High Hopes

Chapter 24

Serena has decided that she will do the show with me. We have tacked up our horses and are heading out to the arena. I mount April, while she mounts Prince. After warming up, I set up a 18" jumping course.

I push April into a trot and take her over one jump. I do this again, then I take her over it at a canter. By now, Serena has been starting to do the entire course. I watch her at she makes her way to a triple combination.

The first jump, Prince jumps it with no problem, bug at the second jump, he refuses. Serena manages to stay on and takes him over it again. I give a small clap before pushing April into a canter and taking her through the course.

The first jump in a little vertical that April pops over with ease. Next is an innocent looking, yellow oxer. I kick Aprils sides to get her going more and get striding correct. She jumps the oxer with miles to spare.

I rollback to the jump with the flower box. April looks unsure at first, but proves me wrong and takes it like it's nothing. Now is the triple combination. I cluck at her so she understands to take it. It comes like a piece of cake for her.

I give her a big pat on the neck. Serena takes Prince through the course one more time while I do flatwork on April. Soon enough, we go to the field and cool off. Serena's phone buzzes. She pulls it out of her pocket and frowns when she looks at it.

"What's wrong?" I ask her. She sighs, before answering.

"My dad wants me to go with him to this barn so we can look at a new competition horse." she replies, "Prince isn't much of a show horse, but he's still my amazing boy." She looks down petting his neck.

Suddenly, her eyes light up. I shoot her a look of confusion. She lets a girlish giggle escape her lips.

"Why don't you come with me?" she asks, "It'll be tomorrow at ten o'clock and we can pick you up!"

I shrug. I would love to go, but tomorrow is really busy for me. I have to work with Cassy and Smoke more, go out to buy feed, walk Chex for thirty minutes and pack for the show. It'll be my last day to train before the big day.

I tell Serena that I'll think about it, right before going in to untack and put away April. I take out Cassy and let her loose in the field. She trots off, before finding the perfect spot to roll in. I laugh at her, then go back into the barn.

Serena helps me clean stalls and water the horses. Her dad arrives and picks her up. I wave as they drive away. I get out Smoke and tack him up. He's a good little horse. I lead him out to the arena.

Standing at only 14.3hh, he's very easy to get on to. I mount up and set off at a walk along the fence. It gets boring after walking for fifteen minutes, so I ask him to trot. He happily does so. As he goes, he rears up and bucks. I pull his head up and have him stop.

I lost both of my stirrups in the process and I'm surprised that I didn't fall off. I pat his neck and continue at a walk, after recovering my stirrups. After a few minutes of walking again, I ask him to trot once more.

He does a perfect little trot along the fence. I slow him to a stop and hop off. Smoke is one of the most magnificent horses that I'll ever own. I won't look forward to the day I have to sell him. I pat his neck and walk him into the barn. After untacking, I rinse him off outside then put him in the paddock.

My phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out to see that it's Serena. She asks if I can go with her tomorrow. I run inside the house and ask my mom. She is fine with it. I reply to Serena's text and go back outside. I notice dark clouds in the sky.

I bring in Smoke and put him in his stall. It starts to sprinkle, but I think nothing of it. What harm can a little rain do? Well, a sprinkle turned into pouring and it started to flood. I never thought that I would be in the middle of a flashflood.

I close the barn doors, not wanting and rain to get inside. April, Chex and Cassy squeal and kick. Maddie and Smoke seem fine but I think all of them are at least a little spooked by the rain. I run back inside and sit in bed.

It pain me to hear the cries from the barn. I never saw my horses so spooked. The water has risen and barley covers the porch now. I continue to watch and silently pray that it won't get worse. My prayers weren't answered.

A/N

Heyoooooooooooo. I left you off on a bit of a cliffhanger. The next chapter starts right were we left off, so don't worry. The next few chapters are going to be intense! I hope you loved this chapter. The beginning was a bit of a filler, but it's getting more interesting now.

<3 See ya ma home dizzles.