For The Love of Horses (Pegasus Equestrian Center)

by Diana Vincent

  “You’re in the hole,” River told her as she trotted up to him. “You’ve got enough time to take her over that cross rail. Take her in a figure eight twice around so she jumps from each direction, and then head on over to the stadium.”

  Sierra rode Felicity over the low cross rail jump, brought her back to trot and then walk, and followed River to where the stadium course had been set up.

  She had walked the stadium course earlier with River, and knew it was a straightforward, schooling level course; ten jumps all under three feet, and only one tight turn and one double combination with a long approach; all well within Felicity’s ability. When her number was called, she entered the stadium, allowed Felicity to walk a few yards into the arena to look around, and then asked for trot to canter for the beginning circle. Felicity obeyed and they headed to the first jump, a vertical with two bright green-and-yellow colored rails. Felicity flicked her ears and raised her head a stride before the jump and Sierra felt her muscles hesitate. “Go for it,” she called out and pressed with her legs to push the young mare on. Felicity obeyed, and galloped the stride and took off, clearing the first jump. Sierra guided her to the next, the same coop in the maiden course but set a half-foot higher. Felicity cleared it with no signs of hesitation. The next three jumps also presented no problem, and then they faced the combination. Sierra used more leg during the approach, and Felicity sailed over the first element, took the two strides in between, and cleared the second. Sierra guided her around a turn with only four jumps left. As they completed the turn to head toward a two-foot-nine brick wall, something flashed in the breeze and caused the red color of the painted brick pattern, wet from the rain, to shimmer. Felicity threw up her head and veered to the inside of the jump; a run-out. Surprised by the youngster’s reaction, Sierra had been unprepared to react to the run-out, but she quickly brought her back around to try again, squeezing with her legs to push her forward and a tap on the rump with her jumping bat. Felicity obeyed, although she still held her head high in fear, but she picked up her speed to rush the jump, and then put on the brakes, skidding to a halt before the brick wall, throwing Sierra forward onto her neck. Shaken, Sierra quickly sat back in the saddle and turned the mare again, pushing her up into a trot, and this time, decided to approach the obstacle at a trot for the first few strides, and allow her to see there was nothing to fear. Felicity huffed out a snort as they approached, but responded by trotting forward. Sierra could feel her wanting to run out again to the side of the wall, but she kept her legs pressing on each side, to keep Felicity facing the jump and going forward. Two strides before the wall, she clucked, pressed with her legs, and tapped again with the bat. Felicity obediently jumped into canter, and when she pricked her ears forward, Sierra believed she would take the jump. So it was quite a shock when Felicity again skidded to a halt, refusing the jump. A bell rang, the signal that with three refusals, they were now eliminated.

  Since this was a schooling show, the ring steward asked Sierra if she wanted to try and get her horse over the wall.

  Sierra nodded and circled Felicity in a canter and this time pushed and pushed and pushed as they approached the wall, not letting up for one moment, and Felicity jumped high and wide, with ears flat, but she cleared the wall. Sierra was allowed to take the last three jumps, which Felicity did not seem to have an issue with, and then she exited the arena to join her friends.

  “What happened?” Tess demanded as Sierra dismounted.

  “I don’t know what spooked her about that wall,” Sierra tried to explain as she pulled the reins over Felicity’s head.

  “She isn’t very brave,” River said, as he stepped in to pat Felicity on her neck and then loosened the saddle girth. “And this is only her third time at a show and her first time out since last season. Give her a break, Tess.”

  Scowling, Tess didn’t comment. She turned her attention back to the stadium to watch the next rider.

  “She’ll never let me ride Felicity again,” Sierra said as they led the chestnut back to the stalls.

  “Don’t worry about it,” River assured her. “If you don’t ride Felicity, there will be another horse you can compete on.”

  “I feel like I’ve let Pegasus down.”

  “I feel like maybe Tess shouldn’t expect so much from a green horse, and a rider who so far has only competed on seasoned, experienced horses.”

  “But…”

  “You’ve both learned something today,” River interrupted, “you’re both a little more experienced. Tess sometimes forgets that the actual show is important in training and developing confidence. It is a schooling show.” He emphasized the word schooling.

  Again, since it was a schooling show, Sierra was allowed to take Felicity over the cross country course, even though they would not be judged. They had a well-controlled warm-up, and Sierra wondered if Felicity’s improved manners were because they warmed up in the same field, or was it because Sierra herself was more relaxed with the pressure of competing off. Do I communicate stress to my horse that I’m not even aware of? She wondered. If so, this experience definitely was an eye-opener and would give her a lot to think about and work on before the next show.

  When it was their time, Sierra started Felicity on course feeling relaxed and confident and enjoying the speed of a gallop over open terrain. Felicity also seemed the most relaxed she had been all day, and took her jumps enthusiastically with ears pricked forward. Sierra loved the energy coming to her from Felicity’s muscles underneath, and although she had been eliminated, it didn’t dampen the joy of riding an energetic horse that enthusiastically cleared the outdoor jumps.

  As they approached the water crossing, Sierra could feel Felicity begin to veer away. “No, no,” she called out to her mount, and used her legs to push the mare back in line, also using a direct rein to turn her head to face the water. The mare obediently galloped through the water without any hesitation in her stride. “Good girl,” Sierra praised her. “What was that all about?” Felicity had never hesitated before the water at home.

  After the water, Felicity galloped on, full of energy. She’s enjoying this as much as I am! They cleared a stone wall, a brush jump and then took a gentle slope downhill toward a bright-red panel hanging from a rail. Suddenly, Felicity jerked up her head and ran out to the side of the jump as the ever-present wind caused the panel to swing. Sierra quickly brought her around and pushing hard, brought her back to face the panel, and this time, the mare did not hesitate, and sailed over. I allowed my attention to slip, Sierra admonished herself as she realized she had been feeling over-confident since Felicity had been galloping with forward energy. Staying in tune to her mount, Sierra and Felicity cleared the remaining obstacles.

  In every course, there is often one jump refused by many of the horses. Sierra didn’t know that until all the novice riders had finished their rides and she and Candace listened to Tess sum up the day.

  “Almost every beginner novice and novice horse today refused or ran out at the panel jump,” Tess informed them. “The wind certainly didn’t make it easy today, but weather happens and it’s no excuse for not remaining vigilant every moment of your ride.”

  Very true, Sierra agreed as she nodded her head, acknowledging her mistake.

  “Candace, Shadow came through for you today, in spite of the fact that you let her rush. It looked like you almost lost your seat at the log pile.”

  “I did; I know we were going too fast, and I think I kind of froze on her back. I forgot the pattern and I remembered just in time, but I made too sharp a turn to get back in line for the log pile.”

  “It’s good that you’re able to figure out what went wrong. It’s your first show, and really, you two did quite well. I’m sure you’ll be in the ribbons.”

  “Lucky for me we didn’t have to take that panel jump in the maiden course,” Candace said to Sierra.

  “Okay,” Tess finished debriefing and glanced at her watch. “Beginner novice, and novice scores should be p
osted, so go pick up your dressage score sheets and check your final scores.”

  Sierra, River, Candace, and Glen strolled over to the show office. Candace was ecstatic to find she had placed third. Sierra picked up her dressage test and wasn’t surprised at her poor score.

  “I don’t want to hear what Tess will say about this,” Sierra moaned, handing her test sheet to River. “I know it’s my fault that Felicity was so distracted and spooky.”

  “Don’t let Tess get to you,” River said. “She’s just worried because she doesn’t have a guaranteed eventing champion this year…since Cory’s gone and Moose is sold.”

  From the show office, they passed by the arena where the training level division was currently doing stadium jumping.

  “I want to watch for a few minutes,” Sierra said, always eager to see what other courses were like.

  “I’d like to watch too; do you mind, Glen?” Candace asked her husband, “just for a few minutes.”

  “Sure,” he said good-naturedly, for as far as he was concerned, the day was shot for doing anything else anyway, and it did make his wife happy. They all sauntered up to a vacant spot near the rail to watch, just as a bay horse and rider entered the arena, circled, and started down the line to the first jump.

  “Well, well, if it isn’t the Pegasus team,” a familiar voice said.

  Sierra whipped her head to the right and met the mocking eyes of Crystal Douglas, not far from them on the rail. She frowned in annoyance before turning away. River kept facing forward, ignoring Crystal.

  “You’re just in time to see Dean on his new horse,” Crystal said cheerily. “He’s up next.”

  “Dean?” Sierra couldn’t help but blurt out the question. “I thought he was back east at some college!” Just hearing his name caused hot irritation to churn in her stomach.

  “Spring break; isn’t it nice that it happens to coincide with this show?” Crystal said very sweetly.

  “No,” Sierra answered bitingly and turned away. She felt no compulsion to disguise her dislike of her ex-boyfriend.

  The bay horse finished the round with one rail down, and exited the arena.

  “Let’s go,” River said, not wanting to hang around to watch his old rival and enemy. They turned to go just as the announcer called out, “Number twenty-three, Dean Clark riding Diablo.”

  Sierra couldn’t help but look up in curiosity. She looked around and noticed others also surveying the area for the next rider. “Number twenty-three,” the announcer called again.

  “Watch out!” someone yelled, and then coming from the warm-up area, a large black horse trotted forth, his head high with his rider holding the reins in a short, tight hold. The horse shook his head and actually leapt up and then bucked, desperately trying to free his head.

  “Why, that looks like…” Candace cried out, just as Sierra also recognized the horse.

  “Oh no!” Sierra moaned out loud. The noises around the arena merged into a single sound rushing into her ears and her vision blacked out everything except the fighting animal. Her spine tightened as her heart palpitated painfully. She gasped in a breath, and felt for a moment as if she would pass out. “Not Cory,” she whispered almost inaudibly. She looked at River and it seemed to her in slow motion, saw his face pale, his expression stricken, and then he lunged forward toward the rail.

  River slammed against the rail of the stadium arena where Dean had entered and was cantering in the beginning circle. Sierra rushed forward to River’s side. Frozen, they watched in horror as Dean alternately jerked reins and then whacked with his jumping bat to maneuver around the course, with Cory fighting him every step. Sierra heard gasps from other onlookers, everyone appalled at the aggressive riding.

  In terror, Cory raced through the course, clearing the obstacles high and wide, and only his athletic ability preventing him stumbling or losing his balance at his frantic pace. It seemed a miracle he got around the course without a jumping fault or much worse, injuring himself.

  There was no applause as Dean finished his ride and exited the arena. River pushed his way through the spectators and met him outside the exit gate. Dean yanked the reins hard, causing Cory to half rear before coming to a halt with his eyes rolling in panic.

  As River tried to come close, Dean brandished his jumping bat at River’s face, warning him off.

  “That’s my horse!” River cried out. Only his long-ingrained habit of maintaining calm around horses kept River from rushing forward to leap at Dean and forcefully pull him off Cory’s back.

  “Oh no, loser,” Dean answered in a voice filled with smug satisfaction and an evil smile spreading across his face. “You bought a stolen horse, and I got him from his rightful owner. He is totally mine now.”

  River took two more steps toward Cory, intending to at least try and soothe the frightened horse.

  “Stay back,” Dean warned. When River ignored him, Dean slashed out with his crop across River’s face.

  A collective ‘oh no’ rose from the shocked onlookers.

  River pivoted and grabbed Dean’s leg, pushing it back out of the stirrup and then pulled with all his strength to unseat him.

  Dean yelled out and slashed wildly with his crop while gripping onto the pommel of his saddle to keep his seat. But River managed to pull him half way out of the saddle before onlookers intervened. Sierra took Cory’s reins as he again half-reared. Glen and another man grabbed River’s arms to pull him away.

  “Get him off me! He’s insane!” Dean’s eyes were wild in panic as he struggled to keep his seat, but with the addition of two men trying to pull River away, he completely lost his hold and fell to the ground.

  “No, Son, fighting isn’t going to accomplish anything,” Glen tried to convince River as he and the other man held him firmly back from attacking Dean lying at his feet.

  Show officials surrounded the group and ordered them all to come along to the show office.

  Corazón stood with his head high, his eyes wide with fright, and his legs trembling. “Easy there now,” Sierra murmured to him and reached out her hand to stroke his neck. He jerked his head up and stepped away. “Oh my, what have they done to you?” she tried to soothe him; her heart breaking at how he had reverted back to his defensive behavior, and showed no indication that he even recognized Sierra.

  “I’ll take him, Miss,” a man said, stepping up and grabbing firmly the reins from Sierra. She recognized the groom that used to come to tend the horses when Dean and his sister Caroline came for lessons from Tess. In a state of shock, she released the reins, and watched in agony as the groom forcefully led Cory away.

  A triumphant laugh sounded close behind, and the unmistakable mocking voice of Crystal said, “What’s the matter, Sierra? Did you lose something?”

  Sierra’s spine cringed and her heart filled with a heavy weight as she spun around to face her enemy. “Crystal, how can you be so mean?” Sierra cried out. “Is your heart made of stone? Are you that evil?”

  With a look of complete satisfaction, a smile spread across Crystal’s face. “Payback,” she spat out. “Don’t talk to me about evil, you little twit. I know how you’ve mocked me and disrespected me behind my back. Well, you are nothing; a nobody. You and your mother are just trailer trash. You should never have dared to step up to where you don’t belong. And that goes for your sickening boyfriend who thinks he’s better than everybody else. You both need to learn your place. Now get out of my way.” With those words, she stalked up to Sierra and then shoved her shoulder to push her aside, and strutted off, her head high.

  *****

  They rode home in agonizing silence. Sierra wrung her hands in her lap as she stared out the passenger window, swallowing down her nausea and blinking back tears. When she looked at River he kept his eyes on the road, but she noted his jaw clenching and the crease in his brow getting deeper as they neared the stable.

  She broke the silence to ask, “What did the show officials say?”

  At first she t
hought he was going to ignore her, but finally he swallowed and through half-gritted teeth answered, “They just asked what happened.” He shuddered and then added, “They asked Dean if he wanted to press charges.”

  “Did he?”

  “No, he told them I was emotionally unbalanced and if anything I needed to see a psychiatrist.”

  “So nothing...?”

  “They said the ring steward and judge thought he was over-mounted and that maybe he needed to work with his horse at home before competing.”

  “What?” Sierra asked, hardly believing.

  “He said that was why he was at a schooling show.” He flashed a look at her with blazing eyes. “Did you see how he hit Corazón with his crop before every jump? But he always hit him on the rear, so they said it wasn’t abuse; even though Cory was not slowing or refusing. The steward said he didn’t understand why Dean kept using the whip, but since it was only once before each jump, he didn’t break any rule.”

  All Sierra could do was shake her head in dismay and watch River’s knuckles turn white as he gripped the steering wheel in impotent anger.

  At the stable, they had just finished caring for Felicity and Moonshadow when Tess drove into the yard. She called them into her office.

  “I called Walt Douglas to find out what he knows. He said he knew Dean and his sister were both sharing a horse recently bought, but he seemed genuinely surprised when I told him the horse belongs to you. He called Richard Clark for me. Richard says he leaves the management of the horses to his wife, but they had promised Dean a new horse as a high school graduation present. I’ve met Carla Clark before at the club, so I called her. She says Dean found the horse he wanted and she trusted that her son knew enough to make a good choice. He has his own account for his riding expenses and she assumes he wrote a check for the horse from that account. She wouldn’t tell me how much they paid. She said it was none of my business.”