Crown Prince Challenged (7 page)

Derek looked inquisitively at Sarah. “And the answer is….?”

“Yes, Crown Prince is a full Thoroughbred.” Not comfortable with the conversation focused on her, Sarah changed the subject. “And your horse?”

Derek gestured toward the stall. “This is Bismarck. He's a Hol-steiner, six years old, and we imported him from Germany about six months ago. He just made another long trip by commercial van to get here from Chicago. He's pretty easygoing, which helps make him a good traveler.” Derek suddenly looked embarrassed as he glanced at his parents. “I'm sorry—I should have introduced you. Sarah, meet my mother and father.”

“Hello, Sarah,” Mrs. Alexander said. “Since Derek is new here, I hope you can show him around and introduce him to the other riders.”

Derek rolled his eyes. “Mom, I'll be fine.”

At that moment Jack came around the corner. He offered his hand to each of the Alexanders and welcomed them to the farm. Jack walked over to look in at Bismarck, instantly recognizing a quality animal. He seemed very pleased. “I understand our stable manager, Gus Kelso, checked in with you about feed and what your horse has been fed prior to now,” he said to Derek. “Gus will gradually wean him off that onto the excellent grain combination we feed here, along with high-quality hay. It's a Timothy and alfalfa mix.”

“We've been looking forward to meeting you,” Mr. Alexander said. “Derek has wanted to ride with you ever since he read you were coming to this country. It took a transfer to my company's office in Winchester to make it happen, though.”

Mrs. Alexander laughed. “Derek wasn't totally happy with his father's promotion and the move to Winchester until he learned we would be close to Brookmeade Farm. How soon can he begin a lesson program with you, Mr. O'Brien?”

“Call me Jack, if you please,” Jack said. “New riders start out with a private lesson so I can evaluate them, particularly when they have their own horses. Then we decide where to place them in our lesson program.” Jack turned to Derek. “I believe I'm booked up this week, but stop by the office so we can schedule something. Gus has made a place for your tack and equipment in the boarders' tack room,” he said, gesturing down the aisle. “Let me show it to you.”

Jack swiveled to face Sarah. “I'll be wanting a look at your horse's leg before my next lesson starts,” he said. “I'll be back after I show Derek the tack room. Could you please remove the bandage?”

“We'll be off, Derek,” his father said, as they started down the aisle. “Your mom and I have lots of unpacking to do in the new house.”

Sarah turned to look at her horse. She had never failed to go to him first when she arrived at the barn, and now he stood at his stall door, tossing his head, his eyes fixed on her. When she slipped into the stall, he pushed his slender muzzle toward her. She stroked his face while he tugged at her jacket and nuzzled her coat sleeve. She fished his carrot from her pocket and offered it to him. “I'm sorry I made you wait, Prince,” she said softly. “I guess I've spoiled you.” She gave him a quick hug before slipping his halter on and bringing him out to the cross-ties in the aisle.

Jack had done a good job putting on the stable bandage—it hadn't slipped down at all. Sarah's fingers worked quickly to remove it and the cotton wrap, anxious to see the injury it covered, and gently pulled off the gauze pad. She was studying the injured area just as Jack returned. He leaned down to look closely at the wound, now twenty-four hours old, before gently placing a hand in back of the cannon bone to check for heat and swelling.

Jack looked pleased when he stood up. “'Tis coming along well,” he said. “The area around the cut is only moderately warm, consistent with healing. The only thing you have to work on is keeping the cut from getting infected, and it will soon be scabbed over. Cold water, wrapping the leg, and stall rest have taken care of any minor stress to the tendon area.” Hearing Jack's words, Sarah felt a wave of relief. The injury would soon be a thing of the past! She noticed a second shadow on the aisle's cement floor, and realized Derek was behind them, also looking closely at Prince's leg.

Jack stepped back and rested his hand on Prince's hindquarters. “I suggest both of you hand-walk your horses in the indoor today. 'Tis too bad we have the rain, but just stay at one end while the lessons are going on. Bismarck has had a long van ride and needs to stretch his legs.” Jack shifted his gaze to Sarah. “Crown Prince hasn't been out of his stall today, and proper circulation from light exercise will promote healing. Afterward just slather on a goodly amount of the Furoxone ointment and wrap his leg for one more day.”

Jack started off to his next lesson, but paused and turned around. “Prince's cut isn't very deep and should heal over in a few days. By Saturday you can probably get on him again. If you don't have any polo wraps, best to pick up a set before then. Wrap his front legs only. Paige will show you how to do it, and if she's not around, Tim and Mrs. DeWitt are also good with polos.” Jack smiled. “And perhaps Derek, too.”

After Jack left, Derek walked around Prince, looking at the horse up close. “He's pretty tall,” he said. “How do you manage to get your foot in the stirrup?”

“Only with a mounting block,” she said, and they both laughed.

“Maybe you should take some rock climbing lessons, just in case you're without the block one of these days.” His face became serious. “What are you planning to do with him?”

“I haven't gotten that far yet. He's my first horse, and I've only had him since June. I might event him and do some small shows.”

Derek walked over to look out the window. “I think it's only sprinkling outside now, so before I walk Bismarck, I'm going to bring in some of the things that are jammed into my truck. I didn't realize I had so much horse stuff until I had to pack it all up.”

Before Derek could leave, Tim and Paige appeared, eager to meet the new boarder. When Sarah introduced them, she mentioned that Derek lived in Winchester.

“The vets that take care of the Brookmeade horses are from the Winchester Equine Clinic,” Tim said, “and a girl who rides in our class goes to Winchester Academy.”

“I'm going to be a junior there, a day student. Most of the kids who go to the Academy are boarding students, though.”

“Have you met Rita Snyder?” Paige asked. “She would also be a junior. She's thin with long black hair. She drives a green Mustang convertible.”

Derek shook his head. “Our classes don't start until next week.”

“What do you do with your horse?” Tim asked.

“Before I got him, Bismarck was a show jumper in Germany,” Derek replied. “When we get our act together, that's what I hope to do with him. I really love doing the jumpers. I wasn't totally thrilled with my instructor in Chicago, though. I'm hoping Jack can help us. What kind of riding do you do?”

Paige and Tim looked at each other, as if not sure who should answer the question. Paige jumped in first.

“I have a gray Thoroughbred, Quarry, and both Tim and I started eventing our horses this year,” Paige said. “Quarry is off the track, so it's taken some time to get him retrained. He's quick, and likes to rush his fences.” She grinned. “At the Maple Crest event in July, there was a huge rock pile on cross-country called Titanic. Quarry was a little intimidated, and he didn't know whether to rush it or suck back—so he was just right.”

Like the others, Derek laughed. “You'll have to tell me more some time, but I've got to move my stuff into the tack room before it starts to rain hard again.”

“I've got some time,” Tim said. “Want a hand?”

“Sure,” Derek said, as the two left for the parking area.

When they were out of earshot, Sarah spoke softly to Paige. “What do you think of the new guy?”

“I think he's totally cool!” Paige said. “You'll probably see Kelly and Nicole stopping by here a lot now, like they do around Tim's stall.”

“I hope not,” Sarah said. “They've had it in for me ever since Jack moved me into your class last winter. They don't speak to me, and I have a feeling they would stab me in the back if they got a chance.”

“I'd ignore them if I were you,” Paige said. “They're just jealous. Maybe you'll be back riding with us one of these days.”

“It can't be soon enough for me,” Sarah said, “but Prince is still green. I saw some of your lesson yesterday, and all of you guys looked awesome. Next year you'll be long-listed for the Olympic eventing team.”

“Yeah, right before I win the New York Marathon,” Paige said, rolling her eyes. She turned to leave. “I've got to get back to Quarry.”

Sarah looked at Crown Prince standing patiently on the crossties. He didn't appear to be jumping out of his skin after being cooped up in his stall all day. Maybe he wouldn't be too rambunctious if she tried to hand-walk him in the indoor.
I can clean his stall later,
she thought. She left for the tack room to get her grooming caddy. When she returned, there was a pile of tack and horse care equipment near Bismarck's stall. It looked like Derek and Tim had gone back for more.

After going over Prince quickly with a soft brush, Sarah grabbed a hoof pick out of her caddy. A thorough grooming could be skipped on this day when she wouldn't be riding, but his feet needed to be picked out at least once a day. The farrier said his feet were healthy, and she wanted to keep them that way. When she had finished, she attached his lead shank to his halter, unclipped the cross-ties, and led him toward the indoor, his shoes ringing on the cement floor.

THE INDOOR ARENA
was wall-to-wall horses when Sarah and Prince approached it from the stable entryway. To allow more than one class to ride simultaneously, cavalletti had been placed across the arena to divide it into two working areas. Jack was instructing a group of adults in the far end, while in the closer section, Lindsay worked with a class of intermediate riders. A few well-placed cones marked a boundary that reserved a small portion of the arena for boarders' horses.

Sarah scanned all the activity. Along with a number of horses that had trucked in for lessons, it looked like every one of the Brookmeade school horses was in the arena. With so many horses going in all directions, Prince became anxious, pulling on the lead shank. He might have some extra energy after all!

Kelly and Nicole were walking and trotting their horses in the tight space reserved for the boarders. This was where Sarah was headed, and the last thing she wanted was trouble with those girls. Having a problem with Rita the day before was bad enough. Maybe she should just take Prince back to his stall and forget this.

No!
she thought.
I'm not going to let those two keep us out. With the rain, the indoor is the only place we can walk, and Prince needs to get some exercise.
When she saw the entrance was clear, she called out, “Gate!” and walked him into the arena.

Thankfully Kelly and Nicole were tracking left. Sarah led Prince close to the rail in the same direction so horses could pass her easily. From the tension on the lead shank, even at walk, she could tell Prince was tense, particularly when a horse came close to them.
Just let them keep their distance! s
he thought. Prince moved with his head high, and his ears flicked in all directions as he took in the activity around him. It seemed like there were horses moving everywhere, and riders in Jack's class were cantering through a short gymnastic jumping line. When Prince pulled on the shank to go faster, Sarah had to give frequent short tugs to slow down his walk and keep him listening to her. She was glad for the chain shank over his sensitive nose that helped regain his attention when necessary.

Sarah glanced around to check on the riders, hoping they wouldn't come too close. Kelly Hoffman on Midnight Jet was not far away, and when their gazes met, Kelly gave Sarah a dark look before turning away and almost immediately putting her horse into a brisk trot, making as large a circle as space allowed. Glancing over her shoulder, Sarah saw that Kelly and Jet were approaching them closely from behind. To give Kelly's horse as much room as possible, Sarah pushed her arm against Prince's shoulder, and with the shank, asked him to move closer to the wall. When she looked again, Kelly and her horse were directly behind Prince, coming up fast. It looked like Midnight Jet might actually brush up against her horse!

“Watch it!” Sarah called out, but it was too late. Crown Prince was also aware of the other horse moving quickly toward his rear, and as the bay Quarter Horse came upon him, Prince kicked out in warning with his left hind leg, causing Jet to shy hard to the left to avoid the blow. Kelly wasn't prepared for the unexpected swerve, and she lurched partially out of the saddle, making her horse shy even more to the left. With a cry of frustration, Kelly fell from her horse and landed hard on the arena floor. Midnight Jet cantered away, his reins hanging loose and stirrups flapping.

Someone shouted, “Loose horse!” and all the other riders in the arena quickly brought their horses to a halt. Lindsay left her class and immediately walked toward Midnight Jet, who had stopped by the gate. He didn't attempt to move away when she reached for his reins. By then Kelly was on her feet, her face twisted in anger as she hurried to retrieve her horse. Without saying a word, she snatched the reins away from Lindsay.

“Are you all right?” Lindsay asked her. When Kelly nodded, Lindsay said, “Would you like to get back on?”

“I'm not riding in here with that crazy horse!” Kelly snapped. “Let me out.”

Lindsay held the gate open so Kelly could lead Jet away. Nicole quickly dismounted and followed them with her buckskin mare, Jubilee. Sarah watched them go, relieved that at least it appeared Kelly hadn't gotten hurt.