Chapter 14 13

In 1900, there were more than 100,000 horses in Manhattan.Also, even a hundred years ago space was at such a premium on this island that there were many two- and three-story stalls, and many domestic animals were kept in several-story veterinary sheds. The multi-story stalls still exist in New York City today, the most famous of which is the Hammerstead Riding Academy on the Upper West Side.The buildings of the college were built in 1885 and are still well preserved.The flat part of the college is a large playground, which is used for learning riding lessons or equestrian performances, and the surrounding positions are higher than the playground, and there are hundreds of large and small stalls.You might think that such a large and busy barn would not exist in a twenty-first century city like Manhattan, but if you notice that in Central Park, just a few blocks away, there is a Ten kilometers of well-maintained riding trails should come as no surprise.

There are ninety horses in the academy, some of which are privately owned and some are available for hire by the public.At this time, one of the rental horses was led down the steep slope in front of the stall by a red-haired girl, waiting for the person who rented the horse to come and pick it up. At this hour every Saturday, when JoelyWhen Marston looked at the tall, vivacious Appalosa with the spotted rump, she always felt a little shares the same excitement. Hi Downey Jr.She softly called the horse by its nickname.The real name of the horse is Don Juan.Di.Fort Meade, as Marston always liked to say, was a gentleman who liked to serve women.Although this was a joke, it fully reflected the fact: if the horse was sitting on a male knight, it would be shy, neighing, and resisting to move forward.But once Marston was on his horse, he was at her mercy.

See you in an hour.She said to the red-haired girl, and immediately got on the horse's back, held the soft rein, and felt the amazing muscles of the horse under her. She stroked the horse's chest lightly, and they rode on, and they walked off Eighty-sixth Street, slowly heading east toward Central Park.The crisp sound of horseshoes on the asphalt pavement attracted many curious eyes from the people on the side of the road. A woman with a pointed face and a long golden braid hangs down her back, sitting solemnly on horseback. As she crossed the street into Central Park, Marston turned her head to the south and saw the Midtown office building where she spent fifty hours a week meditating on corporate law.Originally, as long as she thought of work, she would have thousands of thoughts rushing to her, thinking of those urgent cases that one of her colleagues was always talking about.But at this moment, these thoughts could not invade her at all.When she sits on horseback, on top of the greatest creation of the Creator, nothing can disturb her.As little Downey walked slowly along the path full of narcissus, winter jasmine and lilac, all she felt was the warm sunshine and the fragrance of the earth.

This is the first beautiful day of spring. For the first half hour of the ride, she walked slowly along the lake.Humans and horses are two completely different animals. Each has its own strength and intelligence, but they can complement each other, resulting in such a unique close relationship.Marston reveled in the bliss of the relationship, and she enjoyed a short, wild run until she slowed down to a crawl when she came to a sharp bend in the back of Harlem, on the north side of the park. It was a time of utter calm and peace. until something unexpected happens. She couldn't figure out how it happened, but as she slowed down to walk through the gap between two bushes, a pigeon slammed straight into Downey Jr.'s face.Downey neighed and stopped abruptly, causing Marston to almost fly forward.It then stood up again, causing her to almost slide back off its hips again.

She clung to the horse's mane and the edge of the saddle to keep from falling from the eight-foot horse's back onto the hard rock.stop!Donny, she cried, patting his neck to reassure him.It's all right, Downey Jr.stop! However, it still raised its front feet frantically, and kept standing on its hind legs.Did the bird hurt its eyes just now?She was concerned about the horse's safety, but also mixed with a fair amount of fear.Both sides of the path are full of protruding stones. If Little Downey continues to stand like this, it is very likely that he will step on the uneven ground, lose his balance and fall down, and it is very likely that she will be crushed below.She knew that almost all of the people who suffered serious accidental injuries during riding activities were not simply falling off the horse, but were caught between the horse weighing hundreds of kilograms and the hard ground when the horse and the horse fell together.

Donny!She cried out in horror.But it stood up on its hind legs again, maintained this posture, and slowly approached the area where the rocks protruded in a panic. God!Marston screamed, no, no She knew she couldn't control it anymore.Its hind feet had already stepped on the stone, and Marston felt the muscles on its body tremble with panic, heard it neighing loudly, and knew that it too had realized that it was about to lose its balance. She knew she was going to break her legs.Perhaps, the bones of her upper body would also be shattered in the fall. She could almost feel the pain coming, and feel the pain the horse was going to suffer at the same time.

No!downey At this moment, a man in a jogging suit sprang out of nowhere from the bushes.He stared at the horse with wide eyes, then leaped forward and grabbed the bit and reins. you go away!Marston yells: It's out of control! The man is bound to get kicked in the head by it. you quickly hide But what's going on? The lean man didn't even look at her, just looked into the horse's brown eyes.He murmured a few words she couldn't make out, and then, miraculously, the Appaloosa calmed down.Little Downey stopped standing, and stepped back on the ground firmly with all four feet. Although he was still a little uneasy, the trembling on his body hadn't completely stopped, just like her beating heart at this time, but the worst moment It seems to have passed.The man hugged the horse's head and pulled it down, close to his face, and said a few words to it.

After the horse was completely calm, he took a few steps back, praised the horse again, and then raised his head to look at her.Are you all right?he asks. It's okay, Marston touched his chest and took a deep breath.I just this happened so fast. What happened just now? It was frightened by a bird.The bird flew directly towards its face, not sure if it hit its eye. The man stepped forward to examine it carefully.Looks like it's all right.I'm not a veterinarian, but I didn't see any wounds. How did you just do it?She asked, do you understand? You mean I can talk to horses?He replied, laughing, averting her eyes sheepishly.It seemed to him more comfortable to look into the eyes of horses than into the eyes of people.of course not.I ride a lot, though, and I guess I have something that calms down a horse.

I thought it was going to fall. He smiled shyly at her.I really wish I knew something to calm you down. What works for my horse, works for me.I really don't know how to thank you. Another knight came on the path.The bearded man led Downey Jr. off the trail to let the sorrel mare coming from behind pass. He looked carefully at Marston's horse.What's its name? Don Juan. You rented this from Hammerstead?Or raise it yourself? Rented, but I think it's like my horse.I ride it every week. I also often rent horses to ride.Horses are really beautiful animals. Marston had finally calmed down completely now, and carefully observed the man in front of him.He was a handsome man in his early fifties, with a neat beard and thick eyebrows meeting just above the bridge of his nose.She saw what appeared to be scars on his neck and chest, and his left hand was slightly deformed.However, she didn't care much about these shortcomings, because this man also liked horses, which alone constituted a great attraction to her.Joely.Marston had been divorced for four years, and at the age of thirty-eight, she knew they were looking at each other.

He smiled, avoiding her gaze.I thought his voice was muffled again, so he simply patted Downey Jr.'s undulating shoulders to fill the silence. Marston raised an eyebrow.What do you want to say?She encouraged him to go on. Uh, you will probably ride until dusk, and I may never see you again. Overcoming his shyness, he mustered up his courage and said: I was just wondering if it would be too presumptuous for me to ask you out for coffee. No, she replied, glad to see him being so frank and straightforward, but she immediately added to let him know a little bit about her situation.I have about 20 minutes left, so I have to finish this horse ride first. If I keep you waiting for 20 minutes, will it delay your time?

No, no.I'll be waiting for you at the stall in twenty minutes. Well.Qiao Li said: Ah, I forgot to ask, did you learn to ride in English or American? To be honest, I used to be a professional rider and I rode bareback. Really?Where are you performing? Believe it or not, he replied shyly, I learned my horsemanship in a circus.