Sunshine Girl (Ryan Upchurch)

Goodbye

Aaliyahs POV

I watched as the next trailer approached my barn. Before the truck was even parked I watched as Mason flew out of the vehicle. A tall, slim blonde teen who had a heart of gold. He had been in my class for 6 years. His area of expertise was dressage and he had a gorgeous horse to match his fiery personality.

"Hey!" He said as he came in and gave me a tight hug.

"Hi bub. Wildfire is in his stall waiting for you. I can grab your things if you'll load him." I said. He was quick to work and I grabbed his things placing them in the tiny tack room on the trailer. I watched as he brought out his 16 hand chestnut mare out if her stall and loaded her. I watched as he quietly came back up to me and gave me another tight hug. He towered over me  at the age of 16. My 4'11 height was no match to his 6'1 height. I watched as that truck and trailer followed behind the other parking on the hill within the shade. Another trailer lined up but this one had room for three horses. And out came three students.

Sarah, Jessica, and Bradley made their way to me. They were quick to grab their tack and put it in the trailer. They each grabbed their horses and loaded them themselves. The trailer was moved to the shaded hill. I watched as kids made their way to my porch and the line of trailers began to move quicker. Everyone helped everyone to make it go by quick so I could give these kids a little show.

Finally we got to the last trailer. It was an older model with nowhere to put the tack. I had Ryan set it inside of the truck and out stepped my eldest student.

"Rachel!" I said as she came over to me.

"I can't believe this is the end!" She said as she gave me a tight hug.

"I know. You're my oldest student. You've been here the longest!" I replied as we separated. I saw the tears form in her eyes and before long we were both sobbing. Rachel was like a daughter to me. We both learned and grew together in a sense. She was 9 when she came into my program. She was turning 18 this year and it was her final year as my student.

"Can I ride with you? Can we all? I will help get their horses and have the other teens help. Please. Its gonna be our last ride together as a family." She begged.

"As long as everyones okay with that. I'm sure everyone would like to go home. And you have to help do set up in the arena for each kid. Everyone has different disciplines." I replied. She was quick to go talk to everyone and soon horses were everywhere. I saw everyone saddle up their horses and start getting the equipment out for each kid.

"We're ready when you are." Rachel said as she approached me on her horse Blue Bird.

"I gotta saddle up my 3." I replied as I headed off to the barn. Everyone began warming up their horses in the fields and practicing. I saddle up Rusty, Daisy, and Dusty and grab some lunge lines. I hand a couple lines off to Rachel and Mason since both their horses were calmed down by now and we each lunged my horses. After about 15 minutes I tied up a couple of mine to the side and watched as they set up barrels. I watched as a few students got ready and started to run the barrels. After that kids set up poles and began doing that. I got on my horse Rusty and watched as they all had a ton of fun. As kids finished up with their horses and cooled them off they put them into trailers and little by little all said their final goodbyes. Eventually all that was left was Rachel, Addy, Jessica, Sarah, Mason, and Bradley. 

I let my students have their time before they summoned me to come into the arena with them. I hopped on Rusty and headed into the arena.