The big truck slowly rolled into the Badminton grounds, jolting us all awake. I glanced out the window and marvelled at the large trees, arcing the way to to car park. There was two lorries and a trailer here already, a large blue Lorry which belonged to us and a similar sized red one, with a white outline of a horse jumping on the side. The trailer was a forest green one, with two girls sitting on the ramp of it laughing. They looked like the girls that model on the Shires catalogue, and I made a mental note to myself to try and keep my distance.
As the truck rolled to a stop, I jumped out, heading to the Lorry to collect Maddy. I could hear squealing coming from inside the Lorry and opened the jockey door to find Amber, battling with Jet.
"Move you stupid nag!" She screams at him, which just startles the poor horse more. He tears up slightly, and Amber yanks him back down.
"Let me help," I say, taking Jets rope. Amber throws it into my hands and puts her hands up in mock surrender. She walks off and I gently wiggle Jets lead rope, encouraging him to walk down the ramp. I pat his now sweaty neck and hand him back to Amber, who scowls and walks off.
I jog back up the ramp and untie Maddy's black Leadrope, which matches her head collar. I lead her down and pat her neck, before waiting at the bottom for Amelia, Ruby and Jake to come down.
Once all off the Lorry ramp, we lead our mounts over to Mark, who is holding a clip board.
"Amber and Jet, stall 2. Anthony and Jacko stall 3. Jake and Pirate 4. Imogen and Maddy 5. Ruby and Allie 6 and Amelia and Paddy 7. Give your horses 45 minutes to settle in and then at 3pm on the dot I want everyone in the main arena. Is that clear?" We all nod and Mark walks swiftly away to the trailer to unload his stallion.
"Let's go girl," I pat Maddy's neck. We were stall 5, in the middle, which was what I requested because Maddy gets stressed when she isn't sandwiched between other horses in her stall. I walked into the large stable block and stared in awe, trying to keep my mouth shut. The tall frame was oak and the interior design was very modern. The large stalls had sliding doors, with a horse shoe and a number on the front. I led Maddy into the one that read 5 and checked her waterer worked. I tied up her new blue hay net and a likit to keep her entertained. She sniffed noses with Pirate a few times, then had a poo.
"I think someone is already settled," I laugh. I go back to the truck to collect my large tack trunk and drag it to the tack room. In the tack room Meon Brook had been assigned, there were saddle racks all around the wall, with space for a tack trunk and a bridle underneath. I shoved my trunk in the corner next to what I thought was Ruby's, and opened it up. I pulled out both of my bridles and hung them on the hooks below the saddle racks, and proceeded to place both my saddles on the racks above. I shut my trunk again and fastened my lock on it, just to be safe.
I walked back to Maddy's stall and led her out, into the designated cross ties. I clipped a lead rope to each side of her head collar and began to curry her already silver coat. I ran a dandy over it and the loose grey hairs swarmed me. I picked out her dainty little hooves and walked back to the tack room to collect her tack. I picked up her showjumping saddle and grackle nose banded bridle, along with my school set. I placed the navy blue numnah onto her back along with the saddle on top. I fastened her blue boots and put her little ear bonnet on, fastening her bridle over the top. I pulled on my helmet and lead her out to the mounting block.
I stared around, looking for something I could use to mount my huge horse, but no luck.
"Poor Immy can't get on her horsey," I heard a mocking, but friendly voice behind me. I turned my head and saw Ruby laughing at me trying to get my foot to reach the stirrup. She came over, grabbed my knee and 1, 2, 3 she bounced me into the saddle.
"Thanks," I nodded.
"No problem," she laughed back.
We both walked our horses over to the main arena, a large grass one. On our way past we passed some famous badminton jumps, including the Gift Boxes.
"I wonder what our course is," I thought out loud.
"Me too," she replied.
We walked all the way to the arena where everybody was already doing a working trot on the rail, so we joined in. Ruby went behind Jake and I fell in behind Ruby. I toggled Maddy's reins a little and she went into a perfect outline. I patted her steel neck and continued to rise until Mark shouted
"Sitting please," I fell into a sitting trot, hugging Maddy's belly with my legs.
"All riders prepare to halt," Mark shouted. I half halted Maddy to let her know we were about to halt.
"All riders halt." I sat deep in the saddle, gently pulling on the reins. Maddy's trot stopped and she stopped into a square halt.
"Very nice. Ok Amber, walk to K then canter. Walk to canter, nice and simple. Off you go."
Amber kicked Jet into a working walk, and you could tell by the way Jets ears were swivelling he was ready for her next cue. At K she lifted her reins and put her inside leg on the girth, with the outside behind and applied pressure. Jet took off immediately at a floaty canter.
"Well done Amber, Amelia, your turn." Amelia repeated what Amber did perfectly. Jake and Ruby both went, doing well in the transition. Mark nodded and I set off, at a bouncy working walk. At k I put my inside leg on the girth and outside behind. Maddy jiggled the bit, confused until I applied more pressure, then she took off at a flowing canter. I patted her neck and cantered to the rear of the ride.
"Now canter F - H, flying change at X. Amber off you go." Amber, Amelia Jake and Ruby all completed this easily, then it was my turn. I cantered Maddy, with my pressure on the outside leg behind the girth, then I turned her at F and switched my pressure on my legs. Maddy responded amazingly, flicking out her little hooves and switching legs.
"Good riders, now while you cool off I will explain the sleeping arrangements," Mark announced. We all began to walk on a long rein whilst Mark continues. "The rooms will have two to a room. As you are the only boy Jake, you will be alone. The rooms are as follows.
Imogen and Amber
Ruby and Amelia
There will be no swapping whatsoever, do I make myself clear? Now, head back to the stables and untack your sweaty beasts. Shoo!" Mark says. I groan. Amber, again? I untack Maddy, running a soft brush over her steel coat and then go to find my room. I step inside and see my suitcase near a door. I open the door, revealing an old fashioned but modern at the same time, room, decorated with a little clock about the oak wood bed. The floor is oak, with egg shell coloured walls. The big oak double bed rests underneath the window, with black curtains. Fancy. I dump my suitcase on the bed and unpack all of my clothes into a wardrobe, shoving my boots under the oak bed. Thank god I had my own actual room.
"And if you feel you're sinkin' I will jump right over into cold cold water for you and alth-" I cut my phones ring tone off by picking up and holding the phone to my ear.
"H..hello?" I speak into the phone.
"Imogen!! Come on there's barely any food left! It's as if we are a pack of wild dogs! Hurry up!" Ruby shouts in the phone. I glance at my clock. Wow 7:45pm. I must've been asleep for about an hour and a half.
"Okay, I'll be down in a mo' Rubes." I say. I hang up and brush through my tangled hair. I pull on my Superstars and walk down to the cafeteria. Sure enough, there's barley any food.
"We tried to save you some but Mark says you might not come and it would be a waste," Ruby points out.
"It's okay," I say, picking up a slice of cold pizza.
"Okay riders!" Mark booms. "Tomorrow, at 8am sharp you will all be expected to gather in the tack room for a meeting. This will explain what is going to happen on Tuesday, the trot up. Is that clear?" We all nod and get back to our food.
"Also," he continues. All heads snap back to face him. "Lights out 10:30," he smiles.
"I think I'll be in bed by 6," I groan. Jake, Amelia and Ruby all nod. We all finish our pizza and head up to our separate rooms.
I head into mine, pull on my sleep wear and fall straight to sleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.
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Hey guys!! Sorry for the really short chapter, I've been really busy lately. But yeah, exciting how they're all at badminton!! Thankyou guys SO SO SO much for 50 reads!!!! It's unreal to me!!
Next chapter should be up in a few days/weeks but I can't promise. Have a nice day :)
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Meon Brook Academy - Part one
General FictionImogen is a young aspiring event rider, with her horse May Flower. She is offered a place at the prestigious equestrian boarding school -Meon Brook Academy, for her first placings at a handful of rated events. Imogen must fight her room mate to keep...
