Mounting up

Chapter 7

*Parker Hall pictured above or on the side.*

The next morning I wake up. Rose is sleeping soundly beside me. Quietly, I pack up my boxes once again and text Kayden.

<<elliehastings: ready for the movers>>
<<kaydenreynolds: Kk. I'm on my way.>>
<<elliehastings: thx a lot Kayden.>>
<<kaydenreynolds: welcome. C u soon. Ttyl>>

Sastisfied, I put down my phone and got dressed in breeches, paddock boots and a lilac purple polo. I had my riding test at 3:00, so I would practice after dropping off my stuff at Paige's dorm. Kayden knocked on the door and I opened it up. "Hi!" He grinned widely as he walked in. "Hello." I smiled back. I gave him a box labeled bedding. I grabbed the rest of the boxes and dragged a duffel bag behind me.

We walked down the staircase and Lauren nodded at us sadly. "Sorry to hear the roommate didn't work out. Good luck." "Thanks a lot for everything." I said softly, smiling at Lauren. We left the dorm and walked the short walk to Parker hall. We opened the door and the dorm hall monitor greeted us. "Hello. I'm Nikita Fleck. Parker's dorm hall monitor." "I'm Eleanor Hastings and this is my friend, Kayden Reynolds." I relied easly. Kayden dipped his head as a "Hi" Nikita gave me my key and sent us on our way.

I trudged up the stairs and unlocked the door to Paige's room. Paige was inside, vacuuming. "Hi! I'm Paige!" She yelled, her back facing us. "I know that silly!" I yelled back. "Eleanor?" Paige whipped around. "Yep! It's me!" I gave her a hug. She smiled. "How are you? I can't bieleve your back."

"I'm great actually. It's good to be back. Now where's my bed?" I asked. "Over there, It's the top bunk above mine." She pointed. Kayden placed the boxes on the bed. "So I have testing later on so hopefully, I'll make it on the advanced team." I said, unpacking my riding boots. "Well, Mr.Rossi told us that these tryouts are for the varsity teams, because we don't have much time before nationals." She replied hestiantly. "Oh great." I replied dryly, my hear dropping into my stomach.

"Yeah I know, it's quite a difference. But hopefully, you'll practicing with the senior varsity team on Monday before school." She added hopefully. "I hope so." I muttered, pulling on my riding boots.

Kayden said "I should go. Bye girls!" He shut our door. I smiled. "I'm going down to the barn to practice, you coming with me?" I announced. "Why not." Paige replies, buttoning up her breeches. We left for the barn and stepped into the fresh outdoors.

My heels crunched some leaves as I walked into the stable, once I reached Elle's stall, I clambered inside, too lazy to open the gate.

I gave her a quick kiss before I jumped off the stall wall and made my way to the tack room. I grabbed everything I needed and brought the it back to her stall. I clipped her on some cross-ties and gave her a quick once-over with the body brush and picked her hooves. I gently placed the saddle pad down and I also placed my brand new Ogilvy half-pad ontop of the saddle pad.

Once done, I clipped on my helmet and met Paige outside. She was mounted on her horse and she smiled when I reached her. "How about some jumping and dressage?" She asked as I mounted. "Why not." I agreed. We rode into the outdoor arena and were pleasantly surprised that there were jumps set up. "You go first" Paige offered kindly. "Thanks." I shifted my weight on the saddle.

The course loomed ahead of me, as if taunting me. I squeezed Elle's sides and she responded, moving into a fast walk, into a trot, finally into a brisk canter. We approached the first jump after circling the course a couple times. Elle rocketed off her haunches and soared over the flashy neon yellow and neon green vertical. Jump after jump, we flew through the sky until we reached the final jump. A particular hard combo was set up. It was an oxer, about 5" and not even 1 stride after it was another 5" oxer. Elle could jump 5", I knew that. But I myself had never attempted that height of a jump. Paige teased me lovingly from the side lines. "Scared of a jump?" She smirked.

I chucked nervously. "No Paige." I smiled. I gave Elle more rein and squeezed her sides. We galloped around the course once to get more speed and I turned her towards the jump.

I counted the strides silently and hung on for dear life, grabbing her mane as she jumped over the oxer. I patted her. "Good girl." I murmed. Maybe half a stride later, she launched off the ground and soared over the jump. I smiled as I fingered her short mane. Paige smiled as we trotted over. "That was a good round. You hesitated a little before the final jump so work on fluid motions." Paige said in an encouraging turn. "Your turn." I reply.

She nods and leads Whisper to the jump course. She squeezes Whisper's sides and Whisper bounds into a canter. Whispers bounds over the course, and I envy their bond. Paige has had Whisper longer then I have with Elle. She got Whisper 2 years ago, while I got Elle almost a year ago. The commands that Paige gives Whisper is invisible, it looks like Whisper is doing the course by herself. At the end of the course, Paige leads Whisper back towards Me.

"That was great! You and Whisper looked flawless!" I exclaimed brightly. My phone dings. "It's almost time to test. I have to go prep!" I say quickly, leading Elle back to the stable. Clipping her back on cross-ties, I quickly swipe some hoof polish on her hooves. I wipe off the sweat and wipe her face with a baby wipe. I swipe the horse hair off my beeches and unhooked Elle from the cross-ties.

I lead her towards the indoor arena. Mr.Rossi called "Next!" I entered the arena. "Hello Mr.Rossi!" I smiled, mounting Elle. "Eleanor? Is that you?" He asks, surprised. "In the flesh." I responded eagerly. "Welcome back. Ready to test?" He asked, his tone brisk.

"Yep!" I replied. He smiled. "Good. Let's get started with a jumping course, then we'll finish with some dressage. Sound Ok?" "Sounds fine." I said, eager to test.

He smiled. "Here is the course. It consists of 5 verticals, 5 oxers and one final combo set at 5"." He instructed. I nodded and turned Elle towards the course.

When he said go, I squeezed Elle's sides once again and she took off into a canter. I directed her,still softly applying pressure to the bit to force her to turn into the jump. She soared over the vertical, and we cantered to the next one.

Soon enough, it was time for the final jump; the combo. Without hesitating, Elle rocketed off her haunches and made it over the first part of the combo. 1 stride later, she soared over the final part. Mr.Rossi smiled. "Good round. You can take a break while I set up some dressage markers."

I dismounted Elle and tied her to an old, rusty, cross-tie ring in the arena. I stretched my legs and stepped outside the arena to get a breath of fresh air when he called "I'm ready Eleanor!" I walked back inside, un-tied Elle and mounted her once again.

I met with Mr.Rossi in the center of the arena. "Ready?" He asked. "Ready." I replied with ease. He smiled. "Working trot to A." He asked of me.

With a collected gait, Elle moved flawlessly to A. He called once again. "Posting trot to C, 5 metre circle, sitting trot to E, then Canter back to X." He instructed, watching me. I did as told and Elle executed a 5 metre circle perfectly. I applied pressure to the bit and sat deep in the saddle while Elle pranced/did a sitting trot to E. She then cantered back to X, where I saluted Mr.Rossi.

"Thank you for testing. Results will be posted tomorrow. You are dismissed." He gave me a final wave.