Horsemen Trials, A Fantasy Story about Horses

Chapter 23

The first obstacle was coming up, a good sized log lying right in the middle of the trail. Destiny locked onto it like I knew she would. I let her have her head, knowing that it was small enough she could take it at a gallop.

In moments she was lifting off, and we soared through the air together. A surreal feeling flushed through me.

We landed and continued on, Destiny was not tired at all yet.

As much as it hurt me, another quarter of a mile down the trail I sat back to ask for walk. We could not gallop continually for thirty miles. There was no way she could sustain that.

Destiny fought me, suggesting that we keep going. But I leaned back and demanded that she slow down. I wished she knew what we had ahead ofus.

I wish I knew.

Several hours and many miles later I was glad that I had slowed her down. She was more tired now, but still plodding along at a ground covering walk.

In these past few hours we'd jumped a few more logs, and now we we reclimbing in elevation. Up ahead were the rocky cliffs. That was one of the hardest parts of the trails.

So far Destiny and I hadn't met any other riders, although I had seen some of them just ahead of us. I resisted the urge to pass them. Our chance of winning stood on how fast we completed the course, not if we came in first.

Destiny was pulling harder up the slope, her breathes coming deeper now. I leaned forward in the saddle, giving her rein to navigate and aligning my center of gravity with hers. At some point I knew I was going to have to get off. It was inevitable.

The trees were transitioning from the oaks, maples, and birches of the lower heights to the firs and spruces of the higher elevations. We would not go high enough for a drop in temperature, but this was a clear sign to me that we were higher than we usually were.

As I was admiring a huge spruce, my ears picked up the sound of running water. I looked around, realizing that this was one of the places where a water stop was located.

Sure enough there was a little trail that branched off for several yards and led to a running brook that came down from the mountains. Destiny heard and smelled the water, she immediately changed her course for the little trail.

I stopped her and dismounted before leading her up it. I let her drink, being careful that I didn't let the reins trail in the water.

When she was done, which wasn't for awhile, I knelt down and stuck my hand in the water. I hissed as I yanked my hand back out. "Wow that's cold!"

The stream was probably safe to drink from, but I chose to drink from my canteen instead. Better safe than sorry, and besides that I didn't feel like freezing my hands, lips, and insides.

I didn't mount Destiny when we headed back up to the main trail. It was getting really steep now and Mr. Blair said it would be easier for her if she didn't have to carry me.

I quickly realized how nice her carrying me would have been. Keeping a steady brisk walking pace became harder and harder as we climbed more and more. Our breathing breaks were more frequent because of me.

I tried to stop as little as possible however. I wanted to keep eating up the miles.

By now we traveled along the edge of a cliff. While not quite falling away completely, it was still very steep going down, and going over the edge would not have been advisable. Down below you could see our town, which did not look as small as I though it would.

We wove between boulders as big as Destiny. I eyed them warily. They probably wouldn't move for another thousand years, but I didn't want to be here when they did.

We came across another creek coming down from the mountain, which happened to be another water stop. Once again Destiny and I drunk heavily. We were both drenched in a sheen of sweat from our climb.

I wanted to mount Destiny to cross the creek because I didn't want to get my feet wet. But I knew she would have a harder time getting across with my moving weight on her back. So, I grit my teeth, took off my boots and put them on the saddle horn, and rolled up my pantlegs.

"Ah!" My first step into the frigid water sent a wail of agony echoing across the mountainside. I was used to crossing creeks and found my way across just fine, but I shivered and muttered about it the entire time. Which only was like, a minute, but I'm telling you it was cold.

With relief I stepped onto the slightly muddy land on the other side. Destiny had done better than me and not complained the entire time. I used some sparse mountain grass to dry my feet off and put my boots on before continuing our journey.

After the creek crossing we started to wind our way down the mountain. Still I didn't mount but kept a brisk walking pace. In some parts it was very steep, and Destiny had enough to worry about without me on her back.

When most of the steep parts were over, I tiredly mounted Destiny. The walk had really taken it out of me. I grabbed the front of my saddle with one hand and held the reins in the other, letting Destiny find her way down the trail.

So far this journey had not been the most pleasant, but it had been our best phase. This was where we got to shine, not by being fancy or neat or quick, but by being consistent and trusting each other.

The hours passed in a haze of tiredness. Night was creeping in, but the full moon gave us enough light to tell that we were in the forest of maples and oaks again. I knew we were getting closer.

Destiny was definitely not as fresh as when we started out, but she still had a lot left. When we got to flatter land where there were logs to jump I picked up the reins and started trotting more. My game little pony did her her best for me.

We crossed two more creeks, taking water stops at each one. Each time it was an effort to get going again, each time a struggle. I'd belying if I said I didn't entertain the idea of quitting.

But no. We'd come this far, Destiny had done this much for me. I wasn't going to quit now. I might drop dead from tiredness but I would not quit.

Finally we emerged out of the forest. And there, in the distance, was the finish line. A half mile lay between it and us.

A crowd and many horses were there. I saw, as I picked up the reins a bit more, another rider and his horse cross the finish line, then the rider collapsing in a heap as he dismounted. I wondered if that was what I was going to be doing.

"Come on gal. Last push. Come on." I clucked to her and urged her on one last time.

Sensing that something was different this time, she picked up a trot and then an easy canter. I rose into my half seat and she sped up a bit more into a slow gallop. I rested my hands on her neck and looked ahead.

I could make the faces of my family ahead, mother, father, and my brother Torin. Mr. Blair stood next to them with Rejem. They were calling out to me, waving and cheering me on.

One, two, three. One two three. Pounded out Destiny's hooves as cool night wind brushed against my tired face. We were getting closer and closer to the white line on the ground. I could hear my family's cries now.

"Come on honey!"

"Keep going, you can make it!"

"Go it Iris, go it!"

That last was Torin.

And suddenly we were there, rushing over that white line. I sat back and brought Destiny down to walk. Tears were streaming down my face.

I stopped her, but I didn't swing off right away. I had decided, up in the mountains, that after this ride I would not mount her again. I wanted this, our victory together, to be our final ride together as well.

My heart breaking, I leaned down and looked between her ears on final time, stroked her neck for the last time. "Thank you."

My whispered words said all I needed to say, summing up three months of frustration, of achievement, and of love.

I kicked my feet out of the stirrups and swung down.