Endeavor

Chapter 1

Leaves crunched under my feet and the hooves of the frisky four-year old behind me, as I walked her to the mounting block positioned outside of the arena. I halted the mare, also known as Isa, next to the block and hoisted myself into the saddle.

Isa waited patiently under me as I finished adjusting my stirrups and grabbing the reins. I nudged her sides and she walked forward obediently. Riding horses like her always made me want a horse to call mine even more.

As I entered the arena I noticed one of the instructors in the middle of the arena coaching a little girl on a fiery chestnut pony. The pony and the little girl kept arguing and the trainer shouted out tips, which the little girl blatantly ignored. Isa snorted and dodged to the side a little on spotting the pony. I've come across many horses that were scared of ponies, and this would have to do as a learning experience for Isa.

I encouraged Isa to walk into the center of the arena and turned her head wherever the pony was until her breathing wasn't as heavy. Isa walked to the rail when I asked her, before I started to ask her to bring her head down a little. She obeyed quietly as I asked her to trot. The rest of the mini session went smoothly and there weren't any more spooks.

I walked out Isa before leading her back into the barn and clipping her into some cross-ties. Leaving Isa in the cross-ties for a minute, I rushed into the tack room to toss my helmet into my cluttered tack trunk and to get a drink of Gatorade. When I returned to Isa, my main instructor, Kenyon Martell, running a hand down Isa's muscular back.

"This one has a lot of potential, definitely one of the best we have bred. How was she today, Maya?" Kenyon looked over at me as he leaned one hand on Isa's side.

"She was fantastic. There was a little girl with a pony having a lesson and Isa was a little unsure of it, but she got over it and was great." I finished with a smile.

"Try taking her over a few jumps next time. We had the vet done yesterday and she cleared her to jump."

"Isa has a lot of potential in the jumper world. She really listens to your leg and hand and can turn sharp and fast." I could feel excitement welling up inside me, because I love teaching young horses how to jump.

"I will definitely have to take her for a ride sometime then. Have a good day." With that, Kenyon nodded and walked off.

I slipped a peppermint out of my pocket and handed it to Isa. While she was crunching on her mint, I unsaddled her and brushed her down before taking Isa outside for a bubble bath.

Isa had to be my favorite horse at Cedar Field Stables, and if it was possible, I would definitely buy her. While massaging a mango scented shampoo into her coat, she swung her head around and started nuzzling my arm. I giggled and continued to bathe her.

When I put Isa away, I locked up my tack trunk and headed out to my truck. I started up the engine and drove home to spaghetti and garlic bread being cooked by my mom.

"Hi, Maya, how was the barn?" My mom smiled at me before quickly looking back at the spaghetti sauce brewing in front of her.

"It was great. I rode some younger ones and jumped some of Kenyon's show horses around in some lessons. I'm going to finish some homework before I eat." I answered before heading upstairs to take a shower and start my homework.

After a refreshing shower, I settled down at my desk and got out my history and creative writing homework. After about 15 minutes of frustratingly confusing Civil War questions and short story writing, my little brother called up the stairs that it's time to eat.

I rushed down the stairs and took my usual spot at the table and grabbed a plate loaded with spaghetti, garlic bread, and corn.

"I heard your dad has a surprise for you, Maya. I think you will love it." My mom said, trying to start up a conversation.

"What is it?" I asked, suddenly interested in what my mom had to say.

"Well that would ruin the surprise if I told you! Your dad will be home in two hours, why don't you ask him then?" My mom suggested with a smirk.

I sighed and shrugged my shoulders, knowing that my mom intended for me to finish my homework before I could know. That's what I hate about my family's surprises.

"Can I be excused?" I asked as I finished up what was left of the meal on my plate. 

"Yes you may, thank you for asking, Maya. Now go finish up your homework before you can do anything else." My mom answered.

I quickly bound up the stairs into my room and finish up my history and creative writing homework before starting my science homework. Learning about the functions of the human body is a unit we have done four times before 10th grade, so I have no idea why we are doing it again. I finish writing my five paragraph essay about the respiratory system and its functions. 

I quickly did math and a short essay for band, before settling down to read a little bit of a book in French for my language class. 

Why do teachers assign homework anyways? They always encourage us to get in an hour of exercise after school, yet they give us five hours of homework. I can still get in several hours of riding and then my homework, but it is a tight squeeze with a curfew of 12:00.

I finish up the ninth and tenth chapters of my French homework, and hear the garage opening as my dad arrives home. I throw my stuff in my backpack and scurry downstairs to the kitchen.

My mom shoos my back upstairs, and I send her a dirty look, before listening and going back up to my room. 

(The palomino mare on the top is Isa! Comment what you think will happen and opinions! Thank you!)