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My gaze slides over to the rails of the s propped up on the lower rail while he rests his forearm on the top one His old straboy hat shades his weathered and wizened face as he watches me work

“The truth is,” I continue, bringing ives ht doesn’t know you any better than you know her But we need to correct that So come a little closer”

Terrance is a city kid, raised poor and in an unstable hoh with a sullen attitude He had been caught spray-painting graffiti on his high school gyot sent to me

Which is awesome

I prefer to take a crack at kids who e Beasely sends me the ones she thinks could benefit froo to juvenile detention end up getting lost in the syste to crih

“If you’re nervous,” I say gently, “she’ll sense it She’ll be a bit nervous So how about we show her some confidence? Lift your head up Square your shoulders Project outward that you’re her friend with a siet to know her a bit She’ll sense it and react accordingly”

What Terrance doesn’t know is that’s a lot of horse shit—no pun intended Starlight is a sweet, gentle horse that loves everyone But I like to impart some life wisdom to Terrance when I can, and confidence is important

S at people… just as important

Terrance does as I ask,toward us He ss hard, obviously inti next to o in him, and he lifts his chin and presses his shoulders back

“You can stroke her right here… on herso

The boy hesitates, his Adidas sneakers kicking up a bit of dust as he falters

“It’s okay,” I urge him “I promise… she’ll be your friend”

Terrance looks at me with complete mistrust, and h, it ive the benefit of the doubt to someone

Itby the tira a kid a little confidence can do for them