It was hard to believe on this day I would begin my chase.
It was six AM, nothing out of the ordinary for the girl who gets up at five to feed her horses. Even so, I was a little tired and was dressed in my itchy pair of show breeches, a polo, and a pair of tall boots. They were nothing fancy, but would be of good use. I slid a Charles Owen helmet I scraped up the money for and didn’t give a care enough to tuck my hair in. I already had tacked Shoelaces up, and my mother took his halter off and handed him to me once I was ready.
As she described to me, I was going to do early morning schooling. I wasn’t sure what that was until she told me I would have to be on by six and she would teach me around the jumps. The show started early, so I wouldn’t get the chance to school over them any other time. My mother was confident Shoelaces wouldn’t care about any of the jumps, but we figured why not? I was warned of the crazy, schooling ponies but I was sure I would be fine. I probably would be fine. Most likely I would not be fine.
The braided, leather reins in hand, I nervously began to pad softly towards the ring. Just as I expected, Scarlett was there early working alongside two grooms to get horses out to school in time. Only when she finished each person before her would she get a chance to school. It must be frustrating, always coming in second behind everyone else. However I shrugged it off, as I didn’t want to have too much on my mind for when I rode. I guess it didn’t make a difference though, because I would screw up even if I meditated three hours before. ‘Poor Shoelaces, always having to save your butt’ my mother would tell me after all of my rides. It was true, but the way she would say it was a joking matter.
I bit my lip, the ring now appearing in view. My mother slowly walked behind me, minding her own business. Occasionally, she would stop and say hello to an old friend, but would always come jogging back to us. Surprisingly, the ring wasn’t too packed even though my mother told me it would be a zoo. Oh well, better for me. I wouldn’t be bouncing off of everyone like Pinball.
I walked Shoelaces into the tiny schooling ring, throwing the reins over his head. He flicked an ear, awaiting my next command. Pulling him up to the mounting block, I positioned him so I could easily swing on. I stepped up the block, gathering my reins as I swung into the saddle and Shoelaces began to stride off at a walk.
“Just do a nice, fast warm-up!” My mother told me from the other side of the ring. “Tell me when you are ready to jump.”
I nodded, shortening my reins as I told Shoelaces I was serious. It amazed me he didn’t care about the general setting that was so much different from home. Even the rings with a big crowd of horses. I guess he may have showed at one point as well. I wondered what a life he had, but I’m sure it was good at one point before somebody left him to starve to death in a muddy paddock. I glanced back and forth at all of the horses in the ring. They were either big, gorgeous bay warmbloods or petite, grey little ponies. All of them were probably bred on the other side of the world, raised for competition since birth. At least I had a story.
I picked up a trot, allowing Shoelaces to strut. He got a fair amount of looks, and now when people glanced I wanted there to be good reason. Normally, I liked it when Shoelaces did an easy little step, but for the show I had a different mindset. Even though it gave me butterflies, I allowed Shoelaces to extend as much as he wanted. I could almost feel each giant move he did under me.
I went around for a few minutes, remembering how my mother wanted me to go fast, and then I changed direction and began to let him strut the other way. People were really looking now, but then a sick feeling came to my stomach. If they were this interested in Shoelaces, then surely they would want to see me jump him. And that could end horrendous. Trying to shake it off, I lowered my hand and took contact on the outside rein and got him to go in a nice, easy frame. I kept the outside contact, holding it as long as I could. Of course, Shoelaces had his moments where he would lift his head, shake a bit, and resist. But all I had to do was coo and whisper to him, and once more he would drop his head.
I stepped into a nice, easy canter. Since the start I always liked going nice and slow with Shoelaces, and I feared my mother would want for me to actually go more forward for shows. I could let out a long sigh of relief though when she said his stride was huge enough to go slow and make it up the lines. I had a nice, long rein as I allowed Shoelaces to stretch. Sweat was beginning to form on my brow even though it wasn’t too hot. It would get warmer as the day went on, but for now there was a chill in the air. I didn’t put on a jacket right away since I figured I would get hot once I began riding. Based off of the heat forming in my veins, I was right.
Turning Shoelaces the other way, I got my canter again. He chomped on the bit, putting his ears slightly back. It was as if he was saying ‘Is this it? What about jumps?’ I slipped a pat to the great grey’s neck, and it did soothe him. He kept his ears where they were before, but in a much more relaxed manner. He began to accept the longer rein, and by the time I asked him to walk again he was calm as could be.
“Oh, good, you finished.” I heard my mother say as she walked in the schooling ring to me. “Come on into the big ring.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t jump…” My voice wavered off, worrying. “I don’t think I need to…”
“Shut up and ride.” My mother put a finger to my lips. “Go in, canter a lap, then do the red single.”
Without another word, I walked Shoelaces into the big ring. Two wiry bay horses and a chestnut pony popped around the course, which couldn’t be any higher than two foot three at the moment and had no oxers. The single was very small, only a box and brush. At this time, the jumps were never large because the ponies schooled over them as well. And the ponies, unless they were a large, would not be able to school three feet like the height I would be showing at.
I cantered around a lap, keeping a nice and easy pace with Shoelaces. My rein had shortened now, as I was getting a bit worried about the bay horses breathing down my neck. They would shoot from nowhere, and I would be quite close to the backsides of the jumps they popped over. My teeth were chomped shut now, not daring to breathe in risk I miss something. My hands were even trembling when I came out of the corner and pointed Shoelaces at the jump on the quarter line. Shoelaces saw it right away and wanted to quicken, but I pulled on the reins. This resulted in me chipping the fence, elbows shooting straight out my sides and landing hard. Shoelaces put an ear back, obviously confused into why I held him back from the nice, long distance. I didn’t know either. My mom told me to come again, so this time I made sure to not mess with his mouth.
Once more I pointed Shoelaces at the jump. My stomach was hurting now from wondering what was going to happen. No matter what did, I wasn’t going to make the same error. The jump came to view, and once more Shoelaces quickened his pace a tad. However, I let him go and the horse took the jump in full stride, landing powerfully.
“Better!” I heard my mom say. “The outside lines are two and four, you can figure out which is which. And the diagonal lines are five, so go do those.”
I nodded quickly, but instantly became overcome with fear. Another horse had entered the ring now, and getting to the lines would be a pain. The diagonal lines were going away from home, so I decided I would start with one of those. And no matter what would happen, I knew I would not touch Shoelaces’ mouth.
I pointed him to the first element of the line, Shoelaces right away striding forward. But I remembered what my mom said about him having a giant stride, so instead of pulling I sat very deep and tried to stay tall. We were a little short about the distance to the first fence, but it was acceptable. He roared to the out, and I could have done a better job of keeping him contained since if I had sat there and done nothing he would have done it in four. I shook it off, getting a lead change when we landed, and then looked for the two stride.
Shoelaces began to hunt for the distance, unlike me. I sat up there and hopped for the best, the jump getting closer and closer. To my luck, I got a perfect distance to the in and Shoelaces cleared the second straight away in a very perky matter. He chomped on the bit, loving this a lot more than I did. But I remembered how forward he liked to get, so I didn’t allow him any more rein.
He made way to the next diagonal line, and he rushed at it. Getting worried we would chip the out of the fence, I pulled as we went up to it. Shoelaces came back to me a little but, but not quite enough. Instead, we got a launcher to the first fence, which caused us to be out of sorts going to the second. He swapped once in the line, and we bobbled the second.
I pushed up my helmet, the thing falling forward from my blunder in the line. I only had one more to go now. Shoelaces this time didn’t want to rush, so instead we got a nice quiet distance to the first fence. He stayed calm to the second fence, and was a good way to finish. Straight away I pulled him to a walk, feeling sick.
“Stella, your horse is too nice for you to kill him at jumps.” My mother put her hands on her hips, obviously teasing me but what she said was true.
I mumbled with a shrug. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine. We wont do anything more.” She motioned for me to walk out. “Deep breaths.” I tried to breath in, but my heart was beating too fast and it wasn’t possible.
I walked him one lap around the schooling ring, but I was choking on my own breath so bad I had to get off and stagger back to our stall. My limbs hurt, and I was sweating more from worry than exertion. Shoelaces perked his ears, nuzzling me on the way out. It amazed me that he wasn’t trying to eat my face off after I nearly killed him over a few jumps. But then again, I was the girl that fed him, groomed him, and loved him day after day. He wasn’t just an animal to me. He was my best friend.
By the time I got back to the stall, I noticed Scarlett had Twister held between her hands and was walking him to the ring. There was only ten minutes left to school, and instantly I felt pity. She should have been the first to go. I shrugged it off, knowing I needed to focus on myself and cool down before I would show. Yesterday I ended up asking Scarlett again, and she said that Children’s generally go at noon. This meant I had five hours to kill. I decided to take my time with Shoelaces, undoing all the straps on the bridle individually. I slipped his halter back on, then going to the saddle. I loosened the girth, now grey and wet from my ride today. I slung it over my shoulder, carrying my saddle to our one rack. I set it down, going straight back to Shoelaces who waited for me so eagerly. Before I began to scrub his body clean, I let my head fall on his wither and closed my eyes. All I felt was the steady rise and fall on his flank, and his heart beating soundly deep within his fleabitten grey coat. He was warm, the soft feelings he let loose entangling in my own heart.
It took me about twenty minutes to clean him and make sure Shoelaces was cool, and when I was finished I let him go back in his stall. Straight away he hungrily went for his hay, and I groaned thinking I would have to braid him next. I wasn’t looking forward to that, so instead I went for my bridle and saddle. Taking a sponge with soap, I cleaned them until they shined, taking as much time as I needed. Before long though, I was biting my lip in anxiety from knowing I had a time limit to get the braids done. With a sigh, I put my tack away and went for the rubber bands and string.
It was a lengthy process doing the braids. I made many mistakes at first, the braids being sloppy. But once my fingers got a little nimbler and loose, I got a bit better. I made several small braids in his mane first, casual as if I was doing them on a human. Before I would reach the bottom, I would begin braiding in white yarn and let it hang. After an hour of sweating and tongue biting in concentration, I stepped back to the front of his mane. My arms were like lead weights, aching from stretching them up to do the braids. I then rolled each little braid, tying them up with the string. A few stray hairs poked out, but all in all they were very acceptable and not bad for a first try.
I desperately needed a nap, but wouldn’t get it quite yet. I had to do everything myself, and I still wasn’t done. I took our wheelbarrow and a pitchfork, rolling it over to Shoelaces’ stall. Pushing the door open, I scooted him over to the corner and half-heartedly tossed his trash into the wheelbarrow. My eyes were rolling shut, and I knew I wouldn’t do a very good job of doing this today. With one last groan, I pulled everything out and fell fast asleep on my tack trunk, not remembering a thing until my awakening.
“Stella! Stella!”
The voice was familiar, but my eyes were shut and I was unaware of where I was. I hissed under my breath, rolling over on the tack trunk, not wanting to be disturbed. Whoever it was could go away.
“Oh my god, Stella! I told you that you needed to be showing, right now. Wake up.”
Oh no. The only person that told me when I needed to show was Scarlett. My eyes instantly shot open, seeing her hovering over me. I took my fists to my eyes, rubbing my eyes until my vision focused. I could see the urgency on Scarlett’s face, and right away I began to worry. How long had I slept for?
Scarlett sighed. “Stella. You need to be in the ring in twenty minutes. You are still in your schooling clothes, and your mother is drinking wine with old friends. So I do suggest you wake up.”
Twenty minutes? That was no time at all, and I hardly even knew what I was doing. With a desperate whelp, I leapt from the trunk and whipped it open. My show clothes were neatly folded in piles, and I grabbed each and every piece. I turned back to Scarlett. This was just another thing I would need to owe her for.
“I need to be in the ring in twenty minutes, but I need to get ready and I-“ I began to stammer, not knowing how I could possibly get ready in time.
“Relax, Stella.” Scarlett put a hand over my mouth. “I’ll tack your horse up.”
“What? No!” I obliged. “You shouldn’t-“
“Go! Get ready, or you wont get the chance to show!” Stella gave me a shove, and right away I knew I would not win the fight.
I made a beeline for the bathrooms. My breeches were flapping in the wake I left, threatening to fall from my grip. With a groan, I stuffed them back into my arms and shot around to the ladies room. There was an open stall, so I slammed the door open and instantly changed into the show clothes. I was fast, but no way would I have been fast enough to get Shoelaces ready as well.
Feeling the exertion now from my mad dash, I jogged back to our stall. Dryness clawed at my throat, and I wish I had gotten the chance to eat something today. That would be a problem. Sometimes I went into mad coughing fits if I didn’t get the chance to eat before I rode, but that was never a problem at home. But now that I was at a show- who knows what would come of me now?
The second I made it back to our one and only stall, Scarlett was already doing the finishing touches to his bridle, and had tacked him up cleanly and consistently, better than I could ever do. I just wasn’t sure what to think. I just didn’t understand how someone could be so good at things and just be that nice. Frankly, Scarlett didn’t even seem real. I had known her for a day and she was already tacking my horse up for me in a time of need. I knew I would have to give her my thanks, and how I didn’t know yet. But I couldn’t stop mumbling ‘thank you, thank you’ to her as I hurriedly slipped on my boots.
The remainder was my helmet. That slipped easily on, and I clipped it so there wouldn’t be any flying helmets when I rode. Shoelaces looked dazed, almost confused of what the rush was about. I hoped he would wake up in time for showing. Scarlett completed the bridle, and altogether he looked completely different to me. Now that he had the pristine show braids and tack, he fit right in.
“Scarlett, thank you so much.” I shook my head, grabbing the reins. “Seriously, if there is anything I can do-“
“Win a blue, so I can say I groomed the winner!” She said with a smile, tightening the girth one last time.
I smiled back, instantly speed walking Shoelaces towards the ring. In front of me, I could see my mother walking towards me in a bit of a haze. I guess that’s what all that wine and good times does to you. She opened her mouth to speak, but then noticed I was all ready. Giving me a thumb’s up, she began to walk towards the arena.
Shoelaces was nuzzling me again, as if he was wondering why I was so stressed. I tried to ignore it and focus on myself, but there was no way I could. I stretched an arm back to the old fleabitten grey, giving his face a rub before throwing the reins over his head. I was nervous, but once I looked into his dark, wise eyes I was at peace. With a smile, I ran a hand under his chin, then to his ears, then all the way to his neck. I had to bite my lip to wake myself up from my dream with him, but that was my home. Not a house, but with a horse.
Forcing myself to concentrate, I slid along the damp ground until I made it to the arena. Right away, I was astonished at how packed the ring was. The Children’s Hunters was a very large division, and I could see right away that what I heard was true. Schooling would be a pain, but I am sure Shoelaces would be fine. My mother as I could see was already at the middle of the little ring, rolling in a pole at one of the two schooling fences. Good, at least she managed to claim a jump in this fray.
I went up beside the mounting block and straight away put a foot in the stirrup and sent myself in the saddle. I gathered up my reins, keeping them nice and short because cantering horses were breathing on our necks. My stomach straight away began to ache. It was enough schooling over these fences alone, but with all of these horses in there? I wasn’t sure if I could concentrate on both at the same time. Shoelaces seemed faintly irritated as well, flicking an ear when one bay warmblood got a little too close. I’m sure if Scarlett was on a horse right now, she would have no problem maneuvering around this zoo. But I was forced to shrug that thought off. This was me and Shoelaces, and nobody else. And with a press of my leg, I sent Shoelaces off trotting.
“Remember Stella, if he get’s too strong you sit deep, not pull.” My mother told me as she rubbed a towel over my boots. “If you pull, you may interfere with his distance-finding for you.”
All I could do was nod. It was crazy schooling in the little ring, and not once did I put a good jump in. We tried time and time again, but I couldn’t get there with horses running at my sides and Shoelaces wanting to rush. At last, my mother shook her head and called me to the ingate. And now, heart beating fast, I was to be showing next in the arena.
“Tell me your course.” My mother demanded, stretching up.
I took a deep breath, analyzing the course. “Diagonal in six strides. Outside line in four. Diagonal in five strides. Two-stride.” I had to choke out the words.
“Good, you’re in.” My mother then said with a chuckle, giving me a push.
I was instantly overcome. The chestnut that just delivered a stunningly perfect round as already walking out with the crowd hollering. There was no way I could put in a round like that, but I had no choice. I was already picking up a canter before I could take control of my mind, and I began to shut down. How many strides was the first diagonal line? Was it six, or was it five? Everything was a rush.
The first jump was already approaching fast, and I concluded that the line surely must be a five. Shoelaces wanted to rush, and I forgot what my mother said before. I pulled, and the distance to the jump closed up fast. I suspected a take-off, but instead he added in an extra stride and I felt myself become jolted forward from a chip. I added leg to the out, remembering I needed to get up there in five I had decided. But the looming, three-foot oxer was so far away and I already put in four strides so far, so how could I possibly make it in five? I shook my head, getting over the oxer perfectly in the six. Then again, maybe that’s how many I was supposed to put in.
I collected Shoelaces in the corner, spying the outside line. This one was obviously the four-stride line since the other outside line was very short and clearly a two. I began to think about it, eyes darting from the brush under the fence and then all the way to the birch standards. It appeared awful tall. I gritted my teeth, trying to make a decision. Do I circle? Or do I get rushed at the jump? Before I could decide, Shoelaces quickened and took the first fence in full stride. He continued happily extending towards the second, and we got to the oxer quite deep. I guess his stride is big.
Next up we had the diagonal line. This one was the six strides, I’m sure. Shoelaces stayed in my hand for the first element, and thankfully we got a very nice, even distance to the first jump. That was when I got a slap of fear. The oxer was coming up much, much faster than I thought it would, and I sat back and pulled. But there was no stopping Shoelaces the locomotive. We got there at a very frightful distance, and instead of killing himself over it Shoelaces skidded to a halt. More like easily-stepped-into-a-halt-so-I-didn’t-die. My fists became buried in his mane, and I knew I would have to circle now.
I turned Shoelaces from the jump and picked up a canter again. The jump was right there, but it was a single fence and I had no certain amount of strides to calculate the distance for me. I put my hands forward, Shoelaces taking the bit and finding a distance for me. Thank god. That could have ended a lot worse.
The two stride was a breeze, literally, me getting a flyer distance to the first fence and trying to stay up over my horse as he went thoroughbred on me. Nobody clapped when I finished up, no even my mother. I even saw Scarlett in the crowd, and she was squinting and rubbing her eyes as if it was possible I could fail so badly. I coughed once, slowing down to a walk. Instantly, I attacked Shoelaces with rubs and kisses on his neck. He should have dumped me. The arena suddenly felt humid, or maybe it was just me, but I found my mind blocking out everything as I began to melt.
“Stella.” My mother said sternly. “What was that? You mixed the diagonal lines up. And you didn’t sit deep, you only pulled. Did you forget everything we spoke about?”
“Oh. You mean the second diagonal was actually five?” I ask, squinting. “Because… that would make sense…”
“Yes, Stella.” My mother glowered at me. “It was a five.”
I felt like everyone’s eyes were on my mother and I now. I wanted to run and hide, knowing everyone’s first impression of me was a gruesome one. They wouldn’t remember me as Stella Townsend, the girl with a story, but instead I would be the opposite. Stella Townsend, the girl who likes to kill her horse at jumps.
“Sorry.” I shrugged, giving Shoelaces another pat. He happily flicked an ear.
“Anyway, your next course is the opposite. It will go five strides, two stride, then the six stride line, and then lastly the four. Do not touch his mouth.” My mother took the towel and wiped Shoelaces’ mouth. “Go in.”
It occurred to me that the horse in the ring currently just finished their round. So I would have to go in again- already? Honestly, I needed time to compose myself. Shoelaces probably needed a few minutes to get his heart to stop beating so fast as well. And now, all eyes were on me once more. Not because I was a showstopper, but because I was the girl to watch because my rounds were so bad its funny.
I narrowed my eyes, getting a canter just in time to hear the announcer blare. Before, I was so nervous I didn’t get the chance to hear, but this time I managed to catch the few words it said. It was exciting, to say the least, to listen to them say all of our registered information. Once we decided to try the A circuit, we registered Shoelaces with the United States Equestrian Federation, or USEF. Not to mention all of the other single registries we had to register for if I wanted our points in certain divisions to be recognized. But in the end, every association necessary knew Shoelaces.
“Now on course for their second round is number 445, Shoelaces owned and ridden by Stella Townsend.”
This was it. The first fence was already approaching fast, and I remembered what my mother told me for once. This line was going to be five strides, or at least I think it was. But this time, I was going to stick to my guns. Shoelaces strided forward like his normal scopey self as he attempted to run to the big, beautiful distance and this time I let him. We got slightly long, but I could feel Shoelaces tuck marvelously under me. It was true, if I let go Shoelaces would find that textbook hunter distance on his own, but when I let go I would get a frightening adrenaline rush and would have to hold him back all the other times. We got to the second obstacle nicely, but I could have eased up a little better because his giant stride ate up the line.
Shoelaces eased up for me in the corner graciously, as if was happy I let him go and this was his thank you. I already felt sick from letting him roar up to the distance, and there was no way I could do it again this time. So when we came down for the approach, I held him back. In return, Shoelaces got tight to the first obstacle and dropped his knees. I was thrown forward slightly, but we still managed to get over the second fence without a problem. I would thank him for that later.
Next up was the diagonal line. This was six, I was sure, and there again I felt Shoelaces sense the distance. I tried holding him back, but maybe it would be for the better if I let him go. He dragged me a little ways, but then I let him have his head. Thus resulting as not having enough time to close the gap, and we got long. I wasn’t able to slide my hands forward and give a release, so Shoelaces landed with his head high. At least it slowed him down though, because we got a flawless distance over the second element.
I knew my mother would behead me if I screw with his head any more, especially over the last and final line of this course and for the day. As always, Shoelaces had his normal, wicked good scope and this time he actually began to ease. I wasn’t sure what was happening, since normally he quickened for a nice long distance. But I guess he saw a shorter one, so I let him have his head. I was right. He tucked brilliantly as always, but the distance wasn’t long. He landed on the perfect pace for the second fence, and we finished up strong after getting a lead change and having a flawless last line.
I actually heard light clapping, and I looked over to see my mother was half-heartedly pushing her hands together and the few people around her did the same. Scarlett was clapping, this time without her normal, shocked grimace. I slowed to a walk, more then done.
“That was better, but you need to learn to leave him alone.” My mom gave him a big pat. “But even so… I cannot believe he actually puts up with you out there. I guess after all these months of you putting all your love into him, he loves you back.”