the day promised to be clear and hot. Finishing the last of the long plaits, tied with blue ribbon to match Brandy’s tail, Louise stood back to inspect her handiwork. “It won’t win any prizes in a show, but it’ll keep your neck cool.”
Graeme worked on Magnet. “No pretty ribbons for this boy. Elastic bands will do for us.”
Smiling at Ben’s uncle, Louise observed him massage the gelding. “Is he one of the brumbies that Simon mustered?”
“He certainly is. Not one that you helped with last year. This boy’s almost seven years old. Simon has been using him as a stockhorse and to teach the new colts some manners.” Clicking his tongue, Graeme encouraged the horse to pick up each of his feet in turn so he could clean them.
A whicker from Brandy informed Louise of Ben’s return. She climbed through the electric tape of the temporary yard to meet him. “What’s the news? Are there any changes to the race?”
Ben donned his helmet. “No, it was a waste of time going over there. All they had to say was watch out for obstacles. Why isn’t Brandy tacked up? I need to warm him up before the start.”
Even though Louise suspected Ben was nervous it riled her to be treated like a servant. “I didn’t have to come and help. I could have been making the most of my last few days with Honey.”
Graeme must have had similar thoughts. “Don’t snap at your strapper. She’s doing all the work while you have all the fun. There’s plenty of time, at least half an hour yet.”
“Yeh, well, I still need to work Brandy.” Grabbing his saddle and bridle Ben shoved past Louise and tacked up his horse.
Standing out of the way Louise looked around the ride base. Horses milled everywhere with riders wearing anything from jeans and T-shirts to top boots and jodhpurs. Battered felt hats, crash helmets and baseball caps adorned bearded faces of old men and fresh-skinned faces of boys. She had yet to see a female rider.
Brandy spun out of the yard, dancing on the end of his reins. Ben yanked hard on his bridle until Graeme rested a hand on Ben’s shoulder. “Take it easy. There’s no point getting your horse all worked up. Lead him round for a bit before you warm up.”
Tightening the girth of his stock saddle Simon called across. “Give me a minute and we’ll go together.”
Admiring the calm way that Simon handled his horse Louise fetched a camelback water pack for Ben. “Don’t forget this. It’ll be hot later on.”
The two riders led their horses away from the hubbub of the camp. After a few minutes Louise saw them mount up and start to trot large circles. Magnet tossed his head and pulled on the reins each time he neared other horses. Brandy sidestepped and ran backwards as much as he moved forwards. She could see that Ben was not having an easy ride.
“That boy needs to relax else that horse’ll never settle.” Graeme handed Louise a steaming mug of tea.
She cupped the tin mug between both hands. “He’ll be okay once they get going. Ben never likes to wait around. I know he’s anxious to prove what he and Brandy can do. It’ll be terrible if his dad makes him sell Brandy after all he’s been through.”
A klaxon spooked a number of horses nearby. The loudspeaker announced a fifteen-minute start to the race. Riders not already mounted sprung into their saddles
, owners gave out last minute instructions, and strappers adjusted gear. Louise noticed Robert Smythe-Waters holding his grey stallion near the start line. She had to admit the horse looked magnificent, his dished face held high with small pricked ears that touched at the tips. Throwing his tail over his back, the stallion sprang and half-reared as the jockey received a leg up.
Ben and Simon continued to work in steady circles away from all the commotion. Brandy had started to lower his head and concentrate on his work. Magnet seemed to be pulling even harder than before. Louise admired Simon’s skill as he kept his horse where he wanted with no apparent effort.
Graeme finished topping up the water buckets in the yards from a barrel he had on a trolley. “Let’s get over to the start. Did you bring your camera?”
“No. I never thought about it.” Louise told herself that in future she would write down all the things they needed to pack for an event like this. There seemed to be so much to bring: food for the horses and themselves, tack, cleaning gear, emergency veterinary supplies, rugs for hot and cold weather, spare stirrup leathers, headcollars, ropes, portable yards…the list seemed endless.
The last thing she had thought about were clothes for herself. She was glad Mrs Naylor had suggested she bring a warm jumper even though it was still summer. She had needed the thick sleeping bag in her swag last night especially as she had elected to sleep out rather than in the float. Not that she had seen any stars as she’d hoped, what with the heavy cloud cover and falling asleep straight after dinner.
Horses vied for a clear place as the time of the race approached. Any that crossed the flour start line on the ground between the two flags would be eliminated. A steward held a green flag aloft and started a countdown. Ten, nine, eight—
Ben and Simon were nowhere to be seen. Louise searched for their horses amongst the crowd. As the flag dropped, horses surged and pig-rooted as they cantered away. One rider fell off. After his horse was caught he remounted and carried on. There was still no sign of Brandy and Magnet. Getting concerned, she turned to Graeme. “Where are they?”