The spring day was warm and a gentle breeze wafted through the tree branches and gently ruffled the mahogany mane of the well-sculpted chestnut gelding. The sun shone bright and golden on his sleek coat and Gavin Taylor squinted at the brightness of the day. It had been rainy and gloomy for months now, and the awakening of the sun was a change everyone had been looking forward to. Holding a ragged dark blue leadrope, Gavin lead the gelding into the training arena, already saddled with the bride hanging on the saddle horn. After opening the gate and entering the arena, Gavin was surprised to see another rider already there, a girl with brown hair riding an elegant gray stallion who Gavin recognized as Blanc Conquistador, one of Katie Parker's school horses. Slider snorted angrily at the stallion, pinning his ears and stamping his foot. "Quit that, you dork." Gavin grunted gruffly, turning the gelding's head away from the other horse. "He hasn't done anything to you."

They walked to the end of the arena so that they would have room to excersise without disturbing the girl and the stallion, and Gavin unraveled the lunge line and took about twenty steps back from Slider. "Easy boy, keep it easy now..." As Gavin entered his element, his voice became soft and gentle, with only a hint of gruffness. Slider gave one last ornery glance at the gray stallion before beginning to walk in excited circles around Gavin. He threw a little buck, and when the girl and Pepper came closer Slider reared excitedly and gave an angry whinny, pinning his ears once again. In a second, Gavin jerked the lunge line and pulled it in until he stood face to face with the scrambling horse. "Leave. Them. A-lone. And listen. To. Me." He knew the methods were a little bit harsh, but he'd been taught by a certified John Lyons trainer and he knew that the harsh methods would solve Slider's one biggest issue- he had no idea that Gavin was boss. Looking slightly sheepish but still ornery, Slider calmed and stood silently before Gavin, his ears still pinned. Gavin waited a few minutes before giving a satisfied sigh and unraveling the rope so that Slider could continue being lunged. Looking back at the girl, Gavin gave an apologetic smile. "Sorry about Slider- he can be pretty stupid sometimes, I'll keep him under control from now on." Suddenly turning shy, Gavin turned bright red and looked at the dusty ground as he urged Slider into a jog.The chestnut gelding obliged almost immediatly, and Gavin watched with satisfaction as he jogged quickly in circles, totally collected until he threw a little buck. "He-e-ey... quit it.." Gavin scolded and urged Slider into a lope before he could freak out anymore.

Faster and faster, the gelding loped around Gavin, his stride long and smooth, so perfect and beautiful if only he would learn to control it and use it right. Slider had so much potential, if only he would figure out how to use it. The words were familiar- Gavin's dad had always said the same thing about his son. But where Slider's potential was obvious, Gavin had no idea what his dad was talking about when he said 'hidden potential'. The only potential Gavin saw in himself was the potential to do stupid things without meaning to and to have a hell of a time trying to train a pretty nearly psychotic horse. But for s split second, when Slider's gait slowed and he took a jog step as Gavin asked him to change leads and go the other direction, something in the deep, expressive brown eyes of the horse struck a cord with Gavin, and he realized something.
They were the same.