With serious misgivings, I allowed Nonette to be trotted up on the dirt outside the barn. It was hard for me to stand by and watch the chain on the end of the leather lead rope inserted inside her lip and across her upper gum. Emily understood my horrified expression, but said, “She probably won’t misbehave, but we have to be careful.”
With so many horses crowded into such a small area, I did see her point.
Nonette trotted up perfectly sound. It wasn’t much to go on, but at least she’d passed that test.
Next, a tiny piece of leather-covered felt—a racing exercise saddle—was placed on her back. I asked if I could groom her before she was saddled up, but was told the grooming kit was locked in the tack room. I wondered why her tack wasn’t locked up in the tack room, too, and guessed Nonet
