As Sierra coasted into the stable yard she saw the six-horse van already hooked up with the ramps down, hay nets slung inside, waiting for the horses. Manuel stepped out of the trailer where he had been hanging the last hay net and called out a greeting, “Good morning, Sierra. I feed dee ‘orses already. You bring Fala to crossties and I show you to put on shipping boots.”
“Okay, thanks, Manuel.”
Sierra soon had Fala groomed and was applying the last two shipping boots after Manuel had showed her how, when River arrived and brought Magic to the crossties.
“Hi, River,” Sierra greeted cheerily. He didn’t answer. One of his better mood days, she thought sarcastically; but then she remembered how upset he was about Magic starting his show career today, so she forgave him. She could hear him whispering softly to the chestnut as he brushed his gleaming red coat. Finished with Fala, Sierra then brought Calliope to the crossties and started getting her ready.
When all four horses were groomed, blanketed, and booted, and their tails wrapped; River loaded each one into the trailer. Manuel secured the ramps and stepped up into the driver’s seat of the truck and Sierra headed to the passenger side. Tess and the other team members would meet them at the show grounds. River would remain at the stable to do the chores by himself today.
Sierra had her hand on the cab door handle when River came up behind her. “Sierra,” he said, “you’re riding too much with your hands. Lighten your hands and ride more with your seat and your stomach muscles.” With those words of advice, he spun away and headed inside the stable.
“Thanks,” Sierra called after him, but he did not show any indication of whether he heard or not. A yearning flashed through Sierra’s heart. His words, so familiar when he had been teaching her, reminded her of how much she missed lessons with him; how much fun they had been.
*****
There was a tangible aura at the show grounds created by the excitement of competitors and their support people with their horses, all milling about amid show officials and crew; everyone with focused expressions on their faces. Horses whinnied, snorted, and whirled around excitedly at the ends of their lead ropes as they were unloaded from trailers and led into their assigned stalls. The paths leading from trailer parking areas to the rows of stalls and to the warm-up areas had already been churned into mud.
Manuel and Sierra had the horses unloaded, shipping gear removed, and settled in their stalls by the time Tess and the others arrived. Tess carried four manila envelopes from which she handed out to each of her students an official number to attach to the horse’s saddle pad and a number vest for the rider to wear during the cross country phase.
“I sure wish Ann could have ridden today,” Crystal commented to Gloria, intentionally within Sierra’s hearing.
“Yeah, well at least the team score is made up of the three top scores,” Gloria answered. Sierra understood the implication; that her score would certainly not count in the team placings at the end of the day.
So much for team spirit. Sierra kept the thought to herself, but couldn’t help wondering again why Crystal and the others disliked her so much. What have I ever done to any of them? She probably would never know.
Sierra diverted her thoughts from her teammates and turned all her attention to Fala, who stood nervously at her stall door with her head out, looking around and whinnying at the strange horses, ignoring her hay. Sierra had about fifty minutes before her dressage test. She hoped both she and her mount could calm down and relax by then.
“Sierra, try this on.” Tess came up behind her with a black jacket on a hanger. Sierra slipped it on; it was probably two sizes too big. The tops of the shoulders hung about two inches below her own shoulders, the sleeve hems ended at her knuckles, and the lower hem hung at the top of her thighs. “We can tape up the hem and you can roll the cuffs inside the sleeves and it should do.” Tess scowled, as if it was Sierra’s fault the jacket didn’t fit. Tess produced a roll of duct tape and started securing the folded up hem.
Finally Sierra was dressed in her second-hand breeches, rubber boots, borrowed jacket and borrowed stock tie, and her helmet. If clothes have any bearing on my score, then I’m doomed, she thought dismally, comparing her own appearance to that of her teammates in their tailored and well-fitting outfits. The taping of the jacket hem had taken longer than anticipated, and now she felt rushed as she entered the warm-up ring on Fala; only twenty minutes before her dressage test. Fala jigged and flung her head around looking at the strange sights and flattening her ears as other riders on horses passed them. Sierra’s grip on the reins tightened as she tried to halt the jigging and at least produce a normal walk. Fala had been shown many times; she was a veteran competitor. Why is she so nervous?
Look at what’s wrong with the horse and you’ll know what’s wrong with the rider, words River had said months ago flowed into Sierra’s consciousness. Look at how tense and rigid Fala is carrying herself. Why is she taking these short, choppy steps that are in rhythm with my racing pulse? Sierra took a deep breath and rolled her shoulders back and forward a few times, trying to release her tension.
Tess stood at the rail of the warm-up ring coaching Crystal, who was scheduled to ride her dressage test right after Sierra. Since this was Magic’s first show, he had also been entered into maiden beginner novice. Sierra expected Tess to focus on Crystal and Magic, so her spine jumped in surprise when she heard Tess hiss at her, “Sierra, quit wasting time. Take hold of her, get her round, and move her into a working trot. You only have a few minutes.”
That’s certainly going to help me relax, Sierra thought sarcastically and annoyed at the last minute coaching from Tess. For once, she ignored her instructor who had already turned her attention back to Crystal. Sierra thought of River’s last minute advice. She loosened her hold on Fala’s reins, took in slow deep breaths as she drew in her abdominal muscles and sat deep in the saddle. Fala responded; she slowed from her jigging gait and stretched her neck forward. Sierra did not change anything, but merely squeezed the reins at the same time she touched her calves to Fala’s sides, and to her delight, Fala snorted, releasing tension, and moved into a relaxed, energetic trot. We can do this!
“Number twenty-three, you’re on deck,” the gate keeper called out to Sierra as she trotted by. Okay, okay, deep breaths, stay relaxed. Ride Fala just like this, Sierra coached herself. She would have liked more time to really establish that they had released all tension and were warmed up and limber; she hadn’t even had a chance to canter. But at the same time, she had ridden Fala so many times and knew her well. Once she had the mare’s attention like this, she should be able to perform the movements of the test. This was actually the first time she had felt connected with Fala on the flat since her last lesson with River. Thank you, River, for that last minute advice. She sank her weight deeper into the saddle, squeezed the reins with her fingers, and Fala transitioned from trot to walk. Yes! They left the warm-up ring and rode to where the dressage arena had been set up. The rider before them saluted the judge, the signal she had completed her ride. Sierra and Fala could now enter the ring.
“Have a good ride,” the rider leaving the arena said to Sierra with an encouraging smile as they passed each other.
“Thanks,” Sierra responded in surprise. Now that’s sportsmanship.
Sierra rode her memorized test with everything around her in a haze, her attention totally focused on Fala and how good the mare felt under her seat. All nervousness and tension had vanished the moment she had trotted down the center line, and in her mind she imagined River’s eyes watching and coaching her.
A, enter working trot; C, track right; ME, change rein on half diagonal; EK straight ahead; A, circle left twenty meters, working trot…Only when Sierra halted and gave the final salute to the judge did she become aware again of her surroundings, and to her surprise, heard applause! She gave Fala her head and a praising pat on the neck, and rode out of the ring passing Crystal who was just entering.
“Have a good ride,” Sierra encouraged.
Crystal’s face was fixed in a grimace, with all her attention on Magic who looked as tense as Sierra had ever seen him, already in a lather.
“Fala, you were wonderful,” Sierra flung her arms around the little mare’s neck after she dismounted.
“Nice ride,” an adult bystander watching the tests commented.
“Thank you,” Sierra looked up in surprise but still grinning with pleasure.
“You’re one of Tess Holmes’s students, aren’t you?” the woman asked.
“Yes, I am.”
“It certainly shows.” The woman turned to another adult standing next to her. “Pegasus always does very well at these trials.”
“I can see why,” the other agreed.
Sierra swelled with pride. So people recognize me as one of Tess’s students! I represent Pegasus Equestrian Center that always does well. In the warm glory of such praise she forgot that she had been following River’s advice, and her nagging doubts about Tess’s teaching style were erased. Sierra determined she would pay much closer attention to Tess and try harder in future lessons. I guess she really does know what she’s talking about.
“Hey, Sierra,” a familiar voice called her name. She turned to find Luke Abrams and Justin Blomquist walking up to her. They must have come with Mr. Douglas; Sierra saw him standing next to Tess, watching Crystal ride her test. “You guys looked really great out there!” Luke greeted her with a wide, friendly smile, and reached out to stroke Fala’s neck.
“Thanks. What are you two doing here?” That was a stupid question, Sierra realized. Justin, who totally ignored her, had his eyes fixed on Crystal.
“We just came to watch you guys, but I didn’t know you’d be here. Is this your horse?”
“No, she belongs to Pegasus. I just get to compete on her today.”
“Wow; she’s beautiful. What’s her name?”
“Fala; she’s an Arabian.”
“Come on, Luke.” Justin slapped the sleeve of Luke’s jacket as he strode off. Crystal had just saluted the judge and was leaving the arena. Sierra had been watching the test from the corner of her eye. She knew Magic well enough to recognize the stiffness in his neck and the tense look in his eye. Nevertheless, he had moved with his natural big gaits and Crystal had performed all the movements with precision. It very well could be the winning test.
“See ya around,” Luke said in his usual friendly manner as he took off after Justin.
“Girls, put your horses up and meet me at the cross country grounds and we’ll walk your course,” Tess called out as Crystal dismounted not far from where Sierra stood with Fala.
Feeling almost euphoric, Sierra obediently led Fala back to her stall; happy with Fala’s performance and pleased that Luke had recognized her and taken the trouble to say hi. “Fala did great!” she told Manuel as he poked his head over the side of Silver’s stall to ask how she did. Gloria and Katrina had finished their dressage tests about twenty minutes ago and were not in sight, and Sierra assumed they had left their horses for Manuel to care for. She hung up her borrowed jacket, removed Fala’s tack, gave her a thorough brushing and then made sure she had fresh water and hay after leaving her in her stall.
Crystal just then showed up leading Magic, laughing and talking animatedly with Justin and Luke and two other girls from school who had joined them. She thrust the reins at Sierra and ordered, “Take care of him. I need to go walk the course.”
Reflexively, Sierra took the reins, stunned as Crystal and the others walked away. Hey, I need to walk the course too!
Luke hesitated and turned back. “Sierra, do you need help?”
Manuel stepped out of Silver’s stall and gently took the reins from Sierra. “You go…I take care of ‘eem,” he stated calmly.
“I can help,” Sierra offered although she was afraid Tess would not wait for her to walk the course with the others.
Manuel shook his head and pointed after the group with an insistent finger, “You go.”
Thanks,” Sierra smiled at him in gratitude and hurried to where Luke had actually stopped, waiting for her. Then he walked with her, straggling behind the group of his friends, commenting on everything around them enthusiastically.
They found Tess with Gloria and Katrina; and then all the riders followed Tess around the course as she explained the best strategies for both the beginner novice and novice level jumps. She pointed out the best approaches to each obstacle, where they would need to slow their mounts and be sure they had control, and where they could speed up to make up time. Sierra and Crystal had only seven jumps in the maiden course. Gloria and Katrina would be faced with eighteen. It was still drizzling off and on and blowing and Tess warned, “It’s slippery in places so really pay attention to the footing and slow down in the muddy areas, even if you have to come down to a trot. Any questions?”
When no one had anything further to ask, Tess continued to outline the plan for the rest of the day. “Gloria and Katrina, you have about twenty minutes before you need to warm up for cross country. I suggest you eat a light snack and drink some liquid, and then go get mounted. As soon as you complete your course, take your horse back to the stalls to cool him out. You’ll have about an hour and a half to let them rest before you need to warm up for stadium, and that’s when I’ll walk your stadium course with you.
“Crystal and Sierra, you two are doing stadium jumping next and we have enough time to walk that course now. Then you two should also get something light to eat and drink. You should be in the warm-up ring twenty minutes before your ride time. You’ll have a little longer break between stadium and cross country so pay attention to the time and make sure you allow at least thirty minutes to warm up.”
They arrived at the big outdoor arena where the stadium jumping courses were held. Tess led Sierra and Crystal first to a large notice board where the course for each division had been posted and told them to study and memorize the maiden course. Then she led them into the arena and around their course, pointing out where the footing looked a little deep or slick and how to make their turns to approach the next jump. Even though they would not have any combination jumps to ride in their course, Tess showed them how to pace off the distances between the jumps in a combination in order to estimate the number of strides between the elements. “You only have six jumps in the maiden class, half the usual course, and there are no time penalties. You don’t need to try to cut corners or approach at an angle, so just bring your horse straight on to face each jump and rate his speed. Crystal, if Magic gets himself too worked up, you can even bring him back to a trot.” They walked the course twice, and then it was time to return to the stalls, eat a quick bite, and get their horses ready.
*****
I know the course and none of the obstacles are any more difficult, in fact most are easier than what we have jumped at home, Sierra assured herself as she entered the arena after her number had been called. Nervous with all the eyes of the onlookers focused on her, she tried to replace them in her mind with images of the arena at Pegasus and only River’s eyes watching. “We’re good,” she whispered to Fala as she urged her into a trot and then quickly into a canter for her starting circle. Fala flicked her ears, indicating she was in tune to her rider, snorted a release of tension and transitioned smoothly from walk to trot to canter.
As Sierra focused on the first jump, all other thoughts vanished. Fala sailed over the low vertical, and with ears alert, straight on and over a low brick wall, then a turn and over a narrow double oxer. “Slow and easy, Girl,” Sierra whispered as she sat deep to slow Fala’s increasing pace. The willing mare flicked back her ears, but obediently slowed down, and took the remaining three jumps - a lattice-worked vertical, a small coop, and the final single bar, painted in colorful stripes - all in stride and without errors. Sierra rode Fala out of the arena hearing applause and a few cheers. She spied Luke at the exit gate, beaming up at her and giving her a triumphant fist in th
e air.
Tess nodded at Sierra and simply stated, “Well done,” before she turned her attention back to Crystal who had just entered the arena on Magic.
Sierra dismounted and turned to watch Crystal’s ride. Magic, with head high and already in a nervous lather, half-reared as Crystal jerked hard with the rein to turn him onto a circle. “Let go of his head,” Sierra breathed out as even she could see how Magic fought for release from Crystal’s tight hold. They finished with a clear round although Magic rushed between fences with Crystal sawing at his bit, trying to slow him before each obstacle. Sierra guessed that only his natural talent allowed him to clear each jump and probably the fact they were all very low heights. They left the ring to polite applause.
Outside the arena, Crystal jumped down from the saddle, angrily pulled the reins over Magic’s head and jerked forcefully down on his mouth.
“Crystal, don’t…” Sierra cried out in alarm at the cruel and needless punishment.
Crystal rounded on Sierra, her eyes narrowed and her mouth a tight snarl. “Don’t you ever tell me what to do,” she hissed. “Take him back to his stall.” She thrust the reins at Sierra, who took them without protest, used to taking orders from Crystal. Then Crystal noticed Justin and Luke watching with wide, curious eyes. “Go see if the dressage scores are posted,” she snapped out at them.
“Sure,” Justin replied, shrugging off her tone and the two boys set off.
Sierra started leading Fala and Magic back to their stalls, wondering how she was going to manage to get both horses taken care of at the same time.
“You ride dees leetle mare reel good.” Manuel said as he emerged from a group of onlookers, and again he rescued her by taking Magic’s reins. “I tell Reever, you soon ride better den ‘eem, ha, ha!” He chuckled to himself.
The Girl Who Loves Horses (Pegasus Equestrian Center Series) Page 12
