The Boy Who Loves Horses (Pegasus Equestrian Center Series)

by Diana Vincent

  With strong encouragement from Tess, Sierra, and Katrina; River agreed to start Corazón at training level rather than novice.

  At the end of March, Pegasus riders participated at their first competition of the season, a schooling one-day event. River won two first places; on Felicity at beginner novice level and Corazón at training level. Gloria had also entered in the schooling show at Tess’s insistence, since it was her first competition on her new horse. Four Score, a ten-year-old chestnut Holsteiner had been shown by his previous owner at preliminary level. Gloria had a hard time hiding her disappointment when she only came in fourth place at training level. Like Crystal, she did not get it that an expensive, well-trained horse did not guarantee winning. A good horse needs a good rider to perform its best.

  The following weekend, River competed on Moose at preliminary and took first place; and earned his last qualifying ride in order to move up to intermediate.

  Dressage came next, the second weekend of April. River again took first place on Pendragon, riding fourth level. Sierra decided to start out at the same level she and Fiel had shown at their last show the season before, and rode first level test three. To her delight, she scored a sixty-nine percent, and won her class. Katrina also rode Calliope at first level, test three, a test very similar to the preliminary level dressage test. She was pleased with her score of sixty-five percent, and second place.

  Not all of the local events offered an intermediate level of competition, so the following weekend, River and Tess traveled some distance from Pegasus so that River could compete on Moose at intermediate. Again, he took first place, although as he had predicted, Moose did not score as well at this level in dressage, and they won only because the horse that had scored above them in dressage had a refusal cross country.

  The last weekend of April arrived and the first local rated event of the season with five riders and horses from Pegasus entered: Diva and Calliope at preliminary, and at training level, Silver Knight, Four Score, and Corazón.

  Sierra and Katrina arrived early in the morning to help River and Manuel ready the horses and load them into the six-horse trailer. Manuel’s cousin, Enrique, would take over the chores at the stable that day so that Manuel could help out at the show.

  With the show season underway, and ramped up training schedules at the stable, Sierra found all her free time centered on caring for and riding horses. It was the best cure for her broken heart, for the needs of the horses occupied all her attention and she hardly ever thought of Dean.

  It also seemed that her relationship with River had somewhat re-established to its previous easy camaraderie and sharing their tacit love and respect of the horses. Sierra could have been content enough with friendship with River, at least for now, except for the possessiveness of Katrina. She could not suppress her jealous feelings as she watched her friend hover around River, grabbing his hand or kissing him on the cheek. She knew she had no right to resent Katrina, and guilt niggled in next to her jealousy. Her only consolation was that she never noticed River initiate a kiss or holding Katrina’s hand.

  So it was in high spirits that Sierra arrived with the others at the show grounds for her first combined training event of the year.

  Crystal and Katrina rode their preliminary dressage tests first.

  “Diva should place first if the judge overlooks the two times she was overbent,” River said as he and Sierra watched their tests. “If she would just let go of her mouth…” He mumbled something derogatory and Sierra made a sound of agreement.

  Katrina had a decent test on Calliope and beamed proudly as she rode her mare out of the test ring, especially when River smiled at her and said, “You two did well.”

  Then it was time for Sierra, River, and Gloria to warm up for their training level tests. Sierra had been riding Silver in dressage at home as well as cross country, and thought they were well prepared. He was such an even-tempered guy, who did perk up with more energy at a show but never felt out of control. River had told her that dressage was much more Silver’s talent than jumping, and if Gloria competed him just in dressage, would probably have a lot more success. She trotted the big gray, now on the bit, asking him to collect and then lengthen his stride and very pleased at his prompt responses to her aids.

  Silver suddenly pinned his ears and stiffened his back as another rider came up behind them, riding way too close, Sierra thought, and did he actually flick Silver with his whip? The rider passed without looking at her, but Sierra knew it had been done on purpose when she recognized the rider…Dean! Darkness seeped into her spirit at sight of him. But of course he would be here. He had started taking lessons from Tess because he had failed to qualify for preliminary last season, even though he owned a very talented horse. She had stood at the rail watching so many of his lessons that she knew his horse, Calculator, had been refusing fences. Tess had been working with Dean on rating his stride and helping him place his horse at the correct take-off; and then re-schooling him over countless low courses in many different combinations to build Calculator’s confidence. They had made progress for there had been almost no refusals in the lessons of the past two months.

  I will not let him ruin my time here, she said to herself with a bitter taste at the back of her throat. She knew he needed one more qualifying ride to move up to preliminary, and she hoped he would earn it today. Then he would be competing against Crystal and Katrina, not her.

  After everyone had finished their dressage tests, Tess led them around the cross country course, coaching the preliminary and training level riders at the same time. Now in her third year of competition, Sierra was pleased that the grounds were familiar to her, and although the course varied from year to year, she would still be facing many familiar obstacles.

  “Silver will have the hardest time with the bank and again jumping downhill at the log. He really doesn’t like jumping down, so use your whip if you feel any hesitation,” Tess warned Sierra. She nodded in agreement, for the few times she had a refusal from Silver in their practice at home, had been at the bank. But she had gotten him down it each time, and in her last few jumping sessions, he had not refused.

  The training level riders would ride stadium next while the preliminary riders rode cross country and they had just enough time to walk the stadium course right after returning from the cross country course.

  Then it was time to get back in the saddle and warm up for stadium. Again, Silver responded promptly to her aids as she trotted and cantered him around the warm-up area, and then over a cross rail jump. She watched River on Corazón whenever she had a chance to glance his way. She could detect Cory’s pent-up energy and excitement in his arched neck with bulging veins, but she couldn’t detect if River was having any difficulty in controlling him. River rode two rides after her, and she was glad she would be able to watch them.

  She heard Gloria’s number called, and watched her ride out of the warm-up area over to the stadium. “We’re next,” she spoke to Silver, and brought him down to a stretching trot, to help him relax but stay warmed up. When the ring steward called to her that she was on deck, she brought Silver to a walk and headed over to the stadium.

  Gloria had a clean round, but with two time faults. She rode out of the arena with her expression tight, and she threw a searing glance at Sierra as they passed each other on their way in and out. Sierra moved Silver into a beginning circle at a trot, picked up the canter, and started the course. They cleared all twelve obstacles and had no time faults.

  “Good boy!” she praised Silver enthusiastically as they left the arena. With her attention focused on Silver, she avoided having to look at Dean, who rode next.

  “Good ride,” River said to her and smiled as he came up on Corazón, for he was after Dean.

  “Thanks; he tries really hard.”

  “He does,” River agreed.

  They both turned to watch Calculator. Sierra realized what an aggressive rider Dean was, for he used spurs and raised his jumping bat before
each obstacle, not even waiting for Calculator to take the jump on his own. They finished the round clean and Sierra noticed how Dean left the stadium, his eyes looking over to someone, and never even a pat on the neck for his horse that had done very well. How could she have ever thought he cared about horses? Well, River had been right about that too. Sure, she had seen him pat Fiel and then Diva on the neck when they had ridden together; but that was with her watching. But all the times after he had finished his lesson at Pegasus, she thought back to how he tossed the reins off to the groom, never looking back at his horse, never going over to him with a carrot or some other treat.

  “Cory, go wow them,” Sierra said, turning her attention back to River as he stepped away to enter the ring. He raised a hand in acknowledgement but had his attention focused on his horse and did not turn around. Once in the stadium, River moved Cory into the beginning circle and then on course. Sierra watched how fluidly the two of them galloped on and floated over each obstacle in harmonious accord. River did not wear spurs and didn’t even carry a whip. It was a joy to observe the eagerness that Cory displayed as he jumped in a beautiful arc over each fence, to land and gallop on off his hind end, and effortlessly change leads as he made turns. It was a flawless ride, although a few seconds slower than Calculator.

  Applause and cheers from the spectators greeted each rider as they completed their round, but Sierra noted how the cheering seemed more enthusiastic for Cory, and how people laughed and commented as he pranced proudly out of the stadium.

  “Lunch break,” Tess announced as Sierra and River arrived back at the stalls leading their horses. “Eat light but drink plenty of water.”

  “How was cross country?” Sierra asked Katrina who was using a hose to fill up the water bucket in Calliope’s stall.

  “We went clean,” Katrina exclaimed happily. “She was so good, even through the water and…” Katrina chattered on about different obstacles on her course while Sierra and River untacked and brushed down Silver and Cory. Finally she finished describing her ride and asked, “What about your stadium rounds?”

  “We all went clean but Gloria has time faults.” Sierra led Silver into his stall and Katrina passed her the hose so she could fill the water bucket. “Guess who’s here competing at training level.”

  “Dean, I know,” Katrina answered.

  “You knew that already?”

  “He’s hanging out with Crystal over at the snack stand.”

  “Really?” Sierra asked, although not really surprised.

  “Yeah, and Gloria looks like she’s ready to kill someone. What’s up with her?”

  “Who knows? I think Four Score is not turning out to be the sure winner she thought. Too bad; if she’d spend a little more time riding and getting to know him they might actually do well. River says he’s got good breeding and has had some good training.”

  “Where’s the food?” River asked, stepping out of Cory’s stall. Sierra and Katrina had packed lunches so they wouldn’t have to buy food, and they began to pull out sandwiches and drinks from a cooler.

  They had two hours before time to warm up for their last ride and they wandered over to the show office to pick up their dressage test sheets, and then Katrina asked River to walk her stadium course with her one more time. Sierra tagged along, interested to check out a preliminary course.

  At one point, Sierra looked up and noticed Crystal and Dean standing near the course postings, talking together about something very intently, and then they both looked over where River was walking with Katrina. Sierra hesitated, watching them watch River, noticing the deep frown on Dean’s face as Crystal spoke to him. What are those two plotting? Her suspicions churned in her stomach, upsetting her just-eaten lunch, as Sierra recalled Justin giving shocks to Fiel and Gunsmoke. It looked to her like Crystal had a new accomplice.

  As if sensing someone watching her, Crystal jerked her head to stare back at Sierra, her lips curling into a snarl. Dean also turned, and smiled at Sierra, a smile full of spite.

  *****

  “Here we go,” River whispered to Cory as they sprang forth from the starting box. Cory’s ears pricked forward as he reached with his forelegs in a gallop as his powerful hind end propelled him on; as eager as his rider. They covered the straight stretch to the first obstacle, a three-foot brush jump; not difficult but River knew he would need to make a fairly sharp right hand turn very quickly. Cory sailed over and as River looked to the right, Cory also turned in that direction, just as River’s left leg touched his side. River delighted with their harmonious communication. It never ceased to amaze him how often it seemed he only needed to think of what he wanted to do next for his horse to already respond. They galloped on over a roll top obstacle and then up a hill to a rail fence at the top.

  River had been surprised to discover how much he actually enjoyed competing, especially in combined training. It wasn’t the tallying up of scores at the end of the day and winning first place. He truly found no satisfaction in that, for he admired the horses ridden by the other competitors, and loved each one for the willingness and courage they displayed in spite of some very bad riding. And there were some good riders too, which pleased him even more when he saw a pair in harmony with each other in a partnership made of love and respect.

  What River loved the most was the cross country jumping; the thrill of riding a course that his horse had never seen before and feeling the anticipation, excitement, and sometimes even fear, as they galloped around taking the obstacles together.

  With Moose the challenge had been to overcome the thoroughbred’s desire to only run as fast as he could, and to help him overcome his spookiness of the strange obstacles; to trust his rider, and slow down to a competent speed and then jump without rushing.

  Riding Cory however, was almost no challenge, as the horse’s love of jumping and eagerness to gallop outside in an open space matched his own. Moving with the rhythm of Cory’s gaits was pure joy; a joy shared with his horse. On Cory’s back, the world contracted to just the two of them, or rather the two of them merged into one being with a mutual purpose – to be wild and free.

  After the rail fence they had another straight stretch and then a turn at the crest of a hill to take another log and then descend down a steep slope; a tricky jump, for River immediately needed to sit back and communicate to Cory to gather himself underneath and slow down to a canter to take the slope safely. At the bottom, River let him stretch out again and they galloped on and into the water. Cory laid his ears back because like most horses, he did not like to get his feet wet; but he never hesitated and galloped in with the shallow water splashing up to his knees and spraying his belly, and then jumped up and out over a railroad tie bank.

  Cory faced each obstacle courageously, encouraged by the enthusiasm of the rider he trusted, until he came to the twenty-first fence, with only three to go. River suddenly felt Cory tighten his muscles as he raised his head and snorted suspiciously at the fence, made to look like a railroad crossing with a red and white diagonal-striped board between two poles with round disks at their tops. He shortened his stride and even pulled to the right as if he wanted to flee.

  “Que pasa? What is it?” River talked to his horse as they approached the jump. He could feel the tightened muscles of fear, and the hesitation; something he had never experienced with Cory before. He’s going to run out! Making a snap decision, River turned Cory to the left, brought him down to a trot and made a wide circle. Since they had not come close enough to have actually presented the jump to Cory, it would not count as a run out or refusal, but he was sure to receive time penalties.

  River completed the circle, feeling a slight easing of Cory’s tightness, yet he continued to snort nervously. Well, here goes. He turned Cory to face the jump, urging him with his legs and his heart, speaking to him, “Tu puedes, you can!” He pushed him on, back into a canter and Cory leaped into a gallop, rushed at the jump, and trusting his rider, leapt over the frightening obstacle with a foot to
spare, and galloped on at breakneck speed. River whooped out loud as he praised his horse, reaching forward to pat his neck and allowed him a few more strides of full out gallop before he sat back and eased him to a more controlled pace. They took the last three jumps in Cory’s usual flawless style, and finished the course. They had no jumping faults but had two time penalties.

  “What was that all about?” River spoke out loud to his horse as he brought him down to trot and then to a walk to cool him down. Something about that diagonal-striped board had really panicked Cory. Had he been hit with such a board in the past, or come close to a real railroad crossing and experienced a train rushing by? He would probably never know; but he was bursting with pride for his horse. Cory had trusted him enough to approach and jump over something that obviously terrorized him.

  “Cory must have done well,” Sierra greeted River as he walked back to the stalls, now leading Cory. It pleased her to see the happy expression on his face. River looked up to meet her eyes and smiled with such genuine warmth that her heart ached with a longing for him to always look at her that way.

  “He did very well,” River said. “How did Silver go?”

  “Clean! I didn’t even need a whip at the bank; I just pushed him harder with my legs and cheered him on.” Sierra turned back to pat Silver on his silky neck where she had just brushed his coat.

  “You’re getting along well with him,” River said.

  Sierra quickly turned to give Silver another few strokes with the brush as she felt her face heat up at the compliment.

  River told her about the fence that had spooked Cory but that the big black had taken it anyway; how proud he was of him. They talked for a few minutes about the course; which jumps had been difficult and which ones had been especially fun. Their conversation was easy and relaxed…like old times.

  The pleasant interlude was too soon interrupted by the return of Katrina leading Calliope and Manuel leading Diva back from stadium jumping. “Katrina looks happy,” Sierra commented, noting the smile on her face.