Horsemen Trials, A Fantasy Story about Horses

Chapter 16

The three months for training flew by. Before I knew it, it was time for the annual Greenspire Horsemen Trials.

I wasn't going to lie, I was nervous. I didn't feel like Destiny and I were prepared enough to compete. In fact, I might have dropped out altogether if it was allowed. But it wasn't.

Greenspire was filled to overflowing with people from nearby towns and farms coming to see the festivities. Besides the actual Trials, there was also a sort of fair going on.

The day to go and register to compete dawned bright. One could practically feel the hum of excitement in the air. I woke up early and knew I could not go back to sleep.

I rolled over and looked at Destiny, who was sleeping with one leg cocked. "I don't know if we're ready for this girl," I whispered. "But we haven't come this far to give up now."

She cocked an ear back at my voice and snorted. I smiled.

After a quick small breakfast I groomed her and tacked her up. I was to meet Mr. Blair, Lillian, and Norah before we all headed into Greenspire to register as having completed training and as official competitors.

I tightened up the girth slowly, just the way she liked it. Her bridling was even better than before, as I had taken it slowly and made sure it was as pleasant as possible for her.

I walked her around a little, let down my stirrups, and then mounted. I'd become an expert at mounting from the ground when needed.

Destiny waited patiently as I gathered my reins and fiddled a little with my stirrups. "Well, here we go gal," I said quietly.

I squeezed her forward and we came out of our little glade onto the road, which was looking a bit crowded.

"Hey," said Lillian in greeting. She and I were the only two under the tree that had been designated as the meeting spot.

"Hey." I let down my reins.

"Do you feel nervous?"

"Yeah. I don't think we're ready. I'm sure there's got to be others that are much farther along than us."

I fingered the buckle on my reins. "I think we could have been farther along, but..."

"But you listened to Mr. Blair," finished Lillian.

I nodded. "Yeah."

She shrugged. "Well, I guess you must decide if it was worth it. There's always next year, you know."

"Yeah..." I pointed up ahead along the road. "Look, there's Norah and Mr. Blair." I waved to them and they waved back.

As they came up to us Mr. Blair asked, "Are you ready?"

"I am, Iris is feeling a little nervous."

I glared at Lillian, I hadn't wanted my unease broad casted out.

Mr. Blair smiled slightly. "So am I, Lillian. So am I. Let's get going."

Norah and Lillian ended up walking ahead, but Mr. Blair hung back with me.

"Why are you nervous, Iris?" He asked.

"Because... Because I don't think Destiny and I are ready."

His brow furrowed. "You don't think she's ready? Do you need to drop out?"

"No, that's not what I meant. I mean, I think we're ready to compete, but not against all the other people who are going to be there. I know there's got to be more people more ready than we are."

He nodded. "True."

"So how am I supposed to win against them?"

"You already have."

"What?"

"What did it take, Iris, for them to get that far ahead? What force did they have to employ, what fear and even abuse might they have had to use? At what cost, Iris, did they gain this supposed advantage?"

I was silent for a moment, remembering Mr. Bellton's methods. "Still, the judges won't know that. They'll only see the flashy movements."

He held up a finger. "Ah, don't be so hasty. There's still some honest judges around. And furthermore, why should you listen to them, when you could listen to your horse?"

He pointed to Destiny. "When I see you ride her, I see a happy horse who knows her owner is not going to push her farther than she can go for reasons that do not matter to her. I see a horse properly trained so that she can reasonably tolerate, even enjoy, her work."

"I've seen, Iris, how you can feel of her now. The light aids you use, the way you know what is too much for her. She knows you're listening to her, and that is what matters to her."

"That, Iris, that, is what makes you a true horsewomen, by the horse's definition of it. For her, you've already won the competition. And if you ride every horse the same way afterwards, they will think you a horsewomen too."

I was silent for a moment, feeling a little overwhelmed. "Really?"

"Really. Now, that doesn't mean you don't still have things to learn or perfect. But it does mean you're well on your way."

I nodded. "Alright. Thank you, Mr. Blair. That means a lot to me."

He smiled slightly. "It means a lot to me to be able to say that." Then he called up to Lillian and Norah up front. "Stop here, girls."

They pulled up and looked back. "What is it, Mr. Blair?" Asked Lillian.

He gestured to the side of the road, where an un-planted field was spreading out. "I happen to know that this field is an ideal place for a gallop. And I feel like celebrating the fact that you made it through three months of training. So come on!"

He cued Rejem off the road and onto the field.

We sat a little stunned for a few seconds before urging our horses after him.

We trotted a ways up the field to warm up, before turning and lining up.

"Ready." I got into my half seat at the start of Mr. Blair's countdown.

"Set." I gripped a swath of Destiny's mane. Her eyes flicked back, wondering what was going on.

"Go!"

I clucked to her and gave her a firmer aid that usual, telling her that it was time to go!

She sprung into trot, but at my insistent cluck she switched to canter. I let my hand go forward along here neck and squeezed again. "Come on girl, let loose!"

Suddenly what I wanted dawned on her and she stretched out. Wind ripped my hair back and I let out a whoop as I leaned forward, savoring her pounding strides.