Horsewoman Book 1: Best Of Equitation

Chapter 6

"Whooo-hooo! Go, Cris!" My family's shouts surrounded me when I stepped off the podium. I hugged all of them, and Dannielle signed, "Good job!" I grinned at her.                                                                              "Thanks."                                                                                                                                                                     I looked at my watch. "Three o'clock!" I exclaimed. "I have to get Skye ready!" I jogged to stable 442 to find Jas standing there, on boot on the stable door, watching This Esme. She waved her phone.                 "Guess what, Cris! Esme got together with Will and Olli Fletcher!" I grinned. Jas has always been an Esme fanatic. "Cool, Jas, I've got to get Skye ready," I said. I unlatched the door and Skye whinnied loudly, as if saying, "Let's get out of here and win!"                                                                                                   "Hey, girl," I cooed, scratching her withers. I gave her a once-over with a dandy, then finished with a bristle brush. Then I took her to a washing station. First, I hosed off her legs, which were caked with manure and shavings, signs that she had just taken a nap. Then I took tear-free horse shampoo and conditioner and rubbed it into her soft hair. I rinsed it off then pulled ticks off of her body. I sprayed Bob's Mane-And-Tail De-tangler on her mane and tail. I watched my wristwatch for five minutes, then led her to the stall. I brushed out her mane and tail until it was smooth and tangle-free, then braided her tail. I looked at her mane for a while, then had an inspiration. I took a piece of mane next to the forelock, about an inch wide, and braided it. Lastly, I sprayed fly spray on her whole body so she wouldn't twitch. I looked over to see Jasmine with her chin propped on the door. "Looks nice, but first, I have a surprise for you," she said. I looked at her suspiciously. Knowing Jas, I knew it would be a spider or rubber snake. "Close your eyes, Cristal."                                                                                                  Knew it.                                                                                                                                                                                                   I closed my eyes and she opened the door. "Okay, open your eyes!" I opened my eyes and gasped. A leather halter fit on Skye's face. I looked closer and saw Skye etched I the browband. I hugged my friend. "Thanks so much!" She grinned. "Now go out there and win!"

To my right was a gorgeous Arabian filly. Her chestnut coat was obviously well cared for, and gleamed in the overhead lights. To my left, a Dutch Warmblood stood proud and muscular. Even so, she was a little sway-backed.                                                                                                                                                       "I love your horse!" I said to the lady holding the Dutch Warmblood.                                                                         The woman grinned proudly. "Her name is Sunday Brunch, after Fallon Taylor's horse. She's going to be a champion barrel racer, aren't you, girl?" She patted Sunday Brunch's shoulder. I smiled politely and said, "This is Skye. She's an Andalusian."                                                                                                                             The woman gasped. "Is that my Nova?" She said excitedly. I tilted my head confusedly.                                  "Your Nova? No, she's my Skye," I said. The woman shook her head. "She was my Nova before I sold her. Skye's a pretty name, I guess," she said, and sighed. "Such a sweet little filly."                                                             "She is," I agreed. Then I turned to the man with the Arabian. "What's your horses name?" I asked.                  "Her name is Milky Way. I call her Candy for short." He smiled, his mouth half hidden by his red beard, which was bushing around his face. "She's so sweet!" I said as Candy nickered and stretched her head out to me. I rubbed her ears and forelock. "Well, the best of luck to you," said the man quickly as the judge came approaching. He started with Sunday Brunch. "Hmmm, beautiful filly, ma'am," he said nonchalantly as the woman bragged about her horse. He moved to me. "Hello, what is your name, the horse's registered name, and breed," He said to me. I gulped.                                                                                 "I am Cristal Rogers, and this is my Andalusian filly, Skye Blue." The man- his tag read ANDREW- nodded and ran his hands down Skye's legs. She stood perfectly still while he rubbed her ears, scratched her cheek and jaw, and stroked Skye's soft muzzle. She nickered when Andrew scratched her chest.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Finally, Andrew straightened up. "She certainly is a friendly one, ain't she?"                                                                 I noticed he had a slight Australian accent.                                                                                                              Andrew wrote something on his clipboard, smiled, and moved on to Candy. I sighed with relief.                         

"In fifth place is...........Zach Johnson with his Friesian, Trinity!"                                                                                               I'm not fifth.                                                                                                                                                                          "In fourth place is............Kati Jenkins with her Dutch Warmblood, Sunday Brunch!"                                                    Kati gasped. "My beautiful Sunny? Fourth? This is an outrage!" But she stepped onto the podium anyway.                                                                                                                                                                        I'm not fourth.                                                                                                                                                                                              "In third place is.................Katerina Minardi with her Criollo, Impress Me!"                                                               I'm not third.                                                                                                                                                                                   "In second is.................Cristal Rogers and her Andalusian, Skye Blue!"                                                                     "Yes!" I screamed and stepped onto the podium.                                                                                                  "And the winner of the blue ribbon is...................Simon Calarsky and his Arabian, Milky Way!" Candy and Simon stepped onto the podium, beaming. I grinned myself as the judge handed me the red ribbon. When I led Skye off the podium, she nickered, like she knew what was happening. I scratched her cheek, admiring the turquoise beads on the halter, which shone in the bright lights.