Making the Connection

Chapter 10~ Replay

"Go tack up," Jessica said as soon as Lindsey and Amy were gone. I hurried to the tack room and grabbed the saddle I had used last night. I knew the stirrups would already fit. When I returned, Jessica had brought Artemesia out of her stall and had put her in the cross ties. She helped me lift the saddle up on Artie's back and readied the breast collar.

"I can't believe I'm going to do this," I said when I returned with the bridle.

"Believe it sister. You're getting on this horse one way or another," Jessica said.

"Ready?" she asked when we were done. I nodded and led Artemesia out of the barn. Her gray coat gleamed in the sunshine. She shook her head up and down, enjoying the cool weather.

Jessica held the arena door open for me. "Thank you." I stepped inside and Jessica followed.

"Walk her right over to the mounting block," said Jessica. Artie followed right beside me. I stood on top of the block and checked the girth. It was something I always saw Lindsey do before she mounted. I placed my left foot in the stirrup and without thinking, swung myself up.

The bad memory never came. But the one feeling I had was... free. I still felt tense but slowly relaxed.

"Yee- Haw," I heard Jessica. She came and walked over to my left side. She picked up the block and set it against the wall. "Are you ready?" she asked. I took a deep breath and nodded.

"Squeeze lightly with your calves." I did as told and I started moving. I tensed up again and stopped breathing. Artie stopped moving. "You have to relax," said Jessica. "She knows your scared. She's only going to be ready when you are." I took another deep breath and urged her forward. She took a hesitant step at first, but soon smoothed out. I started to relax and Jessica walked beside us. "Now press with your left calf to turn her right." I did this and Artemesia immediately responded. I slowly started to realize that I remembered the basics of riding. I sat up straighter and pressured Artemesia to pick up the pace with my seat.

"There you go," said Jessica encouragingly. "Your a natural. Mind if I stand over there?" She gestured to the middle of the arena.

"Not at all," I said. I walked around the arena a few more times with occasional turns.

"If you think you're brave enough, you can try trotting. Just make sure you give her the same cues as you will in the future." The barrels that Amy and Lindsey had used the other day were still out. I started at the first barrel and squeezed with my legs. Artie entered the two-beat trot and headed toward the second barrel.

After a few runs, I took a spot against the railing and picked up a canter.

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Lindsey's POV

Looking at the arena from far away, I could see Mom riding. I couldn't tell what horse she was on but she was running some barrels slowly. "Mom must be training Artemesia on barrels," I said.

"She wouldn't be training Artie," explained Amy. "She's the best barrel horse I own."

"Hmm. Anyways, what's your hardest trail?" I was ready for a challenge today.

"We'll take the marked trail. It's challenging but easy enough for someone who's never been on it before."

"Okay, wanna race?" I asked with a twinkle in my eyes.

"You're on," Amy said. We clucked our tongues and took off. Toby wouldn't stay with us so he was sent back to the barn a while ago.

The trail wasn't wooded like most. It was in the open fields with a tree here and there. It was hilly though, which made it a challenge. The grass was also high so we had to really watch for holes dug by the animals. After a long trip up a particularly steep hill, I decided to check my girth and Amy did the same.

"A little loose," I said. "Not enough to worry about though." Amy's was fine too. We kept going and came to a part where the trail started downhill.

"After you," said Amy.

"Don't mind if I do," I replied and took the lead. Pumpernickel was making his way down slowly but surely.

"I hope no deer are waiting to jump out," said Amy. "It's usually Toby's job to scout ahead and scare them off before we get there."

At that moment, Pumpernickel's ears pricked forward and he stopped. "C'mon, buddy," I said encouragingly. All of a sudden, a fawn jump out of the tall grass on our right and Pumpernickel reared.

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Cliffhanger :) Please don't hate me!

I just wanted to say thank you for over 200 reads! That means a lot for my first book. I'm also thinking about doing a sequel so I'll tell you what. If this book, when completed, has over 500 reads I will make a sequel.

Also, anybody who comments a book, I will check it out and possibly follow the writer. It can be your own! ;) Thanks again!