Watch Me

Chapter Ten

"How are you feeling?" Tara looked down at her mom who was already munching on the show food. Her hands were sweating and her heart was racing.

Mrs. Douglas unwrapped Jewel's polos and put her splint boots on. Tara took in a breath and said "Mindy is here today on one of her trainees. I can't stand her, mom."

"Then just kick her ass."

Tara smiled at her mom's encouragement. She checked her stirrups one last time then picked up the reins. Jewel walked over to the gate and waited patiently for her cue to enter the ring. The announcer called the rider's score-one refusal- then called Tara's number. The other rider passed Tara and wished her good luck.

"This is it, girl." Jewel walked in and took in all of the brightly colored jumps and displays. She picked up a smooth trot and transitioned into a canter. Tara cantered a circle then lined Jewel up for the first jump. She remembered it being a hunter class then quickly adjusted her path to keep Jewel centered. Jewel jumped the rails daintily and precisely. She kept an even pace and never stumbled. They finished with a clean round and slowed to a walk as they left the ring to wait for the speed class.

Mrs. Douglas gave Tara a water bottle and began talking. "She looked great out there, definitely like she knew what she was doing. How'd you feel? A clean round is a great way to start."

"They were pretty low jumps," Tara watched the next rider miss a stride. "I think I might enter the jump challenge later today."

"Let's see how Jewel's feeling by then."

Twenty minutes passed and Tara was called in for her speed round. She felt Jewel fill with energy. The little mare danced into the ring and cantered her circle before Tara let her go. They sped over the jumps, cutting corners like a barrel racer. Jewel stretched towards the jumps and cleared them flawlessly. She took the shortest and fastest route through the course, never having to adjust a stride or stumble at a rail. The few spectators applauded when Jewel and Tara finished their round with the fastest time. With many pats to the neck, Jewel pranced out of the ring and waited for the final line up.

"...and in first, we have Tara Douglas riding A Hidden Jewel." Tara smiled and walked Jewel to get her ribbon. They hooked it on Jewel's bridle. She walked out of the ring and dismounted, loosening Jewel's girth just a tad while they waited for their next class.

"Your next class has higher jumps." Mrs. Douglas was munching on nachos from one of the booths. "There will be a solid wall combined with rails, something Jewel hasn't had. I think she'll be fine, but just be prepared for that."

Tara took a chip and offered it to Jewel who took it happily. As the mare crunched the tortilla chip, Tara talked. "She seems to be fine with new things like that. I'll be sure to keep her focused just in case."

"Also, the jump challenge is the last event so Jewel might be a bit worked up for it."

"We'll see."

Tara, Mrs. Douglas, and Jewel waited and watched the different classes. It was finally time for Tara to go back in and they made it with a clear round and once again the fastest time, coming out with a blue ribbon. Tara handed her ribbons over to her mom then walked with her to the booth to sign up for the jump challenge. She paid the extra twenty dollars to enter then made sure to keep Jewel calm and warmed up.

The jump off was a competition of skill, seeing which horses could jump the highest and cleanest. It was always a set of three jumps in a row, each one two inches taller than the previous. They started at two foot six inches, and kept going until the final horse was left.

Tara watched a few riders in the first round then went in. Jewel popped over each jump like it was nothing. They cleared the next round, the final jump set at two foot nine inches. They cleared four rounds after that. It was finally between Tara and one other rider. The third jump was set at four foot, higher than Tara ever jumped Jewel. The little mare had absolutely no issue with the round before, but four foot was high for a beginning horse.

The other rider was on a tall thoroughbred gelding who breezed over the first two jumps, but barely cleared the final one. Tara took a deep breath and cantered Jewel up to the jumps. The little mare made it over the first two jumps then launched over the last, clearing it effortlessly. Tara stroked her neck and walked her over to the fence to stand next to the other rider. The girl sat easily a foot taller on her gelding. She looked down and smiled. "My name is Opal."

"Tara." She smiled back. "Your gelding is gorgeous."

Opal pulled slightly on the reins to keep him at a halt. "His name is Gregory. My mom bought him off the track so he's just starting off." She looked at Jewel's relaxed face and asked "how long have you been jumping her? She's absolutely flawless."

Tara couldn't help but laugh a bit. She smiled and answered honestly "this is my first show with her. I started really jumping her not too long ago."

Opal's expression was one of awe. "That's amazing! She really is something!"

"Thank you!" Tara wished her good luck and watched her and Gregory attempt the jumps. The gelding refused the third jump and Opal rode him back around for their second attempt. Riders were allowed two attempts per round. Gregory stumbled over the final jump, but cleared it. Tara rode Jewel right up to the jumps and bent over her neck as she soared over the three jumps.

They raised the jumps again, this time up to four foot three inches. The jump was almost over Jewel's head. Gregory and Opal knocked the second jump and refused the third, officially eliminating them from the jump challenge. Tara congratulated her on making it this far then went in for her own round. Jewel took a circle at a canter before lining up to the jumps. Tara gave her her head and the mare stretched out to get the power she needed. She soared over the jumps and snorted as if it was nothing.

They raised the jumps again, just to see if the mare had any limit. Jewel popped over four foot six inches, four foot nine inches, and they stopped her after she cleared five foot. The judges came out and shook hands with Tara as they awarded her with the jump challenge ribbon and silver platter then the photographer came out and took pictures of Jewel and Tara standing next to the final jump. Tara smiled proudly and Jewel posed regally for all of the photos.

It was time to leave, but Tara could barely make it out of the ring without riders and trainers congratulating her and asking her about Jewel. One girl in particular, one of the riders with a top dollar warmblood, asked Tara about Jewel's bloodlines. "She must be out of a top stallion and mare! Her form was phenomenal!"

"Actually," Tara couldn't help but laugh, "I'm not sure what she is. She's a little bit of everything, the perfect mixture of speed, stamina, power, and passion."