Morning came rather quickly. Too quick for any of our likings. Today was the day I would compete in the show-jump arena, along with Splash and Luke as well. John signed us up early, so we can get it over with and then just laze around the rest of the day until the flat class and the results are announced. What an exciting day.
John gave us our morning feed, and Emma gave us our hay and water. Luke still slept, I guess he is chasing bunnies or what not because every now and then he will twitch.
“Alright, we are due to the arena in about an hour and forty five minutes, so let’s go ahead and get these guys groomed and tacked, and we will go walk around before warming up.” John said, walking back into the barn aisle. I didn’t even know he left.
“Sounds like a plan. What about Lucas?” Emma asks, pointing behind her at Luke and me.
“Well, when we get them tacked, let’s get his halter on him and we will mount up and I will lead him beside Shawn.” John says, shrugging his shoulders and walking into the tack stall.
Emma just shakes her head and smiles a little, before following John into the tack stall, and returning with the tack for Splash and me.
John grabs me out of my stall, and places me in the crossties beside my stall. He leaves the door open slightly, so I can keep an eye on Luke. He still has not woken up yet. Emma brings Splash out, and lets him face me in the crossties. It falls silent as the two groom us. I don’t mind the silence; at least I can focus on the noises going on outside the barn.
The announcers are starting off the morning with an announcement, which seems pointless. They say that the arena is now open, and the first ten competitors are needed. That doesn’t include us; we are the second set of ten. But we still needed to get warmed up and everything though. Luke begins stirring around in the stall, and when he notices I am not in there, he quickly stands up and comes over to the gate. He looks through the gap and watches John and Emma work.
Now they had the saddles ready to go on our backs. I had to have a show pad, and two extra pads because of my back. John put the saddle on me and moved it up a bit since it slid back. He tightened the girth, which was no problem, and lowered the stirrups. He went over to Emma and Splash and helped with the saddle. He also dropped the stirrups for Emma, and tightened the girth.
He bridled Splash, and handed him over to Emma before coming and bridling me. He grabbed Luke’s halter and lead, and got him out in the isle way beside me. He got on me, and held onto Luke and my reins. Emma got on Splash, and we set of outside.
It was a foggy morning, very overcast and cool. It was just your typical morning in Kentucky, only with a very annoying drizzle of rain that constantly stopped and started constantly.
John and Emma walked us around the area, past the other barns and arenas, even on a little trail. When we got back to our arena, we had ten minutes before we went in. Emma went and warmed up Splash, while John checked us in. When Emma was done warming up, John handed Luke over so I could warm up. It was a simple walk trot warm up, and a few cantering over small oxers as the warm up. John and I were first to go in the arena.
The course was similar to that of what I practiced yesterday, but it had a few more jumps and turns and rollbacks.
The announcer called us, and John and I set off.
“In the arena now, is Shawnee’s Native, ridden and owned by John Young. Shawnee’s Native is a seven year old Thoroughbred-Trakhener-Oldenburg cross, standing at 18.2 hands high. Shawnee’s Native was once wild, or more commonly known as “The Black Beauty”.” The male announcer stated, shock and disbelief filling his tone.
YOU ARE READING
The Black Beauty (Wattys 2015)
WerewolfHave you ever experienced the wind flapping through your mane and forelock as you gallop through vast plains and over rocky slopes? Have you ever known what freedom feels like, knowing that it isn't free? Of course you haven't. You aren...
