Unbridled Beginnings

Chapter 22: The Big Day

I can hear the wind howling violently outside the float, making the vehicle rock and shake beneath our bodies. I turn restlessly around onto my side, shutting my eyes tight to try to get to sleep again. But nature's strong wind doesn't give up that easily. It continues to rock the float and prevent me from sleeping until I can see the sun rising on the horizon.

I flick the covers off my cold body, unlock the float door and shut it behind me as I step into Nova's makeshift paddock. Nova munches at her hay when I walk over to pat her and then decide to fling a felt blanket over her back. I squint in the limited light of the rising sun as I buckle the straps around her chest and hind end.

While I wait silently for Hazel, Janet and Damien to wake up I pull a jumper over my body, watch Nova, and worry nervously about what could happen in the ring.

After what seems like 45 minutes, I hear other competitors and their families waking up and start to get ready for the competition. Not much later Hazel, Janet and Damien all appear from inside the float. We make some cereal for breakfast and I discuss what my plan is in the ring.

Soon the horses start their nickering to others and the sun reaches a high point in the sky. The time shows eight-thirty when we check it and the competition is due to start at nine o'clock. I grab Nova's gear from inside the truck and start to tack her up. I place a new pale green saddle blanket over her palomino coat and also my saddle and bridle.

Before I get changed into my riding clothes I look over to the arena, and in the distance I can see people setting up a few jumps and scary looking obstacles. I change into my clean cream jodhpurs, my white blouse, and my boots and chaps. I do my hair into a long plait down my back and tuck a few extra wisps of hair behind my ears. I'm finally ready.

I take my helmet from the truck and then Hazel helps me to mount Nova. We walk over to the arena together but nobody says anything as we all know that the tension is starting to build. I warm Nova up until her body is round and she is bending around the corners. I pass Hazel, Janet and Damien at a trot and they all smile at me.

"You look great together," Damien says. "But try not to be so nervous, she can sense it."

I change direction and urge Nova into a steady canter around the ring. A few other horses warm up around me but I know there are a lot more competitors to come. 

......

My nerves start to build to levels off the scale as we all surround the lady on our horses and listen to the order. Reading out all of the names of riders and ponies takes extremely long and I struggle to sit still through it all.

"34th is Hayley Lowe and Nova."

My heart skips a beat as I hear our names, even though I knew it was coming. The list goes on and on until last person is called out; 128th is Lola and Breeze. 

Everyone surrounds the arena, trying to get a good view of the ring. Fortunately, we get a great front spot to see all the activity in the arena. Soon after, the first horse and rider enter the ring and everyone goes silent. She is a small rider with a pony around the same size as Nova except the pony has a dark black coat. The girl starts simple by walking, trotting and cantering around the ring and finishes with jumping a small cross rail. The crowd claps at her performance while the judges make their final marks and scores.

......

"34 Hayley Lowe and Nova," the lady calls once again.

Hazel, Janet and Damien all look up at me nervously but I take a deep breath and make my way to the arena entrance. My heart hammers loudly in my chest and I'm sure everyone around can hear it.

This is my one and only chance to save Mayfield Ranch. I have to win.

I walk into the ring and try to act confidently as I make my way around the arena. Nova bends her head nicely when I ask her and I smile, relaxing a bit since I realise she's behaving well. I push her into a trot and circle a figure of eight around past the judges. Next I canter, sitting deep into the saddle and urging her on.

I can't believe Nova is acting so great that I don't realise a smile crosses my face. I come back into a walk and halt Nova in the middle of the arena. The crowd applauses me because they think I'm finished my performance. But I dismount and take off Nova's saddle and bridle. Behind me I can hear confused muffled voices of other people but I continue. I jump up onto Nova's back and everyone now realises what I'm doing and they gasp with excitement. 

I spot Hazel, Janet and Damien in the crowd smiling and I smile back. 

But I also see two other familiar faces. The smile fades from my face and my eyes open wide. I freeze. Alison and Jack are watching me, frowning with their arms across their chests. I don't know what to do and tears start to well up in my eyes.

"Hayley!" I hear Hazel call.

 I look back towards her and she gestures to keep going, not knowing what or who I had just seen.

I click Nova into walk and then to a trot, and I start to bounce since I don't have any gear to hold me in place. All eyes of the audience are suddenly on Nova and I. I wipe the thought from my mind and steer Nova with my legs around the corner. We move into a smooth canter along the side of the ring, again passing the judges.

Disappointment crosses my mind as I look at the faces of the crowd.

I need something else to blow them away, I think.

I steer her around the corner and point Nova at jump that's placed at about 80cm with cones, barrels and flags flapping in the wind. She slows her canter and her ears switch back and forth, suddenly confused about what I want. But I click her on towards the jump.

"Let's go Nova, let's do this," I whisper to her.

She tries to swerve around the frightening jump but I keep her straight towards it. When we approach the jump I hold my breath and cling to Nova's mane. I squeeze my legs against her sides and she leaps over it, nearly flinging me off. But I hold on and we canter safely away from the jump.

I breathe a huge sigh of relief and lean down to pat her neck as everyone claps and whistles for us. Nova walks rapidly back through the entrance as she knows she's done well. 

"Congrats! That was amazing!" Someone says.

"Yeah well done," another person states.

I smile and pat Nova once again and see Hazel, Janet and Damien running through the crowd towards me, each carrying a piece of my gear.

"Hayley!" They all shout excitedly in unison.

"That was great! I'm so proud of you two," Janet says.

"I'm lost for words Hayley!" Hazel says, rubbing Nova's forehead.

I dismount Nova and we walk together back to the float. I spray her all over with water, then let her back to munch on her hay while we all sit around the float and enjoy our sandwiches for lunch. I'm distracted by all my thoughts of how great Nova performed that I forget one thing.

Alison and Jack now walk towards us and I stop eating, my nerves starting to build once again.

What will they say?