As soon as I got off of Shoelaces the day before and got myself back into my normal clothes, I cleared out straight away. I already got looks. And I couldn’t stand any more of them. Scarlett tried to stop me, telling me it was good fun to watch, but there was no way I was staying. She finally gave in, us exchanging numbers so she could continue texting me updates at the show. I had to care for Shoelaces still, and even had to come back later in the day to feed him and make sure he was alright. But I couldn’t help but dread the next show day.
I didn’t get there quite so early because there wasn’t an early morning schooling, but I did have to get there early enough because I had to feed Shoelaces and care for them. A normal person would get to the grounds at ten for their class at noon, but not me. I was working by bottom off at eight in the morning, and I enjoyed it. Shoelaces continued nuzzling me and neighing softly as I mucked his stall, and every thirty seconds I would drop the pitchfork and wrap my arms around his neck. How could I have come to own such a perfect horse for me? To others he may appear simply, as an old fleabitten grey, but for me he was my entire life.
I finally finished up with caring for Shoelaces, my marvelous horse, when I glanced over at Scarlett’s barn. I discovered it was called Last Wish Stables, and when I looked closer at the girl’s blue polo under the jumping horse was printed L.W.S fittingly. They already had a wide array of ribbons, and when I looked over my shoulder Scarlett was hanging up a slightly crinkled blue ribbon.
“Did someone win yet another class?” I said with a smile, walking over. Scarlett instantly looked towards me, grinning as well.
She raised a brow. “Actually, yeah. Twister and I won the Maclay.”
I was no expert on the classes of the circuit, but I knew enough to know that the Maclay was a big equitation class. And if you win a certain amount, you go to regional’s, and if you do well at regional’s, then you go to Maclay Finals. I knew Scarlett did the equitation, but when it occurred to me she showed in the big, legitimate classes, I was impressed. Add skilled riding to her trophy cabinet of things she was good at too.
“Wow, nice.” I said, nodding. She hooked on the ribbon.
“Yeah, Twister was a good boy.” She stepped down from the little stool she used to hang up the ribbon. “But he stopped at the open water in the USET. We need a little more practice with that I guess.”
“The USET?” I asked, quizzical. I hadn’t ever heard of that class.
“Just another equitation class.” She told me, not wanting to make that much of a fuss. “Follow me.”
Without another word, I stepped on after Scarlett who set off at a walk in he direction of the ring. I wasn’t quite sure where we would be going, and I did tell my mother I would wait for her, but how would it even be possible to say no to Scarlett? She was wicked stubborn and always had good intentions, so without a doubt I would follow.
We weaved around a few horses going to show in some medal classes or whatnot, and I was curious of whether we would be going outside, upstairs, or to the ring. At this point, I didn’t know. Scarlett seemed to be everywhere at once, first walking towards the stairs. But then she doubled back, bumping into me as she walked straight into the schooling ring, which had a handful of clueless amateurs cantering around. My eyes nearly shot out of my head when a large lady on a chestnut almost took me out, but Scarlett grabbed my shoulders and yanked me beside her.
She was going in the direction of the ingate, so I suspected we where going to go watch the show. But like many other thoughts I’ve had today, that one was diminished when instead we walked to the edge of the ring steward’s desk. Clothes hangers went alone a line, but instead of clothes, lines of ribbons hung from them. Scarlett weaved through some of the hangers, pushing back ones that weren’t right, and then she finally got the one she was looking for. With one hand, she pointed at one of three blue ribbons that hung from it.
“These are the Children’s Hunter ribbons.” She told me slowly, nodding. “You are to win one of the pretty little blue ones here today.”
“Scarlett, that’s-“ I began to say, but she hushed me.
“No buts. One of these has your name on it. I want to say I groomed the winner, Stella!” Scarlett was determined, I would give her that.
While there was no possible chance I could ride well enough to get one of the lovely little blue ones, Scarlett was not going to let me leave until I agreed. I sighed, biting my lip. She was relentless. I’m sure a blue ribbon was no big deal for her, with her perfect equitation with her remarkable equitation horse, but for me a blue ribbon was the holy grail. I shrugged, a smile escaping onto my lips.
“Deal.”
Scarlett looked smug straight away, and I’m sure I looked the same. Deep down she probably was thinking ‘There’s no possible chance, but who cares.’ And I was thinking the same thing. Without another word, we walked to the arena and sat down to watch.
It was four hours later when I showed again. My rounds were the same as yesterday. Vulgar. Scarlett I’m sure had lost all of her faith in me, but I didn’t blame her. Anyone who had their money on me should invest in someone different. I thought I was all done, until I remembered there were three more blue ribbons. There were two over fences today. That’s when I remembered- there still was the hack class.
This time, I managed to resist taking a nap so I got ready right on time. Scarlett was nowhere in sight, probably having given up on me, and my mom seemed awful excited and it appeared as if she had tricks up her sleeve. I wasn’t quite sure why she was acting like that because normally she was either calm as could be, or irritated. I didn’t question it, though. I never questioned anything in the first place.
And so I found myself sitting atop Shoelaces, the Modified hack going on currently, and I was the next to go in. Shoelaces had the nice, big step my mother described, so maybe I could actually pin in this class. Hopefully. Maybe not. My money was on the giant, shiny black gelding that won both over fences today. He sure was nice, and since he had won so much, I’m sure the judge already favored him. Politics, my mother would describe to me. Even if someone else may be the winner, politics is everything. If politics go into play today, then there truly would be no chance for me to place.
Before I knew it, the Modified hack finished. A pretty, light bay mare and a kid won it, and I felt happy. The child seemed younger than the rest, and she had on one big toothy smile. But instantly, all of my feelings dropped. Now it was my turn to go into the arena.
I warily gave Shoelaces a press, and I found ourselves pressed towards the rail. I remembered every command my mother told me this time ‘Get yourself alone’ I remembered she said. ‘Get behind the ugliest mule out there’. I wasn’t exactly sure what she meant by the second one, but I suspected she wanted me to get behind the worst mover in the field. She was- delightfully harsh about that one, so I was sure she really wanted me to follow that one. I weaved around at a trot, trying to find one of the craziest horses I could find.
“All walk. You are now being judged at a walk.” The announcer told us.
I had no choice but to walk where I was. I slowed, and instantly looked up. Just right in front of me was the shiny black gelding. Of course it was. I should have stayed behind the wiry liver chestnut mare when I had the chance. But now I was stuck.
We were called for a trot, and right away I gave Shoelaces a press. He bounded forward, and I let his trot get as big as it could be. I had never actually seen him move, only the words my mother told me. She described him as ‘big-strided and nice’ so I guess that was good enough for me. I felt Shoelaces whip his ears forward, happily engaging and obviously very pleased that I let him have his mouth. He didn’t chomp on the bit at all, and I felt like the winner already. Of course, I could still see the black gelding with his giant, floating trot in front of me, but I pushed it aside. Humming to myself, I carried on with my old horse in the group of young imports.
We were called to a walk before long, and then asked to canter. I picked up the correct lead, having it been round my mother would have burned me alive. Shoelaces went along at a nice and easy canter, dropping his head as he flicked an ear, asking for the next command. My rein was long and floppy, and it was clear to see Shoelaces enjoyed my feel on his mouth. I enjoyed how easy we were going, too. I could have cantered all day, but we were asked to walk and change direction.
Straight away, we had to trot once more. This time, I was in front of the shiny black gelding. I’m sure his rider was laughing now, as they figured they were following my mother’s second command. But maybe not. Maybe they were actually now in fear that they had fallen in behind the great Shoelaces- but I doubted it. They probably could have cared less.
We trotted along for a good while, longer than we did the direction before, and Shoelaces got upset when we had to walk. He loved extending to the best of his abilities almost as much as he loved quickening towards the jump so he could launch over it and poke out his eyeballs with his perfectly round jump. Once more, we were called for a canter, and Shoelaces heard the announcer as well. He stepped into the correct lead, playfully dropping his head which I had to lift up. Once he realized I was being serious, the horse put it back on a nice, level headset and put an ear back, asking for another command. And once we had to walk, he seemed pleased that I asked of something from him.
“Line up in the center of the ring, backs facing the judges.” Was the next command from the announcer.
I did just that, walking up to the center of the ring. The girl on the shiny black gelding walked right beside me, and I wanted to groan in protest. She had a smug, confident sort of look on her. I guess she was the normal hack winner in this class and I was just another piece of her prey. I sighed, turning my attention back to Shoelaces.
We had to wait for some of the more sluggish horses to line up before the results were called. I had an urge to lean forward, hug my horse, and forget about everything. I almost did, mind wandering back to home, Trudy, and riding Shoelaces bareback in the field before suddenly I heard a crack of the announcer. The voice repeated some sort of result, but I didn’t catch it. I’m sure the crowd didn’t either, because nobody said a word. I bet the girl on the black horse had a cheering crowd, so obviously it wasn’t a result. But then I heard my mother begin to holler, and I was confused. That was when they repeated it one more time.
“First place taking the blue is 445, Shoelaces and Stella Townsend.”
That was a joke. Surely they must be joking. Wouldn’t the shiny, black gelding have gotten it? But then he was called in second, and I knew. Yes, I actually had won the hack! I stepped Shoelaces forward, rubbing my hand up and down his neck. I felt my cheeks hurt from the smile on my face, but it didn’t seem real. Yes, it was just a hack, but it felt like so much more to me. Maybe my mom just didn’t describe Shoelaces well enough. To her, his movement was ‘nice.’ But I saw the black gelding move, and he had the looks of Indoors and Junior Hunter Finals. So if he got second to us… then who knows how great Shoelaces actually moves then?
A blue ribbon was handed to me, and straight away I knew what I was going to do with it. Of course, I had to take care of Shoelaces first. It was a breeze untacking and caring for him, and the blue ribbon sent an adrenaline rush up my body. I was more accurate then I had ever been, and one I was done I took off at a jog towards the arena.
It took a while, but finally I spotted Scarlett sitting alone and poking through a taco salad at the Horse Show Hut. She seemed somewhat gloomy, and it was clear to see she had been here for a while. She probably came after my frightful rounds, having lost all faith in me. But then again, when did she have faith in me in the first place? I slipped myself into the chair across from her, and instantly she sparked up and looked at me. I hid the blue ribbon under the table, and she seemed a little quizzical.
“I have something for you.” I told her. She raised a brow, putting her fork down.
She grinned weakly. “Oh?”
I pulled the blue ribbon out from under the table. Scarlett almost seemed shocked to see it, but she calmed down with realization that it was probably the top score in the hack. She smiled full out, looking as smug as she did when she gave me her plan.
“For you.” I said, sliding the ribbon across the table.
Scarlett got her wish. In the end, she groomed the winner.