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Rick nodded and moved closer. He knew as well as I how bad this was.
He took charge. “Can someone bring me a lunge line?”
A groom dashed in with one as soon as he could find what Rick needed.
“Now. Just light pressure as if he's skittish getting on the trailer. Alexandra, pull when we start pushing.”
I understood, even with my brain addled.
“Alright. Un, deux, trois,” I said.
Rick pushed. I pulled. We clucked our hearts out.
“Alexandra,” Rick said, remarkably calm. “Sweetheart, can you just try again? Try one more time. Give him lots of encouragement.”
I nodded bravely. We counted once more. The horse thought about it but remained unsure. Rick gave him a bit of encouragement, smacking him hard on the rear. Barney did not like this. He pinned his ears and lurched forward, managing to nearly nail Rick with his hind right hoof. It worked! My boy was standing again!
“See, the asshole has some fight left in him. Sorry, bud. I didn’t mean to frighten you, okay?”
Rick patted Barney on the shoulder who pinned his ears in protest.
I showered the horse in praise. “Good boy. Very, very good boy. We’re going to get the vet here and we will make you better. Promise. We’ll stay with you until you’re up and good. Okay?”
It wasn’t over yet. We still had many walks to do. Colic was a long road. It wasn’t over until the horse’s gut caught up and decided to work again. We could only hope that with some medication and movement, Barney would work it out. I felt helpless, but Rick didn’t give up. He stayed with me even if he didn't have to. Rick wasn’t all bad.
“So, this guy, he’s special then?” Rick asked.
We were in the middle of our third long walk with Barney. There were some good signs. If he didn’t improve soon, he’d be on the next float to the equine hospital in Belgium. I wanted to avoid that. At Barney’s age, he would be lucky to survive the surgery.
“He was my grandfather’s favourite mount. And he’s in his late twenties. He’s one of the few reminders of Grand-Papa. When he goes, I will be broken. And this… it cannot end like this.”
“Nah. It won’t. He’s too dignified and feisty an old man,” Rick said.
I giggled. “He’s still cross with you!”
“Well, it was all for progress. I am sorry, buddy. I will need to earn my way back into your good graces, huh?”
Barney was unimpressed.
“Okay, that’s fifty minutes. Time to break.” Rick turned off the alarm.
We put Barney in cross-ties. I slid down a wall to sit in the aisle. I looked at the horse, my chin resting on my knees. I wanted him to perk up so badly. He must pull through! It would destroy Ingrid to lose Barney.
“He’s Ingrid’s favourite, too,” I said. “It wasn’t just Grand-Pere. He is such a good old man, Rick. It would end Ingy if we lost him.”
“I can tell. Everyone is pulling for him. Me included.”
Rick sat next to me, our shoulders touching.
“I’m sorry. I don’t want you to think I’ve imprisoned you here.”
“Nah. At a stables? Impossible, Alexandra! I could spend all my days like this. Well, with better circumstances, but… I am happiest with the horses. I suspect you are, too?”
I nodded. “I missed this—the smell of the barn, the sound of horse hooves on the aisle, and the feeling of horsehair getting stuck in my mouth. This time of year?—”
“They’re always shedding like crazy. Yeah. Pumice stones.”
I laughed. “For sure! Look, I am so sorry. This was a chance for us to get to know one another and… now what?”
