Dancing In The Dark

Prologue

I could feel her sides heaving as she powered across the course, yet she still had more to give. I could feel her mouth softly as her head bobbed up and down in rhythm with her movement. Riders and horses were falling by this stage. I could feel her anxious energy. We approached an angled brush fence double. Slowing her down before the obstacle, she flicked her head in protest, wanting to power through the jumps. I sat deep, and with a perfect stride, she leaped clean over the fence. Another stride and she sprung up over the second one, the brush touching her legs. I could feel the power in her backend as her feet landed on the other side and she let loose into a steady gallop. Approaching the chevron jump, she got excited and started to rush.

'Hoa... Just relax. You're alright.' I said in a deep, soothing tone. The mare balanced her stride and developed a rhythmic gallop again. I counted my strides, kept my hands and legs firm and tapped her with my crop. She flew over the skinny jump with ease. We landed in harmony and continued through the course. We approached an open gallop stretch, and the mare let loose. She charged bold and willing through the grass, her stride opening. We were both full of confidence. Adrenaline rushed through my veins. I could feel my heart pound, like a gong inside of my chest. My horse was covered in foam and sweat but she didn't want to stop. She galloped her heart out. Upcoming the last jump, a log pile, I began to collect my reins. The mare started to slow down and shorten her stride. She raised her head and had all eyes on the obstacle. Then, snap! I felt her front-end sink as she lost her footing. Everything was so fast, yet it seemed like it was in slow motion. I saw her face hit the ground, and a flash of hooves in the air, right above my head. Then there was a thud! Followed by a crack! I felt a pop somewhere in my body. A burning pain filled my lungs and escaped my body through a blood curdling scream. Everything started to fade to black. A false step. One slight mistake. And our lives were changed...

Forever.