Reigned In.

Prologue

"Harry? Harry, where are you?" My mother's voice rang out to me, a few octaves higher due to her panicked state.

Total overreaction if you asked me.

If there was ever a place I felt completely at ease, completely myself, it was around these four legged creatures.

Never would I dream of hurting one of them, for their pain shall cause my own, so safety should always be guaranteed, right?

That's how the world works.

"I'm right here Mum," I call back, knowing she will be out of her mind with worry.

"Harry! How many times must I tell you to not run off on your own," my mother's voice reaches me a few seconds before I see her rounding the corner out of the stables, climbing over the low wooded railing, and over to the large paddock where I was currently grooming her elderly horse under the ancient oak tree.

"Oh please Mum, Darcy wouldn't hurt me, seeing as I would never hurt him," I state simply, continuing my soft patterns over his silky chestnut coat, smiling when his greatly toned body twitches when I hit a sensitive spot. "You itchy my boy?" I croon.

"No horse is ever safe my angel, they are still wild animals at heart, tame because they choose to be. It would take merely a few seconds for you to be hurt, even unintentionally."

"Mum, I'll be fine," I insist, struggling stubbornly when she tries to remove the brush from my hands.

However, hand to hand ratio was vastly against me, and with a pout, I surrendered the brush to my smiling mother.

She automatically resumed my soft grooming.

Ofcourse, my mother is where I got this insistent love for the gentle giants, everything I know was learned with my mother right by my side, guiding me.

She was right there the first time I was ever placed on a horse's back, the horse I was grooming a few seconds ago, as a matter of fact.

The first time I got on Darcy's back with the intention of really riding him was 2 years ago, when I was 7.

Even before that I was hardly separated from the horses for long. I could often be found at my mother's side, begging to lead the horses around.

My mother is very over protective. Like very.

With horses is being free; my happy place.

She handed me back the brush, and went to the small purple bag lying sprawled open at Darcy's feet.

"You continue brushing his stomach, and I'll do his tail," she said with a smile, taking the small silver comb and raking it gently through his tail, always mindful of the knots.

Its an art watching her.

"Mum, when can I ride again? It has been atleast 5 days," I ask, pushing my luck really.

My mum takes the hint tho.

She laughs softly to herself before saying, "okay, okay Harry. Go fetch his tack quick and I will help you."

I barely stayed long enough for her to finish her sentence before I was speeding off into the stables, heading for the tack room.

I grabbed his saddle and the bridle, staggering a bit under the weight, but dashed back to my mum before she could change her mind.

She made quick work of the appropriate straps, and within minutes was leading him over to the mounting ramp.

The feeling of being on a horse's back, will never cease to amaze me, I always feel completely free, like I van accomplish absolutely anything. We quickly make our way over into the rubberised arena, doing a fast warmup trot down the length of it.

"Whenever you're ready darling."

Ready? I was absolutely born ready.

With one slight squeeze from my calves, we broke out into canter.

Forget the controlled canter my mother had been making us work on. No, this was simply the canter of a boy dying to ride, and a horse dying to be ridden.

In perfect harmony we went 'round and 'round the arena, each stride balanced with the perfect amount of energy and respect.

Before long we were slowing into the controlled canter, and with a slight adjustment of my ring finger, transitioned into a forward going trot.

The concentration of keeping a horse at a steady pace is sometimes overwhelming, some need to be constantly pushed, others had to be constantly held back.

Darcy however, is content just going at the pace I was comfortable with, and it was a relief just to ride for the sake of riding.

Even after Darcy had been brushed, cooled down and returned to the stable, I could still be found hanging around the stables, just enjoying the company of horses.

Most nights I come down here, to draw the horses, only leaving when my mother threatens to restrict my coming here. This is where I feel content; carefree.

Horses are the only part of my day I care to remember, really.
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The pic on the