Chapter Five
It was only seven o’clock when Mia slid into Diamond’s stall the next morning. Mia wanted to get started on her project as soon as possible. The show was only three days away.
Today, her plan was to get to know Diamond better. She needed to figure out why he was always trying to bite. Then tomorrow, she’d ride him in her regular riding lesson.
The barn was chilly this early. It was also very quiet. Diamond was standing with his head near the stall door. He was finishing the last of his breakfast.
“Hey, boy,” Mia said, sliding the door back with a bang. Right away, Diamond flicked his ears back and rolled his eyes. He let out a warning nicker.
Mia gasped. She backed out of the stall fast. She slid the door shut and leaned against it. She was breathing fast.
This was going to be a little harder than she’d thought. But it was her only chance. It was his only chance, too.
After a second, she slowly slid back the door and peeked inside. Diamond gave her a suspicious look. Mia eyed him back, then took a deep breath.
“Hi, Diamond,” she said in a low, calm voice.
The horse’s ears flickered, but he didn’t pin them back.
Mia slowly slid the stall door closed behind her. Slow and steady, that’s what she needed to be. She walked forward as carefully as she could. She gently patted Diamond’s shoulder.
“There, boy,” she said. “That’s not too bad, right?”
Diamond relaxed a little. He lowered his head. He blew some air out of his nose. Then he poked his muzzle in the direction of her pocket.
“Oh, is this what you’re looking for?” Mia asked. She thrust her hand in her pocket and pulled out an apple.
But she moved too fast. The apple snagged on her pocket. She tugged it loose, and her hand flew up. She smacked Diamond right on the nose!
He jerked his head up, shaking it a little. He rolled his eyes in surprise. His whole body was tense. Mia could see that if she made one wrong move, he’d try to bite her.
She backed away against the wall of the stall. Okay, that was an error. She’d moved too fast and scared him. She wasn’t going to do that again.
Mia watched Diamond until he calmed down. Then she reached into the tack box that sat just outside the door.
She pulled out a soft brush. Maybe a little grooming would help him relax.
Diamond stood quietly as she ran the brush over his shoulders and along his back. Mia finished brushing his neck. He stood quietly. Then Mia raised her hand to brush his ears.
As soon as she touched his ears with the brush, Diamond jerked his head up. He backed away from her. His muscles tensed up. He started shaking.
Mia gasped and pulled her hand away. She knocked her elbow against the metal hayrack, making a loud clanging noise. Diamond let out a warning nicker. He began pacing in the stall. He was nervous and upset.
Mia held out her hand. Diamond rolled his eyes at her. He pinned his ears back.
Mia’s heart sank. She had made so much progress. Now it seemed like they were back where they started.
At least she knew what Diamond’s problem was. He didn’t like anyone touching his head.
Like yesterday, when she’d tried to put his halter on too fast. And earlier, when she banged the stall door near his head. He might have been treated roughly at his last home. Or maybe he’d always had this fear.
“Is that it, boy?” Mia asked Diamond. “You get nervous when people touch your head?”
As she spoke, she moved toward him very slowly. Mia firmly patted him on the neck.
Diamond didn’t move. Mia worked her way over his back. She talked to Diamond all the time. He stood quietly with his head down. Mia didn’t try to touch his head again.
After several minutes, Mia slowly backed out of the stall. She wasn’t used to moving this carefully. But she knew she couldn’t make any more mistakes. She latched the door and double-checked it.
Only two more days left, Mia thought. And her lesson was tomorrow. How was she going to put a bridle on him if she couldn’t touch his ears?