"Hey, loser, what's up?" Lizz's voice pulled me out of my thoughts, her casual demeanor bringing a small smile to my face.I turned to see her standing there, her hair a mess in its signature bun, wearing her usual HeyDudes and jeans. She eyed me and the saddled-up horse behind me with a hint of curiosity.
"No, I'm not riding him. I don't feel like dying today," she joked, stopping a few feet away from me.
"I wasn't going to ask you to ride him. I am. I just need you to stand there and make sure I don't get killed." I replied with a chuckle, already walking Phoenix into the arena.
As I led him to the mounting block, I could feel my nerves creeping up. I knew Phoenix could sense it too, but I tried my best to push those feelings aside.
"We've got this, boy. Just a couple of laps, just like when I lunge you. We'll be fine," I reassured him as I hoisted myself into the saddle. It took a moment to find my balance, but soon enough, I felt secure in the seat.
Lizz stood at the fence, watching me intently. I could tell she was keeping a close eye on us, ready to step in if anything went wrong.
I tapped Phoenix's side gently, and he began to walk. He was a bit antsy, hesitating with each step, but I trusted him to find his rhythm.
As we fell into a steady stride, I allowed myself to relax, letting my hands give more slack in the reins. Phoenix knew what he was doing, and I knew he would never intentionally hurt me.
I allowed him to pick up pace as we fell into a steady stride, I let myself relax in the seat, and my hands allowed more give in the reins. I knew he knew what he was doing, he would never purposefully hurt me. So I let him do his thing. He needed this way more than I did, he needed to know I trusted him.
After a few more laps I brought him to a stop and looked over at Lizz, she was smiling. She made her way over to us and grabbed his reins as I dismounted.
"Look at y'all go, you'll be back to competing in no time." She says it with a smile while rubbing his neck.
"What if I dont want to go back?"
She looked at me confused and questioning, and with that pitiful look in her eyes, I know she didn't mean to have it but she did.
"Would it be that awful if I didn't return to competing? I mean how do I know he wants to compete again, not to mention having to trailer him back and forth, I just... I dont know, I haven't exactly missed it recently, shouldn't I be missing it?"
"Ash, you can't be serious, you love jumping, and he loves jumping just give it time okay?"
"Yeah, I guess. I'm going to go put him in his stall."
YOU ARE READING
The Silent Rider
Teen FictionAshlyn was an up-and-coming showjumper before a tragic accident turns her whole world upside down. So now dealing with losing someone she was closet to along with trying to recover herself both physically and mentally. She finds herself falling for...