I looked out the school bus window, my eyes drooping. School had been a killer, mostly from finals. I stared down at my dirt-caked nails. I was a tomboy. I started to scrape the dirt out when my best friend, Megan, sat down next to me. Her dark brown eyes looked worried. She brushed her long, curly brown hair out of her eyes and looked at me. I surveyed her face, deep lines between her eyebrows and her eyes huge.
"What's up? You look worried." I asked groggily.
"Kaylee," Megan said to me. "I feel like I completely FAILED my math final." Megan finished, swallowing.
I shoved Megan's arm. "Meg, you are a math whiz. I doubt you failed. And forget about your grades, it's the weekend!" I exclaimed, lighting up a bit. We only had four days left of school!
Megan looked at me wearily. "Since you seemed to have forgotten," she started. "We're at your stop."
I looked out the window and grabbed my book bag. "Shoot!" I yelled. I hopped out of the seat and ran down the large bus's aisle. I thanked the driver and jumped out of the bus, running to my house. The large pasture and small stable came into view and I smiled. I took my light blond hair out of it's band and shook it onto my back. My hair just barely grazed my waist. I approached my gravel driveway and ran to the front door to my family's small house. I took my key out of my jean pocket and unlocked the door. My kitten heels click clacked as I walked onto the hardwood floor. I shook my shoes off and set my book bag onto its rack.
I strode into my room and looked at the walls color. Purple. Not fitting for a fifteen year old tomboy. I pulled on tan breeches and grabbed my helmet before going back outside. It was warm, not too humid, and sunny, so I would ride in the small outdoor arena we had. My sister, Jody, who is a year older than me, also rides. My two brothers, Ben and Bruce, have their own horses but ride rarely. Ben is six years younger than me, and Bruce is three years younger than me. I always get home first, Ben and Bruce second, and Jody third. Ben and Bruce get home at the same time. In all, the whole family has eight horses, three of which are ponies we own and one of which is an expensive thoroughbred whom my mother is training for a family friend.
I walked to the small barn and stopped at Mindy's stall. Mindy is my horse, my palomino Saddlebred mare. We ride everything, dressage, XC, jumping, and flatwork. Mindy is seven years old.
I stroked Mindy's muzzle, whispering kind words to her. We are extremely close and I have owned her for three years. Ever since I was a small child, I have loved horses to bits. I had ridden my mom's old pony, Claire, for nine years, until I was twelve years old. My parents and I looked online for a good breed until we came across the American Saddlebred. We researched into the breed and found beautiful four year old Mindy for sale. We got such a beautiful horse for a great price.
My family was poor. My mother dedicated her life to horses early on, but unfortunately, this woman with a big heart didn't get her big dream. She wanted a big barn with many horses and boarders, where the barn is well known and always got blue ribbons. Instead, she got a small stables with eight horses and no show reputation. Luckily, this year Jody and I are going to start showing. And it is going to get interesting.....
I slid open the stall door and put Mindy's lime green polyester halter on. She nudged my shoulder and I tied her lead to the bars on her stall. Ben's small horse, Somarah, the sweetest mare I ever met, stuck her nose through the bars and whinnied at Mindy. I tickled her nose and left the stall to our small tack room.
I grabbed my shining brown leather all-purpose saddle and pink saddle pad. I slung the D ring bridle over my shoulder and grabbed her boots. I left the tack room and picked up my grooming caddy that said my name on it: Kaylee. I set everything down and picked up my pink rubber curry comb. I brushed Mindy's palomino coat with the curry and grabbed the dandy brush. I flicked it over her coat and set the brush back in the caddy. I brushed her almost white mane and tail until they shone.
I heaved the saddle onto Mindy's back and tightened the girth. I slung the reins over her head and she took the bit without hesitation. I tightened the cavesson and throatlatch and led Mindy out of her stall.
I clicked. "C'mon, Min!" I opened the gate to our small outdoor arena, which was basically a large roundpen. I bounced into the saddle and settled into it. I tapped Mindy with my heels and she walked forward. We circled many a times around the ring before I signaled her to trot. I posted lightly to the rhythm of her hoofbeats, knowing her all too well. We circled around and around before I heard Bruce's voice.
"Hey Kay! Better get those heels down for showing season! And while your at it, shoulders down and elbows in! You look like a bird about to take off!"
My cheeks burned in embarrassment when I realized all of the things he said were true. Bruce and I had always had this kind of rivalry, even though he rarely rode.
"Shut up, Bruce! Get out your own horse and I will judge you." I retorted.
He sneered. "Be right out!"
I didn't feel like dealing with this right now. I was supposed to be practicing for shows, not competing with my young brother. This wasnt worth it, but I became competitive. Very competitive. I cantered Mindy around the pen for awhile before Bruce came in with his twenty-two year old thoroughbred gelding named Jack. He was a bay.
"Look, Bruce. I really need to practice and I-" I started.
"You're scared? Really? Huh..... That means you won't win if you don't have the confidence to win your shows. I guess I'll just take Jack away so I don't intimidate you..." Bruce said, mischievous.
"Bruce that's not w-"
"No, no. Now I realize that you do REALLY need the practice and I should just leave you alone...."
I sighed. "Good. Didn't want you here anyway." With that, Bruce took Jack to our small indoor arena.
I finished the practice in peace. Right when I was leading Mindy out of the pen, Jody pulled in on her motorcycle. Jody and I had the best relationship sisters could ever have. We got along great and we were never competitive to eachother.
"Hey Jo!" I called. She waved and turned off her motorcycle. Jody put up her helmet and jogged to me.
"Hey, Kay. How was school?" She asked me.
"Eh. Boys were after me, Miranda got jealous and kind of.... Attacked..." I trailed off.
Jody wrapped her hands around my shoulders. "Sorry, sis." I nodded and Mindy snorted. I laughed.
"Looks like someone wants attention!" I giggled. Jody laughed and pointed at her. "Better get her back in the barn. I'm going to get Elijah." Elijah is Jody's friesian gelding. They mainly do dressage, and also amateur jumping.
Jody walked into the barn and I led Mindy behind her. I forgot to tell you, Miranda is my mortal enemy. I don't do anything bad to her, I just apparently am very attractive, and, being the most popular girl in the grade, Miranda doesn't like me for that. She always tries to sabotage me and I'm sick of it.
I groomed off Mindy and let her loose in the stall. I got her hay, grain, and fresh water. I took off her halter and closed the stall. I stroked her nose.
"See you later, baby girl." I kissed her nose and walked away, determined to finish my weekend homework that Friday evening.
(SORRY ABOUT THE SHORT CHAPTER, PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS!!!!!!!!)
