Changing Strides

~Chapter 15~

I looked over to Sammy, her face creased with nervousness. I offered a comforting hand on her shoulder, she shrugged it off. I tried to encourage her she'll do fine, but she ignores me. I pat her mount and lead the stallion into the indoor arena. "Sammy, I know what this is like. Trust the horse and let go, not literally, and you'll be fine."
"You better be right, I don't want to end up dead, or like you."
"You won't."
Sammy's words stung my heart, like me. What am I? Is there something wrong with me? Yes, your crippled. I pushed the ugly thoughts that came into my mind, trying to focus on Sammy. "Do you want me to get Miss. Woods?"
Sammy bit her lip and nodded. I sighed, handing he reins to Sammy and walking over to paddock four where Miss. Woods brought in horses. "Miss. Woods Sammy doesn't want to jump without you being there."
"Really, you can't convince her? She'll do fine."
"I've tried telling her that, she doesn't want to listen."
Miss. Woods strolled into the barn, I followed suit. Miss. Woods politely addressed Sammy, though the frustration in her voice was clear, "Morning Sammy, I heard you're going to jump today? Let's get started."
Bam, magic. All of a sudden, Sammy wants to jump, that girl is crazy. "Claire?"
"Mmm."
"Tack Moon up and bring her out, less than ten minutes, go."
I sped off at the command. I walked down the row of stalls, stopping in front of Moon's. She stood quiet, barely perking when I came by. I quickly ushered her out of the stall, grooming and tacking her up quickly.
I walked Moon into the arena, her behavior oddly subdued. I warmed her up before mounting and joining Miss. Woods and Sammy, who had mounted her horse, Orion. Miss. Woods ordered us to complete the jumps, I was up first. I was told to canter a lap first, so I urged Moon off.
We came out of the canter, Moon not having that bounce in her step. I guided her towards the first jump. All the jumps were fairly small. We barely lifted off the ground as we cleared the first three jumps. The fourth jump was higher and Moon just cleared it. I coaxed Moon a little faster as we headed for the highest fence, still not very tall. I took a deep breath, and Moon launched from the ground, sailing over the oxer. Moon was awkward over the jump and my world went black.

I groaned, sitting up to find myself in the arena dirt. Sammy, Miss. Woods, and Meg were surrounding me. They gave me space as I sat up. "What, what happened?"
"We're not totally sure. Moon landed awkwardly, you just fell forward, off her neck."
"Where's Moon?"
"Don't worry, she's being taken care of. Did she seem wrong at all?"
Guilt formed a knot in my gut as I replied, "Yeah, she didn't have any pep. She didn't perk up when I approached her stall and her step had no bounce to it."
"We'll deal with it later, let Meg and I help you up, Sammy, go cool off Orion, no use hurting him too."
I apparently hurt Moon and my world crushed. Meg guided me up and I straddled between the two to the tack room. When I sat down, Miss. Woods started questioning me. "Where does it hurt?"
"Nowhere, I'm just dazed." I rubbed my temple, clearing my head.
"Sit and rest, I need to go check on Moon." Miss. Woods abruptly left the room leaving Meg and I alone. I rested my head against the wooden wall, sorting through the mess in my mind.
"How old is Emily?"
"Fourteen, why?"
"Dunno."
Meg presses her hand to my forehead, I shake it off, "Julie."
"What about Julie?"
I heaved a sigh before plunging into my conversation with Julie yesterday finishing with, "I apparently used Emily's saddle."
A look of bewilderment crossed Meg's face. I guess she had a right to look that way, no one would tack the wrong horse, without a reason. Meg shook her head, I could tell she couldn't believe the possibilities flying through our heads. Meg still didn't speak and tensions cracked throughthe air like lightning. Meg finally stuttered an answer, "I, I don't think that she could do that, she's so sweet. I just couldn't imagine Emily doing that." I sighed, I felt the same way, "But something has to be done, someone had to do it. Do you think she could've been set up?" Meg nodded thoughtfully. "Emily will be riding today, just to, uh, let you know." I mumbled a thanks, already deep in thought about what to say.
Miss. Woods came in, without her usual calm mood. Any earlier worries about Moon were reignited. Miss. Woods looks to me and beckons me over. She bends down slightly and starts whispering to me. "Claire, this is your decision. Moon is getting kind of old," a lump forms in my stomach as she continues, "and she is injured. You have three options: you can put her down, you can rehab and continue to show, or you can do rehab and she'll be retired from shows." I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, but it stuck as I croaked, "I want to rehab her and then I'll decide whether to continue show when we cross that bridge." Miss. Woods nodded and spoke softly, "I was curious that you didn't ask what was wrong. This was a slight test to see how you would react. Though it seems you know your horse well enough that she wasn't seriously injured. I'm sure you could feel it. Moon was hurt though, she had a bruised cannon on her hind right leg. Any ideas as to how this happened?" I shook my head, "I have no idea, who has been tacking her up?" Miss. Woods gave me a look I couldn't figure out, "Maybe it's better if you come to the barn more often, just to be safe. Moon will be sent to a rehab facility, but I think that Storm should be watched closely."