J.O.P Stable: The Twin Saga (Book 2: Vortex)

Chapter 9:

The next day after school Felix and I walked into the indoor arena with Rio tacked up.

" ...Hey? Where's the wall? " I asked as i took in the completely blank arena.

Felix chuckled and I cursed at myself for loving his deep laugh. " You really thought we would start by jumping the wall? "

I shrugged. " I did it when I last rode her "

He shook his head, a playful smirk on his face. " You got lucky. When we first bought her she was a Dressage horse who didn't want anything to do with jumping, which was weird considering her blood lines "

" Didn't ask for the whole story " i replied in a teasing tone before letting him continue.

" I trained her to be a jumper, but her past Dressage training is the reason she also excels so much in eventing "

I raised a brow, elbowing his side. " Maybe you just have to show me how ' good ' she is at eventing, how about you face Onyx and I in a cross-sountry race later? "

His smile slipped and he looked moody again. " I agreed to help train you to win on Rio. That doesn't include me riding "

" But it could " I suggested.

" I'm letting you ride my horse, don't push your luck " He snapped.

I frowned and stared down at my boots as I moved to Rio's side to adjust my stirrups.

" ...I'm sorry... " He suddenly spoke up.

I stayed hidden behind Rio's lanky body and played with the stirrup iron. " It's okay, I was just trying to break the tension, sorry if I pushed it too far "

I heard him sigh, but ignored it as I tightened the girth and then moved to adjust the other stirrup. With a leg up that couldn't have been more awkward I was in the saddle. He handed me the reins and I smiled down at him.

" Okay, before we even think about you jumping this mare, you need to establish a connection with her. She's super sensitive to just about everything "

" Yeah, I've noticed " I replied as I kept the reins loose to the buckle. Rio shifted her weight at the slightest touch of my legs or hands so I was struggling to remain as still as possible.

Felix smirked. " Since you seem like an expert, why don't you take her around the arena at a working walk "

I squirmed, not used to taking orders during a lesson from anyone but our coaches or Jewel. Rio must've thought I gave her the cue to go because she took off at a bumpy trot, almost a canter.

I could hear Felix laughing as I struggled to rein Rio in.

" Don't pull on her mouth or she'll speed up! " He called, shaking his head. " Deepen your seat and take your legs off her sides. Let her have her head! "

I did as he told and Rio came to a smooth walk. I could practically feel the power she was holding back.

" Encourage her to lengthen her stride! She's overlapping! "

I sat back and gave her the slightest touch with my heel, but moved my hands forward so she could stretch. In a few strides her built up power was now being used for stretching her legs out further.

" Good, that looks great! "

I smiled at Felix's compliment. We made a few more laps around the arena before we moved on to trot. Her trot was bumpy, but Felix claimed that it looked smooth to people who were watching, which I'd have to take his word on.

" She seems like she's got a lot of built up energy and power " I called as I struggled to keep the mare from breaking into a canter "

Felix nodded, crossing his arms. " She's been out of daily work for a while...maybe we should just let her canter before we move on to- "

" Jumping? " I replied hopefully.

Felix laughed. " You just can't wait for that huh? "

I shook my head, making us both laugh.

" I was going to say lateral work...but fine, I'll set up some low jumps "

I grinned triumphantly. " I win! " I said quietly.

" I heard that! " He called back and my cheeks burned again.

I squeezed my legs against Rio's sides and gave the reins some slack. She hesitated, almost as if she was making sure I really was asking her to canter before breaking out into her ground eating pace. As we passed by Felix setting up some jumps he called to me.

" Feels like your galloping doesn't it? "

" Oh totally! " I replied because it was true. Her canter felt more like a huge gallop and I was starting to believe that she was a good eventer.

" Could I take her out on a cross course sometime? " I asked, my tone teasing, but I actually really wanted to.

Felix shrugged. " One thing at a time " he said as he stepped away from a 2.6 foot vertical.

" That's it? " I said as I slowed Rio down, letting her walk around the jump to get used to it.

" I told you we'd start small " Felix replied.

" But she could easily step over that with all 18 hands high of her! " I protested.

" Just take it "

I rolled my eyes and turned Rio away, trotting her once before moving into a canter, once she was settled I pointed her down the line towards to colourful vertical. Once she saw we were going to jump, her ears perked forward and she surged ahead of my legs, ignoring my hands. She took the jump way bigger than she needed and almost threw me out of the saddle. I landed without a stirrup, but managed to stay on as Rio powered away from the small jump. She shook her head and strained against her running martingale.

" See what I mean? We have a lot of work to do " Felix replied as I halted Rio in front of him. He stroked her nose and smiled at her. " Technically its just you that needs the work " He teased as he looked up at me.

I put my foot back in the stirrup and rolled my eyes playfully at him. " Just let me g again before i run you over "

He laughed. " Aw, Rio would do that, would ya girl? "

The mare nudged his chest, her ears flicking forward happily.

I smiled under the brim of my helmet.

Maybe we could all have a second chance....