The little horse bolted forward towards the next fence, mouth open wide against the Dutch Gag. I cringed as she sat back, her weight against his mouth. I caught a glimpse of her fearful face and wished for the horse's sake that she'd retire.
Give him his head! I wanted to scream. But of course, I didn't.
I watched with worry as they approached the third fence, an oxer. It appeared extra muddy in front of this fence. Unable to use his head and neck for balance, he slipped and slid straight into the jump.
There were gasps all around. Poles clattered loudly, scattering the ground. Helpers hurried to re-build the fence.
I watched, my anger growing, as the rider gave the frightened horse two hard smacks with the whip. He jumped forward, the whites of his wild eyes showing, his mouth foaming.
She trotted him around, waiting for her second chance to attempt the oxer. While she did so, she lengthened her reins slightly. I could almost hear the Arab sigh with relief as his eyes softened and he lowered his head. He trotted around obediently, stretching his stiff neck down towards the ground.
The bell rang and she re-tightened her reins.
His head shot back up.
The rider kicked him harshly into a fast, uncollected canter. He approached the fence with his ears flat against his head, tossing up mud as he ran. He again, skidded to a halt, his front hooves tapping the fence. Luckily this time the jump stayed standing.
By the third attempt both rider and horse had given up. The rider merely sat there, her legs still and ineffective. The little Arabian stopped metres out from the jump.
Three refusals. They were eliminated.
The girl rode out. Her face red beneath her helmet, I could see that she was crying. The horse looked simply relieved to be leaving the ring and I felt relieved for him also.
The fences were then put up to 1.05 metres. There were just two riders before Lucy was due on. The first rider rode too quickly, taking down three rails.
Lucy appeared beside me. Bugs' warm up had definitely transformed him- He looked half asleep! "He looks calm," I commented, rubbing beneath his forelock.
"He actually jumped really well in the warm up," Lucy said. "I'm still so scared though. I'm sick with nerves; totally sick!"
"Maybe you should have entered 95 centimetres too," I said. "Then you would have been more relaxed for your 1.05 metres round."
"Well it's too late now!" Lucy snapped in reply.
I raised an eyebrow at her, a smile playing on my lips. I was use to Lucy's outbursts in situations that stressed her out.
"Sorry, I'm just so stressed," she muttered apologetically.
I turned back to the ring. The current horse and rider had gone clear for the first round, but when the bell went off for the jump-off, in a desperate attempt to get a fast time, he pushed his horse too fast and he slipped, taking a rail.
"Lucy, go really slow. Don't worry about time faults. A lot of people are taking rails because they're going too quick. It's too risky with the wet ground, both for the sake of taking rails and for the sake of Bugs," I told her quickly.
Lucy didn't reply. Her face tight with fear, she wandered slowly into the ring.
Poor Lucy. I felt bad for her. I hoped she'd do well.
"You'll be fine Lucy!" Steve called after her.
Bugs had luckily remained calm- for now. He pottered around at the trot, softening into the bit as they waited for the starting bell.
Ding!
I crossed my fingers as Lucy sat back and asked Bugs for a canter. She collected him up and they approached the first fence. It was impossible to see Lucy's face from here, but I could imagine she'd look terrified. Bugs on the other hand, pricked his ears, tucked up his knees and cleared the first fence confidently. He sped up on the other side, eager for the next fence. Lucy must have taken my advice for she half halted him back to a slower canter, barely faster than a collected dressage canter. He tugged at the bit slightly, fighting to go faster, but relaxed as they approached the second fence, clearing it with ease.
They continued forward like this, Bugs occasionally fighting Lucy between jumps, but giving in to her when faced with each fence. They cleared the double with no problems, two perfect strides. As they turned the corner towards the wall fence, Bugs' hind legs slipped out beneath him.
"Uh oh," Steve murmured.
My heart skipped a beat.
But he picked himself up and continued forward.
I held my breath as they approached the wall fence. Lucy sat back defensively. "Ride him forward Lucy!" I hissed quietly.
Bugs lowered his head, staring wide-eyed at the wall as he found himself being driven towards it. He started to back off, slowing his pace.
But Lucy felt it.
She closed her legs and urged him forward with her seat. He responded, and then it was too late for him to stop. He had to go over. He appeared to panic for a moment, switching his canter lead right before take-off. He plunged high into the air but Lucy was prepared and sat the leap well. He wasn't touching that wall!
"Yes!" I cheered under my breath.
Bugs landed in a disunited canter. With no time to correct it, they were facing the last fence. Unbalanced, Bugs slipped going into the fence, nearly landing face first. I knew he was going to take a rail. The odds were not in his favour this time.
But no. To my amazement, Bugs twisted his body and scraped over the fence, the rail still intact.
"Wow! He's such an honest horse!" I exclaimed to Steve.
"She did well staying on that one!" Steve laughed. "Look, she's lost one of her stirrups!"
I hadn't realized. Lucy corrected herself just in time for the second bell. She increased her speed only slightly for a safe and tidy jump-off.
She trotted over, a huge grin on her face. "He was amazing!" she exclaimed happily. She dismounted and wrapped both arms around his neck.
"You were both amazing!" I corrected her.
"Well done champ!" Steve congratulated her, patting Bugs' sweaty neck.
"I want to do it again!" Lucy exclaimed excitedly.
Steve looked at me and rolled his eyes. He turned back to Lucy. "Before you weren't sure you wanted to do it even the one time!"
"I know? But I feel differently now," she replied, poking out her tongue. "I'm going to take Bugs back to the float. Are you going to get Gypsy now?"
"I might as well. After your class there's only five riders in 1.15 metres and six in 1.25 metres- Although I am last on," I replied. "I thought there would be more riders."
"One of the judges said a few riders have pulled out due to weather conditions," Steve told me. "They are probably smart," he added chuckling. His face turned grim. "We're lucky it hasn't rained again for a bit, because the ground is bad enough without it."
Chapter Six
Finally, the 1.15 metres class came to an end. My family had arrived to watch my round, and I had bridled and mounted Gypsy, who felt sluggish beneath me. "Come on girl! Wake up!" I laughed. I gently asked Gypsy to soften at the poll, and popped her into a trot. She did as she was told; slowly. Usually she was a forward moving ride before showjumping, excited for what lay ahead.
I decided she must have spent too long standing around; or perhaps the weather was putting her off. Using more leg than usually necessary, I collected her up a bit more and asked for a canter.
She obliged. But she felt different.
Gypsy cantered like the Western horse she was bred to be. Asking to stretch forward and down, she cantered ever so slowly, her gait flatter than usual. The warm up area was churned up like the showjumping ring, and I wondered if she was simply being cautious to balance herself.
I pointed her at one of the warm-up fences; a simple straight bar. To my relief, she picked up impulsion at the sight of the fence. Her ears pricked forward. She took off nicely but stumbled on landing and I near face-planted on her neck, grasping her mane. I'd left out a small piece of Gypsy's mane. I often held onto it fo
r extra balance over fences when required. It was a good way to ensure I didn't accidentally pull on her sensitive mouth.
"Larissa is in now!" Lucy came running over to me. "You're next!" she hopped from one foot to the other. She acted like her horse as much as she looked like him. Either excitable and happy, or stressed and anxious, depending on the situation. Sometimes hanging out with Lucy was like hanging out with two different people.
Disappointed to be entering my round on a bad note, I slowly followed Lucy.
Larissa had gone clear and was starting her jump-off round. Her new horse was definitely impressive to watch. He had an enormous canter and a jumping technique to die for. Larissa however, always under pressure to win, was too focused on speed. Her horse slid on his feet a few times, but expertly re-gathered himself, until the last fence where Larissa rode him like her life depended on it. Sensing her determination, he excitedly put on a burst of speed, sliding a stride out. It was too late to correct himself and so he took the back rail with his front feet.
Larissa rode out cursing under her breath. She dismounted and shoved the reins into the hands of a groom.
"Oooh, she won't be happy about that," Lucy mused, just loud enough for me to hear. She looked up at me, her brown eyes sparkling. "Well. Go get 'em!"
I smiled at her. But I was nervous. Our warm-up had knocked my confidence.
The dark sky looked menacing above me. A drop of rain landed on my glove. As I trotted around the jump course, I realized just how terrible the ground really was. The ground felt squishy, giving me a similar feeling to riding in deep sand. The weight of the horses had left deep hoof prints in the soft ground. The grass had been rubbed raw, a prominent line of uneven mud leading up to each fence. What was left of the grass still glistened with water.
Another rain drop hit my glove. And another.
I frowned as doubt clouded my mind. Is this such a good idea? It's so slippery. Maybe I should pull out. What if I mess up? I thought. But everybody else has managed to go around safely, I argued with myself. Although, they went before me. The ground has worsened with every round.
I focused on Gypsy, staring down at her darkening neck. The rain was falling rapidly now. What's taking them so long? I asked myself. Maybe I should pull out?
The bell rang.
I glanced at my parents, who stared back expectantly, sheltered under a large umbrella. Lucy gave me a thumbs up. I couldn't read Steve's expression.
I gave Gypsy the cue to canter. She obliged, this time enthusiastically, and I steered her into the first fence, holding my breath. Gypsy didn't falter despite the ground conditions. I was so lucky to have such a careful, sure-footed horse. As we landed on the other side, all doubt escaped my mind. She cleared the next few just as nicely, her wet neck reaching up to greet me. The rain was coming down hard now, but it didn't matter. We maintained our rhythm and she jumped each one as effortlessly as the last. Gypsy saw the double and sped up, flattening her stride. I cursed under my breath, realizing I'd forgotten to pay attention to how other riders on smaller horses took the double. I bit my lip and closed my outside rein, asking Gypsy to come back to me. "It's too slippery," I told her. Gypsy pulled gently against me, disagreeing with my decision. But she reluctantly slowed down.
It was when we neared the fence that I realized my sweet little horse knew what she was doing. Gypsy had been going for the long stride I'd been considering earlier, and I was a fool not to have let her. "Sorry girl!"
I sat and waited. I knew we were going to take down the second fence to the double and there was nothing I could do about it.
But Gypsy had other ideas.
I counted my striding on approach. One, two, three, four? I prepared for take-off, but to my surprise Gypsy kept going for a fifth stride.
The double was right there. We were in too deep.
Cringing, I sat back to ensure I wouldn't go flying when Gypsy crashed through the jump.
And I got left behind.
I didn't know how she did it. I'd never know how she did it. Somehow Gypsy sprung over, her body sailing with her front legs following. She popped me up and out of the saddle. My feet flew back deep into the stirrups. I let the reins slip through my hands to ensure Gypsy had full freedom of her head and neck. Gravity pulled me back into the saddle as her front feet hit the ground. I landed hard on her neck, grabbing the loose piece of mane as she sailed clear over the second part of the double. I slid to the side, and Gypsy slowed down allowing me to correct myself.
Gypsy had just done the impossible.
My hands shook violently on the reins. My heart bet wildly in my chest. "You are one crazy mare," I said in a shaky whisper.
She didn't argue for the rest of the course. She didn't need to. She knew she could clear the other fences from a slow rounded canter; this horse had springs in her feet. Gypsy cleared the wall and finished the round clear. She was so clever on her feet that she hadn't slipped once.
The bell for the jump-off rang and Gypsy sprang back into canter. I didn't need to ask; she knew the second bell was the cue for to start the jump-off. She quickened her pace but I asked her to go slow. Her ears flickered towards me as she collected back up into a slow canter. I knew she'd be feeling confused.
She flew over the first fence, stretching her neck out as we sailed through the air. My heart was positively soaring. She sped up again on landing and this time, I gave in to my insecurities and I let her.
This horse had saved me so many times. She'd covered my mistakes, clearing rails I considered a definite goner. She'd prevented me from falling in every way a horse possibly could. She taught me something new every time we competed. She'd bought me this far? Who was I to question her?
"I trust you," I murmured.
She cleared the next fence, slipping slightly on landing. However, she quickly regathered herself and carried on contently, so I continued to let her choose her pace.
I felt so free. It was just Gypsy and I. Everybody else was forgotten.
At the second to last jump, everything went wrong.
Gypsy sped up. Her usually smooth canter turned bumpy. Her head shot up high as she bounded towards the fence, each stride jarring my back.
Despite the increase of pace, everything seemed to go in slow motion. Suddenly, I could feel the rain pelting down on my back. I could hear it, thundering onto my helmet. I could feel the cold, damp water seeping through my gloves.
Pouring? It was pouring?
I heard voices; people talking. It wasn't just me and Gypsy anymore. Did I hear shouting? My mind clouded over and I was hit with a wave of dread.
Gypsy took the jump long, hollowing her back. She touched the rail, but it remained. She stumbled as she landed and I heard a crack, ever so quietly that I could have imagined it. That gentle sound filled me with apprehension. She scrambled back up and continued forward.
Her gait so rough; her head so high; her ears so flat.
I felt her body trembling just slightly as she ran. I heard someone screaming.
Something's wrong. Something's wrong. Something's wrong. The words chanted in my head, a continuous wave of anxiety.
I pulled hard on one rein, struggling to turn Gypsy away from the incoming fence.
But it was like she wasn't there.
Ignoring me, she continued on. We were a stride out from the final fence. It was too late to pull her out safely. Terrified, I tensed and prepared for the worst. Gypsy leaped high into the air. Up? up? up? I grasped desperately at her mane as both stirrups were lost. For a brief moment it was as though time stood still. I felt frozen in midair, high above the fence, my stomach turned over in fear.
Then we plunged down.
Down? down? down?
She scrambled along the ground; frantic.
Something's wrong. Something's wrong. Something's wrong.
Gypsy seemed to vanish out from under me and I felt myself sail through the air. I landed hard on my back, the wind knocked ou
t from inside of me. Pain shot through my body. I was too stunned to make a sound as I saw Gypsy above me; only she was falling.
I was about to be squashed.
Unable to move, I jammed my eyes tightly shut and waited for further pain.
Suddenly, someone grabbed my arm roughly, hoisting me out of harm's way. A moment later I felt a whoosh of cool air followed by a deafening thud as Gypsy's body slammed onto the ground, just inches from where I lay.
For a moment all was silent. My body in shock, I'd temporarily lost my sense of hearing. I was so confused. I knew everything was wrong; I knew it was bad; but I couldn't process what had happened, or why it had happened. Then suddenly, I could hear again.
"Adele! Adele, honey, are you okay?" Mum's distressed voice.
I heard squeaky footsteps as they approached me quickly through the wet mud. "Is she okay?" Lucy's voice. So loud.
I heard whispers and soft murmurs all around. I thought I heard crying. The thundering rain had lightened back down to a weak drizzle.
I heard a man's voice. "Call the vet. The horse is going to need put down," followed by a loud gasp.
That's when I forced myself back to reality, launching myself up to a sitting position so fast that I screamed in agony. My back! It hurt so much! Such a sharp, sharp pain, all down my spine.
"Lie back down," Mum placed her hand on my shoulder, encouraging me to get back down. But I ignored her.
Mum, Dad, Lucy, Natasha, Steve, and one of the fence judges stood surrounding me. Everybody else stood back, watching and murmuring sadly from the sidelines.
My eyes flew to the area Gypsy had fallen. She must have gotten to her feet whilst I was in a daze for she stood a few metres back. Her ears pricked forward, she gazed around contently. I sighed with relief. She was okay. What was that man talking about?
That's when I saw it.
Her right foreleg; it dangled loosely from the joint.
A wave of nausea rolled over me and I swallowed hard, forcing away the taste of vomit. My body began to shake violently.
This is a nightmare. This isn't real.
Then I was screaming; screaming and crying. My physical pain forgotten, I threw my body around, wailing uncontrollably. My head pounded and my vision blurred through my never-ending flow of tears.
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no?" I thought that maybe if I said the word enough times, this wouldn't be real.