Jostled by the stumble, Terry lost her balance when Tic-Tac jumped. All horsemanship forgotten, she clung to his mane for balance while he cantered into the center of the ring. He halted abruptly, dropping his head to snatch a mouthful of the infield grass.
The unexpected movement disintegrated the last of Terry’s balance. Thrown forward, she slid ungracefully down his neck, sprawling on the grass at his feet. Tic-Tac spooked backwards with a startled snort.
Captain Riskin rushed to help her. “Lie still,” he ordered, gently putting his hand on her shoulders to keep her from getting up until he was certain she was unhurt.
She grinned sheepishly at him. “What happened?”
He carefully helped her to her feet, while Bobby retrieved Tic-Tac from where he had galloped to the end of the ring. “You let the horse run at the cavalletti,” he explained. “You must steady him so he concentrates first on the poles then the jump. Now remount and this time keep the horse slow on the approach.”
As she took the reins from Bobby, Terry looked doubtfully at Tic-Tac, wondering if she could trust him. He was so unlike any horse she had ever ridden. All Mr. Martin’s horses had lacked Tic-Tac’s eagerness to jump. She had rarely had difficulty staying with them as they plodded lazily over fences.
But, deciding the fall had been more her fault than Tic-Tac’s, she remounted and warily returned to the cavalletti. Although he started calmly over the poles, Terry couldn’t help jerking hard on the reins, anticipating that he would charge again. Confused, the horse refused the fence, backing awkwardly over the poles.
“Release his mouth!” the Captain commanded as the poles went flying.
As they came to a stop, Terry slowly loosened the reins, reluctant to give up the security of her grip.
“How can the horse jump if you pull on his mouth?” the Captain reasoned. “Yes, you must have contact with his mouth, but not so much that you strangle him. Try it again, but this time try to relax.”
When Tic-Tac started back over the poles, Terry clenched her teeth, resisting the temptation to jerk backwards on the reins. As a result, he trotted carefully across the poles then popped easily over the fence. She perched in the jumping position for an instant, then got behind the motion and flopped ungracefully against the saddle as he landed.
“Was that so hard?” Captain Riskin asked. “Yes, it could have been smoother, but that will come with time. Now try it again. This time with a smile. Riding should be fun as well as work.”
Terry grinned at him as she rode back toward the exercise. This time she didn’t have to force herself to release the reins because now she knew Tic-Tac could do it. In response to her encouragement, he trotted confidently over the poles. When he took the fence, Terry was in rhythm with him. As soon as he landed, she laughed and threw her arms around his neck.
“Yes!” the Captain exclaimed. “That is what I want! Everyone back in line and we all try it again with a smile this time!”
Chapter Five
By the fourth week of class, the Hunters and Jumpers were ready to attempt their first course. Throughout the past week Captain Riskin and Karen had helped both groups to master gymnastics using the cavalletti. To teach the students balance, the Captain had had them practice over a series of in-and-outs. These were post-and-rail fences spaced twenty-four feet apart with just enough space for a horse to jump, take one stride and then jump again.
It didn’t take Terry long to feel at home with the smooth rhythm of Tic-Tac’s jumping stride. The more she practiced the in-and-outs, the easier it was for her to keep the forward seat.
The Hunters had the first chance to jump a course because Monday was their turn to work with the Captain. “Each rider will jump twice around the ring,” he told them, indicating the four simple post-and-rail fences set up along the rail.
Terry was eager for her turn. Her initial uncertainty had been replaced by confidence generated from the thrilling sensation of Tic-Tac’s powerful hindquarters thrusting off the ground. She loved the instant of breathless suspension at the peak of the fence followed by the landing after which her horse would eagerly collect himself for the next fence.
“Today we work on pace,” Captain Riskin told the class. “With a course, there is the problem of the fences as well as how the horse behaves between them. Even if all the fences are jumped perfectly, if the pace is broken or uneven, the round is bad.”
Terry crossed her fingers as he scanned the row of waiting students. “Please don’t let him pick me first,” she wished. As much as she liked jumping, she hated to go first, knowing the Captain always made an example, usually bad, of the first rider.
Captain Riskin hesitated as his eyes passed over Terry. “We begin with … Bobby.”
Terry let out a sigh of relief as Bobby walked Red Sunset out of the line and began the course. At the first fence, Red took off in a graceful arch, folding his knees to his chest. Bobby crouched above the saddle, his hands and back flexible, moving with his horse. Red’s pace was smooth and consistent, carrying them effortlessly over each fence. Terry didn’t see how the pair could be faulted.
Captain Riskin didn’t seem to agree. “Why were you looking in the dirt before each fence, Bobby?” he criticized. “You should always look between the horse’s ears at the next fence.”
“How does he see those things?” Terry wondered with amazement. “He doesn’t miss anything.”
The Captain found fault with each student. Jerry couldn’t control Irish Mist’s pace. As soon as he faced the first fence, Irish took off and raced around the course at a gallop. Twice he slipped in the corners, nearly falling. Jerry jerked on the reins, but his efforts to stop Irish only made the horse gallop faster. They circled the ring four times before showing any signs of slowing. Finally, winded and lathered with sweat, Irish broke to a trot of his own accord and rejoined the other horses in the center of the ring.
Whitney was too heavy handed, causing the horse to curl behind the bit. “You strangle the poor horse by over-riding him,” Captain Riskin corrected. “Do not hold him in so long before the fence or jerk him back when he lands.”
Liz was totally unprepared for Warrior’s performance. Over single fences he had been boot thumping lazy, but faced with a course, he became a different animal. Three strides before each fence, he threw up his head, jerked the reins from her hands and charged. Because he jumped without rhythm, Liz was tossed around the saddle, clinging to his mane to keep from falling.
Paula seemed well in control of Shady Lady’s fiery temperament. The mare quietly approached the low fences with only the slightest hint of the excitement she had shown for the five foot jumps of the demonstration. Although Paula rode faultlessly, Terry thought she looked cold and mechanical.
“Do not always be so serious,” Captain Riskin corrected when Paula had finished her round. “It does not hurt to relax and smile a little.”
“Ah, Terry,” he exclaimed as thought just noticing her. “You have not gone yet. Quickly now, so there will be time for a second round.”
Terry turned Tic-Tac out of line, determined to ride her best. Tic-Tack flicked his tail and pricked his ears at the sight of the first fence.
As he gathered himself to jump, Terry tried to remember all the Captain had taught her. In response to her signals, Tic-Tac cantered calmly around the course, taking each fence in stride.
But, despite the smooth effort, Terry still had difficulty maintaining a proper jumping position. No matter how hard she tried, Tic-Tac was halfway over each fence before she could lean forward to catch up with him. In her determination to get out of the saddle on time, she went forward too soon on the last fence. Thrown off balance by her weight, Tic-Tac dropped his knees, sending poles flying.
“Why do you get ahead of the motion?” Captain Riskin demanded. “You must learn to wait for the horse to jump!”
Terry tried to hide her disappointment as she returned to her place in line next to Bobby. “Great round,” Paula sneered sarcastically
as Terry passed her.
“Relax,” Bobby advised as Terry glared angrily at Paula. “It’s not worth arguing with her.”
“Want to trade now or wait until you break his leg?” Paula asked with a satisfied smirk. “My offer still stands.”
“That is enough, Paula!” CaptainRiskin warned before Terry could reply. “We begin again. This time I want to see improvement from everyone.”
“It’s two o’clock and time for the WTZW news spotlight,” the radio blared.
Terry sighed. “Only two o’clock?” She put down her sponge and switched stations, thankful for the little black transistor radio Billy had loaned her. It helped to pass the long hours of cleaning tack.
She had quickly learned what Captain Riskin meant when he had said the job wouldn’t be all fun. Although she took pride in the results of her work on the dirty saddles and bridles, it was always a welcome change to tack-up or cool-out a boarder’s horse.
Terry envied her friends in Summer Club. They spent their summer afternoons swimming or at the movies. “I only get a half hour break after class,” she had told her mother, feeling a little sorry for herself as the summer slipped away. “That’s barely enough time to eat lunch and visit with Tic-Tac.”
Mrs. Allen had been unsympathetic. “Dad and I advised you not to take that job, but you wouldn’t listen. Why not quit? There’s plenty of summer left to enjoy. Remember, Dad said he’d pay you for extra work around the house.”
Terry finished cleaning the saddle, momentarily tempted to take her mother’s advice. It would be so much easier to work for her father, not to mention all the free time she would have. But, she knew she could never make enough money for fall riding lessons by mowing the lawn or washing windows.
She tossed the sponge in the bucket. “Heck with the mess,” she thought, wearily looking at the cleaning equipment she strewn around the tackroom. “I’ll pick it up after I get a Coke”
Fumbling in her pocket for change, she went out to the soda machine in the barn foyer. As soon as the can appeared, she snatched it up and jerked back the ring top. In her haste, the ring broke off before the can was open.
“Darn,” she muttered, stomping back to the tack-room to find a hoof pick to pry the tab off the can.
As Terry rounded the corner of the tackroom, she saw with alarm that little Cynthia Nash was hovering beside one of the newly cleaned saddles that hung on the lowest rack. Her chubby hands squeezed dirty, soapy water from the tack sponge across the seat of the saddle.
“Cynthia!” Terry gasped.
Cynthia flashed a dimpled grin. “Help clean,” she chirped.
“No, Cynthia,” Terry corrected. “The saddle is already clean. Now be a good girl and give me the sponge.”
Cynthia quickly withdrew it behind her back. “Help!” she stubbornly repeated.
“I’ve got lots to do this afternoon,” Terry said firmly. “If you don’t give me that sponge, I’m going to take it,”
“No!” Cynthia protested with a shrill cry.
Deciding to try a new tactic, Terry smiled as she stooped to Cynthia’s level. “Those are such pretty yellow shorts. You don’t want that dumb sponge to get them dirty, do you?”
Cynthia shook her head.
“Tell you what,” Terry coaxed. “If you give me the sponge, you can help me sweep the tack room. Okay?”
Cynthia curled up her nose with distaste. “Don’t wanna sweep. Wanna clean saddles.”
Terry stood up, her patience at its end. “Okay, you little monster, hand over that sponge by the time I count ten or I’ll dunk you,” she warned, pointing to the bucket of dirty water.
Cynthia looked doubtfully at the water and then back at Terry who had begun to count slowly. “One … two… three … four … five … six…seven … eight … nine …”
Terry paused. “Last chance, Cynthia.”
Realizing that Terry really was serious, Cynthia threw the sponge at her. “Mommy!” she screeched, running terrified from the tackroom.
Shaking her head, Terry took a rag from the cabinet and wiped off the wet saddle. She was nearly finished when Cynthia returned in the wake of her furious mother.
“I will not have my daughter threatened by an ill-mannered stable girl!” Mrs. Nash angrily snapped. She pulled Cynthia from behind her. Tears streamed down the little girl’s cheeks as she clutched her mother’s hand. “Look how you’ve upset this child!”
Terry realized too late that she should have bribed Cynthia with a candy bar instead of trying to discipline her. “I’m sorry, but she was making a mess of the clean saddles. I would never have dunked her. Honest.”
“An apology won’t help this time, young lady,” Mrs. Nash assured her. “I’m going right to Captain Riskin about this.”
“That’s not fair!” Terry blurted out. But, Mrs. Nash left the tackroom without listening, dragging Cynthia behind her.
Terry followed them as far as Captain Riskin’s office. Through the closed door, she could overhear snatches of Mrs. Nash’s angry description of the incident. “Impudent stable girl … only a child of four … filthy water …”
“Doesn’t make any difference now,” Terry thought sadly, returning to the tackroom without listening to the rest of her tirade. “I’m through no matter what she says. Why didn’t I clean everything up before I got the Coke?”
It was nearly five o’clock and time to leave when Terry finished all her work. Captain Riskin had not come to talk to her yet, but she knew the inevitable was just a matter of time. She gingerly rubbed her stiff neck. “I need to see Tic-Tac.”
She left the barn, entering the school aisle from the back door to avoid running into Karen or one of the grooms. When she reached Tic-Tac’s stall, he was sniffing the bedding for bits of hay that had escaped him during lunch. She whistled softly outside his door. In response, he spun toward her with a throaty nicker.
Terry slid back the stall door and went inside. “Hi, Tic,” She whispered, gently rubbing behind one of his ears.
Tic-Tac butted her playfully in the stomach. “Hey! Quit it!” she laughed, shoving him back in the chest.
Terry boosted herself up on the edge of his wooden feedbox where she could cradle his head in her lap. She stroked his forehead until he stopped restlessly shifting his weight and closed his eyes. “What are we going to do, Tic? Mrs. Nash wants me fired. If I lose my job, we won’t be able to be together this fall. Why did this have to happen?”
Terry tensed as she heard footsteps coming down the aisle. “Terry?” Captain Riskin called.
She turned solemnly to face him through the bars when he stopped in front of the stall. “Come here, my child.”
She hesitated, then hopped down from the feed box and opened the stall door. “Might as well get it over with.”
“I am sure you know Mrs. Nash talked to me about you today,” Captain Riskin began gently. “It will be enough to say she was quite upset by what happened with Cynthia.”
“I’m so sorry,” Terry apologized. “I tried to explain to her, but …”
The Captain cut her off. “She can be a difficult woman. She demanded I fire you, but in this case I do not hold you responsible. You have proven yourself to me. But, for the time being, it would be a good idea to avoid Mrs. Nash and Cynthia if possible.”
“I can keep my job?” Terry exclaimed with disbelief. “Thanks so much! I promise to be more careful.”
He reached behind Terry and pulled Tic-Tac’s door shut. “Now it is late. Come, I will drive you home myself.”
“No,” Terry protested. “Karen can take me.”
Captain Riskin put his hand on her shoulder, steering her firmly down the aisle. “ Nonsense. It is not out of my way. Besides, I sent Karen to run an errand for me, and there is something I wish to discuss with you.”
“Okay,” Terry agreed, returning his smile. “That would be great.”
“You know, Terry,” he chuckled. “There are times when I, too, would like to dunk Cynthia in a
bucket of water.”
Chapter Six
Captain Riskin switched on the air-conditioner in his station wagon as he turned out of the stable lane. Terry leaned forward to let the cool air blow in her face. After a long, hot day in the barn, it felt refreshing. She glanced curiously at him, wondering what he wanted to talk to her about. But, she had learned from the lessons that nothing was to be gained by pushing him. He would talk when he was ready.
He stopped for three red lights before finally speaking. “When you finish your work next Monday, would you like to exercise a boarder’s horse, Terry?”
She stared at him in disbelief. “What?”
“Would you like to exercise a horse for me on Monday afternoon?” he repeated.
“Yes!” she exclaimed. “More than anything!”
“Good,” he said without taking his eyes from the road. “Come see me Monday after the lesson. I want to help you the first few rides.”
“First few?” Terry asked with surprise.
Captain Riskin nodded. “Many boarders are on vacation and their horses still need exercise. Karen does not have time to work all of them because she often teaches private lessons in the afternoon. I will leave the difficult horses to Karen, but I think you would benefit from riding the more manageable ones.”
Terry’s initial excitement at his offer quickly faded as she remembered how long it took to clean all the dirty tack and groom horses, not to mention doing odd jobs for Sonny. “When would I have time to ride with all my other work?” she asked, trying to hide her disappointment.
“With so many boarders on vacation, Sonny can manage most of that work alone,” the Captain assured her. “If your riding satisfies me, this will become your most important duty. But, you are almost home now, so tell me which way to go. We will talk more on Monday.”
Tic-Tac Page 5