Liv and I walk into the barn arm in arm at 8:00am. ZxIt's testing day! We go to our horses stalls and I immediately start braiding.
Half an hour later Nemi is groomed and has his mane and tail braided. I go to the tack room to get my stuff. I get my eventing saddle, Nemi's black front and back boots, his show jumping bridle, and his black bonnet. I slip on my Ariat tall boots and my Charles Owen helmet then finish tacking up Nemi.
At 9:30 Liz calls mine and Liv's name along with four other people to head in the ring.
A taller man wearing a Stone Brook polo shirt walks into the ring,
"Hello students, I'm Coach Walsh, today you will be tested on Flat Work, Intermidate Dressage, Show Jumping, and Cross Country. You will be judged based off of skill, fluidity, and bond with your horse. If you cannot do something just keep doing what you were currently doing, Good luck! Please go to the rail at a sitiing trot."
About 45mins later we are done with flatwork amd dressage. Nemi and I did pretty good! We executed every move and Nemi went into the bridle perfectly!Although everyone else did amazing too, accept for a girl who could only do about 6 of the dressage moves. This would be one hard tryout.
"Ok every body please head over to outdoor ring B there are some practice jumps set up, I will call you in one at a time, goodluck! And first I would like to have Ms. Olivia?" As I head to the practice ring I mouth a goodluck to Olivia as she walks in ring b.
/-/-/-/-/
"Ok Lauren, so your course is between 1.30m-1.45m and each jump is numbered. I will be timing you but still judging your equitation, good luck! As soon as you cross the timers your off!"
I do a courtesy circle then squeeze Nemi into a fast canter as we go through the timers.
We are doing good on timing but if I really want to impress Coach I have to really cut the last turn and leave out a stride between each jump down the triple combination. 3,2,1 up here we go! I gallop around the corner and barely get straight to the jump but we find a good distance and lift off. As soon as we land I squeeze and we're over the next one, then the next. I gallop Nemi through the timers and slow him to a trot, then walk. Our round was clear and clean.
/-/-/-/-/
"Ok for the Cross Country we are going to make this part of the test interesting, we are going to go two at a time and have you race!"
This will be fun I thought, thank the lord Nemi is part thouroughbred making him fast and part arabian so he has really good stamina.
"First off will be Jess and Lauren! When I say go you will race across the intermediate/advanced course. Goodluck and follow me to the boxes!" I look over at a girl on a HUGE bay. She smirks at me and whispers,
"Don't get to upset when I leave you in the dust, kid." Then turns her horse and walks to the box.
I look at Liv and she laughs and says,
"Well that was rude!"
I smile then head to the other box.
"Ready, set...go!" We take off.
We have a quarter mile of the course to go and with jumps left. We can see everybody standing at the end. Jess and I are neck and neck. Luckily I've been saving up energy for the home stretch. I look to my right and say smirking,
"Peace out girl scout!" And take off at Nemi's race horse sprint.
As we get to the last 100yards we hear people screaming and cheering Jess and I on.
"And the winner is Lauren and Something Special! Congratulations! That was incredibly fast, one of the fastest I've ever seen this course be run!" Coach says.
"Well anyways girls go cool off your horses, the results will be posted in the barn at 7 tonight!"
As I walk towards the barn I wink at Jess and say,
"Better luck next time."
I hear her grumble something, but I laugh it off.
/-/-/-/-/
*Knock Knock*
I get up and awnser the door,
"I HAVE SODA, SUBS, AND COOKIES!" Liv screams.
We eat and then head towrds the stable around 6:55. We get to the barn and see the teams posted. I automatically look at the Varsity team. My name isn't there.
"OMG I MADE VARSITY!" I hear Liv scream.
"Congrats!" I say a little dissapointed.
"What's wrong?" She asks.
"I didnt make Varsity team." I say.
"WHAT?! Check advanced maybe?" She says.
I look at the advanced team m and don't see my name. Even though it's impossible I look at the National list, crossing my fingers.
Ellie House 12th
Cole West 12th
Chase Mathews 12th
Jess George 12th
Lauren Brooks 10th
"OMG OMG OMG I MADE THE NATIONAL TEAM!" I scream me and Liv start jumping up and down as people congratulate me.
A older man walks out of the main office."Could I have all the National team riders come in please?" He says.
We all file in.
"Hello, I'm Coach Martin. I would like to give a special shoutout to the youngest member to ever be on the National team, Ms. Lauren Brooks!" There was a round of applause, and Jess just rolled her eyes.
"Ok next, practices. On Mondays-Thursday we will have morning practices at 5:30 and afternoon practices and 4:30. On Fridays National team members always get out at 1:00pm. That is your time to prepare your horse for the show that weekend. Starting next week we will have shows every weekend. This team will compete at Nationals in Boston in December. In your dorm rooms there are supplies. Since it's Saturday I reccomend spending sunday massaging and bathing your horses preparing them for their first week. and yes we do have a local show next weekend, because if you don't have enough points you don't go to nationals with the rest of the team. there will be more information about the show at your lesson on monday. dismissed!" he waves us off and we all run back to our dorms.
I unlock it to hear Liv in the shower. I then see a box sitting on my bed. inside was a note with a bunch of packages...
Dear Ms. Brooks,
Congrats on making the national team! Inside is new iteams for you and your horse. You and your horses color is black and the schools color is maroon. So, all the stuff is going to be black and maroon and have our logo on it. Also the national team has their own barn so we would like you to transpost your stuff tomorow. Have a great weekend! -Liz
inside the box
-sheet with,"Something Special" written on it.
-black polo wraps
-maroon polo wraps
-black with maroon accents shipping boots
-black and maroon halter and lead with chain
-one black polo with their logo
-one maroon polo with their logo
-one black and maroon polo with their logo
-a black show coat with their logo
-three pairs of white breeches with their logo on the ankle
-a navy belt
-a black belt
-a new grooming kit thats maroon with black brushes and all labeled with,"Lauren Brooks"
-a duffel bag for shows thats maroon and black with their logo
-a black water bottle with,"Lauren Brooks" in maroon lettering.
i put all my clothes and duffle away then grab the rest of the stuff and head to the main barn. I just drop it off in the barn for now, I will move everything together in the morning. Then I head back to the dorm and fall asleep exited to see what it's going to be like being on the national team.
YOU ARE READING
Stone Brook Academy(A Horse Story)
RandomLauren Smith is an outstanding, young rider. What happenes when she gets accepted into an elite riding academy? Read to find out!
