“I suggest you paint a diagonal-striped jump and spend some time schooling him over it,” Tess said.
“We’ve already done that. Didn’t you notice how we replaced the old picket fence with the railroad crossing out in the field?”
“Oh, well, good.”
River also competed on Pendragon at one more show, much to Mrs. Galensburg delight, for he took first place with a very high score, both for the fourth level test and for the musical kur. River would also ride Pendragon at the dressage regional championship at the end of September, and Sierra would show Fiel at second level.
*****
“We’re juniors,” Allison exclaimed the first day of school, as Sierra and she pushed their way through the throng of kids going to homeroom. “We’re half way through high school!”
“I know,” Sierra moaned. “PSATs this year.”
“Stop it; I’m stressing out already!” Allison cried in mock horror.
“I don’t know why we always have to start school so early, even before Labor Day,” Sierra complained. She had not been ready for summer to end and spending all day at the stable with River.
“It’s something about planning ahead for snow days so we can get out for summer on schedule,” Allison informed her.
They passed through the halls, greeting people they knew; everyone covertly checking out everyone else’s appearance and who was hanging out with whom.
“Look, there’s Billy and Charlene,” Allison pointed to the couple coming around a branch of the hallway.
“Still together,” Sierra said, and her heart warmed that the two had survived the incident of last year, and actually both looked very happy.
“I can’t wait to see Peter,” Allison said with a sigh. Allison’s boyfriend had a summer job as a counselor at a camp for children with disabilities, and then his family had gone away on vacation two weeks before the start of school. “He said he’d meet me at…oh!”
Peter came barreling through the thick barrier of kids between him and Allison, a wide grin on his face.
“Peter!” Allison called out, and when he reached her, they latched on to each other in a warm hug and then he lifted her up and swung her around.
“Watch it!” kids nearby called out finding themselves in danger of flying limbs.
“Hi, Peter,” Sierra said when the two finally broke apart. “How was your summer?”
They walked on, talking and laughing, and were almost to homeroom when they saw a crowd coming through the halls with kids moving aside for them like the wake of a speeding boat. In the midst of the group was Crystal, surrounded by her friends. To Sierra’s surprise, Gloria was in the group, but not at Crystal’s side in her previous status of ‘best friend’, but reduced to the fringes, a hanger-on. In spite of the unkind treatment she received from Crystal, she still clung to belonging to the elite group.
“I wonder who Crystal will latch onto this year since Stuart graduated,” Allison mused.
Sierra had an idea, but of course Dean had graduated also, and Crystal would need an on-site boyfriend. “I saw Justin; I guess he’s still in school.” Justin had moved from elite status to the druggie crowd over the last year, and always in trouble.
“Crystal is so way beyond Justin,” Allison said knowingly. “The only thing he had going for him was football, and he’s been in so much trouble he won’t be allowed to play again this year. I bet she’ll find herself another senior.”
Her mother had consented to allow River to drive Sierra back and forth to school. After all, she had been riding with River to horse shows all summer long, and her mother had been okay with that. It pleased Sierra how much her mother trusted River.
She didn’t see River at school at all, even though they were both juniors. She guessed it was because she was taking all college prep courses and River was not. Why not, River? He had walked with her to the lockers that morning where she met up with Allison, and then after school, they met at the back door.
They had walked through the parking lot to Cray’s old truck that River and Manuel had fixed up, when a car cruised by and coasted almost to a stop. Sierra looked up to find Dean leaning out the window of his sports car; Crystal in the seat next to him.
“I thought your mommy didn’t allow you to ride in cars with boys, Sierra,” he said spitefully.
River started to walk toward him, his posture menacing, but he stopped when Sierra replied, “That’s right, but River’s not a boy like you; he’s a man,” she said very sweetly.
Dean’s face contorted into an ugly grimace, and he gunned his motor and squealed away.
River looked at Sierra and laughed.
*****
Finally, the three-day Labor Day weekend arrived, and Sierra, Katrina, and River with Corazón, Calliope, and Moose, were off to the championship.
It had become a tradition for Pam to attend each year; and again they stayed in João’s old camper. River stayed as usual in the canvas draped stall, wanting to be close to the horses. Katrina had relatives that lived nearby, and she and her family stayed with them.
It was nice that they were all riding different levels and could therefore watch and cheer for each other. Tess came out with them to the warm-up areas, feeling it her duty to coach, but it was River that Sierra and even Katrina paid attention to.
The first day, they each rode their dressage tests. Tess wore a satisfied expression as she watched each performance; pleased with the compliments she heard murmured through the groups of onlookers. Pegasus would certainly shine again.
After dressage, Tess led the three riders around the cross country course.
“There’s no railroad crossing,” Sierra declared happily. Even though she had practiced over the one they had built at home, and Cory now took it without hesitation, she couldn’t be sure he would react the same way to such a jump at a show. He might perceive it as the same as the one at home, or he might be just as afraid if he found the railroad crossing in a different place.
At the end of the day and the dressage scores were posted, River and Sierra were both in first place at intermediate and training level. Katrina was in third place at preliminary. Dean was in second place behind Sierra.
*****
Sunday, cross country day, started out warm and by mid-morning, the temperature had reached ninety-two degrees and rising. River galloped Moose around the perimeter of the warm-up area, sweat already running down his back and sides beneath his shirt and heavy protective vest. He guided Moose toward the in-and-out jump Tess wanted him to take. Moose took off when River moved forward into two-point, took his one stride, and cleared the second element.
“Good, Moose,” River praised him and reached forward to stroke his neck as he brought him back to trot and encouraged him to stretch his neck. “We’re ready,” River said as they passed by Tess. A few minutes later, the ring steward called his number, and River brought Moose to a walk and rode him up to the starting box.
He worried about the heat. Moose seemed to be tolerating it okay and had his usual high energy, but River already felt exhausted and a little light-headed. Perhaps he was not quite as fully back in shape as he had thought.
“Ready?” the starter asked.
River nodded, and moved Moose into the starting box, walking him in a circle as the starter began the countdown. At the signal, River turned Moose to the exit and the big thoroughbred leapt forward into a gallop, and they were on course.
The intermediate course consisted of thirty-two obstacles including two combinations, one with two elements, and one with three elements. The heights of the fences were up to three-foot-nine inches.
The first two jumps, a panel made to look like a stockade wall and then a split rail fence came up quickly on level ground, and Moose soared over each one. They had to make a sharp turn to a very steep downhill, and River sat deep with his weight balanced and his heels pressed down as Moose negotiated down the slope, his hind end deep underneath him, and maintaining the canter. It ended
in a drop off a bank, and Moose jumped down without hesitation. “Bien,” River praised him as they reached the level and then on to face a roll top; no problem for Moose. After another change of direction and a short level stretch, they came to the first combination: two fences a stride apart, followed by the third element at two strides and on a downhill.
“Tranquilo,” River spoke to Moose, sitting deeper and touching the reins to slow the increasing tempo of his gallop. Moose obediently responded and as they approached the first element River moved his hands forward. Moose vaulted over, landed, and with the pressure from his rider’s legs vaulted again over the second fence, took his two strides and cleared the third, with a snort as he landed. “Bien,” River praised him with a touch at his withers.
They galloped on to the water and Moose jumped in as if eager to feel the splash of cool water, and then jumped up the bank and on. The next eight jumps he cleared well in stride, galloping on at a rhythmic pace.
River found his breath coming shorter and shorter, the muscles of his legs aching, and his body wet with sweat. “Como estás?” he asked his horse as he tuned into his breathing and trying to detect any signs of faltering or fatigue. Moose’s neck glistened with sweat, not unusual for such a hot day. He snorted in rhythm with his galloping stride, his muscles moving rhythmically and showing no indication of wanting to slow down. His horse seemed to be faring much better than his rider.
Half way, I can make it, River told himself, his vision blurring at the fast pace, and feeling more and more light-headed.
They cleared four more jumps, and came up to the second combination with two elements, a box jump in-and-out. River signaled Moose at the take-off point, and the big horse landed and responded to River’s leg to take off again, and they cleared the second element and galloped on and over a Trakehner.
River’s legs felt weaker and weaker with each of Moose’s strides, and he found himself grabbing mane to help keep his balance. Just keep him on course, River said to himself, and he would have to trust Moose to negotiate his own take offs, for River was riding now just to stay on. Nine jumps to go. He didn’t know if he could make it.
He turned Moose to gallop up a long slope with a ramp jump coming up as soon as they crested the hill and then three more jumps on the level. At another downhill stretch, River’s vision started going black, and he slumped forward over Moose’s neck, not even able to use his weight or take the reins to slow him down. But Moose felt his rider slipping, and he gradually slowed his pace, adjusting himself underneath, trying to help his rider get back to where he belonged. He saw the stone wall they were headed toward, and snorted, as if asking his rider, ‘what in the heck are you doing?’
At the easy gait and with Moose trying to help him, River’s mind cleared enough for him to shift himself back in position, just in time for Moose to take off and clear the stone wall. Four to go! He needed to stay alert, for after the next jump came a sharp turn toward the last stretch of the course. They cleared the next fence and River watched for the gap in the trees, not quite remembering how many strides from the last jump. Then he saw it almost too late, and had to bring Moose down to trot for a few steps to circle back, and then they were through the trees. The last three jumps were in a zigzag pattern. Clutching mane, he pointed Moose to the brush fence and with all the determination he could muster, stayed balanced over his neck as the big horse cleared the jump and landed. He touched his right hand rein and Moose turned to the right toward an oxer, each rail painted a different color, and soared over. He felt his rider touch the left hand rein, and he turned again and galloped on to clear a green painted panel between two slender juniper trees, and when his rider gave him no further directions, galloped straight on through two flagpoles.
“Moose,” River murmured his name in gratitude, as he managed to sit back and ask him to slow. “Gracias, hermano, gracias.” As Moose came down to a walk, River slumped forward over his neck, patting and praising him, for it was Moose that had managed to complete the course.
*****
Tess, Sierra, and Katrina had all been watching from a vantage where they could see many of the intermediate level jumps. Sierra had been surprised that Katrina had joined them since she still was not speaking to Sierra, but then she realized it had been at Tess’s encouragement to ‘watch the intermediate riders’, since Calliope could potentially move up to this level next season. When the three of them saw River almost fall off, Tess cried out, “Oh, my God, oh no!” Without thinking and her heart in her throat, Sierra started to move forward to go to him but she was stopped when Katrina reflexively grabbed onto her arm, emitting a cry of alarm. When River regained his seat, Sierra and Katrina hugged each other in relief. Some of the tension between them eased after that, and Katrina even asked, “What happened?” as they went to meet him after he finished the course.
“I don’t know,” Sierra answered.
When they met River riding slumped over Moose’s neck, but still in the saddle, Katrina said, “Help him, I’ll take Moose.” Sierra’s heart filled with gratitude.
“I overestimated my strength,” River explained, as he reclined in a canvas chair back at the stalls, chugging down bottles of water. “I think I would have been okay if it weren’t so hot.”
Katrina helped Sierra take care of Moose, while Tess paced, the activity relieving her taut nerves. She frequently looked at her watch, and at last said, “All right, Katrina, you’d better get ready to start warming up.” At the same time, an announcement came across outdoor speakers that the intermediate riders had all finished the course and preliminary riders would begin in the next fifteen minutes. Katrina was scheduled tenth in the line-up, and she had about thirty minutes to get Calliope tacked and warmed up.
“Let me help you get Calliope ready,” Sierra offered and again appreciated when Katrina said okay. She hoped this meant they could be friends again.
Katrina and Calliope had a clean round, and Sierra and Corazón also went clean when their turn came up next for training level.
At the end of the day, River remained in first place at junior intermediate, in spite of one time penalty. Katrina moved up to second place at junior preliminary, and Sierra remained first at junior training level, with Dean second.
*****
“I’m fine,” River insisted the next day, starting to get annoyed with how Sierra watched every move he made, even though he appreciated her concern. “I just got too hot, and riding stadium is nothing like a cross country course. I was okay yesterday until the last half.”
“He’ll be fine,” Tess agreed, even more annoyed whenever Sierra asked River how he felt, and if he shouldn’t scratch.
They had finished walking the intermediate stadium course and he had a half hour to rest before getting Moose ready. He really did feel fine; nothing like getting rehydrated and a good night’s sleep.
Sierra didn’t begin to relax until River and Moose finished their warm-up and River looked his usual self on the back of a horse. She followed them to the arena when his number was called, and then watched with her heart swelling with love and pride as the pair completed their stadium round without faults or time penalties; moving as one beautiful and harmonious being.
It meant River and Moose had just won the Junior Intermediate Pacific Regional Championship.
Again as a group, they walked the preliminary course, and shortly after, Katrina and Calliope also had a clean round without time penalties. The previous first place rider took a rail down in stadium, and that moved Katrina and Calliope into first; winning the championship at junior preliminary.
Then it was time for training level. Tess led them again to the stadium to walk the course. As they approached and caught sight of the jumps, Sierra froze and the others also stopped. The tenth jump of the course was a railroad crossing!
“Don’t worry,” River said. “I don’t think he’ll even blink at it.” He tried to sound confident as they paced off between jumps up to the railroad crossing. This jum
p had the top panel in diagonal stripes, but in black and white instead of red and white.
Would that make a difference to Cory? Would he react differently since the jump was inside a stadium rather than the open field? Sierra wondered, her heart in her throat and her spine tense.
They walked out of the stadium and at the exit gate, they passed Dean going in to walk the course. He looked sideways at Sierra with a smirky grin.
Standing at the rail, Crystal watched, and as they came close she said, “Sierra, guess who’s good friends with the course planner?”
Sierra looked over at her and frowned, not at all sure why she should care.
“Dean’s mother,” Crystal answered her own question and with an evil smile, turned back to watch Dean.
“I don’t believe it; of all the low-down…” Tess said in disgust.
“It will be okay,” River said, the only one who seemed un-phased. “Sierra and Cory are going to do fine.”
River and Katrina both helped get Corazón tacked up while Sierra pulled on her riding boots, slipped on her hunt coat, and adjusted her helmet on her head.
“Carry a whip,” Tess said, extending her hand with a jumping bat.
“I won’t need it,” Sierra said with more confidence than she felt, and caught the smile on River’s face.
“You really won’t need it,” he whispered to her as they led Cory to the mounting block of the warm-up area.
River’s confidence did help, and also remembering that this was supposed to be fun. She had enjoyed working with Cory at home under River’s coaching, getting him to not only jump the railroad crossing they had built in the field, but to actually walk up to it and stand. All that work should pay off, and the fun part was testing if it would work today. That’s what counts, she reminded herself, not beating Dean.
She focused in on Cory’s powerful muscles galloping underneath her as he snorted in rhythm with his stride in their warm-up. She could feel his eagerness to go and she reminded herself again what a pleasure it was to ride such a willing horse. She loved how he arched his neck, showing off as they passed other horses, yet listening to all her aids.
The Boy Who Loves Horses (Pegasus Equestrian Center Series) Page 38
