Maybe it's Time (a Horse Story)

Chapter Four - Practice Time

During the next week Rhiannon was forever going on about how bad Tui was. Rhiannon, Isabel, Stephanie and I went to a private school while she attended the local public one down the road, but according to my cousin Alice, Tui was smart, nice and sporty. Alice also said that Tui had quickly gathered a small group of close friends that together challenged the popular group.

All that paled in comparison to the excitement we were all feeling. Sunday was a small Show Hunter competition day held at our pony club. Buzzy excelled in Show Hunter, and everyday after school, we would practice in Rhiannon's big arena.

On Saturday, Rhiannon, Isabel, Stephanie and I headed to the pony club for a lesson with Janelle. She and Bobbi greeted us and we had just started warming up when hoofbeats pounded round the grassy verge outside the arena. It was Maddy on her chestnut gelding Copper, and Tui riding Legacy. They were galloping flat out, obviously having a great time. Copper was a fast pony, but Legacy was powering ahead. They neared the arena fence, Tui low over Legacy's neck clucking her on, and the Kaimanawa mare soared over the 1metre fence and galloped across the arena. They slowed to a canter, and Tui called out, "Come on Mads, we've been practicing this! He can do it, you can do it, this is the first step to winning the competition!"

Maddy narrowed her eyes, and clucked Copper on. The chestnut willingly leaped the fence, then slowed to a halt. Tui trotted over to her, and gave her a hi-five.

"Yeha, sister! 1 metre 10 next week, mebbe? The highest I've jumped is 1.30, a whole course, and you're way better than me. You, Marcelle and Vinnie will catch up in no time!" Tui then turned her shining eyes to Janelle. "Was that good?"

Janelle clapped.

"Well done girls, you and your ponies sure can jump! You've been practicing after school, I take it?" Without waiting for an answer, she got right into training. "Right girls, two laps at walk, two at trot, and two in canter! Right, so it's obvious we'll work on changing lead..."

After the warm up we worked on changing lead. Rhiannon and Tui were perfect at it, I was okay, Maddy was obviously trying really hard, and improving, Stephanie was not doing that well, and Isabel just couldn't get it. After a while, Janelle threw her hands up.

"If you haven't got it by now, you'll never get it. Jumping time."

"Now, Buzzy's great at this so you're fine, Monica, Maddy and Rhiannon, your ponies are fine, Isabel, you need to keep Trixie awake and focusing otherwise she doesn't do it well. But if she focuses you'll do fine. Stephanie, Willow tends to rush and jump like an eventer so hold her back, keep her in a nice rhythm and don't get out of the saddle over the jump. Tui... I haven't see you do Show Hunter but... you're good at everything else, so why shouldn't you be good at this?" Janelle said.

"Maddy you're first, jump this course, after she's past the third jump I want Isabel to go!"

It soon became apparent that Tui was by far the best, and when the lesson came to an end she was smiling broadly. Rhiannon was scowling like there was no tomorrow. 

A/N: Thanks guys! A short chapter, in the next one there is a bombshell! Thanks, Horses_003