I zipped my coffee-colored wool jacket. The frisky horses definitely felt the drop in temperature. A herd of seven or eight horses played, nipping each other’s necks and darting up the hill at a full gallop. In the big arena, Mr. Conner was trotting a gray gelding in a large circle. The young horse had arrived a few days ago and was one of the horses that Mr. Conner was training. I knew the gelding’s name was Lexington and that he had been brought to Mr. Conner with only basic training. Lexa said she’d heard that the owner was trying to make the United States Equestrian Team and was too busy training his other, more seasoned horses to work with Lexington. It was Mr. Conner’s job to train the young horse and feel out his potential. I crossed my fingers that I’d see Lexington competing at the Rolex Kentucky years from now when he was much older and competing in the top show circuit. I stopped, stepping off the sidewalk and onto the grass to watch Mr. Conner ride. Lexington showed how green he was from his uneven trot to his jerky transition to a canter, but he seemed willing to work.
