Horse Crazy

The competition

Chapter 7
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I get up in the morning remembering what happened yesterday and what will happen today. I have a barrel racing competition today.

I walk downstairs to find my mom making eggs in the kitchen. "Morning honey," she says, "eat up so you can get to your competition."

I gobble up my eggs and chug my juice thinking, I always ride Lucky in barrel racing, who will I ride?

After I have my jeans on, I pull my red plaid shirt over my head. I run down to the kitchen and get my boots on and run out the door.

I go straight to the barn to Luckys stall. I peek inside and decide I should visit him. Lucky is on his knees, a comfortable position, with a bandage and cast around the broken leg. "How are you doing buddy?" I ask.

He nickers back to me. "I guess that means fine." I tell him. I gently touch his broken leg and he winces. "That hurts doesn't it?"

"Bella time to go!" my dad yells from outside the barn.

I kiss Lucky on the neck and run out to meet my dad.

"Ready?" he asks me

"Ready" I say as I hop into the front seat of his Chevy pickup.

On the drive to town I ask my dad, "who will I ride in the competition since Lucky is hurt?"

"Probably your uncles horse, Joey."

I remember Joey, he was the cutest little colt. I went on trail rides with him and barrel raced him until he bucked me off 2 years ago.

"Are you ok riding Joey?"

"Ya," I say, "I'm fine."

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I am next up. The girl from new ulm was really good. She nicked one barrel and hit another. Her horse was a stallion, same as Lucky. Her horse was a paint, same as Lucky. Lucky. Lucky.

"Next up, Bella Smith. Riding 4year old gelding, Joey." the announcer called.

I walked Joey to the starting gate. Three barrels. Do a perfect turn around each one, get first. Do it for Lucky.

The starting horn blared and Joey took off. Here comes the first barrel. Lean foot inside, lean body inside. I looked and the barrel was behind me. 1 down 2 to go.

As Joey came to the next barrel, he new exactly what to do. He turned and I leaned and we cleared the next barrel. 2 perfect barrels! 1 left.

As Joey came to the next barrel, someone in the crowd threw a baseball into one of the barrels that I had cleared. Joey spooked and turned too early, throwing me off to the side. I fell out of the saddle and landed on my left foot.

"Oww!" I screamed. My dad came running and asked me,"are you ok?"

"No, I think I broke my ankle."

"Ok get into my arms and I will carry you to the doctor. It's only a block away."

"Ok," I said. I thought of Lucky. Now we are the same, odd enough that we both broke our foot, we both broke our left.

"Dad," I said.

"Yes honey,"

"Lucky and I are the same."