The Horse That Stopped at the Creek

Nolan rides horses at the ranch every summer. He knows the trails well and helps new riders when they visit.

诺兰每年夏天都在牧场骑马。他对那些小路了如指掌，新骑手来了，他还会帮忙。

Today, a new rider named Estelle joins the group. It is her first time on a horse. She holds the reins tightly and sits very straight.

今天，一位名叫埃斯特尔的新骑手加入了队伍。这是她第一次骑马。她紧紧抓着缰绳，坐得笔直。

The group rides up the hill and through the pine trees. Estelle's horse is a gentle brown mare named Juniper. She follows the other horses without trouble.

队伍骑上山坡，穿过松树林。埃斯特尔骑的是一匹温顺的棕色母马，名叫朱尼珀。它毫不费力地跟在其他马后面。

Then the trail reaches a small creek. Water moves quickly over flat gray stones. The other horses walk through it one by one.

接着，小路来到一条小溪边。溪水急急地流过平整的灰色石头。其他的马一匹接一匹地走了过去。

Juniper stops at the edge of the water. She lifts her head and does not move forward.

朱尼珀在水边停住了。它抬起头，不肯往前走。

"Come on, girl," Estelle says softly, but Juniper stays still.

“走吧，姑娘，”埃斯特尔轻声说，可朱尼珀一动不动。

Nolan turns his horse around and rides back to her. "This happens sometimes," he says. "Horses don't like the sound of moving water at first."

诺兰调转马头，骑回她身边。“这种事有时会发生，”他说，“马刚开始不喜欢流水的声音。”

"What do I do?" Estelle asks, a little worried.

“我该怎么办？”埃斯特尔有点担心地问。

"Stay calm and loose in the saddle," Nolan says. "Let her look at the water for a minute. Don't pull on the reins."

“保持冷静，在马鞍上放松身体，”诺兰说，“让它看一会儿水。别拉缰绳。”

Estelle takes a slow breath and relaxes her hands. Juniper lowers her head and sniffs at the water.

埃斯特尔慢慢吸了一口气，放松了双手。朱尼珀低下头，嗅了嗅水。

After a minute, Juniper takes one small step, then another. Soon she walks steadily through the creek behind the other horses.

过了一分钟，朱尼珀迈出一小步，接着又迈出一步。很快，它就跟在其他马后面，稳稳地走过了小溪。

"You did it!" Nolan says, smiling.

“你做到了！”诺兰笑着说。

Estelle laughs with relief and pats Juniper's neck. "We did it together," she says. They ride on toward the top of the hill.

埃斯特尔如释重负地笑了起来，拍了拍朱尼珀的脖子。“是我们一起做到的，”她说。他们继续向山顶骑去。