A Morning Ride

[Jazzi]

The sun had just begun to rise over the horizon, sending an orange glow around the barn, as Cadence strode down the East Barn corridor.

Her pale gray gaze flicked from each of the friendly heads emerging from the stalls until the one so familiar met her eyes. The sun's warm rays lit up his bay pelt in a red crimson hue.

Bounty's warm nicker sounded around the barn's rafters, fading away as Cadence approached him, stroking his velvet muzzle affectionately. A fore-hoof stomped wearily, thudding in a muffled drone.

Cadence reached for the leather halter hanging above the stall to the right, unclasping the throat latch. Carefully, she slid the metal bolt out of the holder and swung the stall door open.

Gently, the girl slipped the halter behind her Hanoverian gelding's furry ears and buckled the throat latch. Clucking to him softly, she led him out of the stall on a loose lead.

[Jazzi]

Guiding Bounty down the corridor, she turned him tightly in a U-turn and clipped the cross-ties to the metal rings of his brown, leather halter.

Cadence tossed the white lead over her gelding's muscular neck and walked away in the direction of the tack room, sending an air-kiss toward him from across the barn before she disappeared around the corner.

[Jazzi]

Continued

Cadence returned to her waiting horse, hackamore slung over her right shoulder. The tack was different than what she had imagined returning in, but the day dream of her last ride over the plains left her longing for the sun warming her back as she trekked along the trail.

Besides, Bounty had not been on a trail for over a month. It was a good, healthy exercise for him to have a change of scenery; a little harder terrain to cover.

Sighing contentedly to herself, Cadence picked each of his hooves with no trouble, then unclipped the cross-ties from his leather halter. Leaving the halter about his long, velvet face, she slipped the hackamore on and over his ears, then tied the lead around his muscular neck.

She stroked her gelding affectionately, gazing solidly into his warm, welcoming brown eyes.

Come on, boy. Let's go take a vacation.

Cadence led Bounty out of the confinements of the stall and turned right, heading north, to see if Michael or Ally wanted to join them.