Braveboy: The Untouchable Horse

At Badminton

Chapter One: At Badminton

The crowd was going mad with applause. Toby Twirl had just left the dressage arena and now the next competitor was going in, I was number 41 and due in 20 minutes. The dressage test was simple, but with hard manoeuvres. My rider Loxie Brown leant on my black glossy neck and whispered words of encouragement softly into my ear.

“Are you ready Loxie, we need to warm Tom up and get him listening to the leg?” Rich my personal trainer said. She took a deep breath, this was the biggest competition she had ever competed in and she had never competed me before in something so big, she just gave him a silent nod.

“Nervous huh?” Rich smiled at her. “Yer I used to be like that, but you need to control it or you’ll pass your fear onto your horse. You need to trust Tom he knows what he’s doing.” He stroked my star and then fed me a peppermint.

“Ok I’m ready.” She said as she hopped up into the saddle lightly.

I could see toby walking across towards the stable block. I neighed out at him and he pranced over towards me, his owner Hannah fell about laughing at his antics.

“That was amazing!” Hannah said as Toby continued to prance around underneath her obviously excited by the adrenalin of the competition.

“Yer, let’s hope I do just as well in mine.” Loxie replied.

“Knowing you, you probably will.” Hannah said as she turned to take toby back to the trailer.

“Oh Rich, are you sure we are ready?” Kate sighed.

“Of course I am, do you remember the first day you got Tom, you two were meant for each other.” Rich looked at me softly.

I remembered the day she got me so perfectly, it feels like yesterday...