Briarsridge Riding School

Chapter 9

I didn't even look at the scoreboard as I saddled Gatsby up. I was so nervous about my last class, dressage wasn't exactly a high point for me. I finished bridling and led him out of his stall. He nickered to other horses gently as we walked down the ramp. Halfway to the mounting block however, we encountered trouble.

"Umm excuse meee! I don't know what you think you're doing, but it is certainly not using this mounting block." I turned around to see three girls, all wearing deep violet, standing right behind me.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was reserved." I casually kept walking towards it, but the tallest girl cut me off with her gleaming bay.

"Yeah, it is reserved. For people who have the money to get to this school. You did get a scholarship, didn't you?" She stared me down, and I wanted to punch her face in almost immediately. Funny how instincts work.

"Yeah, I did. So what?" She scoffed and her two minions laughed behind me.

"I could see you did based on your riding." She mounted the enormous gelding, so tall I had to look up at her to see her face.

"What, because I'm better than you?" I said, pushing past her friends and mounting on the block.

"No, because I can see in your riding that you don't have the money for lessons." Her friends laughed again, and I wanted to cry. Dressage was in a few minutes, and I needed all the concentration I had. I signaled him to walk on, but Mrs.Mean stopped me again. "Oh and, by the way, I'm wondering, how did you get Brandon to even talk to you? He must know you have no money by now." With that, Gatsby reared, making the other horses skitter out of our way. We walked forward, and I patted his neck comfortingly, mostly for myself. I almost thought I could not encounter any mean people, let alone three, but meeting all of them is just my luck.

Walking into the ring, I saluted to the judge and pushed Gatsby into an extended trot. He responded beautifully, and as we tracked right, we picked up a collected canter. Cantering a 20-meter circle through the middle, we slowed to a free walk until A, where we came down the middle and picked up the left-lead canter and tracking left. We then crossed the diagonal and changed leads, slowing to a collected trot when we arrived at C. Finishing up with a extended trot with me rising to his outside leg, we came to A and turned down the center line, square halting at X. People politely applauded, and I saluted the judges, waiting for them to acknowledge me so I could leave the arena.

It took the judge five minutes to remember to acknowledge me, and when she did, my cheeks burned with embarrassment as I left the arena.

"Good job,loser." Someone hissed from behind me. I whirled Gatsby around.

"Do you have a problem with the way I ride, 'cause I haven't seen you ride any better." I faced one of the purple-shirts. When she didn't answer, I turned Gatsby around, walking to the stable. Brandon met me at Gatsby's stall.

"Great job!" He said, helping me untacked the sweaty grey.

"Thanks, but it was all him, I was freaking out." I gently sponged Gatsby with some water-filled sponges to cool him out. We laughed and talked on the way back to my dorm, and I invited him in.

"Ah, no thanks, I'm kinda sweaty and all." I looked him over laughing.

"Just change and come right on in! The tv will be on and there's brownies in the fridge." He said yes, and so I jumped into the shower, washing up quickly and then putting on some worn dark wash jeans and a tank top to go with a transparent navy blue blouse. Lastly, I put on my tall boots, and sat down on the couch. It felt like forever before I heard the knock on my door.