Buddha on Pride

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

I tied Maverick to the trailer and removed the tack from his sweaty body. I sat down on the cold, black, metal steps of the trailer, laying my head in my hands. My mother sat next to me, put her arm around me for comfort.
" Kaci, its okay sweetie. "
" What am I going to do mom, this scholarship is everything to me. " I questioned, not picking my head up from my hands.
We sat for a moment in silence as the wind pick up the sounds of horses whinnying for each other.
" I have an idea, " I looked up at her, " We have about 2 hours before your next class. Youve been working Buddha on jumping. What if I bring Maverick home and have Derek ice his leg and give him some Previcox. "
" Buddha has only been worked on 2 foot jumps maybe 3,tops! Mom and in order to complete the rounds, I would have to jump in the advanced range and I dont think Buddhas ready for that! " I reply in sadness.
She smiled at me, " I'll go pick him up for you. "
" Mom, no i cant jump him that high!! "
" He will do anything for you, hes all developed. Hes a year older than Maverick and Hes just as built as Maverick. He can do it Kaci." She said.
" Hes not as tall as Maverick. " I said with a frown.
" Kaci, it doesnt matter about height. Ive seen you guys together and you're absolutely amazing. He will take care of you as long as you trust him. " She said as she untied Maverick.
I wasnt going to argue with her because i knew she was determined. I had this weird pit within my stomach that was telling me my mom didnt tell me something. It was her attitude. She loaded Maverick up as I was still sitting on the steps.
" You can ride in the camper compartment and take a nap if you want? " She closed the back door and headed to the driver side door of the truck.
I climbed into the trailer and onto the bed. I laid there blankly staring at the ceiling, I eventually fell asleep. I woke up and looked at my phone that was laying next to me.
4:03
It had been nearly an hour sense we had left the show so we should be back soon.
I glanced around at my surroundings, the side table next to the bed for some reason caught my eye, which was quite odd because we had owned that trailer ever sense i could remember.
I leaned over and opened the drawer and a old ceder wood box lay inside. I grabbed it, i set it down in my lap to study it. A beautiful horse head was carved out on the top.
All the years of owning this trailer, Ive never seen this box. I opened it up, a few rosetta ribbons were inside, I picked them up in my hands, and read them.
' 1st Place Spring Showdown Hunters Show '
Who's was this?
I continued to look through the box as I came across a few pictures.
Flipping the picture over, I stared at it for a moment.
The picture was of a young blonde girl, just about my age, a young man with his arm around her, and two middle age people, a man and a woman.
The young girl had a large black horse in hand with a large neck stash around his bulky neck with a rosetta on it. The middle aged man and woman were holding up a large check reading:
SPRING SHOWDOWN SCHOLARSHIP
$10,000
I was quite confused, I had no idea who this picture was of so, I had to ask.
I had realized that we were now parked and back at the show. I jumped down off the bed after placing the box back in the side table drawer, but keeping out the picture. I opened the camper door to find my mother tacking up Buddha in different tack than Maverick.
I closed the door behind me as she turned to look at me.
" Good morning Sunshine! " She said with a smile.
I watched towards her with the picture, I showed her the picture.
" Mom, who is this? "
She smiled and turned towards me.
She pointed to everyone in the picture, " Thats your grandad, your grandmother, your dad, and that there is me. "
I was shocked, " You show jumped? "
" I did. Until your dad got me into roping, cattle driving, and barrel racing. "
" Whos the horse? "
" That would be Royal Pride. " She smiled at me and patted Buddha on the neck.
I was absolutely astonished. From what I had known, Pride was a 2x World Champion Cutting horse and Barrel racer. I never once would've assumed that he had jumped.
" Buddha has Pride's build and nearly the same height. Pride and I competed in the Master classes, just over 5 feet oxers. " She said to me.
I strolled over to Buddha not knowing what to say to my mother.
" You never told me you did hunters. " I had said petting my horse big black horse on the neck.
" It's a little secret, " She winked, " Now go on! You have to warm him up! Its nearly 4:30. Im pretty positive that there are warm up jumps set in the warm up ring. " She said.
I put on a my navy blue hunt coat that was hanging in the trailer after removing my brown coat. My mother gave me a leg up after putting the bridle on Buddha. We walked over to the arena as my mother approached us from behind.
" Im going to go let the booth runners and judges know that Maverick came up lame and you'll be riding Buddha. " She smiled and patted us as she walked away.
I squeezed my thighs together as we entered the arena. We were the only ones practicing, so it was nice to have the arena to ourselves.
Horses and riders that sat high on their backs were lined along the fence.
I stretched Buddhas legs and muscles so that he was be nice, loose, and free moving. He was a little bit more up beat and energetic than Maverick but that made it worth wild.
His ears listened for my cue to canter and head for the cross rail.
We approached the jump as Buddha leaped forward and i went into my two-point.
I patted Buddha on the neck and made a few more rounds on the jumps, including one that was 4'.
I had never jumped buddha higher than 3' ,but that didnt seem to bother him that we jumped a 4' oxer and standard cross vertical jumps.
After our warm up, My mother led Buddha and I to the Arena gait where we were to wait for our class.
I trembled, I had no idea how this would turn out.
My body was filled with nervousness and i fidgeted in my saddle.
A warm hand was placed on my thigh, i glanced down, " Kacy, calm down. You two will be just fine. "
I nodded, but it went in one ear and out the other. I couldn't back out now, my class was starting and i was first to go.
" Number 263, Kacy Oz Follder on Buddha on Pride, may enter the arena at this time. "
My hands shook, but i collected myself the best that i possibly could. I squeezed my calves, Buddha walked forward towards to gait, I heard it shut behind me as we stepped foot into the arena.
' In and Out Kacy. Its alright. ' said me during my thought process.
i ran my fingers through Buddhas mane, everything was slowed down. It was something out of a movie. Gripping my reins tight in my hands, we moved into an extended trot then a canter in our courtesy circle, then finally headed toward the jumps. I could feel my heart pound in my chest but, I wasn't nervous anymore. I felt as if Buddha and I were one with each other. I had jumped Buddha a many times before but he never felt like this. It was a feeling I never had felt before with another horse.
My mind floated off to somewhere.
Buddha leaped forward and i gathered myself into my two-point. The landing was soft and smooth, just as it should be. The world had stopped around us, everything was silent in my brain. If someone were to tell me that i was flying, I would've believed them. Buddha could grown wings and I could've been blind, I wouldn't have noticed a different. The dirt splattered out from behind us within every stride Buddha took. We soared to the last Oxer, landing it perfectly, finishing with a courtesy circle to sum up our course. Tears began to weld in my eyes and stream down my cheeks in pride from my horse. I had never felt this feeling before, being around horses my entire life, it made me cry. Now, I finally understood what it was like when people said, " To be one with the horse. " And that feeling was something no one could ever describe in words, it was poetry in motion.