Heartland

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty: Final Three.

Amy and I were walking down the soft dirt course. We would have to jump over logs, trees, bushes, creeks, anything you'd run into in the woods.
"Do you and Ty have a thing yet?" I asked.
"We're just friends," she replied. We kept walking till the third creek. This one was the last and the biggest.
"This is going to be hard on their legs," I said.
"That's the point, to make the last half mile harder. Ashley's been through this creek on Apollo a million times. She was supposed to make it to the final three so she could win this and so you weren't able to make it to the Fall Finale," Amy said.
"I have an idea," I replied.

Amy and I got back to the stalls and had Sky and Spartan saddled.
"Here's the ankle weights," Ty said as he handed me a bag. We put the ankle wights on the horses.
"We'll take them around the course with the weights on and they should be fine to cross the creek," I explained. We mounted the horses.
"Let's go," Amy said.

When we were at the creek Sky and Spartan took to it with ease. The ankle weights helped them a lot. We took them across a few times with the weights on and then we took them off and took the horses across a few times.
"We should take it easy the rest of the way back. Just to be safe," Amy suggested. I agreed, we walked the horses the rest of the way.

We got back and had a half an hour until the show started again. I unsaddled Sky and unwrapped her legs. I then put ice on them.
"What are you doing?" Jeremy asked as he came up to me.
"I was working her and I just wanted to cool her off. Prevent any swelling," I explained.
"Cool. Anything I can help you with?" he asked. I threw him a brush.
"Make her coat shine," I replied. He laughed and started brushing her. I left the ice on her legs and filled a bucket of water for her. I got another bucket and gave her some oats. She dug in.

"Ten minutes till the show begins," the announcer said. Jeremy stopped brushing Sky.
"Thanks," I said.
"No problem," he replied as he left. I took the ice off Sky and wrapped her legs again. Then I saddled her. I got her all pretty and led her out of the barn. Everyone stood around the start. They would run to the exit to see who won. We all were given helmets that had cameras on them. We also were told that there were cameras every so often on the course. A projection screen was by the exit so, while everyone waited, they could watch how we were doing on the course.

Ashley, Amy, and I sat proudly on our horses at the start. I saw everyone from Heartland in the front of the crowd.
"On your marks." I sat up and leaned forward. I adjusted my feet in the stirrups.
"Go!" I kicked Sky hard. We galloped right past Amy and Ashley.

After the first five jumps, I was still in first, Ashley was in second, Amy was in third. Sky galloped at such a swift pace. We flew over a bush and then the first creek came up. Sky jumped over it instead of stepping in the water. She cut out about two lengths. That made Amy and Ashley fall farther back since they stepped in the water. I turned Sky sharply around a corner and she galloped hard. We flew over a normal six foot jump. I turned to see Apollo refuse at the jump and Spartan fly right over it.

Sky jumped over the last log before the third creek. The creek came into view. She jumped into it. She landed halfway. With one more jump she landed on the bank.
"Beat that Val," I said. Val was Ashley's mom. She was extremely competitive. I turned to see Spartan passed through but Apollo got stuck in the creek.
"Amy!" Ashley yelled as she was thrown from Apollo. Apollo went to the bank and Ashley was getting washed down stream. I stopped Sky.
"Go! Win! I got Ashley!" Amy yelled.
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"Go," she yelled. She jumped off Spartan and ran into the water. "You have to win!" she yelled. I kicked Sky she jumped the last five jumps. And then the finish came into view. The last jump was a six foot oxer. Sky had never jumped anything like this. With no difficulty, she cleared the jump. Once we finished I turned Sky and galloped back towards the creek.

I got back to the creek and galloped down the bank to where Amy was swimming, with Ashley, trying to pull her out of the creek. Sky ran along the creek as they were pushed down by the current. I galloped a little bit ahead. I then stood on Sky's saddle and jumped into the water. I grabbed Ashley. Amy and I worked together and pulled her onto the bank. Ashley was coughing. Amy and I were huffing and puffing. We put Ashley on Sky.
"Amy, go finish the race," I said.
"Okay," she replied. She ran, got on Spartan, and galloped away.
"Thanks Tara," Ashley said.
"You're welcome," I replied.

I got Ashley back on Apollo and then she finished the race.
"What happened?" Val asked when we all dismounted at the finished.
"Check the video feed," I replied as I threw her my helmet.
"We saw," Jack said.
"Good job," Peter said.
"Next time train Apollo with horses crossing in front of him," Amy said.
"What?" she asked.
"Apollo was spooked by the water. He wasn't used to getting splashed," I spoke up.
"Tara figured you out Val," Amy said.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"You trained Apollo with the creek. The creek would've ruined Sky and Spartan if Amy and I hadn't walked the course. We used ankle weights and walked Sky and Spartan through the creek. This happened because Apollo wasn't used to the splashing and the strain," I explained.
"You can't prove that," she snapped.
"I don't want to or need to. I'm just telling these people. If Ashley would've won I would've said this so she would've been disqualified. But, since she got third. I'm not gonna fight anything," I said.
"Mom, is what she's saying true?" Ashley asked.
"Yes," Val admitted. Ashley kicked Apollo and rode to the barn. Val went after her. The head of the show came up to be with flowers, a blue ribbon, a trophy, and a new blanket. Amy was given a red ribbon and flowers.

We got home and joy was in the air. Four ribbons were put in the barn, four bouquets of flowers were in the kitchen and one trophy sat in the window of the attic. Mallory, Maisie, Amy, and I were in the barn brushing the horses. Ty was finishing the night feedings.
"We should let the horses be outside tonight. They earned it," Amy suggested.
"Okay. I'll go take the jumps down so they have the practice arena," I said.
"I'll help," Mallory said.
"Me too," Maisie yelled.

After the jumps were set aside we all led our horses to the pasture.
"Good job today," I said to Mallory.
"Thanks," she replied.
"You know I really do like you. I never could give you a lesson because I was pregnant. I couldn't jump," I said.
"I know. I'm sorry I thought you didn't like me. You did great today too," she said.
"Thanks Mallory," I replied, we hugged.

A few hours later and we were all in bed for a long day of work tomorrow. Spirit's owner didn't come today so she's coming tomorrow, I was working with a new horse tomorrow. I also had to get Maisie on the bus, go shopping for clothes, and go on a date with Jeremy. Tomorrow was booked.