Gunner Read online

  The American Paint Horse is one of the most popular horse breeds in North America due to its steady disposition, attractive, stock-type body, and its beautiful coat patterns. At these big stock shows, the breed is always heavily represented, with hundreds of competitors battling for the top titles and the chance to prove that they have the best of the breed. Now it was Gunner’s opportunity to demonstrate just how versatile and superior the breed could be.

  There would be no babying him this year. He had grown both mentally and physically and was ready to do the job he had been bred for. Heather began working with him at her mother’s farm, and he was fit and sound. Instead of the few classes per show they had entered the previous year, this show season they were chasing the All Round title. That meant Gunner would have to perform in up to twenty classes over the course of a show, in every discipline they offered. Points were racked up according to placement in each class, and the horse with the highest score at the end of the show would earn the coveted title.

  Heather saw these early season shows as warm-ups, paving the way to the World All Round Paint title, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t riding to win at each one. She was highly competitive and had the skills to show her horse to his best advantage. She entered the ring every bit as immaculately turned out as her mount, wearing extraordinarily expensive show outfits, and with every hair in place. It was an expensive game she was playing. The travel, the trainer, the top-quality equipment, and the entry fees all added up to thousands, and she was determined to make sure that they earned their right to be there among the elite.

  Gunner did not disappoint. He was always playful, always mischievous and full of life in the barns and the practice ring, but when he entered the show ring, he just seemed to know that it was time to be serious. Heather soon came to trust that he would always put in his best effort, and the pair was rewarded for their hard work. Show after show that winter, they received top scores in the classes they entered, and walked away with the all round title. Gunner was on top and getting stronger.

  After Fort Worth, Heather went home to Mississippi and Gunner went back into training with Mike Stable. The patient trainer continued to refine the horse’s abilities. Side passes and spins, rein backs and higher jumps, head sets and collection … there was so much to learn if Gunner were to reach the top. Luckily, Gunner was a fast learner and seemed to enjoy the training and increased demands. If things got too serious, he’d find ways to cut loose and let his trainer know that a little playtime was in order.

  By show time, Mike would ship Gunner to the show site and Heather would meet him there. Heather already knew her horse well and was an exceptionally confident and skilled rider, but she was not so confident as to think she knew it all. Every horse was an individual and every day could bring something unexpected – a mood, a touch of soreness, a sudden burst of energy. When you were dealing with living, breathing, feeling creatures, you took nothing for granted.

  So, she would spend hours before the show began, going over her partner, getting to know him again, discovering what he had learned since she’d seen him last, and how she could best support him in his performances. She and Mike could often be found in the practice arena or stable during the wee hours of the morning, perfecting a move, refining a skill or tending to the care of their charge. Nothing was left to chance.

  One of Heather’s main areas of focus with Gunner was in showmanship. It was the one class in which Heather’s performance would be judged rather than Gunner’s, and a class where careful training and preparation really paid off.

  In showmanship, the exhibitors are scored on their ability to fit and present a horse. Immaculate grooming, instant and lively responses from the horse when asked to walk or trot in hand and “stand square,” and top-notch manners from horse and handler alike are essential. A sluggish response, requiring the handler to urge the horse excessively, or excitable behavior, causing the handler to struggle to maintain control, or a sloppy presentation during inspection are fatal mistakes in the showmanship class. In the ring, it looks deceivingly simple, but it requires hours of training and practice, and it was one of Heather’s favorites.

  This would also be the class that would, eventually, be theirs in a very special way, although, luckily, Heather could not have foreseen the events that would lead to that day.

  For now, it was the World Paint Show that was on her mind and with every passing month and every successful show that spring, her hopes grew higher. That ugly, sassy colt was proving to be one of the best!

  The World Paint Show in Fort Worth was the one she had set her sights on, but just ahead of it was the World Champion Pinto Show, and it was here that Gunner really came into his own.

  Paints and Pintos are often confused, as they share their distinguishing, colorful coat patterns, but they are not the same. A Paint is a breed, a specific stock-type horse that can only be registered if both parents are registered with the American Paint Horse Association. Pinto is a color – a solid colored body with large white splashes in various patterns. Many breeds can have the pinto coloring. There is a registry for Pintos, but it is not a breed in it’s own right. Most Paints are Pintos, which is what causes the confusion, but only some Pintos are Paints.

  At the World Pinto Show, then, Gunner would be competing against other Paints, but also against many other breeds, some more suited for certain disciplines than the typical stock horse is. These were some of the best of their breeds and competition would be fierce.

  When Mike and Heather met up for the show in Tulsa, Oklahoma that June, they were both excited to see what would happen. Gunner had never looked better. After a season of training and showing hard, he was in peak condition and performing with more confidence each time. They both had a feeling that this would be his big year.

  Wesley was as much a part of the show scene as the hay and the horses and the trailer they called home for that week. Heather was glad for his company, and pleased to watch her son growing up in the same blessed atmosphere that she had. She was certain that nothing could stop them now. All was well with her world!

  Over the course of a week, they worked hard … training into the wee hours of the morning, bathing and grooming Gunner to perfection, cleaning tack to an immaculate shine, preparing Heather’s outfits, and taking care of Wesley’s needs. Mike had several other horses and clients there that week as well, so he was exceedingly busy the whole time.

  Heather had entered Gunner in every class available to them in her age category (19-34 yrs). Gunner held his head low, neck perfectly arched and soft, and walked, jogged and loped through his western pleasure and equitation classes; he picked his way carefully and calmly through the obstacles of the trail class; he came to life in the reining and roping classes, and then showed off his extended trot and jumping style in the hunter and English classes. He was the model of manners in showmanship, and earned top points in the halter class. Eighteen classes and a lot of hard work later, and Heather’s ugly duckling was crowned a prince, not only earning the High Point All Round Amateur (19-34 yrs) title but excelling. No other horse even came close to his final score!

  For Mike Stable, it was one of the best shows he’d ever had. The horses he’d prepared all did well … they cleaned house in almost every All Round category that was available. He couldn’t have been more pleased!

  They were all tired though. It was nearing the end of the season and they’d been training and showing hard for months now. The week had taken its toll. Even Gunner seemed quieter than usual and wasn’t up to his usual pranks. In five days, they’d be back in Fort Worth, Texas to do it all again, but at the moment, everyone needed a rest.

  On the final night of the show, after Wesley was tucked into his bunk and asleep in the trailer, Heather went to Gunner’s stall to check on him for the night. They’d be on the road again first thing in the morning.

  When she entered his stall, he gave her a soft nicker, and she could almost feel his fatigue. The usual toss of his head wa
s missing. The fierce eyes were soft and tired. He didn’t come and crowd her and start nipping and nibbling at her, searching for treats, in his usual way. She went to him and rubbed his ears, and he pushed his head into her hands wearily.

  She knew that if she asked it of him, Gunner would keep giving his all over the next few weeks. He’d go back to Texas with Mike tomorrow, as planned, and work in the arena every day until they shipped to the Will Rogers Equestrian Center for the World Paint Show. He’d try his best, as he always did, despite his own fatigue, and if he could, he would out-perform them all there too. He would do that because he was Gunner. But Heather also knew that he deserved something better. She pulled out her cell phone and made a quick call, then left Gunner to go find Mike.

  Mike was packing equipment into his rig when she found him. He was whistling softly and smiled when she approached. He, too, was tired but elated from the successful week they’d all had.

  “I’m taking Gunner with me tomorrow,” Heather announced.

  Mike straightened from his work, surprised. “You’re taking him home? What about the Paint show?”

  “No, not home. We’re staying here in Oklahoma for a few days. Gunner needs a rest, and I’m taking him to Wes’s godfather’s place for a little R&R. It’ll do him good, and he’ll be fresher for the Worlds.”

  “Okay,” Mike agreed reluctantly, “but don’t you let anything happen to him. He’s as ready as he’s ever going to be for that show.”

  By mid-morning the next day, Gunner was stepping off the trailer and being led to a large, grassy paddock. Like so many show horses, he had barely seen the outside of the barn in months, and for a few moments, he didn’t seem to know what to do with his newfound freedom. It didn’t take him long to decide, though, and he was soon on his back, rolling and stirring up some dust. When he finally heaved himself back onto his feet, he was covered in soil and his mane was tangled with bits of grass. He shook himself and then went on the search for fresh greens … something he’d tasted precious little of in the past few months.

  Wes looked at his mother in awe, certain she’d be upset by the grass stains and black smudges on Gunner’s gleaming coat. “Mama,” he whispered, “Gunner’s a mess!”

  Heather laughed and looked down at her little boy. “We all need to get messy sometimes, don’t we?” she answered. He grinned at her and turned to run and find his godfather.

  For the next few days, Gunner got to be a regular horse, sleeping in the sun (without anyone fussing over whether his coat might get sunburned), trotting around his little field, nibbling grass, and rolling in the dirt whenever he chose. After the second day, he was looking for trouble, tossing his head and whinnying whenever Heather came into view, kicking up his heels at every little shadow, and generally, getting back to his old self. Heather was pleased, and she felt much better about taking him to their final show this way, rested and relaxed and ready to put in one last big effort for the season.

  They packed up and headed out on the afternoon of their fourth day there. They had a long haul to go before they hit Texas and the show site, but Heather was feeling rested too, and ready.

  It was late when they hit the state line and Heather called Mike. She didn’t want anyone but Mike to see Gunner when she brought him to the barn that night … and she knew that even quiet, gentle Mike was going to have a fit.

  “We should be there around 2 a.m.,” she told him.

  “Great! I didn’t want to sleep tonight anyway,” Mike answered sarcastically.

  “Aw, you’d have been up anyway. This will just give you something to do,” Heather teased. “See you in a couple of hours.”

  The stable was quiet when they arrived. Mike was waiting, and when Heather unloaded Gunner, Mike groaned loudly. “Heather, what on earth happened to him?” he asked, shocked by the muddy, unkempt bush pony in front of him.

  Heather grinned sheepishly. “He got to be a horse for a few days,” she answered. “And now we get to turn him back into a champ before morning!”

  And so began the 2004 World Paint Show – starting with a trip to the wash rack at three o’clock in the morning.

  A few days rest had made the world of difference, and Gunner seemed livelier than ever. Almost too lively. In the wash rack, he grabbed at the hose as they soaked and scrubbed and rinsed him, sending water spraying everywhere and ensuring that they were all soaked before that bath was done. He refused to stand still as they tried to straighten his mane and nipped as they polished his hooves. Heather and Mike were cursing him before they finally had him back in show condition, but they were also pleased. If Gunner was being bad, it meant he was feeling good. And he was definitely feeling good now!

  He continued to pull pranks throughout the week, nearly driving them insane with his antics. In the practice ring, just before a hunter class they were entered in, Heather turned him toward a low jump that he had seen a dozen times before and asked him to take it. Just as they approached the jump, he came to a sliding halt, sending her flying over his head and pile-driving her into the rails. Mike was there at once, checking to see if she was all right. Luckily, nothing was hurt except her pride, and when Heather turned to her mount, it was just as it had been so long ago in the ranch yard when they had first met. His head was turned so that he faced her with his one blue eye, challenging but cautious, and she stared back at him, her own dark eyes flashing with anger. They squared off that way for several long minutes before Gunner lowered his head and came forward a step, lips twitching and ears relaxed to the sides in surrender.

  Mike helped brush Heather off and remount, then he led them to the ring, where the class was about to enter. As always, Gunner put aside all play when he stepped inside, and they came out of the class with top scores.

  At the end of the week, they were once again awarded the All Round title in their category, the prize that Heather had been longing for so much. Now they could head home for a well-deserved break.

  Gunner enjoyed the remainder of that summer and autumn in more relaxed fashion, although, with another show season coming up in just six months, he was not left to become grass-fat and sunburned. Heather continued to work with him several times a week, as much to keep him sharp and fit as to teach him new skills now. Occasionally, she and E.W. would take him to a small, local show, or a roping show and try him out there (and endure the constant teasing about having her baby in with the “real” horses), or ride him for pleasure, but mostly, he was a show horse and enjoyed a pampered life.

  Wesley started school that autumn and spent most afternoons at his grandmother Maria’s house in Picayune, waiting for his mom to pick him up on her way home from her nursing job in New Orleans before they made the drive to their ranch in Laurel. During those weeks with his grandma, Wes became one of Gunner’s favorite people. The boy shared donuts with him and Buttermilk, played with them over the fence, and just seemed to always be around, chattering and providing a little excitement and stimulation in their otherwise quiet days.

  At Wes’s side, at almost all times, was a little Schnauzer called Tramp, who Wes and E.W. had brought home from a roping show that summer. Heather had been furious at yet another stray being brought home and had, at first, insisted that they get rid of him. But the dog was still there a few days later, and as she watched her son play and fall in love with the little creature, she resigned herself to the fact that it was staying. The dog had worked its way into their lives and into Heather’s heart, and now it was with them wherever they went. Like Gunner, this was not a working ranch dog, kennelled and tough and scrappy. This was a family member and enjoyed a much more pampered existence.

  To look out the window of Maria’s house and see the dog Tramp, Wes, and Gunner playing together that autumn was a perfectly normal, everyday sight, but one that stirred the heart every time.

  Gunner would wait each day for Wes to arrive, eager for the donuts and other treats the boy always had. He would nicker as soon as he saw him and become rowdy if Wes didn’t co
me to him right away. Likewise, if Heather was away for more than a day, Gunner would start getting into trouble, as though complaining about her lack of attention. When she returned to the farm after a few days’ absence, it was often to listen to the irritated rantings of her mother, complaining about “that horse.”

  “He reached over the fence and ate the passenger side mirror right off my truck!” “He’s squashed another chicken! At this rate, I’ll have no hens left before he heads back to Texas.” One of Gunner’s favorite things to do was to squash chickens to death. If one wandered into his stall or paddock, he would line it up, lower his great mass, and roll on it. Then he’d just lay there, maybe until he could no longer feel it struggling, before he’d get back to his feet and go about his business, leaving behind the smothered, flattened carcass of the poor hen (and once a cat).

  He still enjoyed the occasional escape, and if he was feeling particularly sassy, he could still nip or annoy his human friends in a hundred little ways. This was always worse when he was missing Heather and Wes. When they were around, he never seemed quite so bad.

  They did make it through that winter, squashed chickens and all, and soon they were preparing for another show season to begin. Heather was working harder with him now, getting him ready for the first big stock show in Texas, where they would meet Mike Stable and start another round. Heather was sure that 2005 would be as good as, or better than, the previous year. Gunner was at his best – rested, spirited, and eager to work again. He was responsive under saddle, and talented in so many ways. Heather intended to continue their winning streak of 2004.

  Heather’s first concern was always for the health and welfare of her horse, but she pushed hard, prepared thoroughly, and poured whatever money she needed to into the game. She had high expectations, all of which paid off as they made their way through that show season, cleaning up again and again. Heather, with Wesley and Tramp and Mike by her side at all times, was proud of her horse and delighted to have a partner who could take her this far and be this much fun. At times, it seemed as though nothing on earth could get in their way. They were on the top and flying.