Ringmaster or Firecracker?

[Aubrey Schaffel]

Boots clicked softly on the concrete as Aubrey walked down the stable aisle. Her medium blonde hair was pulled away from her face in a ponytail, leaving her eyes looking paler than they did when she had her hair down. A nose popped out of a stall, ears pricked eagerly. Another horses head fell over the door of the stall beside Scipio’s. The horse quickly went back to munching on his hay when he noticed it wasn’t his owner. Odd.

Aubrey didn’t hesitate in snatching up Scipio’s halter and lead. “Hey Scipio.” Her hand stroked down the mare’s velvet soft muzzle. The horse tossed her head in delight. A smile spread over Bree’s face as she tried to get the halter over Scipio’s muzzle. When she was successful she latched the lead onto the halter, opened the door, and led her out of the stall and into a grooming stall. Tying the lead into a ring on the wall she ran her hand along all four legs, checking for heat.

Leaving the mare, which was a bad idea and Aubrey knew better, she grabbed her tack and grooming kit from the tack room. Returning to the mare she set the saddle on the rack that was bolted to the wall and the bridle on the hook. The grooming kit went on the floor; far enough away that Scipio couldn’t kick it or step on it. Pulling a brush from the kit Bree set to work on her mare’s coat. The grey color of her coat shone faintly: Cleaner but not yet clean enough for her owner’s liking. Another two brushes, a mane and tail brush, and a hoof pick later she was finally clean and three quarters asleep.

Aubrey smiled, stroking the mare’s muzzle again. Grabbing the saddle pad she settled it into position on Scipio’s back. The saddle came next. Leaning underneath the mare she grabbed the girth, pulling it up with her to be clasped into place. Running her hand along Scipio’s belly she felt her let out air, allowing her to pull the girth to its tightest without pinching the horse’s skin. Checking the room between the girth and Scipio’s barrel, Aubrey pulled the girth up one more notch. The girth snapped off at the latch. Groaning Aubrey looked at it. She couldn’t ride with just one tight side of the girth.

Sighing she pulled the saddle off and sat down on the floor with it, backed pressed against the wall, seeing if she could possibly fix the girth. She should have gotten a new one when she got a new saddle. Looking up at Scipio she saw that the mare’s eyes were half lidded and her lip was hanging, her back foot cocked up on her toe in a resting position. Bree absently tickled Scipio’s bottom lip as she took the girth off the saddle and examined it.