Horsewoman Book 1: Best Of Equitation

Chapter 14

"Hey Mom!" I greeted my mother as I stepped through the doorway. "Can I ride Firefly?" Mom smiled. "Hi, dear. And yes, you can ride Fire. I've already jumped her today, so don't jump her. Just stay in the indoor arena for now, okay?" She waggled her finger at me playfully. "OK," I agreed. I saddled the QH with my all-purpose English saddle. I dug through the bucket of bits and found a medium correction bit. I pulled the eggbutt snaffle out of my bridle and replaced it with the other bit. I mounted and cued her into a walk, then a trot. I didn't even need to post to the smooth-as-silk kind of trot. I tapped my boots into her side and she moved into an equally smooth, floating canter. It felt like a rocking chair. I realized I'd been riding for an hour, so I untacked her and cooled her off.

"Wow, that was great, Mom!" We all exclaimed after a dinner of fried chicken, coleslaw, and potato salad. Andes' Mint brownies followed. I went straight to bed after dinner, even though it was only 9:00. I knew I had five events the next day, and I needed sleep.

"Rise and shine, sleeping beauty!" I woke to Mom's voice in the morning. I glanced at my clock. 5:30. "Why so early?" I asked, rubbing my eyes tiredly. "Remember, you have lots of events today, and one of them starts at 6:45, dear," Mom answered. I read my events today in my head.

Freedom-dressage cavaletti, Teensy-lunge jumps, Intermediate Jumping-Misty, Halter-Sweetie, Beginner Jumps-Nickers.

I was entering Nickers in beginner jumping because even though she is a great jumper and insanely flexible, she doesn't do well on high jumps.

"Oh, just remembered," Mom called over her shoulder as I dug in my 'horse drawer' for my riding helmet. I glanced up. "What?"

Mom flashed a grin at me. "We have a new boarder, and I think she's here." That was all I needed to hear. I tugged a brush through my hair, then dashed down the stairs to the barn. Sure enough, a white trailer pulled into the barnyard. A short girl with creamy-brown hair climbed out of the passenger seat. A woman whom I guessed was her mom stepped out of the driver seat. I welcomed them with a kind smile.

"Hello," I said warmly. "I heard you are boarding you horse with us!"

The girl nodded. "Would you like to meet her?" She asked.

"Yes, of course!" I replied. Her mom lowered the trailer door to reveal a paint mare, about 15.5 hh.

"This is Southern Comfort. We call her Soco for short," the girl said with a grand gesture.

"She's cute!" I exclaimed. I walked up slowly and blew into her rosy pink nostrils. She blew back.

"Oh, by the way, I'm Lisa!" The girl said, extending her hand to me. I shook it.

"Cristal," I replied.

"Nice to meet you!" Lisa said. I could tell in her eyes that we'd become very good friends.

"Ugh, I have jumping for Nickers in fifteen minutes!" I said, frustrated. I hopped out of the car and raced to Nickers' stall. When I unlatched the stall door, I sighed with relief. Who did this? I thought. The jumping saddle was already on her back, she was bridled, her mane was braided elegantly, and her body was groomed to perfection. I noticed a note taped to the saddle. I peeled it off and read:

You're welcome, Cris! You owe me one ;) Now go out there and win! Love ya~Troy

Troy?! Awesome! I really did owe him one now. I mounted Nickers and walked her out. I tapped the mare into a canter and we made it into the queue just on time. I checked my number. 23. I watched as a sorrel gelding jumped. Then a chestnut mare, then a white mare just like Nickers...Finally, my name was called. I cantered Nickers to the start, then gave her the cue to trot. She practically stepped over the two foot hedge and landed in a canter, like that was just the transition. She soared over the four foot jumps. When we were done, I glanced at the scoreboard. I was in first.

I ended up getting first with Nickers, in a landslide. The horse that received second, a blue-roan Appaloosa gelding named Daydreamer got a 9.5, and I got a 9.7.

"Whew!" I sighed, stroking Nickers' muzzle, who lipped my hand, asking, Do you have any treats? I laughed and gave her the apple in my pocket. So much for my lunch! I thought as Nickers crunched the rosy apple happily. Then I spotted a line of food trucks along the turf. I mounted Nickers and trotted to the tack barn, where I pulled my wallet out from a secret place (stuffed into Pal's Western girth; it has two layers.) I stabled Nickers, then walked to the truck selling sandwiches. I ordered a sloppy joe and a fruit cup.

When I finished my delicious sandwich, I went to watch the riders in the practice arena. I chuckled as three boys, about thirteen, held a miniature Puissance.

"Yo, Tam!" One of them shouted. A boy with sandy hair and blue eyes and a face Jas would call 'cute' replied, "Yeah? Sup?" "Bet Corkscrew couldn't make the five foot jump!" Said the other boy. He pointed to Tam's chestnut mare. "Corie could jump anything!" Replied Tam, who mounted the mare and pulled the reins hard. "Anyways," said another boy with red hair and dark eyes. "Mike left, and we need four people for the competiton!" "Wait," said Tam, looking around. "Why'd he leave, Brian?" Red Hair answered, "Had reining comp." "Dang it!" Said Tam. "Where can we get another jumper? Got any ideas, Andrew?" A boy with blond hair and green eyes shook his head. I stood up. "I'll do it!" I called to them. Brian looked up and snorted. "What do you know about jumping, anyway?" He sneered. "Du-uh," I said, rolling my eyes. "I only won advanced." Brian looked around the group, and Tam and Andrew nodded their approval. "Fine!" Said Brian, mounting his sorrel gelding. I raced to Pal's stall and got him saddled record time. "OK," said Andrew when I cantered into the ring, "Let's jump."