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“Isn’t that a feature not a bug?” Chloe whispered.

“Perhaps.”

We returned to the stands with Margot while Riley put the youngster through her paces. Yes, she was green and a little fresh. No, she didn’t buck or outright refuse anything. Fable was a model citizen who needed to better understand collection.

“She’s not super flashy right now, but we’ve gotten her out at liberty and she’s beautiful,” Margot brimmed. “The trouble is she just loathes fences. We’ve tried everything, but at four—almost five—I can’t mess around anymore with a prospect who has made it clear this isn’t her job.”

“I get that,” I agreed. “I had Chloe’s horse in for starting and he’s just not interested in dressage.”

“He’s great over fences,” Chloe added.

Margot looked surprised. “I thought you showed western?”

“I do,” I said. “But Chloe just wanted a good foundation on him. She’s done the rest in an English saddle.”

“So, no future dressage career?” Margot joked.

“I don’t think so, no. My kid may be a dressage queen on the rise, but I have no such aspirations.”

“He is a good rider and great with youngsters,” Chloe said. “All of mine are better mannered for working with him. You know how that goes. Although, it seems like Fable is well-behaved on the ground.”

“She is, but does need someone willing to get after her occasionally as she is a typical warmblood. Just a bit lazy. A deadhead. I’m not sure your daughter’s experience. I know Riley is looking for something that needs work, but I do want to make sure green plus green doesn’t mean black and blue.”

“Oh, no worries,” I said. “Piper has been riding horses since she could walk. She often rides greenies. She's brave and put all the work into that thoroughbred of hers from the start. She did all the groundwork, sat on her before anyone else did, and had her going walk/trot/canter by the end of the year.”

“She’s the type of kid who takes horse care really seriously,” Chloe said. “It’s why she’s even with us right now. It was her plea on the internet that caught our eye. She was riding for us, but their horses weren’t at the barn yet.”

“We lost everything in a tornado,” I said. “Chloe and Riley were nice enough to take us in.”

“And now you’re family,” Chloe said warmly. “Hell, even my barn manager likes him. And Fernando is super picky with horse people. He tolerates many, but likes working with Cole. He also thinks the world of Piper.”

I brimmed like a proud papa. She was right. Chloe knew how special Piper was. Sometimes, I worried all my judgement was clouded by parenthood. I swore I’d never be the parent shouting at my kid from the sidelines. It’s why we’d paid for Riley’s expensive lessons and clinics and why I’d always supported Piper riding off property on lesson horses I could never afford to have in our barn. But now, I had to face the music. She’d outgrown her dear dad and needed others. Thankfully, Chloe’s offer came at the worst and best time.

“That is a beautiful canter,” Chloe said. “She has the impulsion.”

“Yeah. She’s moving into the bridle well for Riley. Wow,” Margot chuckled. “Fable is, indeed, very special. I bought her in-utero with an import. She’s one of my favorites. It’s why I’m so worried about where she goes and she’s not publicly on the market.”

“I get that. We just sold Piper’s show horse,” I said. “I was picky about a buyer. I went there, toured the farm, and met with the trainer of the kid whose family purchased her.”

“You get it. What a relief! I’m used to dealing with non-horsey parents who don’t even want to consult their trainer. Or, alternatively, tire kickers who wonder if the horse is worth it.”

I swallowed hard. Imported. Warmblood. Worth it. Riley told me this horse was in the budget, but what if that wasn’t true and they expected to haggle Margot down? What if the price was well beyond my comfort zone? I’d told Riley, I could do no more than thirty. The excess would allow me to pay for training and lessons on the horse and hopefully allow us to move into our own space.

After a very normal ride on Fable, Riley was happy. If they were happy, I trusted it. That’s when we got down to brass tacks with Margot. It was always a negotiation—especially when the horse really meant something to an owner.

“Here is what I propose,” Margo said as Chloe untacked the horse without prompting. “Since your daughter is out of town for another few months, it makes sense to transition her to Riley’s program. I won’t charge you a lease fee, but you will pay board. Let’s give it until June. If the kid is happy with her and she’s thriving, I will sell you the horse.”

I looked to Riley. Such an arrangement was unusual in my world, but Riley nodded. “As long as Cole is okay with that and paying training board.”

“I am… if I can just ask one question,” I said. “And it’s the embarrassing one.”

“I’m only looking for 26 for her.” Margot made it easy. “That is within the budget Riley gave me. Does that still work?”

“That’s fine,” I said. “A fair price, I think.”

“She’s special, but she needs a home willing to make something of her. I trust she's in good hands and will be regularly shown at Ravenswood.”

“I promise that our team back home will take good care of her,” Chloe said. “Riley and I will keep her in work once she gets back to Chicago.”