My Name is Gus, New Edition - Chloe Angele Green (phonics readers txt) 📗

The next day went a little better than I thought it would go. There were hardly any people, and most of them came and went after caring for their horses. Janine had to work with Gracie that day, and I watched with heavy interest as she trotted and loped flawlessly around the ring, mane billowing with the autumn breeze. Seeing this, I made a small decision in my mind that Janine was ok, but she was still a person with hands, hands that could inflict pain. After working with Gracie, Janine came into the corral and sat, watching me with an unreadable expression. I watched her back, and for what seemed like hours upon hours we stood. Time seemed to freeze and the silence was deafening. Giving a deep sigh, I decided. It’snowornever!Taking small steps toward her, I walked until I stood directly in front of her, but still she made no movement. After a while she moved her hand and laid a couple of fingers on my nose. I fought the urge to flinch away, she’snot goingtohurt you,she’s not goingtohurt you!Soon she had her hand on my nose and was gently petting me. I closed my eyes, savoring the loving touch she was giving me. After a while I felt a very familiar feeling on my lips, and I sucked the sweet treat in my mouth, nudging for more. “You sure love sugar cubes, huh?” Janine laughed before stroking me one more time and leaving the corral. Before walking away completely, she turned to me with a warm smile. “Goodnight . . . Gus”. With the words hanging in the air…

♦ ♦ ♦

 Training continued day in and day out. New people and horses came and went, and seasons changed as the ranch built on. Gracie and I grew to be close friends, and Spicy became my almost- mentor. Janine let me go into the field with the other horses, and I made lots of new friends. One horse, Ringo, looked just like me, and we became play buddies. In time, the ranch became my new home and life…a good one at last.

Gus is doing really well so far! He has allowed Janine to lay over him on a blanket and feel the weight of a human on his back. He has recently learned to go into a trailer and back out. When he stepped out he had a look of feeling so proud of himself. All in all, he has been through a lot of training, as he and Janine have built a strong bond with each another. Gus is just a sweet, snuggly horse who could be a teddy bear on a store shelf for such a personality. Janine is still working with him, very careful to keep children who come for lessons and other visitors to the ranch respectful of Gus’ delicate trust and leeriness of us humans, and he is slowly but surely making progress!

Go Gus go!

Publication Date: 06-18-2013

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
TO MISS JANINE, who has a heart for horses AND kids!