Phantom in the Fire

Training

        Much later Mist saw Michelle come back in. She watched as she went around pouring water and food into troughs and cleaning out the stalls. She finally walked up to Mist and put a halter on her.

        Michelle tugged gently on the lead rope and Mist wondered what this thing was but walked forward thinking that was what Michelle wanted. She looked around at the horses and riders walking around, training or riding for pleasure or just grooming. Michelle pulled on the rope again and started to teach her the basics of lunging which Mist picked up surprisingly quickly. “I think this place is actually really nice.”

        Mist heard Michelle snap the whip in the air and Mist reared up whinnying and at first Michelle thought she hit her or scared her but a smile crept across Mist’s face and she pushed off her back legs and bolted around the arena quite quickly for a filly since Michelle had said to go faster so Mist decided to show her faster.

        Michelle looked at her and tilted her head and muttered “when I ride you we are going to be the best of the best in any race".

        After four years that little filly grew into a strong and lithe mare, and with Michelle training her she went right off in her training. Michelle managed to train her and now all of the stuff that Mist thought was weird as a filly seemed quite normal. Michelle was now fifteen and about to have her birthday.

        She ran up the steps coming home from school and flew into her room. She marked another day off of the calendar until she would ask her parents if she could compete in her first show. She had trained for it for quite a while. Mist could now jump over Michelle if it was the right conditions and Michelle was 5' 7".

        She quickly pulled out her homework and started to work on it. She quickly finished math, science, and history. She also did a little bit on her report for English. Afterward she ran out to the stable and started to care for the horses in there. She heard a whinny when she was telling Steve she was finished for the day and she smiled. She ran to the tack room and grabbed the halter she bought. She was saving for a tack set that would get her good off with the judges and would help Mist with her jumping, stamina, and speed.

        She picked it up and ran up to Mist’s stall. Her horse stepped forward and lowered her head. Michelle slipped the halter over and slid the latch into place and put the extra leather piece through the keeper.  She dropped the rope and unlocked the stall door then let it swing open. She picked the rope back up while mist waited patiently. She walked matching her horse’s gait, while Mist did the same for Michelle, perfectly. She tied her to the post then started to brush her down. She picked up her horses hoof and used a hoof pick to clean it. She moved onto the next then the last two.  She then she took the halter off of Mist and walked up to a bale of hay, stepped on it and lifted herself up onto the fence. She clicked her tongue and Mist walked over to her. She swung her leg over the mares back and settled into a good position for Mist to start off. She felt the horse loosen up underneath her and she tapped her heels ever so slightly. She adjusted her seat as Mist walked off away from the fence. They both started to head to Everwind Fields.  

        When they got their Michelle tapped her heels and sent her horse off into a nice collected gallop. Mist saw what Michelle wanted and adjusted her gait just as Michelle was thinking about it. She pushed it out of her mind and got ready to jump.  

        A couple of strides before Michelle put her weight forward and pushed herself up a little bit into the best position she could without tack. Mist kicked up slightly with her front legs then pushed off the ground hard with her back, and sent them both leaping over the fence. Michelle adjusted her weight just a bit half way through and they came back down and galloped off. Mist whinnied to Michelle as she slowed to a walk.

        Michelle patted her neck. “Good girl”, she whispered in her horse’s ear. She put her hand back on Mist’s hip and looked back hearing something. She smiled as she saw a car. She tapped her heals against Mist and looked at the car again. Mist knew what she meant as she looked down the road. The car was heading to the Silverglade Equestrian Center, exactly where they needed to go. “So convenient”, Michelle muttered then got ready for a race.

        Her horse spun in a circle once, excited. She half reared as the car passed her and she saw a man look out and he apologized for spooking the mare but he stopped short seeing the mare plunge after him and recognized Michelle on Mist. He smiled, having raced her before. He stepped on the gas and put his hand out counting with his fingers. He sped off as soon as he put his hand back in the car and Mist bolted after him. They went a quarter of a mile and Mist was right next to him. He put the car in the best gear for the road and gained speed again. Mist smiled loving the challenge.

        She threw her head high and whinnied back at him. She kicked up her legs and pounded them into the ground in great strides. Her nostrils flared as she chased that machine. She caught up once more but the car was at its max. She smiled and raced passed it breathing heavily but loving the thrill of running.

        The driver hollered at Michelle smiling. He knew that they were great together.

        Michelle kept letting her horse run. They made it to the Manor, which is what people use as a short term for Silverglade Equestrian Center, and Michelle gently pulled on Mist’s mane. She reluctantly slowed knowing she could have kept up the pace a little longer. She broke to a slow, collected gallop that was much more even. She caught her breath and headed to Penny.

        Michelle dismounted next to her and started talking. “Hey Penny, how have you been? Is your new track coming along?”

        “It’s going great Michelle and I am done I just need someone to test it out for me because, well I don’t have a horse. Other than that I am good but, how about you and Mist try it out? I think it might be a bit of a challenge for you though.”

        “That is great! And I believe we are both good. Mist just raced Jasper here while he was in his car. She beat him by a mile.” Michelle grinned and looked down the trail at where Penny marked her track. “You know… I could test out your track. Mist could handle it I’ll bet you.”

        “Oh, I don’t know Michelle there are some tricky turns and even though she is a fast horse… can she turn quick while you stay on with no tack?”

        “I am sure we will manage.”

        "Alright then mount up and get ready to race!” Penny brimmed.

        Michelle walked over to Mist and mounted having only a little bit of trouble. She got a great seat for Mist to run off and walked to the starting line.

        “Ready, Set…. GO!!!”

        Phantom bolted off heading down the trail. She jumped the first few jumps and flew through the checkpoints. She saw a cliff and knew it was more than a small one. She dug her hooves into the dirt almost stopping and bolted around it, slinging as Michelle called it.

        Michelle smiled and guided her horse very little but still remained in control. She knew she didn’t need to for how well this horse knew her. She laughed and enjoyed the ride as Mist was so wound up and she was letting it go. She ducked from a tree branch then steered her horse through a small short cut she knew. Her horse went up a hill vaulting over it then coming back down hitting the check point as if she never did it but cutting off at least ten seconds of her time.

        She skidded to a stop at the finish line panting slightly. She smiled at Penny and perked her ears waiting to hear what they would say.
        Michelle dismounted beaming. “I think that was the fastest Mist ever went! It was great! So, I think that your track is challenging but very safe to ride and there are multiple short-cuts to be found and that makes it even more fun to experiment with. Good track, Penny!”

        Michelle got back on Mist after hugging Penny and cantered off waving back at her briefly.

        They both made it to Riding Hall. Michelle tied Mist outside and went in.