Flying Change

Chapter 11

Sorry, sorry, sorry! I know its been forever and I owe you so many updates but it is here now and I have started on the next chapter. 

xx Shan

Chapter 11

“Look’s good,” Stefan said and led the way to the arena. I took a moment to evaluate how weird it was not to have Geoff or Ritchie saying that to me. ‘Focus,’ I chanted and squeezed my right rein forcing my attention back to Dance who was stepping lightly across the carpeting that covered the walkway towards the crowd framed entrance. I could hear the applause from the crowd as the rider before me jumped the final fence clear and cantered through the finish. I took a deep breath and nudged Dance through the archway and into the arena where the flamboyant Frenchman was still celebrating his clear round.

I pushed Dance into a canter and skirted the edge of the ring, ignoring the crowd and focusing on his swivelling ears and keeping his focus. He lifted himself into his ring master persona, threw an exuberant flying change that I didn’t ask for and then tossed his head as the bell sounded and we headed for the first fence.  I felt him bunch his quarters and we were over. We cantered around the corner and set up for a large oxer. 1, 2, 3, ping over it and onwards. He ate up the ground and we turned to face the triple bar on a dog’s leg to a double of verticle’s. He glided up and over the triple bar effortlessly, land sit up shorten, stop him fighting me, find my spot, go. He skipped through the combination, giving one of his customary kicks out behind him. I pushed him on round the corner and set up for the planks. Shoulders back, leg on. I could feel him looking at the crowd on the other side of the fence. “Come on,” I growled and his ear flicked back at me and then we were over I rode hard for the water and he took me to it, ears pinned as he stretched out over it. I landed and slammed my bum into the saddle again, feeling him do a hop and a skip as he shortened to meet the treble that was just a few strides away. Two strides later I heard the groan from the crowd but I didn’t have time to process, I saw the spot, softened and he lifted off. Land, one stride, take off, land, two strides out, breathe. I turned the corner, skirting the edge of the arena and we pinged first the big white oxer and then the stile. Right handed loop and the final line, I took a deep breath sat up, and rode. He took me to them and flew, over the final three obstacles, giving a buck as he landed from the last and skipping through the finish with me patting his neck beaming.

“Lexi Davis and Dance Partner have four faults. Our next competitor is Jacqueline Jué and Henri Nouveau.” The commentator intoned and I looked up at the score board in slight shock, four faults. I recalled the crowds groan that had flickered at the edge of my consciousness. Not as flawless as I had thought. I left the arena and Val met Dance with a carrot. I felt Phillip pat my knee.

“Good job,” He smiled and I returned it.

“You didn’t deserve the water. He jumped great.” Stefan said. He looked like he wanted to smack the jump judge who had made the call.

“It’s fine,” I replied slipping off his back and catching his reins as Val threw a quarter sheet over him and he tried to take a chunk out of a competitor who walked a little too close.

“It’s a good thing he can jump because he’s not very nice is he?”  A heavily accented voice cut off what Stefan was about to say and I turned to see a greying man with cold eyes smiling at the group as he walked up. “Joe Baines,” he offered his hand to me, I shook it, politely feeling his cold and clammy grasp and feeling my intuition telling me to wash my hand soon.

“Lexi,” I replied with a tight smile. “And this is my boyfriend Phillip and Stefan and…” I turned to see Val making tracks. Evidently she was listening to her gut instinct.

“Ah Hello,” He shook their hands, his smile still not reaching his eyes. “Andou isn’t it? Someone said you were the people to speak to about a horse?”