October Story Contest

A Horse of Scarlet
By: Ging
Age: 11

"Scarlet", I called to the strawberry roan mare who was sniffing her hay-net. "Its time to go" I called. "Our lesson starts in fifteen minutes".
She walked to wards her stall door and I slipped a halter over her ears. I clipped the lead-rope onto the brass catch and gave her  a quick brush before putting her green saddle pad on her back and then pacing the saddle on her back, tightening her girth loosely deciding to tighten it before I mounted up. As I led her to the arena I saw that the lesson hadn't started yet. We were still waiting for Relinsha Barclay and her gray mare Sweet-Pea. I quickly mounted up and nudged Scarlet with my heels. I started to trot around the area behind my other classmates, Penelope Crewe on Faynight, Camilla Spleights on Shiloh, then me( Libbany Zars on Scarlet ) and last Relinsha Barclay and Sweet-Pea. Up-down up-down up-down, I was focusing so hard on Scarlet's strides that I barely noticed the arrival of our riding instructor, Brigrit Svensten.

Ms. Svensten called us to the centre of the arena to go over the agenda for today's lesson.
"Please trot a three-loop serpentine at a working trot starting at A, she gestured to the dressage markers ( A, K, E, H, C, M, B, F) Then Change directions around the arena and do a six-loop serpentine also starting at A. We all nodded in agreement and trotted of to the A marker. As I trotted along behind Camilla Spleights, I realized something was wrong. Scarlet was trotting smoothly and yet I was slipping around all over my saddle. As I realized what the problem was I groaned out loud. My girth was loose, I had for gotten to tighten it before I mounted Scarlet.
"Ms. Svensten" I called "I need to tighten my girth strap".
"Well really Libbany, isn't tacking-up time the right time to check your girth and tighten it if necessary?"
"Yes Ms. Svensten" I toyed with my reins and pulled Scarlet to a halt, waiting to have permission to tighten my girth.

Ms. Svensten nodded and I swung rather clumsily out of the saddle and tightened my girth three notches. After checking it really was secure, I mounted Scarlet and walked over to where my classmates were mounted. They had already finished the serpentines and Penelope and Camilla were discussing the fluency of Faynight's strides. However when I approached, their conversation changed and they started to snigger. Camilla pretended that her girth was loose just to put me down. She stopped  abruptly as Ms. Svensten approached to talk us through the course of jumps she had put up.
"First the small vertical, watch the strides between that and the two crossrails, then the log, after the log you must shorten your horse's strides in order to have a clean jump over the hay bales and the hedge. These aren't hard jumps, they are low and easy and I'm sure you won't have any trouble going over them. Penelope, you are first."
Penelope had a perfect round. Faynight was an utter dream, he jumped perfectly with his legs snapped up precisely while Penelope stayed still and maintained her perfect position throughout their round. Ms. Svensten lavished her with praise as she patted Faynight on  his immaculate neck. Camilla went next. She and her cute bay gelding, Shiloh, cantered around the course clearing all the jumps with ease. She also got praised by Ms. Svensten. My turn. My stomach was churning like a washing machine on spin-cycle. I pushed Scarlet into a canter and headed for the vertical. Scarlet was oblivious to my nerves and was cantering easily. As we rose over the vertical I leant forward but instead, I slipped backwards causing Scarlet to clip the fence! 
"Easy Scar" I hissed as we approached the crossrails. This time I was ready, we sailed over both of the crossrails and I pulled her over to the next jump: The hay bales. Scarlet and I cantered up the the bales and soared again. The last two jumps didn't stop us we jumped them too. After the round of jumps , I pulled up Scarlet and gave her the enormous pat she deserved. I barely saw Relinsha and Sweet-Pea's round after my jumping success ( except for the clipped fence) I was so happy, When class was over me and Relinsha led Scarlet and Sweet-Pea to the stable ( Penelope and Camilla got stable hands to do it for them because they didn't want to break or dirty their nails)

Scarlet let out a big sight as I loosened her girth and took off her saddle and bridle, replacing them with her halter. I gave her a carrot and she munched contentedly. After she had finished her carrot and was cooled down, I led her into to a turn-out paddock with Sweet-Pea, Faynight, Shiloh, Wallaby and Ivy ( who were two school-horses) I gave Scarlet a reward pat and then  turned her loose with the other horses. I paused to watch the ponies for a moment before going cleaning Scarlet's tack. After taking a sip from the water trough, Scarlet led the other ponies at a gallop around the paddock. Her mane and tail was streaming out like banners , her reddish coat shining in the late-afternoon sun. She is a horse of scarlet, with the talent of a champion and the looks as perfect as a unicorn's. My darling Scarlet.