Warmness Of The Soul

It was mid morning at Moormint Stud. The eventing horses had just come back in from their weekly gallop session. The horses had been washed and now their riders were in their horse’s stable giving them a check over before rugging and letting them out into the pasture for the day.  A girl’s voice called out asking for someone to pick up poles for her jumping session. The top 40 countdown was playing over the radio and a few could be heard trying to sing along. A stable hand was walking down the laneway, sweeping dirt and shavings back into stalls whilst another was cleaning out the last stable for the day. Just another normal day at Moormint Stud, including the manager having another heated argument with the co-manager.

“Lisa, you know I can’t stay over Christmas and you can’t rely on your parents for everything!” Luke was started to get irritated. Lisa can be a stubborn woman when she wants something, but he’s not ready to give up yet.

“Bloody hell Luke! What else do you want me to do?” Lisa whined as she put down the hoof and stood up to stare Luke in the eye, hands on hips and put on her best ‘do not freaking mess with me, bitch face.

Lisa kept going without listening to what he said. “Puzzle is in perfect form for this show and we’ve got a good chance at this. A great chance in fact! Mum and dad can just make sure everything is in order and the girls can do all of the work.”

 
Rachel Close, a new member to the Moormint team was walking her mare, Kahleia, to her stall when she overheard her employer’s arguing. 

Lisa looked at Luke, eyes pleading him to say yes. Puzzle came over and put his head in Luke’s hands, ears pricked waiting for an answer. Luke looked between the two of them, trying to find a good reason to make them stay.

“Fine” Luke said with a straight face then turned to run after Rachel. “Hey Rach, wait up!”

Lisa and Puzzle turned to look at each other and did their victory dance. Lisa fist pumped the air and bounced from foot to foot while Puzzle nodded his head in the air. Once they stopped, Puzzle pushed his head into Lisa’s chest and she wrapped her arms around his head. Their first international trip.

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Puzzle was patiently waiting in the stable for his rider to come back and put his bridle on. She always does that. She runs away once his braids are put in and makeup finalized. Hooves have been oiled and shine spray has been rubbed in with a sheepskin mitten. Saddle on with one more hole to go then she runs off in her thick black pants and green turtleneck longsleeve and her brown hair in a messy top knot. She comes back in her white breeches and shiny black boots, black jacket with her LV Stock. Everything was normal except she was wearing some floppy red thing on her head and a red shirt instead of her normal pastel green one. Lisa always wore makeup when she competed, but this was more than normal. Her cheeks were rosy red and her lips brighter. And in her hands some weird looking device and sparkly tinsel.

It was half an hour until the duo were supposed to enter the arena for the dressage phase of the Askeboda Opening Show. They were running a little behind time because Lisa was so used to having someone there to groom her horse, but today it was just the two of them. Puzzle goes better with a shorter warm-up anyway. Just not always this short.

“Hey, what’s up with the red lips? Are you a secret vampire and just had your daily top up?” someone joked from the stable next door.

“Sorry to disappoint, but its so the judges can see me smiling all the way down the other end of the arena. That little trick has picked me up quite a few winning scores, and oddly a few phone numbers!” Lisa laughed as she replied before turning to Puzzle to put his bridle on.

Once the bridle was on, Lisa then reached for the antlers she wanted to attach to Puzzle’s head. His eyes went wide and backed up to the rear of the stall. “It’s ok mate. You’ll look so cute, trust me.” She whispered as she fed him a carrot and put the antlers in place before securing it. “Can’t forget the final touch,” Lisa said as she reached for the tinsel and wrapped it around the antlers. At least Puzzle doesn’t shake his head…too much.

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The bell rang. Puzzle went flying into an extended trot trying to reach the gate in time. Well at least he was moving quickly off her leg. Here’s hoping that he responds that well to everything else since they didn't have any time to do more than simple stretching in their warm up.  As the pair rounded the corner to come up the centerline, Lisa cleared her mind and focused on the chestnut bouncing between her thighs. When they passed through the gate, Lisa’s automatic smile came on and Puzzle had a little more suspension in his gait and held his head higher, prouder. There was nothing else. Lisa went into autopilot, knowing where to turn and when to apply her left leg to stop Puzzle from falling in on the circle. As they were trotting around, Lisa’s absent mind suddenly flicked to a song that she had been listening to for almost the whole trip. She knew all of the lyrics, the crescendos and the note of every instrument. The song described her and Puzzle perfectly. She sung the song to herself, and couldn't help but to relate it to her moment in the ring.

 Your hazel green tint eyes watching every move I make.

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They came into their final halt to end their test. Lisa’s smile showed how much she loved every moment of their round and Puzzle’s square halt was just a picture of perfection.  Lisa’s right hand came off the reins to salute to he judge, slowly picked them back up, and leant down to wrap her arms around her horse’s neck. She couldn’t stop smiling and laughing and smiling as Puzzle turned to walk out of the arena. Lisa sat up and punched the air as they went out the gate. They did it. Bring on tomorrow.