Cedar Wood Riding Academy by Alaina Fornal (electronic book reader .txt) 📕

            “Good morning girls, I’m Mrs. Finch. I am the hunter jumper instructor. Now, I assume you found your horses, so please go tack up,” she said. I nodded.

            “Yes ma’am. Ally, I’ll meet up with you for lunch,” I said, and she nodded, leaving the barn.

            I walked over to Verona’s stall, and put the saddle rack up next to it. I walked in, and took a hold of her halter. She snorted but went willingly with me as I cross tied her in her stall. I smiled and patted her, then left her to go get her saddle and everything. I walked to the tack room, and found her tack box marked with her name, and her saddle, saddle pad, riser pad, and bridle. I took those with me, and walked back to her stall. I set the saddle and saddle pad on the saddle rack, and grabbed the dandy brush and curry comb.       

            When I was done brushing her, I took the hoof pick and picked out her hooves. She snorted, but listened nicely. I smiled and patted her when I was done. I took the saddle pad, placing it on her back and sliding it into the right spot. I set the riser pad on top of that and then set the saddle on top of all of it. I took the girth, and but the tongue on the first hole. I went around to the other side, going to the second hole. I went around her again, and finally managed to get the girth tight. I smiled and went to her head, putting on her bridle. I patted her, and put my helmet on my head, and led her out of the barn. I was beyond excited to finally start riding her.  

            When we got out to the outdoor arena, I stood next to Verona and patted the mare’s neck. She snorted and rubbed her head against my side. I smiled softly and let her do so. My hand slid up her muzzle, and then to the marking on her head.

            “Alright, class! Good to know you all found your horses and actually managed to tack the up yourselves correctly,” Mrs. Archin said. “Now, I would like you all to mount your horses, and walk around the arena.”

            I nodded and put the reins over Verona’s head, moving them back towards the pommel of the saddle. I moved to the side of her, and put my left foot in the stirrup, and hauled myself up on her back. She stood perfectly still for me, thankfully. When I got on her, I put my foot in the other stirrup, and gathered my reins. I moved her to the center of the ring, and adjusted my stirrups to where they would fit me for jumping her. I tightened my girth from on her back, and then gathered my reins again, pushing my heels down.

            I moved her to the rail, and walked her around the arena. I saw Kat mounting her horse, a big bay stallion. She didn’t seem too happy that I got the horse she wanted. I smiled to myself, and focused on my riding. This was when it all really counted. The first ride. This was showing our instructor, Mrs. Finch that I could handle Verona. That I could ride her and make it look easy. I squeezed my calves into her sides, and she responded instantly. She picked up her pace to a working walk.

            “Alright. Now, everybody, my name is Mrs. Finch for those of you who may not know me. I am your riding instructor,” she said, and looked at us all. “Alright, now, please trot your horses. I want to see a nice, posting trot, keeping rhythm.”

            I understood that. I was anxious to see what kind of trot she had. Was it smooth? Was it bouncy? Was it uneven? I squeezed in again, and she went into a trot. I sat the first beat, then rose the second. I lowered myself up and down out of the saddle, keeping up my trot. I passed a few other of the riders, and I felt self conscious. These people were good…then there was me.

            “Very nice, Aleah,” Mrs. Finch said. “Alright, now I want you all to come to the middle, except Katarina. I would like you to bring Concord down to a walk, and stay out on the rail.”

            I slowed Verona to a walk, and turned her towards the center. I pushed her along with my leg, and she turned willingly. I smiled and pulled on her reins very softly, making her stop.

            “Alright, now, Katarina, I want to see you walk six steps, then go into a canter,” Mrs. Finch said.

            “Alright.”

            I gave Verona loose rein as we sat there. I watched as Katarina gathered her reins, and then nudged the stallion on and walked him. Mentally, I was counting the number of steps she was taking before the instant departure. One…Two…Three…Four…Five…Six…Seven…Eight… Canter. It took her eight steps before she was able to get him into a canter. Granted, she rode the canter nicely, but the look on Mrs. Finch’s face didn’t show satisfaction.

            “Alright. Bring him to a walk. Aleah, your turn,” She said, and looked at me.

            I nodded and brought Verona to the wall. I couldn’t mess this up. I had to prove to her that I was a good enough rider to keep Verona, and to just prove to Kat that I was a better rider than she gave me credit for.

            I nudged her forward, and she walked on. I relaxed my body, and sat up straight, and heels were kept down. One…Two…Three…Four…Five…Six…Canter. Instantly, I pushed in harder with my legs, and Verona went into a perfect collected canter. She swished her tail, but kept the canter up. I kept my hands low and quiet, and my legs staying still. I bounced hardly at all out of the saddle. The smoothest canter I have ever ridden.

            “Very very good, Aleah,” Mrs. Finch said. The look in her eyes said she was proud.

            I smiled and pulled her down to a slow trot, then to a walk, and brought her back to the middle.

            “Looks like Mrs. Finch likes me a hell of a lot more than you,” I said quietly to Katarina.

            “Only because you have a push button horse,” She snapped.

            “Girls, enough!”

            Both of us got quiet after that and watched as the rest of the class went. When they all went, and our on the flat work was approved, Mrs. Finch set up four jumps, each progressively getting larger and higher than the last.

            “Alright. Shortest is two foot three. Highest is Three foot nine. I have faith you all have jumped this before, and if not, well, better hold on tight and learn, because this is the height we jump in our competitions here,” She said.

            I noticed the looks on everybody’s faces. Some were confident, while others showed signs of fear or hesitation.

            “Katarina, you go first, and make a courtesy circle, and go in at a canter, please,” She asked her. Kat nodded.

            I watched as Katarina walked the circle, and then asked for a canter. Concord instantly went into it, and she directed him towards the first jump, a cross rail. I watched as she got closer and closer, and closing into her two point position while she went over the jump. She did a small crest release, and then cantered towards the next jump. She closed again, and this time, she knocked a pole down. She finished her little course, with only one fault.

            “Alright. That was pretty good, now, Aleah, you go.”

            I nodded and collected my reins, and asked for a trot. I did the courtesy circle, and then got her into a canter. I noticed that one jump was on the diagonal. I took the first jump, closing at just the right time. I released, and landed softly. She picked her pace up a little bit and we soured over the next jump. On the third jump, coming up to it, I asked for a flying lead change, something Verona did perfectly. She went towards the third jump, and took it with ease. We finished out over the fourth jump with no faults. I smiled and patted her neck when we got down to a trot.

            “Now, Katarina, did you see what Verona and Aleah did between the second and third jump,” She asked her.

            “Yes…”

            “What did she do?”

            “Flying lead change…”

            “That’s correct,” Mrs. Finch said. “Something you forgot to do, which screwed not only your balance up, but your horse’s as well. You may learn a lot from Aleah.”

            Kat’s face turned red. She was not happy at all.

            After the ride, I led Verona back to the barn. I smiled and patted her. “Who’s the perfect horse?”

            I laughed to myself, and took her bridle off. I put her halter on, cross tying her in her stall. I went to her side, and undid the girth. I flipped the girth over, laying it with sweaty side up on the saddle. I took the saddle off her back, setting it on the saddle rack, followed by the riser pad and saddle blanket. I smiled and patted her once more. I took her lead rope, and led her outside to the water faucet.  I held her lead rope in one hand, and took the hose in the other, running the water over her. She snorted and side stepped.

            “Shhh. It’s okay. It’s just water,” I said to her, and ran it down her legs.

            When I was done with that, I took the sweat scraper and scraped the excess sweat and water off her coat, and led her back to her stall. I took her halter off, and let her go over to the hay in the stall. I closed the half door behind me, and set the halter on the rack outside her stall. I smiled and looked at the horses that lined the stalls in the stable.

            ”Hey! How did your ride go,” Ally said, walking into the barn and over to Verona’s stall.

            “Hey! And it actually went good. I love the riding instructor…plus I think she likes me a lot more than Kat,” I said to her, smiling.

            “Oh? Tell me how that went,” She said. “On our way to lunch, that is!”

            I laughed and went with her. “Alright, well, we got there, and got on our horses. Granted, Kat has a really beautiful big bay stallion, and Mrs. Finch told us to walk six steps then go into an instant departure. Kat walked eight, and even looked like she was having trouble asking for a canter on him,” I said.

            “Really? Then how did she get here?”

            “Who knows. She’s a rich, spoiled, brat. Maybe she bought her way in,” I said, and walked towards the cafeteria.

            “Yeah, maybe. So, how did you do on Verona,” Ally asked.

            “Actually, really good. Mrs. Finch complimented me today on her…what I liked was I could prove Kat that I could handle her better than she probably could. Verona’s trot is a little rough, but not as bad as I would’ve thought. Her canter is the smoothest thing you could ever ride, though.”

            “Well, that’s good! I loved the horse I was on. His name is Gizmo,” Ally said with a smile, and opened the door to the cafeteria.

            “Ah, that’s an adorable name,” I exclaimed and walked in, setting my helmet down at a table and walked with Ally to the buffet to get our lunch.

            “I know! He’s the cutest little thing ever!”

            I laughed and picked up a trey. I loaded it with fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, and then some rolls on it. I reached over, taking an apple. Then, I felt my