For the Love of Horses

Chapter 10

Chapter 10
Jasons POV

I leaned up against the white post and rail and fence that surrounded the outdoor Jumping Arena. Why Rachel had told me to bring Amethyst here, I honestly had no idea.
Generally in a new students first lesson they would be put on an easy School horse like Comanche or Allianz, to you know ‘test their skills and whatever.’ They are never put on a horse like Acorn, never put in the jumping ring and never instructed to just “warm up.”
But Rachel seemed adamant that this girl could. It’s not that I had my doubts or anything especially not after seeing the way she handled Acorn. And I’m definitely not worried for her. Am I? No. I push that thought to the back of my mind and turn my attention to the centre of the ring.
I watch closely as she leads Acorn to the centre, her small steps matched perfectly with his. For a second I think that she will attempt to mount from the ground but dismiss it entirely when she extends a slender arm to the mounting block, moving it into place.
“She’s probably too short to get on from the ground anyway,” I think to myself, recalling the fact that she is only about 5’5
“I heard that!” she shouts.
“Shit! Did I say that out loud!”
She laughs, “Don’t worry it’s probably true anyway.” She turns back to face her task ahead, tightening her helmet strap around her chin and moving her dark braid towards the back of her head. Hmmm, funny. We have the same colour hair. Not that it matters. Not at all.
She unrolls her stirrup leathers and begins to put in her foot. I feel like I should be helping her or making sure she’s ok. I mean Acorn does have a history in de-ridering himself.  But I don’t. I just sit there and hope nothing goes wrong.
“Do you want me to lunge him first,” I interrupt just as she was about to swing herself over his back.
“What?”
“Do you want me to lunge him first? You know. Just in case,” I explained awkwardly.
She laughed, “Just in case what? He bucks me off?”
I recoil in shock after releasing that she had pretty much just read my mind.
“What no, I mean.”
“Jason!” she interrupts. The words leave her mouth clearly reaching my ears. I never liked my name but when she says it, it sounds, well, nice.
“Jason, I’ll be fine I promise.”  And before I have the chance to object further, she steps in, swings her leg over gracefully like she has done it very day of her life for years landing lightly in the saddle. She flashes me a grin and squeezes Acorn forward. Surprisingly, he obliges.
“Wait!” I call out and before my brain has even caught up with what my body was doing I’m running halfway across the ring to where Amethyst had halted Acorn, waiting impatiently.
“What?” She asks, confusion shown clearly on her lightly freckled face.
“Ummm…” I say as I rack my brain trying to find an excuse for the interruption.
“Umm?”
“Your girth is loose!” I say finally gesturing to the strap that hung down from her saddle, tightly hugged the chestnut ponies stomach.
“I did it up just before. I think its fine.” She protests.
“No really! Here ill fix it,” I say stepping forward to tighten it for her.
“I would do that if…” she goes to say before is interrupted by Acorn twisting his head around and once again, nipping my arm.
“Ouch! Acorn stop it!” I scold, tapping him on the nose. Acorn runs backwards in shock, de-seating Amethyst who falls forward onto his neck.   
“Acorn!” she cries as he rears upwards striking out at me. I watch in horror as her foot slips from the stirrup and she dangles from the side of his saddle. But she doesn’t fall.  Just as I thought the worst was about to happen Acorn lands and tosses his head backwards flinging her back into the saddle like a rag-doll. And once again, she sits there like as if nothing had even happened.
“Look, Amethyst, not trying to you know, put down your skills or anything but it might be better if I ride first,” I explain softly, trying as hard as I can to not upset her in anyway.
“I can do this Jason! Stop worrying!” She pouts.
“Please. Just let me ride him. Just for a second,” I plead, giving her my best puppy dog eyes. They worked like a charm and within 30 seconds Amethyst was on the ground beside me handing me the reins.
“For the record, cowboy,” she spits as if the words are poison in her mouth, “You flashing your sparkling little blue eyes at me won’t work.”
“Oh really? I thought it went well with my whole cowboy act, I’ve got going on. And for the record, it already did, Princess,” I say, empathising the last word.
She scowls and sticks her tongue out at me. I kick Acorn lightly, asking him to move forward.
And once again he obliges, only this time, a lot to much.
He took off in a blind, head-long gallop racing towards the far side of the arena.
“SHIT!” I shout as he heads straight for the fence, showing no signs at all of wanting to stop. At the very last second he slams on the breaks, sliding his front feet to a stand still while his back feet struggle to get a grip on the ground. Before I even get to chance to rejoice that its over he starts again, spinning on his hindquarters and running back the way he came. Bucking and jumping. Twisting and Pigrooting.
My mind was a complete blank canvas. Only one thought crossed my mind. Hold on! Hold on! Hold on! Suddenly it was taken over by another thought. Amethyst!
Assuming that Amethyst hasn’t moved she would be right in his charging line. I try to call out to her to tell her to moves. But nothing comes out. She obviously notices she’s in danger but makes no effort to move and when she does its in the complete wrong direction. Rather than moving to the side out of harms way she runs. Straight towards Acorn.