Fall Down? Get Back Up!

Chapter 1: The Accident

Ashley's POV

Apollo soared over the jump effortlessly, the bay thoroughbred cantered on, I carefully counted the strides and picked our takeoff point, his back hoof lightly hitting the parallel oxer bar. I clicked him on, he began to gallop softly and I cued him back into a canter, jumping him over the set of bars and galloping harshly to the finish. The bay horse snorted and I listened. "Ashley Phillips, riding Apollo number 157, time is 40.567. No faults." I smiled, seeing Caleb embrace me tightly as I began to lead Apollo away, Apollo pulled and snorted, rearing up onto his back legs and thrashing out his front legs. I pulled his bridle and calmed him down. "What's gotten into you boy?" I pet his nose and noticed the sight of Brianna Hoffman, leading her horse Lizzy out. I snorted and Apollo did too. The popular girl flicked her hair and Lizzy neighed. I saw as Lizzy's back legs kicked out and Apollo's ears flicked back and his green eyes widened, I spoke, "Watch your horse Brianna!" She only snorted and kept walking, I lead Apollo back out for our second round. Mounting up on Apollo and leading him into the ring. Jumping over the vertical and over the combination. Smiling as they were cleared instantly and not a single touch. Apollo began to gallop and my hands began to lose hold onto the reins. I sat deep in the saddle and Apollo refused to stop. The thoroughbred galloped a lot harder and I pulled back on his bit, he just fought against it. "Come on boy.." I whispered as he took off to early. He jumped sideways and lost his balance. Apollo fell to his knees and I slid off, landing harshly in the sand. The world spun and I blinked, my left leg ached and I blacked out.

Ashley's POV

I looked around the white and bland room. Feeling the warm linen blanket and sheets under and over me, seeing the face of Caleb, his green eyes sparkled and I smiled. "Caleb... Caleb!? Where's Apollo?! Is he hurt?" I leaned up and pain shot through me, I still sat up entirely. Seeing Caleb look away and I turned my head to my mother. Her eyes leaked a tear. "Where is Apollo?!" Caleb took his hat off. "Ashley, Apollo, he, he's not in good condition. The vet said he would have to be put down. He won't eat or drink.. He stays lying down in his stall... I think the vet is gonna put him down soon.." My eyes began to tear up. I was gonna be pulled from the hospital in 2 weeks... Great..

2 Weeks Later....

Ashley's POV

I looked at Apollo, he lied there on his side. Breathing heavier than usual. I nearly broke down into tears, I opened the stall door cautiously, "Easy boy.." He snorted and began to stand up. He groaned and stood up, immediately he shoved his nose into my shoulder. I sighed and hugged his neck with a smile. Burying my head into his mane, sighing and tears of joy rolled down my cheeks. Apollo nuzzled me and I saw Caleb sitting there with a shocked look. "You might catch flies, wanna go for a ride?" I saw him run down the barn hallway, leading the mare Star out and Caleb tacked her up quickly. I placed the western saddle onto his back and did up the girth. Placing the bit into his mouth and the reins, I quickly pulled myself up onto his back and softly kicked his sides, cueing him into a immediate walk. Apollo walked faster and began into a trot. I then cued him into a canter, feeling like I was floating, seeing Caleb yell at me, "Ashley! Watch out!" I saw the large fallen log and immediately felt Apollo refuse, I fell off. Landing on my two legs and pulling Apollo away, "Come on boy.." I mounted back up, feeling the gelding paw the ground, I felt him immediately hit a gallop. He pushed harder and harder, breathing heavier. I held onto the reins and pulled his left rein and pushing it onto his neck, pulling harshly on the right rein. He reared up and I held on and allowed him to trot off. "Let's find another way to the lake..." I kicked Apollo's sides and clicked my tongue softly. Caleb looked skeptically at me, "Apollo can jump 5 ft fences and he can't jump a simple tree!" I looked angrily at Caleb and opened my mouth, he spoke before I could. "You know what? I come to your jumping performances all the time! And your telling me you can't jump that tree? Whatever.. I'll jump it myself.." Caleb quickly kicked Star into a easy canter and leapt over the fence, landing softly on the ground and galloping off. I saw Caleb continued to gallop off. My blue eyes flickered to the neighing Apollo. He snorted and I clicked my tongue, "Come on boy.. Let's head home.." I kicked him harder and he didn't move. "Come on!" I lead him to the trail back. I allowed him to gallop freely. Tears streamed down my cheeks, continuing to gallop, standing in the 2-point position and kicked him onward. Suddenly, I saw a bullet shoot next to me, the dirt splattered upward and Apollo neighed and snorted loudly. "Easy boy.. Now, why would someone shoot at me?" I saw a cowboy hat and a shiny gun. "Come on boy! Let's get out of here!" I kicked him harder, making him gallop quicker and quicker. We approached a large wooden fence that lead into a pasture. I quickly cantered and allowed Apollo to leap over it. Smiling I galloped him home quickly. Dismounting quickly and untacking Apollo quickly, leading him into his stall and running to the house. "Mom! I'm gonna take Pegasus out for some jumping practice. Lilly is coming too!" I ran back out, running straight into the tack room, grabbing the English saddles and bridle, gripping the blue saddle pad. Leading Pegasus out of the stall and tying him up, brushing him down and began to tack him up. After fiddling with the girth and the throat latch. I grabbed my helmet and mounted on the gray dapple. Kicking him into a walk and taking him along the old road, galloping him to the fence, opening it and throwing a rock easily and hitting the window. "Lilly! Get your horse and let's go! We got practice!" My best friend opened her window, her hair in a sloppy ponytail and her messy tank top. "Will you wait? I gotta get my cloths on!" I sighed and clicked Pegasus into a canter. Not even 3 seconds later, Lilly came running out, her helmet in hand and the brown bridle in her hand, "Wait up! I gotta saddle up Igneous! He's being fussy and won't cope with me. Think ya can even catch him?" I nodded and smiled, "Fine.. Hold Peg for me." I did a fast dismounting and ran, grabbing the bridle and running to the pasture, easily catching the gelding and leading him, saddling him up by tightening the girth and fixing the stirrups. 'Why are they so low? Lilly is short. About 5'0" and usually her stirrups are short. I knew her mom and dad didn't ride Igneous. He's to wild.. Barely broke.' I lead him to where Lilly and Pegasus were. Mounting upon Pegasus, turning him into a small walk and looking to Lilly, who smiled and nodded, "I heard that there was a Spring Jumping Competition. Are you gonna join with Igneous?" I looked to Lilly who shook her head, "Are you riding with Apollo?" I looked my head to the ground, "Apollo? Nah.. Maybe Rebel or Star.. Apollo is under the weather since our accident.." Lilly spoke lowly, "Come on Ash! You two are the best team! Your sure to win.." I shook my head, "We're here! Finally!" I kicked the gray dapple into a easy canter and kicked him on, leading him to the cross-rail, leaping over it and smiling, easing to a combination and clearing it, heading to a triple bar. It was the highest one. I hesitated slowly but, allowed Pegasus to jump, the rails tumbled down, I sighed angrily and kicked the gelding into a hard canter. Jumping over the last of the combination and knocking down the rails. I shook my head and growled in frustration, "Dang it! Come on Pegasus!" I headed to a vertical, going into a harder canter, he leapt over it, knocking down three rails. I stopped Pegasus and dismounted angrily. Throwing the reins and letting out a loud growl. "Why can't you jump over these stupid jumps?! Your a champion and you can't just jump over a simple vertical?!" My knees felt weak and I look to Lilly, she trotted Igneous over and frowned, "Don't blame Pegasus! Your stride was off, you jump to early, and you sped up and even hesitated! Most of those faults were yours. Not his!" I looked shocked at Lilly, "Oh yeah?! At least I got the guts to jump my horse! You won't even jump Igneous. You can barely catch him or ride him! You've fallen off of him so many times it ain't even funny!" Lilly's face became red, she spoke with a anger coming off ever last word, "I don't see why your talking! You won't even jump Apollo because of your accident. I get right back up after I fall. You fell once and quit! Why? Because your a coward, you can find someone else to practice with.. I'm done!" I watched as Lilly kicked Igneous hard and he cantered quickly off. I watched in horror. 'What have I done?!'