Second Harvest

Six months later, Sugar-Girl was just over twelve hands tall and a spitting image of her mother. Roy called Abe into the ring one day.

"Abe, come here and stand next to me."

Abe started to run across the pen which spooked Sugar-Girl. Agitated, the horse threw her head back and began pacing.

"Abe, stop, don't move." When Abe obeyed, Roy spoke softly. "Now move slowly to the center with me and keep your hands down at your sides." Abe followed Roy's instructions and Sugar-Girl quickly calmed down. The rope around the horse's neck was gone and Abe was a little nervous. "Now Abe, hold out your left arm and make a clicking sound like me." As soon as Abe stuck out his arm, Sugar-Girl started walking in a counter-clockwise direction. Abe made the clicking sound and the horse quickened her pace.

"Do it again Abe." Another clicking sound and Sugar-Girl started running faster. Roy repeated the command and each time Abe made the sound, the horse ran faster. After the horse was running at a full gallop around the pen, Roy said, "Now make her stop." Abe giggled with excitement and called out.

"Whoa, Sugar-Girl." The horse slowed but did not stop. She continued to trot around the pen tossing her head in defiance.

Roy whistled a high pitch sound and Sugar-Girl stopped running and then walked over to Roy sniffing his pockets.

"There's no treats for a bad Sugar-Girl." Roy turned his body away from the horse. Each time the horse came around, Roy turned his back to her. "No, Sugar-Girl." Roy stuck out his right arm and clicked three times. The horse began trotting in a clockwise direction. "Okay Abe, let's try it again." Once Sugar-Girl was at a full gallop, Roy gave Abe the signal again, and the boy called out.

"Whoa, Sugar-Girl." Again the horse slowed but didn't stop. Sugar-Girl immediately ran over to Roy.

Raising the whip, Roy kept his left hand on Abe's shoulder while he gave the whip a hard snap. This caused Abe to jump in fright. Roy clicked and Sugar-Girl started running in a circle, increasing her pace.

"Again, Abe."

With his arm extended, Abe clicked several times getting Sugar-Girl into a full gallop.

Roy squeezed Abe shoulder and whispered, "Okay, now get her to stop. Don't be shy."

Abe bellowed out loud. "Whoa, Sugar-Girl." The horse slowed then stopped.

Roy walked behind Abe and stuffed some carrot pieces in the boy's pocket.

"Can you whistle Abe?"

Despite several attempts, Abe could not quite get the sound out so Roy bent behind Abe's back and gave out the familiar sharp sound. Roy then slowly backed away from Abe. Sugar-Girl hesitantly walked over to Abe and sniffed around.