A Medallion

Chapter 18

Vanessa's POV:  

I have always had good emotional self control.  I had to, as rider in the stressful competition world.  

Which is why, outwardly, I gave Tessa a small bitter smile, said, "Guess you were right after all," as I stood up, and brushed off my breeches.  

But inwardly?  

Things were a mess, and I wasn't sure how long I could hold it in.

Lacy, who hadn't even had a chance to get on Win, started to give him back to me, but I held my hand.  "No, you ride him for a bit.  I'm going to go get Medallion."  

I walked quickly out of there, my boots echoing as they switched from the soft sand to the concrete floor of the barn aisle.  I didn't stop until I reached Medallion's stall and went in, closing the door behind me.  

Then I leaned against the stall wall covered my face with my hands.  

One moment I was angry.  How dare a horse humiliate me like that!  And the next, angry at myself for letting myself be humiliated.

I had thought I was a good, nay, great, rider.  I had thought that Tessa had been exaggerating.  But now I could see she was not.  

If I hadn't seen him being ridden before with her, I might have been tempted to say that he was not ridable.  But she was able to ride him.  It made her better than many of the riders here at Vantage Point, including me, and I didn't know how she did it.      

I had never met a horse I couldn't ride before.  Except for Medallion.  And even she had not thrown me the first ride.  I glanced at her.  She was watching me lazily.

Before I'd been sure Tessa wouldn't be able to ride her.  Now I wasn't.  

I took several deep breaths.  I couldn't let my emotions get the best of me.  Now was time to ride.  Later I could be mad, or sad, or whatever I was feeling.  

Untying Medallion, I led her out of the stall and grabbed her bridle hanging at the grooming station she'd been tacked up in.  Unlike Win, she was easy to bridle.  

Tessa's POV:

Vanessa had done an admirable job of not showing her frustration and shock, although I could tell it was there beneath the surface.  It was more mature of her than what I had expected.  

I had half wondered if she was going to throw us out of Vantage Point because of Challenger's misbehavior.  

At the same time, I understood what she was feeling.  Because I had felt that before with Challenger too.  He was a horse who, without trying, could break your knees of pride and know-how to bring you to the ground. 

The ride had gone pretty much as I had expected.  Well, with one exception.  It hadn't been total failure.  There had been those few moments where she'd gotten him to engage his back and go straight.  

If only she hadn't stretched upward, and thus made herself crooked.  Challenger had just thought she was asking for a bad leg yield.  

I flipped the reins over Challenger's head and lined him up to the mounting platform.  I wanted to make sure before I rode Medallion that he was okay.  No, I didn't think Vanessa was that bad a rider.  It was just a protective instinct. 

He started off at a fast walk, but by resisting with my seat and using little half-halts, he calmed down a bit.  He wasn't damaged after the experience.  I dismounted just as Vanessa led Medallion into the arena.