We woke up the next morning and loaded up the horses. Ten minutes later we were checking into the competition. I plaited Dancers mane and fishtailed the top half of her tail. when I finished her tail I wove in some light pink roses. I tied some neon blue ribbon into her mane and grabbed her blue boots. I grabbed my English saddle and the teams saddle blanket. Grabbing her bridle, I started tacking her up. "Dressage competitors have 15 minutes to report to the ring." The announcers voice came over the loud speaker. I double checked the girth and slipped into the saddle.
Once atop my horse, I walked her to the ring. I watched the riders before me. Let me just say, they were really good. I sat on Dancer, trying desperately to calm my nerves. Someone came up on my left and looked up at me. I was in my dressage clothes and I had pulled my hair into a tight bun with my buckled helmet on top. I looked down and slipped my right leg over the saddle. I slipped off on Dancer and hugged Tyler.
"You'll be amazing. Your gonna blow them away." he whispered.
"I hope so." I said back.
He hugged me and pecked my lips. I was supposed to be riding to a song that Tyler picked out. "Our next rider is Clara Anderson on her horse, I just wanna be a Dancer." I mounted dancer and trotted into the ring. I stopped at the "X" and bowed to the judges. Dancer slipped into a bow as well, making everyone's jaws drop. As soon as I began moving, "Wanted" by Hunter Hays came over the speakers. Instantly, I smiled and small tears began rolling down my face the whole time I smiled. It was our song.
I finished my test, going back to the "X" and bowing with Dancer. When I was out if the ring, I slipped off Dancer and jogged over to Tyler. I hugged him and smiled, my blue eyes sparkling. When everyone had finished the Dressage test, the set up the jump course. I began preparing myself and Dancer. I wriggled into my jumping outfit and began to plait Dancers tail. I put her jumping saddle on over her saddle pad and led her back to the ring.
"All jumping competitors please report to the ring in 5 minutes." The announcer said.
When they called my name I trotted around the arena once before nudging her into a canter. Counting my strides toward the course, I made sure that I was in time with Dancer. We cleared the course easily and trotted out of the ring.
"Our next rider is Tyler Jacobson on Morning light." Tyler began the course and I watched as he took off. He cleared the first 5 jumps but the sixth jump he took off a stride early. That jump had been giving everyone trouble all day. With one fault, he trotted out of the ring.
It was over as quickly as it started. Soon enough, we were all lined up inside the ring. "When your name is called, please walk forward."
"We are going to start with the Dressage test results first. In third place is Maya Brown on Smoke before the Fire. In second place is Sarah on Magic Powers. And in first place we have Clara Anderson on I just wanna be a Dancer."
I rode at a steady walk to the judge in the middle. He pinned on the ribbon and I backed Dancer up to her spot again.
"And now for the jumping results. In third place we have Maddie on Gentlemen. In second we have Tyler Jacobson on Morning Light. In first we have Jordan Williams on Flower Blossom. Finals will be held in one hour. those announced in third to first place for both events report back to the ring. all others, better luck next time."
I walked back to the trailer and sat down inside the truck. I had an hour to kill. "Hey you wanna go grab some lunch with everyone? Jasmine is taking Jordan's sister molly and Marie back to the hotel." Sarah looked at me intently.
"Sure." I smiled and slipped out of the truck. We walked to a Subway about a block down the road and grabbed some sandwiches. By the time we where finished, we had 20 minutes before the finals started.
We got back and I put Dancer into her cross country tack. I slipped into my Cross Country outfit. I put on my body protector and mounted Dancer. I trotted to the cross country course and waited for my name to be called. I was third to be called. I took off at a fast canter. I came to the stream and jumped. Clear. I passed through the mini woods and over the log jump. I sprinted down the hill and jumped over the barn jump.
I finished with a time of 45.6 seconds. So far I was in first. I watched everyone else and waited for the scores.
"In third we have Maya Brown on Smoke before the Fire. In second is Maddison on Gentlemen. In first we have Clara on I just wanna be a Dancer. Congratulations you three. you are part of the junior Olympic equestrian eventing team."
I did it! all that I had worked for was paid off.
Did you like it? I will post an epilogue as soon as I can. I don't know if I'm gonna make a sequil yet because I want to finish my other books before I start any new ones. :P Thanks for reading!
~Kassie <3
