Equine Strike Hills Academy (A Place in the Saddle) #1

Chapter 1: Enter Kiera Floyd

My parents SUV rolled into the school's parking lot, past the imposing, ivy-covered wrought-iron gates. This was it. I yanked out my ear buds and paused the track I was listening to on my new iPhone 6 as Dad pulled to a stop and cut the engine.

"We're here!" Dad exclaimed as he got out of the car. I took a breath and opened the car door, setting my boot on the pavement. As I looked around at the scene in front of me I wasn't sure I had made the right decision to come here. Beautiful stone buildings with climbing ivy, rolling green hills, lush trees with not one dead leaf to be found. And, best of all, a gorgeous, dark-laquered stable ahead in the distance. This was Equine Strike Hills Academy. I turned to Mom who leaned against the car door and was reading the instruction sheet for students coming to school with horses.

"It says to unload your horse in this lot," Mom said. "And follow the signs to the stable area."

I nodded and walked to the back of the trailer. Limitless pawed the trailer floor as I unlatched the back of the trailer. He was eager to get out after the four hour car drive and with nostrils flaring he backed down the ramp. Limitless pranced in place and eyed his new home as I grasped his dark blue lead line with slick sweaty hands. His copper colored chestnut coat gleamed in the bright Texas sun and the gold rings on his matching dark blue halter flashed in the sunlight.

As Mom and Dad went to go park the trailer I led Limitless in the direction of the stables. As we got closer, following a sign that read STABLE, the scent of horses, hay, and grain soothed me and my racing heart slowed. Walking down the pathway I examined the dark-wooded fence rails enclosing the mixture of chestnut, black, bay, gray, and palomino horses in their pastures. The lush grass looked as if someone had cut it with fingernail clippers. There wasn't a clump of horsehair or wisp of hay out of place. Even the stones around the bushes by the sidewalks looked polished. Signs directed riders to trails and cross-country courses. As we passed three large outdoor riding arenas and a covered round pen, I couldn't stop gaping. This place wasn't at all like Cottonwood, my old stable, and this was just the outside! Ever since my old instructor brought up the idea of Equine Strike Hills Academy I dreamed of being able to ride for their nationally recognized riding program. Now here I was just mere footsteps away from it all as I came to a halt in front of the stable.

I stood in front of the barn's main entrance. I took a deep breath and turned to Limitless. "This is it boy." I said as I rubbed his wide, white blaze. "This is where it all begins."

He snorted and bobbed his head, seeming more relaxed than earlier. As we stepped inside I was amazed. This place was wide and spacious from the aisles to the stalls. Students had gleaming horses crosstied, grooming or tacking up. Fresh air poured in from the open barn doors letting the late summer air waft in.

My grip had loosened on Limitless lead rope as we passed by a wash stall and the enormous indoor arena's entrance. Looking inside I saw that no one was riding in jeans. One girl stood out to me who was walking her horse on a loose rein toward the entrance where I was standing. The slight girl had blonde hair pulled back in a wavy ponytail and she sat with purpose and confidence on her powerful bay Dutch Warmblood gelding. As soon as she caught me staring at her I hurriedly led Limitless away but then a loud bang came from down the aisle and Limitless, who was easily spooked by loud noises, spun to the side and tried to get away into the indoor ring. It happened in a flash, the lead rope searing my palms but luckily I was fast enough to grab his halter before he could make his dash. Another small noise came from down the aisle and Limitless, already skittish, spooked again but this time the girl on the Dutch Warmblood came through the entrance unaware of the situation. Causing a chain reaction, as Limitless spooked the Warmblood spun to the side to avoid Limitless and caught his rider off guard. I watched, horrified, as she fell to the hard concrete aisle floor and landed heavily on her right wrist.