Wild Strong & Free

Final Ride

 

 

Chapter 14: Final ride

I have tried my hardest not to run into Aden although it is easy as I can tell when he is coming as he has a swarm of girls following him. I have a bit more spring to my step knowing that today is the big the day were Blaze and I will be tested by a man with amazing riding skills and a horse that was bread to perform like an athlete. I had washed Blaze comb her un-tangle knots and cleaned all my tack and still I felt so unprepared. Sam was up early cleaning and washing dads gear and washing Crazy Cash. I was just going to lung Blaze when all us riders were called over to the main desk this can mean a few things, one someone has been cheating and are looking into it, two the track has been damaged or three the race has been cancelled, so it was pretty serious knowing their the only three reasons way we get called up there. I try and set my eyes on dad so I can watch were he goes so I know, I casually follow him up then this old man with a little voice says take a seat as we all pile into this tiny little room I know there is only 15 of us but the room was made for six people I felt squashed and I was only little. We all looked worried as we have never known to be called into the little conference room I'll call it. This solid build women begins to talk she is a part of this huge association and helps run all these big horse events. " Sorry ladies and gentle to call you in this really tiny room but we have a matter to discuss and my team and I thought it would be nice if it was done in private" said this women we all had no clue what the matter was. "What is the matter" asked a voice "Yeah will the race go on" another yelled out. "Please, please stay clam so this doesn't become tricky. The matter is that a few members of my team went along the track this morning to check it all out like we do and down by the creek and the grazing pasture they saw a mob of about 15-25 horses, we are unsure where they have come from and why now we have never had anything happen like this since I have been here. It may not seem like a big deal but with 15 of your riding at top speed and your horse picks up on wild brumbies it may be an awful disaster so they did chase them off but we believe they will be back as they are all foaling by the looks of the mares with dirt who huhs, and the newborn foals so we are leaving it up to the riders to make a decision please put your thoughts on the piece of paper that is coming around grab a pen then just hand back the pieces of paper to me"

The room went silent as we all were busy writing down what we thought was best I didn't know what to put if I was for riding or not to go on with the ride as I thought that not riding may help dad and I get back on track but riding will help prove many things to him. I just went with my gut and put 'RIDE' in big letters, we were told that we will find out in a few minutes so we could stretch our bodies from sitting in the poor little room. I had a feeling that everyone still wanted to ride but I felt as if it could be over that hurting my friends and father was for nothing. They said a few minutes it was more like half an hour and it's like every minute goes so slow.

"Listen ride everyone, we have added the votes and it was a clear favourite on what we shall do, but we took so long becuase how we will go about the horses, the votes show that all but one wanted to do the ride so we apologize for the person who didn't want to go on and it you wish to pull out we will understand." Said the lady

I felt so happy that it was still on maybe they will change the track but we still get to ride, and it would be hard to change the track now with an hour to go well I need to go get ready.

"Ladies and gentlemen we are happy to announce the 25th running of the stockman's cross country" said the announcer with excitement

No changes have been made to the track so it's all on. Blaze was feeling awesome she had the same spring in her step like on Monday after her maiden win. I take in everything as I know Blaze is the people taking pictures the people calling out different names. "Gear check, gear check over here horses 1,2,3" and so on continued the gear checked man he was tall with a bead a looked rough around the outsides but I know that he loves his horses. Blaze and I are cleared so we just trot to the starting line get her warmed up then wait for the others to be ready to approach the line. Dad comes soon after me and nods his head in the country way to say good luck. I had completely forgotten about the wild horses but it didn't seem to worry me.

Great time to race all 15 of us are ready to ride. "Please walk to the line and wait for a signal then you race" Said the race caller He checked that we were all there then he instructed us to walk to the line as we did we all looked ahead into the distance to face the thrill of racing and the dangers the lurk be hide all the turns and twist. "Riders ready?" Asked the caller, Bang the horses jumped straight into a gallop Blaze didn't rear with the nose of the gun maybe hearing it all week has helped her we are all really close at the start down the straight then we hit the bush tracks and we start to scatter all I know is at that point I wasn't at the back. My mind was clear all my troubles were gone all I could think about was Blaze and her muscles I could feel working so hard to run as hard as she was going. Pit one Blaze in 6 minutes well she was running hard we got 6 minutes but I heard they were making everyone stay at least 6 minutes so that's a good thing I grab a cup of water from the cooler and see dad's horse so he's still here which is good I know my bearings. I can't see Johnny Red but I'm not stressed I need to beat dad more than anyone. "Blaze clear" yelled a helper. I mounted Blaze without a second to lose, dad was already gone but I don't think it was too long ago. We were racing with the wind we were coming up to the slow part of the track, it was muddy and hard for the horses to gallop through Blaze meant more being healthy so I just let her walk I don't care if it lost time. When out of the mud hole we continued at a steady pace we didn't see any other horses but I know dad is in front of me. Blaze was doing so well then we came to a hard halt that nearly left me on the ground. I asked Blaze what was going on then I see dad was halted as well. "SHHHH" warned dad the wild horses were just ahead and the stallion and his mares were so still but they were beautifully wild and dangerous, the mares were foaling so they were very aggressive and the stallion will do anything to protect his heard. We sat and watched but Blaze was happy to greet them with a loud neigh and they began to gallop my arms were shaking Blaze was up dancing up on her hind legs with joy she was happy to see them. Dad didn't wait a minute to continue the race he was off the wild horses come up greeting Blaze and she was happy to greet them but we needed to continue the race, so I said to Blaze lets go and we were off again. Pit two was coming up so I was taking it easy on Blaze so she got 6 minutes again. "Blaze 7 minutes" called the same helper well that's okay I wiped Blaze down then we continued to race we were off flying we were catching dad and Johnny Red, Blazes nostrils would flare with every huge stride she would take she had such a huge stride we were all racing together.

Now before we go any further I want you to know that I don't want any of this to sound like a cliché as many of you may think it will.

Blaze and I hit the front with a good 500m to go and we just got further and further in front of the other two before we crossed the line and died down into a trot. I was so happy that we had won but it didn't seem right, Blaze seemed like she was in a different place. Nothing felt as magical as Mondays win.

"Congratulations on your fine win Jess you must be really happy you have beaten your father on a horse no one has ever heard of you have done an amazing job being so young to win this race in fact you have made history as the youngest person to ever win this race. Do you have any words to say?" the lovely commentator asked. "Yeah I do have simply thing to say I have to go, but well done to everyone especially to my dad and I'm sorry to have put so much stress on you and to Aden rider of Johnny Red you're a great rider and you family should be proud of you and your horse, but I have to go"

I realised what I had done wrong and I needed to fix it. I rode Blaze back to where we ran into the wild horses. When we found them I got off her and told her that she was a very special horse and no one should ever have her as a pet she was to be Wild Strong and Free! Like her friends. She didn't belong at our stables, under the saddle or in the hands of a human she was to run free forever. I slowly untacked her with tears started to roll down my face I loved Blaze she was my very best friend and was my hero, I could never explain how deep my feelings for her are. My lip was trembling, Blaze knew something was up and gave me her head to pat she tucked it into my shoulder and I just cried some more. "Blaze it's time for you to go, you'll be my favourite ride and my best friend forever but your free at heart and don't belong with me but with your family and that's where I belong you have taught me so much without saying a word just giving me a look. I love you Blaze and I hope you love me but now you need to be free"

Without saying a word I looked at Blaze and she flicked her tail up reared up on her hind legs a gave out a loud neigh as if to say thank you. She turned and galloped off but not right out of my sight and she reared up again and neighed again.