Forever

Chapter 3

Hi!!! I was bored so i got on my laptop and decided to write another chapter. How exciting! So here you go Enjoy!~1dliam xoxo

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~USEF Finals~

I knew my course by heart. I had walked it earlier this morning. I was not nervous. I never got nervous before a show. I trusted Ava to take care of me as I would take care of her. My petite and blond show jumping trainer, Lilibeth a.k.a. Lilly, was next to me giving me some last minute tips.

The horse before me was just finishing the last jump and I was signaled to go in. I trotted Ava in a large elegant circle, before bumping her into canter. We moved in a graceful collected canter up to the first fence. It was about 3'3" in height and just as wide. We cleared it easily. Next was a single decorated in colorful flowers. Again it was easy sailing. The third jump was an oxer with a liverpool underneath. I felt Ava hesitate a little and gave her a gentle squeeze for encouragement. She picked up the pace and we sailed over. The 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th jumps were easily cleared, but then came the last jump. One jump separating me and Ava from a clean round. But I felt Ava back off and I did not blame her. The jump did look scary, it was covered in flowers and seemed much bigger than it was. It was a triple bar and those were the hardest to clear. No one before me had gotten a clear round and it was the 10th jump that got them. The spot had to be perfect. Ava needed a large, powerful canter stride. I gave her a swift nudge and she eagerly listened, trusting me completely. She saw the take-off spot and I knew because her ears pricked forward. I started to counted down. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, take-off. I waited to hear the dreaded sound of the pole being knocked to the ground. But it never came. I knew better than to look back and kept looking forward. I completed my courtesy circle, slowing Ava to a trot and then a walk and exited the ring.

Lilly was beaming and I immediately smiled knowing we had done well.

"Amazing job! Really that was pretty much perfect!" she congratulated me,"Now go walk. Your horse is very sweaty and short of breath".

I was shocked that meant a lot coming from her. My "groom" Kristen walked up to us. She was not really the groom, more like a second trainer that wanted to come to cheer me on and help out. At 32 she was 6 months pregnant with her second child, but she did not look it and that did not stop her from riding. She had grown up in a horse family and had shown since she was 6. She still showed during her pregnacy, and was very active in helping me with riding tips whenever she could. At 6 feet tall with dark brown hair and brown eyes, she was wearing a black tank top that showed off her baby bump, jeans and rainboots.

"Good job, you guys looked really good. Want me to walk her out? I'm sure your mom and everyone want to see you" she offered.

"Sure thanks Kristen" I answer still smiling widely.

I walk up the little hill to the tent my family and friends are sitting under. I quickly scan the area and walk over to them. My mom and dad are the first to hug me, as the twins had stay home to care for the farm, otherwise they would have been first. Next are Kylie, Megan, Megan's younger sister, Lia(16), and Kristen's 4 year old daughter, Alyse. Finally the other 2 show moms, Sarah and Linda, and Lilly's mom, Barb hug and congratulate me. I always love having my barn family around. After more hugs and congratulations, I headed back down to Kristen , Lilly, and Ava.

"Yanno, I thought your smile would be bigger considering" Kristen commented.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked confused.

Kristen just laughed and Lilly answered my question instead,"You're in 1st place and only Nadia's left, speedy" she said using my nickname she had given me when she started training me in jumping about 9 or 10 years ago.