A Medallion

Chapter 7

This chapter is dedicated to Katniss_Rue_Mellark for being the most faithful supporter!

Vanessa's POV:

"Thanks," I mumbled as I took Via's reins from the groom while reading the text from my mom.  

Mom:  Has the seller responded back yet?  

I looped Via's reins around my arm and texted back.  

Vanessa:  No.

I sighed with frustration and set my phone down on my tack trunk.  No, Tessa hadn't responded back yet, and I didn't want to seem needy by sending another text.

I led Via through the wide barn aisle of Vantage Point.  Several curious head peeked out, but none of them could reach far enough to bother Via.  

I lead Via up to the mounting platform.  It was a wood platform with steps leading up each other side.  I walked up those as I lead Via alongside.  

I stuck my foot in the stirrup and mounted.  Via set off before I was fully in the saddle and I chucked her for that.  I hated it when a horse did that, and I would not stand for it.  

She threw up her head and backed up dramatically.  I spurred her on as Ms. Festor entered.  

"Good morning Vanessa," she called.  

"Morning."  

Via was walking fast, the way that I liked it.  I also couldn't stand slow horses.  And a horse with it's head in the air annoyed me.  Like what Via was doing right now.  

"You've got the Pelham on her?" Called Ms. Festor.  

"Yeah, I switched her."  

"Good.  Let's see if we can get her head into a nice frame."  

I shortened my reins and started insistently half halting with both hands.  Via tossed her head and slowed down.  I kicked her on.  

We fought that way around the ring for the next ten minutes.  Eventually we got her into an uneasy headset.  But if something happened, there was no guarantee that we could keep her there.  

Ms. Festor crossed her arms.  "We'll keep her in this bit for awhile, if she doesn't start giving in, we'll put her in a tie down."  

I nodded.  We never rollkured horses.  We knew enough not to go that far.  But we weren't against using mechanical devices within reason.

I asked for a trot and as soon as I did, her head popped back up.  I growled and tugged insistently at the reins.  She slowed down but I kicked her on.  

"You will put your head down and you will keep trotting while doing it," I ground out.

She shook her head from side to side and slowed down to a walk, then shot forward when I hit her with the crop.  "Quit it."  

We battled like that for a good fifteen minutes.  A few times she bucked, but I kicked her onward and let her know we were not doing that.

Once again I forced her into an unrelenting head set.  Her trot was still jerky and she still fought me at intervals, but in my mind, it was better.  

I led Via to the cross ties.  I untacked her and cooled her off, then stuck her in her stall.  Most of the time I had a groom do that, but I felt like doing it today.