Horse Crazy

The accident

Chapter 5
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"Ok bring Lucky to the 4 poles I laid out."

I followed grandpas orders and trotted Lucky to the opposite side of the arena. 4 poles were on the ground in front of me.

"Ok. These will be small jumps you have to go over. Bring Lucky at a walk straight at the poles."

I brought Lucky to the poles and he stepped over them like they weren't there.

"Good. Now trot up to this jump and when Luckys front feet are on the red line, lean forward and bring your heels down."

I nervously trotted Lucky up to the jump. NOW! I leaned forward and took my heels down. Lucky gracefully went over the jump.

"How did I do?" I asked grandpa.

"Perfect. Now move to the orange jump."

I trotted Lucky to the orange jump and did the same thing. I went over the jump and landed safely.

"2 jumps down 5 to go!" my grandpa said. "The next jump is higher and there is no line. Bring your heels down and lean forward about 4 feet from the jump."

I trotted up to the jump and brought my heels back and leaned forward. Lucky sailed over the jump and his back hoof knocked the top bar off of the jump.

"To early. It's ok. Try again, look between Luckys ears and when the 2 pole is visible, jump."

"Ok. I'll try." I trotted Lucky to the jump and brought my heels down and leaned forward. Lucky went over the jump and landed safe on the ground. I looked back, the top bar was in place. I smiled to myself as I walked Lucky to the next jump.

"Ok, if you make this jump, it will take you out for pizza later. Promise."

"Ok," I said, "you had better promise because I am going over this jump like it was a stick!" I felt confident but something told me the jump was too hard.

"Ok here I go!" I trotted Lucky a little faster than before to make sure I cleared the jump. As we neared the jump, I got excited and jumped way too early. Luckys feet hit the top pole which flew out of place in front of me and Lucky. As Lucky came down, I thought he was going to land on the pole. I jumped off to the side and I landed on my feet but when I turned around, Lucky was on the ground.

"Lucky!" I screamed. I ran over to Lucky and started crying into his mane. I knew what had happened. When Lucky had landed on the pole, he had broken his leg. The impact that he had on the pole and on the ground had fractured on of the bones in his ankle.

"Oh no" my grandpa said as he ran over to see Lucky. Grandpa wouldn't take his eyes off of Luckys left fore hoof.

Through wet eyes I looked at his leg and gasped. There was a large bruised spot with part of Luckys bone sticking out.

I cried even harder knowing Lucky, my horse since he was a colt, would have to be put down.