The Early Days at JDM Equestrian

Jill was insisting to a coworker she was too sick to stay at work. "What am i gonna do PUKE in the outhouse???  I ALREADY don't feel well.  And, it is raining and our teacher is sick and I'm sick and, the horse is sick so what is the point of riding? And since the other student and my later student both cancelled and I'm not teaching, can't I please take my churny stomach, gags, shakes and headaches and drippy sinuses home to where there is gingerale and crackers?"  

The other instructor was insisting that they have a mentoring meeting, to discuss student progress and horse selection and such. "I know its a bad day to BE sick (i.e. today's meeting), but I AM sick and have to take a sick rest of the day."

There were, by her third visit, three horses that instantly perked their heads up, essentially smiling when Jill came in the barn, and said something to anybody. It was obvious how they recognized her voice and gleefully anticipated her attention.  Two of them had learned the new teacher lady's voice (by then), and one of them Jill had been grooming a lot. Jill could see he loved it as affection, and that he was such a friendly pony...

Jill was motivated to ride for the horse's needed conditioning or training.  She was not the kind of person who would go to a gym for her own fitness, sad but true.  So, the fact that her mentor had her sharing this horse combined with the fact that she had no competitive goals, meant she wasn't riding enough.

"Luckily, yesterday my teacher said something in my presence, about how chasing rider jump approach habits create horses with rushing habits/fears," Jill's words seemed out of context to her barn mates, but she meant that she had since been wondering if perhaps her handsomeness had been being rushed by other girls.  His other riders. And she was pondering if perhaps he might NEED her to ride him and just relax and wait (while HE rushed, of his own free will).
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The whole barn rang the tiny note of jealousy in the teenage barn help voice that announced "he's licking her face!" 


Jill had never had a horse do that before, had never really seen it there before that's for sure and was honestly just as surprised at the teenager.  "Horses don't lick people!" she agreed, thinking, even if they do, it certainly would not be for a sign of love. That's ridiculous. Obviously he's craving salt or something." 
And yet she heard the envy, and felt the love.