Alone In The Big Leagues

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I mount Zane, collect myself in the saddle, and look at Alley. She nods her head telling me to go on. I nod back and kick Zane forward. We approach the first jump. I feel him lift up. I slid my hands up his neck. Keeping my eyes on the next jump. I slid my hands back down and we make our way to the next one. I never take my eyes off the course. I stay tuned in on what Zane and me were doing.

We clear the rest of the jumps with ease. Finally comes the one Zane won't jump. I was feeling bad because I knew Alley would be disappointed that we didn't finish the course perfectly. I had told Alley about the troubles I was having with Zane jumping the last one.

I focus on the jump. I feel Zane lift into the air. I lift myself from the saddle sliding my hands along his neck then back down again, surprisingly taking my seat back into the saddle.

I hear Alley's claps and I feel and see that Zane is cantering smoothly. We did it. We cleared the last jump! I pull Zane to a stop and hug his neck tightly. The tears spill from my eyes because of how proud I was of him.

"You did it!" The tears drip onto his neck. "You cleared the jump! I'm so proud of you!"

I let go of his neck, gather the reins in my hands, and kick Zane to a walk over to Alley. I once again slid out of the saddle and hug her. "You need to come here everyday, he wouldn't jump that jump no matter what I did!"

She laughs softly "No, no, all he needed was a bit of a pep talk."

I laugh to "Well, whatever you did worked! Come on, let's have you ride now."

Alley walks beside me as we lead Zane to the round pin. She climbs into the saddle as best as she can and kicks Zane to a walk. She walks with him for a few then I tell her to kick him off to a trot. She does what I say and bounces in her seat uncomfortably. I laugh then soon tell her to kick him to a canter. She does what I say and Zane canters smoothly. As for Alley she seems as if she is holding on for dear life.

Soon I have to tell her to pull back on the reins and stop. She slides out of the saddle with ease and after that we both groom Zane. Play some tag then its time to go. Zane helps himself to the carrot in my pocket. We both give him one last pat and leave.

The week passes by in a blur. When me and Zane train, he clears the last jump every time. Today is the day of the competition and we are loading Zane into the trailer. I pat his neck, hop out of the trailer, and the door closes.

I walk to the front of the truck and open the passenger door. I slide in next to my father whom is busy talking on his phone. I sigh and look at him. He see's me looking, quickly saying goodbye to whoever he was talking to.

He starting the truck and and eases it and the trailer away from the stable. The butterflies start up in my stomach. I was nervous about this competition. Very nervous.

It's about an hour long where the competition is being held at. We are about 30 minutes into the drive when my father speaks up.

"You know your mother is coming by today." He keeps his eyes on the road. "She put all of her plans aside just to come and see your competition." I nod my head. "She said that she was missing a huge shoe sale just for you, but then of course she pointed out that there is always online shopping." He laughs loudly. I look at him with a forced smile.

"Yes, that is very true. Good thinking, huh?" I look back out the window and the rest of drive is spent in silence.

Trucks and trailers are everywhere. I hop out of the car and both my dad and I start to unload Zane. I grab the lead rope and clip it onto his halter. He eases himself down the ramp and follows after me as I lead him to the arena's stable grounds. He goes right into the stall I put him in and puts his head on my shoulder.

I laugh and pull something from my pocket. Zane's horseshoe. Well one that he had on when I first got him. I've saved it. It gives us good luck when we go to shows or any other big event that we go to together. Witch were mostly just shows.

I get my hands and rub them back and forth over it to get as much luck out of it as I possibly could.

Next I get my hands and rub them down Zane's face. His neck and even his legs. I rub his ears and he leans into my touch. I laugh and kiss the soft velvet part of his nose.

I begin to stroke his neck. "Are you all lucked out now?" He nudges my shoulder and I laugh.

"Jewel." I hear my fathers voice behind me.

I turn and see my father standing there with a smile on his face and a man I have never seen before.

"This is Mr. Alsworth, he is here to talk to you about your show jumping career."

The man steps forward. I take his offered hand "Jewel, I'm very pleased to meet you. How would you like to take your career to the next level?"