Amber Acres Equestrian Academy

Chapter One

"Easy, boy."

I ran a gloved hand over Sid's smooth black neck, getting brushing the hairs of his mane into place on the right side of his neck. The gesture was more to calm myself, rather than him. The gelding was an old pro, used to the hustle and bustle of competitive arenas. I, on the other hand, felt like a complete wreck. I'd been to shows before, but never with this much at stake. Usually, I could focus on displaying my skills and having a good time. But today, there was way too much on the line. If I didn't do my absolute best, my future with horses might be over.

"That was number 221, Madison Green riding Stella Luna. Up next, we have number 315, Steven Tomson riding Struck Gold. On the fence is..." I tuned out the sound of the announcer. From where I was stationed, up on the hill above the arena, I could see the group of riders waiting their turn. Some walked in slow circles and others sat slouched on their horses, the opposite of the perfect posture they would soon exhibit in the area. The arena itself was covered in case of bad weather, although it wasn't really necessary today. It was above 80 degrees and I had recently shed my black hunt coat for fear of sweating too much. I couldn't see into the arena from my angle, but several tote boards were stationed around the outside, displaying the numbers of the next few riders to go. I had memorized the list that morning and knew there were about ten left in front of me.

Ignoring the way my heart leapt at that thought, I clucked to Sid and squeezed his sides. He flicked his ears and moved into a lazy walk, clearly unaffected by the urgency I felt. I was thankful that he was so calm, but concerned he wouldn't have the energy to dazzle the judges in just a few minutes. When we reached the bottom of the hill, I squeezed his sides again and moved him into a steady trot, circling the wide field in front of the show area. I kept an ear out for the announcer, listening as several more people rode their rounds. Before I knew it, there were only two riders ahead of me. I slowed Sid to a walk and headed to the arena.

"Maggie!" I swiveled and spied my trainer, Josie Rice, sprinting towards me, waving my hunt coat like a madwoman. If I had been on my own horse, Jinx, I would have anticipated a huge spook, but Sid merely slowed to a halt and turned his head in mild interest. "You almost forgot your coat!"

"Oh my god, you're right!" I exclaimed, reaching down to grab it from her and shrugging it on. "How do I look? Is my number straight?"

Josie stepped behind Sid to check, and gave me a thumbs up. "You look great. Sid is spotless. Now get out there and kill it."

I gave her a smile that I hoped said I'm so nervous I'm going to die, and bumped Sid with my heels. We walked towards the entrance of the arena, halting outside the gate. The rider ahead of me had just started her course. For the 4 millionth time that day, I went over the course in my head, counting my strides and picturing myself smoothly taking all the turns. This was it. No time left to practice, nothing I could do to prepare. I stroked Sid's neck again and waited for the girl to complete her ride.

Amber Acres Equestrian Academy. The name had been on my mind for years, ever since I had first learned about it in 8th grade. I remembered coming home from school and finding the pamphlet stashed under the rest of the mail. I also remembered the disappointment on my dad's face when he explained to me that unfortunately, we couldn't afford the $25,000 per-year tuition to attend the elite school. My dad had always avoided discussing financial matters with me back then, so I hadn't quite understood why I couldn't attend. I had sulked, and scowled, and sworn to raise the money myself. Unfortunately, my $2 allowance didn't quite cut it.