"Are you insane?" Leo asked as I led Titan to the arena.
"Yes," I said, opening the gate. "But you knew that."
"Just... don't get hurt," he said as he took a seat on the fence.
"I'll be fine," I laughed, adjusting my helmet. I was getting ready for a ride, but this time, I was trying something new. Except for boots and a rope tied around his neck, Titan had no tack on. I figured we'd keep his work light for a few days after the show, so I decided to try this out. He stood still while I mounted and began walking around. He immediately put his head long and low and stretched out.
"If he bucks, you're gone," Leo reminded me. I shot him a look.
"Have some faith, would you?" I laughed, stretching my legs forward before letting them settle back into place. He just smiled back at me in response. After letting T walk around a bit to warm up, I urged him into a trot. It was a bit bouncy at first, but once he realized he was free to do what he liked with his head, he put it down, and had a much smoother gait. He was definitely sassier - throwing his head occasionally and not staying directly on the rail - but he was behaving well and listening to me.
We trotted around in a crazy pattern, doing circles and figure eights and serpentines to work on steering and speed.
"This is honestly really surprising," Leo laughed as I trotted by. I just stuck my tongue out at him and kept riding.
Once I felt fully comfortable on him, I asked for a canter. Because he was a warmblood, he had a huge canter stride, so I got thrown off balance once he picked it up. When he felt my shift, he immediately slowed to a more collected canter until I regained posture. I gave him a scratch on his withers and pushed him forward with my seat.
He was golden as we cantered around, he even offered me a few lead changes. As I brought him to a walk, I showered him in praise and pats.
"What a good boy," I cooed, scratching his mane. He dropped his head in response, continuing to walk forward.
"What now?" Leo asked. "You done?"
"No way," I turned and looked at him. "Set up a cross rail, we're taking this show over fences."
He just laughed and shook his head before hopping off the fence and grabbing some jumping blocks. "Absolutely insane," he muttered with a smile. I followed him around with Titan as he set up the little jump. It was nothing huge by any means, just a simple little cross rail in the center of the ring.
"All good," he called out, standing next to his creation.
"Heading your way," I announced, picking the canter up again. I did a courtesy circle before heading towards the jump. I had a split second of hesitation before I put my game face on and pushed T over the jump. He had zero hesitation and simply plopped right over it. He threw his head a tiny bit from excitement, but had no bucks or wiggles other than that.
"Good boy," I patted him, keeping him cantering. I circled him back around before going over it a few more times. After our fourth time over, we were both a bit sweaty in the heat, and I decided to end the ride there.
"Does this horse blow your mind or what?" I asked as Leo walked beside us and Titan cooled down.
"He's something special, that's for sure," he smiled at me, putting a hand on my leg.
"I'll be showing him two foot six next show," I said. "I want to challenge him a bit more."
"That'll be fun," he replied. "When is that again? Next weekend?"
"Two weeks," I said. "That gives me plenty of time to prepare."
"You guys are clearly ready," he smiled at me as he gave my horse a pet. "It's the people at the show who have no idea about the storm coming for them."
sorry for the short chapter! this book is going to take a major turn soon so be ready! also sorry for the lack of updates, i got bucked off the other day and somehow my eye connected with the horses nose (dont ask how, i dont know). i was at slight risk for a concussion and fractures in a few spots, but i'm completely fine and just barely got a black eye
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Silver Opportunity
General FictionWATTYS 2019 Emily Martin, your typical seventeen-year-old girl. well, kind of. For the past fourteen years, she's been living with her aunt, Hannah, who just happens to breed and train some of Florida's finest horses. Emily's life had always been lo...