by Connie Foss
“And there he comes now. Perfect timing.”
This morning John is here by himself, which is a good sign. “Morning,” he says as he comes in the stable. Looking at me he says, “What, no saddle? Don’t I get to ride Bubba today?”
“Yes, you do, but a rider needs to get his own mount ready, so that’s what you’re going to start with today, getting Bubba cleaned up and tacked up.” As Jack says this, she takes my lead rope from Bill and leads me to the grooming space where the crossties are.
John is strong! When he gets his hand on the brush, I feel like I’m scratching my back on a convenient tree trunk. It feels heavenly. He seems to understand everything Jack and Bill tell him, and in no time he has me saddled and ready to go. I like this guy!
Jack goes about her other business in the stable, while Bill takes over on the riding. “John, I don’t think we talked about the stirrups much when you were here last time, but it’s important that you don’t ram your foot all the way in a stirrup. The ball of your foot should be on the stirrup pad, with your heel not in the stirrup but pushing down. Once you’re in the saddle, remember about keeping your balance.Today we’ll do some exercises to help you with that. So, let’s go.”
After John is in the saddle, Bill again goes over how to hold the reins in his left hand and how to neck-rein.
“Last time I was leading Bubba, but today you are going to tell Bubba what to do.Talk to him as you would to me. Horses understand lots more than we give them credit for. So, when you want him to walk, say ‘Walk,’ and later, when we’re ready to trot, you’ll say ‘trot.’ We also use body language with horses. To start walking, lean forward in the saddle, squeeze just a mite with your legs at the same time as you tell him to walk. Just a nice relaxed walk, John.”
The lesson goes really well, and soon I’m back in my stall. I like working with John and being a therapy horse. Now I understand what Annie has been doing with Mickey. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Mickey for a few days. I wonder what’s up. Maybe Tom knows.When he comes around on his nightly rounds, I’ll try to remember to ask him.
I haven’t been in my stall long when the door is unlatched and there stands Meg, a very sad, tired looking gal.
“Here I am again, early for our jumping, Bubba, but I just have to settle my mind. I’m a wreck worrying about Brett, and how we can help him. Being with you is the only thing that helps. Do you mind?”
“Are you kidding, Meg,” I’m saying with my nickering. I hope she understands, and I give her a sloppy horse kiss.
Walking out toward the outdoor jumping ring means that we go right by the pastures and paddocks where the outside horses are. The day is pleasantly warm with sunlight bouncing off the backs of the grazing mares. I see Annie with some of the other mares on a south slope, enjoying the spring sun, while the foals play tag a little ways off. I again think how lucky I am to be doing what I enjoy with ones I love, but Meg is telling me something, so I switch my attention to her.
He needs understanding, he needs all kinds of therapies according to the doctors, and he needs a regular routine, and on and on. How can we keep The Chocolate Farm going and still provide every possible thing to Brett? I so wish you could tell me, Bubba.You seem so all knowing. Just being with you gives me a sense of calm.Tell me how to be like you, Bubba.”
There are no tears now, but I know Meg is crying in her heart. I wish I could give her the answers she needs, but I can’t. In spite of what Meg thinks, I don’t have any idea what to do for Brett, other than just plain love him. Sometimes love is all one can do and it’s enough.
CHAPTER NINE:
Change of Plans
During evening chores, while Bill and Meg are both in the tack room putting away the day’s tack, I hear what sounds like a plan.
“Bill, while I was riding Bubba, my mind cleared and I now know what we should do to help Brett, and I am so relieved.Tell me what you think.
“This is the plan: I am going to give up training and showing until
kids in the autistic spectrum. It will just be a year or so. Lilly can take over the English riding and jumpers, with the help of Jack.You will do all Western training and riding, and between the three of you, the halter work will get done.That will free me to be with Brett, to give him the routine and security that he needs. I will get him to the speech and therapist appointments, and the other things we need to do. My focus will be Brett. Of course, I will still be able to do all of the bookwork for the Farm, the show entries, the statements, etc, including the client contacts.Those I can do while Brett is asleep.What do you think?”
There was a long pause before Bill asks,“Are you sure, Meg? You will be giving up what you love.”
“Not entirely, for I would like to reserve the evenings for myself, after Brett is asleep.You will be in the house in case he needs something, which will let me come out to the barn and do whatever I want or that needs to be done. I will miss being a part of the daily work of the stable, but Brett is a higher priority right now. Surely I can do this, knowing it will just be a short term adjustment.”
I wish I could see Bill’s and Meg’s faces, but I can’t. There is a long pause now, and I can hear some movement in the tack stall, Chocolate Farm, and in my life.To not jump with Meg will be so sad, for both of us. Lilly is a good rider, but she and I don’t mesh like Meg and I do. But I am not the important thing in this decision.
person. Obviously, you still are. If this is what you think we should do, then let’s do it. I’m proud of you, Meg. I really am.”
As it turns out, tonight is big for another reason. Soon after the crew buttons up the stable for the night and I am just settling down to think about the changes that are in store, Tom comes jauntily in with the big news.“Just want to tell you of the momentous happening in the feed room. My dearly beloved wife has made me a parent of another litter of kittens, this time one short of our record of ten. The missus says these are even more beautiful than the last litter.
“However, dear Bubba, no time to chat, for I must get about the business of providing for these little guys.The missus needs lots of rat
could have stayed so I could have told him about the changes that are about to happen. I don’t suppose they will affect him, but I would so appreciate having someone to talk with about it. Maybe Mr. O will stop
CHAPTER TEN:
A Night Time Visitor
I am comfortably dozing later during the night, occasionally rousing to think about what it will be like not to see Meg around the stable during the daytime.
The noise of the stable door opening gets my attention. Usually
immediately. Not this time. I hear footsteps.Then a moving light begins
but he seems to be going away from me. Soon the light is gone, but I hear the horses on the other aisle moving around, disturbed by the light.Where is Hap, the night watchman? Is he asleep on his watch? He usually comes around every hour or so to check on us.
Who can it be? If it were Meg or Bill, I know they would have turned on the lights. Is this someone who is going to cause trouble, maybe even kidnap one of us? I’m beginning to pace back and forth in my stall, and this wakes Percy.
“For crying out loud, Bubba, will you stop that? How do you expect a fella to get his rest, with you marching up and down.” “Percy, someone’s in the stable,” I warn him.
“Big deal, huh. Someone’s in the stable,” and Percy drops his voice
trying to sound like me.
“No, I mean someone strange who won’t turn on the lights but
“Where? I don’t see any light.You’ve got to be dreaming.” “No, look to your left. Here it comes!” The light shines into each stall as it gradually comes down the aisle. Suddenly, it is shining in my stall, and…oh, no…the door is opening, and I feel a hand, a big, sandpapery hand, on my neck. Then I smell a familiar smell, one I have smelled recently.
“Hi, Bubba. I hope you don’t mind my coming to see you. I need someone to talk to and, if it’s
okay, I hope it’ll be you.”
It’s John! Why would he come in the middle of the night by himself, and be so secretive about it? But I know John has some bad memories and things that he is trying to put behind him. If talking to me will help, sure I’ll be happy to listen. I know how much I appreciate being able to talk things over with Tom, and even Annie, when I can.
So I nicker softly, not wanting to alert Hap, and John understands, for he sits down in the corner of my stall and begins.
It’s a long, sad, scary story, which I occasionally interrupt by dropping my head to touch his shoulder. He reaches up and pets my nose and continues.The story is of blood and wounds and death, of a loss of direction and a loss of hope. I feel sad for John, but all I can do is listen.After a while, he quiets down, and soon after that, I hear gentle slow breathing.
John and I are both awakened when the lights are turned on and the morning chores begin. John, rubbing his eyes, is just getting up when Hap looks into my stall to say goodbye on his way home.
“What are you doing in here, and who are you?” Hap asks in a startled, unbelieving voice.
“I…ah…I just…Well, you see….” But John can’t seem to talk as easily with Hap as he did most of the night with me. He just stands there, in the corner of my stall, his head down and his whole body shaking.
“I’m going to call Bill. Maybe he knows you. If he doesn’t, I’m calling 911. I try not to judge people, but unless someone forgot to tell me, you have no reason to be in Bubba’s stall, let alone anywhere on The Chocolate Farm in the middle of the night.While we wait for Bill, I’ll just stay here with you, and Bubba will help me keep you here.”
Bill is still putting his arms in his jacket when he bursts in the stable and runs to my stall.“What’s going on here? You have an intruder, Hap?” Seeing who it is, he says,“John? You’re the intruder? What are you doing here? Did you get mixed up on the time for your next lesson? Come on. Let’s go to the house, have a cup of coffee, and you can tell me about this.” Turning to Hap, Bill says,“It’s okay, Hap, I know John.You
CHAPTER ELEVEN:
Stella
Coming into my stall, he puts his arms around my neck. What’s going on? Bill isn’t usually that demonstrative. It’s Meg that hangs on my neck when she wants to love me.
“Bubba, you are just what John needs, and last night you proved it. While we were in the house drinking coffee, John told me why he was in your stall. He said he needed to have someone he can talk to, to try to put his bad memories behind him and put some reason into his life. He feels you understand and accept him no matter what happened in the past. Bubba, you are therapy for us all. John discovered in you what Meg has known all along:You are a big teddy bear, who reaches out and holds anyone who needs your love.Thank you.
“I told John and will tell Hap that any time he feels the need to talk, he is more than welcome to come have a chat with you. So you can expect to see him other nights, Bubba.”
With that, Bill is off to his work, and I have time to take in what all has happened and been said.
“Hiss-hoo, Bubba, what’s this I hear about you having nocturnal
home when I saw John leaving.Are you moonlighting as a psychologist? Maybe you should hang out your shingle.”
Mr. O can be very irritating at times. “I am not trying to be a psychologist. It’s just that I don’t judge others. I accept them for what they are, and John needs that acceptance.” I wish I could make Mr. O understand that sometimes he doesn’t know everything. But I’m not in charge of Mr. O, only of myself.
Today looks to be very interesting, for there will be a new schedule as duties shift to cover Meg’s absence. The added changes in the therapy stable contribute to the confusion. Tom told me that Jack is moving into the apartment that’s over that stable. He also said that she’ll be sharing her apartment with Stella. I haven’t met Stella yet. I wonder if she’s a trainer, too. Maybe she can take me over the jumps, but I’ll just have to wait and see.
Remember Dulcie? She’s one of my special Clydesdale friends
spring, and I understand that now she and I have a beautiful little colt. Meg told me last week that Dulcie will be coming again soon, so we can try for another baby. Hmm, I’m getting quite a family. I just wish I could see more of the little guys. Thank goodness Annie and her babies live here.
Time to think of other things, for here comes Lilly. I’m off for a good grooming and then Lilly and I will give the jumps a try. It’s been a while since she and I have been over the jumps together, but she’s such a good trooper that I know we’ll work out any kinks. Even so, I’ll miss Meg.
“My stars, where did this rain come from?” Lilly is not a fan of rain, but neither am I, for it means we can’t do our work in the outdoor arena. Putting away the brushes, she says,“You are as slick and pretty as I can make you, Bubba.Time to saddle up and give the indoor jumps a go. Let’s do it.”
This isn’t so bad. Lilly is doing a good job. I feel quite relaxed, as we go over the relatively easy jumps. Bill happens to be coming by leading Geoffrey and says, “Lilly, you and Bubba are looking good. When you
into the apartment.This rain is making it hard for her.”
“Be glad to, and thanks. I love riding this guy. It brings back lots
of memories.Wouldn’t it have been a shame if Mom hadn’t bought him
from that carriage horse business? And then you bought him and his
twin Julie from us to get The Chocolate Farm going.We go back a long
way, don’t we?”
Yikes, what is that? Over the sound of the rain on the roof, there is
frantic shouting and squealing coming closer, and then the sound moves
into the stable.
“Hiss-hoo below! Trouble afoot!”
“Oh, no!” Lilly says, as she loses her balance and grabs around my neck. I had put on the brakes, for running right in front of me is a pig… yes, a very dirty pig.And right behind him scrambles Jack, covered with
squirts out from under her. Finally, with one more giant effort she lands right on top, forcing out more squeals.This time she holds on until the pig gives up…and shuts up.
“It’s okay, Stella,” Jack says, trying to catch her breath. “I know
me,” and Jack, still with her arms around Stella, sooths and pets her. “So this is Stella,” says Bill, as he comes over to inspect the
damage.“Are you okay, Jack? You didn’t squash Stella, did you? She looks
kind of…spread out.”
She does look spread out, but it’s not because of Jack’s landing
on top of her. She is just plain fat, with rolls of it where her neck is
supposed to be. And, merciful heavens, her belly is almost dragging on
the ground. Stella is one fat pig, who is oinking her unhappiness. “Sorry, guys. Stella is usually easy to get along with. She’s never
had trouble getting used to new locations. Gosh, she’s been with me for
years, going from home to college with no problem.Well, she did have
some problems being accepted in the dorm at college, but that wasn’t
her fault. She won’t be a problem here. I promise.” Jack picks up Stella’s
leash and Stella follows Jack like an obedient dog, as they go out into the
rain to continue moving into the apartment.
As Jack leads the waddling pig away, Lilly says, “Well, Bubba, that
was fun.Time to get back to work,” and we head for another jump.
CHAPTER TWELVE:
An Opportunity
“Hey, Jack.Wait up!” It’s Lilly wanting to talk to Jack. It’s a beautiful day, and we’re almost ready for the spring Arabian show. Lilly and I have
the house on the way to the therapy barn.
“Sure.What’s up?” Jack says as she walks over into our barn. “I just heard the good news about Josh. I’m so glad he’s going to
be around here some. He’s a super
guy.” Lilly and Jack are walking me to my stall, for I’m cooled down and ready for a drink.
“Thanks, I’m tickled to death. He has a degree in Farm Management and is working on his masters. As Breeding Manager here, he can still take his classes in the afternoons and evenings, for it won’t take more than the mornings to do the breeding and to work with the vet.”
“I know it’s none of my business, but I’m going to stick my nose in anyway. Are you two engaged?” Lilly asks, with a cute little smile on her face.
With a laugh, Jack says, “Well, I don’t have a ring, but we have
get married, and I’m good with that. He’s going to move to an old farmhouse not too far from here, and that will be nice.Well, I’ve got to get going.Whysper is coming for another lesson shortly, and I need to get Clarence ready.”
“Thanks for stopping by. I just wanted to tell you I’m happy about Josh,” and with that, Jack thanks Lilly and then jogs over to the therapy stable.
As Lilly latches my door, she says, “You’re not going to have any time for a little nap, Bubba, for Bill will be taking you to the Therapy
Barn for John’s ride soon. Be good,” and she’s gone.
She’s right, for I’ve not had much more time than it takes to suck
up a refreshing drink, when Bill comes and we head for therapy. “You notice we’re not taking your saddle with us, Bubba, for we
never use your western saddle here. It now has taken up permanent
residence in the therapy tack room. We’ll still keep your English and
jumping saddles here. Say, Bubba, have you met Josh yet? I don’t think
you have, but he will be working with you when you do the breeding.
He’s nice.You’ll like him.”
We’re just entering the stable when John’s pickup pulls into
the lot. “Look at John, Bubba. Don’t you think he’s more energetic and
happier these days? I think we’re doing him some good, don’t you?” “Morning, John. How are you? It’s a great day for a ride.While you’re