Changing Strides

~Chapter 20~

  Sammy and I strolled into the barn.  Exams were finished and now we had a chance to really concentrate on the show.  We parted ways and I swiftly tacked up Moon.  Finally, there were no troubles with tack, and I couldn't help but release a small sigh of relief.
  I met Sammy and Orion at the entrance to the arena.  The nerves pulsed through me, today we would she Miss. Woods critiquing our preformance.  I set up the fences for Sammy's jumping course.  Miss. Woods came in as Sammy finished warming up.  Sammy's  course consisted of a small oxer to warm things up, followed by half round and a shorter wall and rails, the round is finished with a vertical.
  Sammy exhaled and started Orion towards the small oxer.  The pair worked like a well oiled machine.  The two connected and gracefully leaped over the jumps.  Orion's ears would periodically flick back showing he was listening to Sammy.  I couldn't help but slip a small smile, Orion, an experienced horse had started to bond well with Sammy.
  The pair jumping sparked a memory when Orion was younger, he had formed a special bond with an older rider.  The two competed in many shows together.  They were top riders and excelled in every aspect of eventing.  They were a stellar pair until the rider was training a young horse when she fell off.  She claimed she was fine, and she had to show with Orion later in the day.  Come later, we found out that the rider, Lizzy was crying from the pain, but had hid it beneath a well formed mask.  Lizzy had to compete in the cross country with Orion.  The pair had taken off into the course, but never returned.  Officials found Lizzy dead, Orion was beside her, his muzzle nudging her.  It was confirmed that she had had a concussion and she fell off, losing consciousness jumping over a fence and the impact killed her instantly.  I admit I was there, I saw the ambulance.  It was my first year of riding and I was the groom.  I was told to bring Orion back.  His head hung low, he barely reacted o the bustle around him.  He sat in his stall for days grieving.  He was then sent into the paddock after recovering his energy.  Instead, he cowered in the corner and refused to move.  I was never sure what got Orion out of the slump, but he seemed alert one day.  Though no one rode him.  Then Sammy came and Miss. Woods thought it was time to give Orion another chance.
  Orion was still reserved, but they preformed a clear course.  As they talked with Miss. Woods, Meg arrived and changed the jumps.  Meanwhile, I started warming up Moon.  I lead through the stretches, trying to make her as supple as possible.  The turns were more extravagant in the actual course and she would have to be ready anytime for a quick change in demands.
  Miss. Woods signaled me off.  I tapped my heels into Moon's sides and she took off at a canter.  We flew over the first fences, my confidence rising we could clear the course.  Though my heart dropped with our bodies as I had to prepare us for the triple bar.  I urged Moon forward, and I stood up.  Moon flicked an ear back and took off.  We took off too late and Moon's back hooves didn't kick up in time to clear the first pole.  I braced myself as we crashed through the jump.  We landed on the final bar, Moon stumbling forward.  I shot forward over Moon's neck.  I landed hard on the ground, the breath stolen from my lungs.  Moon then came through the jump, trying to find her feet.  The impact with the ground made it difficult to move.  I trusted Moon as her hooves narrowly missed my motionless body.  Miss. Woods rushed over, Meg securing Moon and calming her down.  Miss. Woods crouched down, worry written all over her face.  I regained my breath, relief washing over my body, I was alive.  I just sat there a minute, catching my breath.  I sat up, and was swarmed with questions.  I waved Miss. Woods off, "I'm, I'm fine.  I just lost my breath.  Give, give me a minute."
  Miss. Woods gave me a dubious look, but backed off, still within eyesight.  I finally stood up, my legs shaking.  Then a sharp pain shot through my ankle.  I bit back a slew of curse words, my Achilles felt like it was a calm fire reignited back into its raging inferno.
  I limped over to Moon.  I stroked her softly, her eyes closing slightly.  She favored her leg and my heart broke.  I had no idea how much more I could do to Moon.  I just didn't know how much more of a beating she could take.
  I looked a Miss. Woods and her eyes seemed to reflect my feelings.  Meg knew too and led Moon off to her stall.  I looked to Miss. Woods wondered what to do next.  She spoke, the eerie silence that blanketed the arena was broken, "Do you want to continue?"
  I nodded, but she asked, "Should you continue?"
  I took a deep breath thinking the question over.  I bit my lip and nodded.  She could sense I was unsure.  "Try dressage with Storm."
  I nodded and took off.  I quickly grabbed Storm, tacked him, and warmed him up.  By this time, Sammy and Miss. Woods took down the jumps.  Meg was nowhere to be seen.  Sammy took off first, Orion showing off his best qualities.  The stallion's body turned from big and bulky into a graceful and agile body.  There seemed to be no flaw in their performance, but of course, Miss. Woods had critiques.
  I was up next and I led Sotrm forward to begin the course.  The realization settled that Storm had never completed the course, nor even begun it.  Even so, I buried the thought and pressed on.  Ignoring any pain, struggling to remember the sequence.
  I ended with a salute at X, and Miss. Woods nodded.  A nod.  That was her only reaction.  My gut twisted, butterflies formed in my stomach.  Though she said nothing.  As Sammy, Orion, Miss. Woods, Storm, and I walked to the cross country course, I bit my lip anxiously.  For the first time, the thought rooted in my mind that maybe I couldn't do this.  Maybe the stress was too much and it could lead me to misjudge everything.  I could accidentally kill myself, or worse, hurt the horses I had come so close to.