Chapter 1

The bell rang ending Amy Fleming's last class of the day. As the students started packing their stuff up, the professor continued talking.

"Remember students, study that list. You just may have a pop quiz on Monday. Have a nice weekend!" Dr. Lovell finished. Amy slid her books into her bag and put it on her shoulder. As she was walking to the door, Dr. Lovell's voice stopped her.

"Amy, can I see you for a moment?" he asked.

"Sure," Amy answered and walked over to his desk.

"You're going over to Chestnut Hill today, correct?" Dr. Lovell asked.

"Yes, I am," Amy replied.

"Well, they just got a new horse and they've been having a problem with her. She's good around the stable, but once you ride her, she starts to sidestep, sweat, anything you think of." Dr. Lovell explained.

Amy nodded, "I'll take a look at her."

"I knew you would," Dr. Lovell said. "Good bye, Amy."

"Bye, Dr. Lovell." Amy replied.

Amy walked to the dormitory building and walked up to her room. When she entered the dorm, her roommate, who was lying on her bunk reading a magazine, looked up.

"You got a letter today, possibly from a certain boyfriend." Corey Matthews teased, playfully. Amy smiled and picked up the letter from her bedside table. She was right, it was from Ty. She quickly scanned the contents and then reread it, slowly this time.

Dear Amy,

Everything is fine here. Joni is working with Spindleberry everyday. She's getting him to accept the saddle and lunging him all tacked up. She says that he'll be ready for a rider by the new year! Sundance is being his usual naughty self. But I think he's missing you.

One of our new boarders, Marshmallow is testing our limits everyday. But I think we've solved the problem. We figured out that Marshmallow is the kind of horse, who wants a lot of attention, good or bad. So every hour or so, we've been going in her stall and spending time with her. I think it's working!

Oh, yeah! Lou's driving everyone crazy with these silly, little cravings. We all can't wait til the next three months are over!

Love, Ty

P.S.- We all miss you! Can't wait til the holiday break!

Amy stuffed the letter in her pocket and looked up at Corey. But her roommate had already left for her next class. Amy quickly changed into her riding clothes and picked up her jacket and walked out the door.

Amy stepped off the bus and walked up the drive to Chestnut Hill, a prestigious riding academy for girls. She walked into the barn and was welcomed by a loud whinny. Amy smiled and walked over to the gelding's stall.

"How have you been, Moon?" Amy whispered, feeding the gelding a mint. Blue Moon was a five year old, blue roan, Dutch warmblood gelding. Moon snorted and accepted the mint graciously.

"You've really done a lot with him,"

Amy turned around at the sound of the riding instructor's voice.

"Hey, Ali," Amy said. "He reminds me of a horse back home, that's why I love him so much."

Ali smiled, "I've been letting my students do some ground work with him, but that's not the reason why I found you. I wanted to ask you something. We've just had a new arrival."

"I know, Dr. Lovell told me." Amy said.

"Ahh, so he did," Ali replied. "Well, I was thinking maybe you'd like to take her under your wing?"

"I'll love to!" Amy answered. "But I'll have to see her first."

"Of course," Ali said. "She's stabled at the end. I'll leave you to it, I have a lesson waiting. Come and find me with your answer."

"Okay," Amy gave Moon one last pat and headed to the end stall. A chestnut mare with a blaze on her face was chewing her hay at the back of her stall. Her nameplate read: Karma.

Amy entered the stall, quietly. Karma picked up her head and gave a small nicker of welcome. She held out her hand to sniff and waited for the mare to come to her. Full of interest, Karma nosed Amy's hand, when she found nothing, she butted her with her nose. Amy smiled and started doing T-touch on the mare's neck, withers, and back.

When Amy finished the session, Karma had fell into a light sleep. She quietly left the stall and went to find Ali. She found her in the office, buried in paperwork.

"I'll do it!" Amy started.

Ali looked up and smiled, "I knew you would,"

"She seems like the type of horse, who will go well for her rider and really give it her all." Amy said, puzzled of how a gentle mare, like Karma, could ever become aggressive.

"Don't worry, you'll soon see." was all that Ali said.

The gelding snorted and popped over the small vertical. He broke into a gallop as they approached another low jump. But Amy turned him in a circle, until he slowed down. When he had slowed down to a light canter, Amy turned him to the jump and he jumped it cleanly.

Amy patted Moon's neck and slowed him to a walk. In the past two days, Amy had worked him on the low jumps. He was progressing fast, like his approaches. She was trying to teach him to slow down and take his time, but it wasn't working. She walked him over to the gate, where Dylan Walsh, one of the academy's pupils, was watching. In the few months, she's been here, Amy really bonded well with the younger girl.

"He looked great out there!" Dylan commented, when she was within earshot.

"Yeah, but he needs to take his time approaching the fences." Amy replied dismounting and running her stirrups up.

"But he's still young, he'll learn." Dylan said.

"Yeah, I should get him cooled out," Amy said leading Moon out of the ring.

"Are you going to work Karma next?" Dylan asked as they walked back to the barn.

"Yes, I am," Amy answered. "I'm going to see how she is under saddle today."

"Okay, see you around. I have to get ready for my lesson." Dylan said walking ahead.

"Bye," Amy called to her. She tied Moon outside of the barn and stripped off his tack. After taking the saddle and bridle to the tack room, Amy gave the gelding a quick rubdown and then led him down to the pasture and released him.

Before heading to Karma's stall, Amy grabbed some horse cookies from the feed room.

"Hi, Karma," Amy greeted the mare, letting herself in the stall. The chestnut mare whinnied to her as she approached. Karma greedily ate the cookies, when Amy held them out. "You were hungry, weren't you."

She slid a halter over the mare's ears and tied the lead to a ring in the stall. Amy quickly groomed the mare, then went to get a saddle and bridle from the tack room. Amy held the bit in front of the mare's nose, waiting for a reaction. But Karma just opened her mouth for the bit. Amy was puzzled, as she buckled up the bridle. She picked up the saddle and placed it softly on the mare's back. Nothing happened.

Karma was as good as gold as Amy led her to the outside ring. The mare didn't show one signal of acting up. If what they said was true, Karma should have at least shown resistance to the saddle and bridle.

Once in the ring, Amy gathered up the reins and put her left foot in the stirrup. At once, Karma tensed up and turned to look at Amy. Using soothing words the whole time, Amy mounted the mare.

"See, this isn't so bad," Amy said reassuringly, stroking the mare's hot neck, despite the freezing temperatures. They sat there a few minutes, waiting for the mare to calm down.

After a few more minutes, Karma had calmed down enough to sniff at Amy's boot. Amy nudged Karma into a walk, the mare hesitated at first, but then walked forward. They circled the ring twice, before Amy felt the mare relax completely.

Amy nudged Karma into a trot. The mare stopped abruptly and sidestepped nervously, sweat was starting to lather up on her neck. Amy urged her on again, but this time Karma took off at a fast gallop around the ring.

Amy grappled for the reins and managed to pull them back, hoping the mare will listen. Karma gave a sharp neigh and reared in fright. Caught off balance, Amy fell from the saddle and landed on the ground with a dull thud.