3rd in series Chronicles of a Broke Horse Trainer

legs! My next realization was that we were actually backtracking along the rail at a nice trot exactly as I had planned in my grand scheme to outwit Buck. I am certain that I had unconsciously given him some cue with my legs or a weight shift during the excitement. I was so relieved to still have a leg on each side with the mare still in tow that I honestly didn’t care how I got there. My goal now was to continue with my plan and make a full lap around the track. I reversed direction at the winner’s circle and asked for a lope. Buck responded immediately and perfectly and our journey around the oval had begun. Our orders were to complete one five-eighths mile lap and return to the barn. The mare was pulling hard wanting to go and Buck felt like he would enjoy a little blow so, at the end of the first lap I gave Buck his head and we accelerated to a full gallop for a second lap. I was somewhat amazed that it was everything that the race mare could do to keep up with Buck. The second lap was fun for all of us and after we got pulled up and backtracked on the rail to the gate, we enjoyed a leisurely walk back to the barn. Art met us with a smile and took the bay mare in hand to cool her out after our little run. After confirming that there were no more horses to pony, I unsaddled Buck and walked him around while Art tended to the mare. I had seen which stall Buck came out of and took it upon myself to put him away when I hear d Art yell “What do you think you are doing?”. I responded that I was just putting Buck away to which he replied “He ain’t my horse and I don’t want the counterfeit so-and- so in my barn”. As a side note, I did find out later that I was the fourth person to try ponying with Buck and the first three had all met the same demise. I did have an extra stall at my end of the barn and instead of arguing in the heat of the moment I simply led Buck to my stall and bedded him down for the day. My assumption was that Art would rethink his rash decision and would take back the horse in the next day or so.

Over the next few days, I got to know Art well and it was then that I