Page 15 of My Queendom for a Horse

“See? It’s not bad. It helps keep you still while I saddle you. Alright?”

He tosses his head and stomps his front right foot.

“Normally stomping and pawing are considered rude,” I say.

“Are you talking to him?” John’s eyebrow is raised. “Because you sound kind of crazy.”

“Oh,” I say. “I’m sorry. Did you want me to head back to the house and let you take over?”

John frowns, but he doesn’t mock me again.

“Alright, boy, we’re going to use a bit of a different saddle today, a bigger saddle than we use for races. It lets me hold on a little better. I think you might enjoy a hack around the whole property—we have a few thousand acres. There are some fun jumps, and some big open fields you might love. What do you think?”

“You’re going to take him out solo?” John looks sick about it. “Is that wise?”

“Did you want to ride with us?” I ask. “Really?”

“Horses get spooky when they go out alone, but if you think he’ll be fine, then do whatever you want. It’s not my neck.”

“How about it?” I turn toward Obsidian. “Do you want to go out alone? Bob your head if you do.”

Obsidian Devil tosses his head.

“Or would you rather I have John saddle someone up and bring them along?” I eye him, but he’s motionless. “If you want someone else to come along, toss your head again.”

Obsidian doesn’t move a hair.

“See?” I eye John. “If you want to go alone, just you and me, toss your head.”

He throws his head into the air again.

John’s lip curls. “You’ve gone insane. You actually think he’s answering your questions? Horses throw their heads.”

I’m not sure how much of what I’m saying Obsidian really understands, but for some reason, I don’t feel afraid of taking him out. “I want to see what he can do, alright? I’m worried that if we take others along, he’ll see it as a race, and it won’t be the nice, calm tour of our property that I have in mind.”

“Or he’ll get a whiff of wild hogs, freak out, throw you off, and break your back.”

“I’ve never been thrown in my life,” I say, “and I don’t intend to break that streak today.”

John shakes his head as he walks away.

“Don’t worry, boy.” I scratch behind Obsidian’s ears. Most horses don’t love it, but he seems to like it pretty well. “I trust you.” I don’t have my riding gloves, helmet, or proper riding boots, but that never stopped me as a child. “Are you ready to go explore?”

Obsidian tosses his head again.

As I tack him up, I do have a moment of panic that Obsidian might bolt or freak out on me. Horses going sideways in the crossties can be really harmful for them, and clearly everyone else has trouble managing him. But he stands calmly while I toss the saddle pad over his back, and he barely shifts a hoof while I tighten the saddle straps. He opens his mouth politely so I can place the bit when I put his bridle on. He never snaps, stomps or kicks.

He’s a perfect gentleman.

I lead him out of the barn with no issues. I’m almost to the indoor arena where I figured we’d warm up when he pulls hard, almost yanking the reins out of my hands. I’m worried he’s trying to escape for a moment until I notice he’s still standing near me calmly. He tosses his head in the direction of the open field behind the arena.

“It’s cold, Obsidian. Really cold.” I rub my arms. “I’m only wearing a jacket. We should at least warm up first, where there are walls to block the wind.” He shifts and begins to walk slowly toward the stable we just left.

“No, we need to go the arena,” I say. “It’s over here. Once neither of us is cold, we can go out and—”

But he’s stopped, and he’s staring at the wall. There’s an old coat hanging on a hook. I assume it belongs to one of the grooms, because it’s not mine. I wrinkle my nose. “Are you wanting me to put on that stinky coat? I don’t want to.”

He paws the ground and whinnies. When he bumps my arm with his nose and rubs my hand with his face, I weaken. “Is that really what you’re trying to do? Convince me to wear a coat?”

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