Double Dutch Acres: Drama on the Course

Tick Tock

"Great job on the flat, Quinn," Cora beamed, while Mike was up in the booth, watching. While I was doing flat, he said he'd rather see how I did without him by the gate. Mike said it's best, just to see how Harry and I do together. I quickly flashed a smile to Cora, and drew my attention back to my riding. "now let's see if you can handle the jumping." Cora looked at me. Oh crap. She wants me to jump without stirrups. I groaned. "Okay." I held out the 'a' as Cora quickly arranged a jump pole. There were 8 jumps in the arena, but all were verticals, except for 2. One of the two jumps is a Swedish oxer, while the other is a normal oxer. "Okay. I want you to do the far line to the single diagonal, then do a lead change to the quarter line, come around and do the far line. It's optional to circle afterwards." Cora motioned for me to start cantering. Harry had a neck that was like most ponies. Regular length, with his head dipped down a bit. His head was low, since he had rein, and I gently pulled it up and squeezed his sides, asking for a canter. Quickly noticing we were now working again, he swished his tail and picked up the right lead. I turned Harry's head to the far line and didn't need to count. His strides are just like Rusty's. I decided to count anyways. 3, 2, 1. I lifted myself out of the saddle, pushing my butt out, and my chest just above Harry's neck. My hands slid up half way to his neck, right where a white patch of his coat is. We landed softly on the other side, and Harry let out a little snort. I couldn't help but smile. "C'mon baby." I whispered. Harry's ears flicked back at my voice.

We took 5 strides to the next jump of the far line and I lifted out of my seat, into 2-point position. Softly patting Harrys neck, I turned his nose to the single diagonal. Harry yanked on the reins a bit. He needs a dee ring. I thought. Why does he have a full cheek snaffle? I made a mental note in my mind - get a dee ring bit for him. We were just 5 strides away from the jump, so I decided to drop my stirrups, make Cora proud. Harry kept a smooth canter to the next jump. I lifted out of the saddle, and Harry rocked on his haunches, not even coming an inch to touching the rail. He landed on the other side, snorting again. He must know I'm proud of him. Harry only cantered 3 strides, before I heard Cora's voice crack over the loud speaker. "Okay Quinn. Let's stop it there."

I sat deep in the saddle, pushing my heels back and slightly pulling on the bit, asking for Harry to walk. He started to walk, and I let his reins hang loose. Harry dropped his head letting out breaths and a snort here and there. I pat his neck and hugged him. "I'm so proud of Harry!" I grinned to Mike and Cora, who were walking down the stairs from the booth. They both reached the bottom, and entered the arena. "I'm even more proud of you," Cora smiled back at me. "I realized you had trouble halting and turning him." Cora finished. I nodded, turning my head to Mike. "The full cheek snaffle bit doesn't suit him. He doesn't have any trouble turning. I'm thinking about getting a dee ring bit. Along with a new bridle." I giggled and looked at the torn laces on Harry's braided reins. Mike smiled and nodded his head. "Good idea." He turned to Cora. "So, what do you think?" Cora pursed her lips and looked at me. "I don't know. Quinn?" I thought about it for a second, even though I think I didn't need to. Just before I was about to say yes, I saw my parents in the bleachers. They noticed I was looking at them, and they smiled My dad waved and my mom blew a kiss. I waved back to both, and Cora looked at my parents, and looked back at me, raising her eyebrows. "So?" she asked. I grinned. "Yes!"