November Story Contest
A Mishap on Horseback
By: Captainpony274
Age:15It was 9 a.m. on and a warm November Saturday, living in California it's very common for it to be warm, even in November. The horses where fed about two hours ago and where ready to work.
"Can Jaquelyn come over today and go riding with me?" Crysta asked her mom.
"I don't mind, who are you planning on riding and what are you planning on doing?" Her mom replied, these where her usual questions when her daughter asked to ride.
Crysta's family owned five different horses on their small ranch. All of the horses where older except Captain, a short and quick POA who can do a little of everything from jumping to barrel racing, and Pickle, Crysta's new thoroughbred ex-racehorse rescue that she used for English riding. Corkey is Crysta's other horse, he's a twenty-five year old Mustang Appaloosa cross. Crysta loves him with all her heart but do to his age he can't do as much as he used to. The other two horses are her mom's, Crysta doesn't use them much.
"Well Jaquelyn likes to ride Captain, I'm not sure who I'll ride yet, if we decide to do arena work and some jumping I'll ride Pickle, but if we go on trails I'll ride Corky." Crysta responded.
"Alright, that's fine with me, wear helmets and stay together." Her mother concluded.
Crysta sent Jacquelyn a quick text to let her know she could come over. Jacque replied saying that she'd be there in about 5 minutes. So Crysta went and changed into some beat up skinny jeans and a t-shirt from summer camp. Crysta's an friendly fifteen year old. She has medium length brown hair with a few blonde highlight. All her life she's enjoyed horses and in fact, she knows most of her friends outside of school from the lesson barn she trailers to once a week. She knows how to ride western but lately has been pursuing English riding because she enjoys jumping. *Beep Beep* It was Jacque honking her horn to let everyone know she had arrived. Jacquelyn, also known as Jacque, is spunky, blonde, and a very tall and skinny sixteen year old, who like Crysta, loves horses, but doesn't own one yet. Jacquelyn goes to high school with Crysta, they didn't know that until they first met doing a lesson together and since then they've been inseparable. Crysta went outside to meet Jaquelyn who was putting on her boots and helmet by the trunk of her parent's junky mini van.
"Hey pal!" She called to Crysta, "Ready to go for a ride?"
"Sure am" Crysta called back
Collectively they walked over to the barn that was to right of the house, just across the drive way.
"So are we doing English or western today?" Crysta asked
" I don't know about you, but I'm in the mood for a quick trail and maybe some jumping" She replied
"That sounds good to me, but lets jump in the cross country in the empty pasture and then go do a trail ride." Crysta said as she handed Jacquelyn Captain's halter and grabbed Pickle's for herself.
"Okay, I like that plan."
The girls walked out into the big pasture to get the horses. Corkey was standing right by Pickle so Crysta gave Corkey a kiss before she slipped the light blue halter on dark bay Pickle. Jacquelyn and Crysta quickly brought Pickle and Captain to the barn and tacked up. Next they mounted up and walked a few laps in the arena to warm up. Once they were satisfied they opened the arena gate and walked to the pasture where the cross-country course was. Crysta double checked to see if a horse was in the pasture before opening the gate and letting her and Jacquelyn inside. Jacquelyn took the lead and began to trot past Crysta. Little Captain standing at only 11 hh was surprisingly quick and agile. Crysta followed behind with 16 hh Pickle. After a bit, Crysta took initiative and pointed Pickle toward a foot tall log on the ground. Pickle perked his ears and cantered at it, clearing it with ease. Jacquelyn then decided to go for the same jump after Crysta was clear. Captain took an extended trot and in his cute, funny way cleared the jump.
"Haha, the difference between Pickle's graceful jump and Captain's bunny hop is hilarious" Crysta teased
"Don't judge us!" Jacquelyn joked back
"Okay, let's set up a course. How about, Start at the log we just jumped, then pass that group of trees then jump the set of bushes. Next canter to the set of three logs trot down the hill, jump the creek, canter up the the other side and finish with the coffin jump" Crysta suggested.
"That sounds good but Captain doesn't like the Coffin." Jacque said with concern in her voice.
"You'll be fine, I've jumped it with him many times, just keep your eyes up. You have a habit of looking at it when you get nervous, he'll do it Jacquelyn, ride with confidence, I know you can!" She encouraged.
"Alright I'll try, you go first though."
Crysta brought Pickle about 20 ft. in front of the first little log and stopped. She counted to three then pushed him into a canter. Two long strides and Pickle pops over the jump. They take a wide left turn past the group of trees and take a bigger leap for the bushes that are about a foot and a half tall. Pickle takes off a bit early but they recover and finish the rest of the course with stunning elegance and ease.
"Beat that!" Crysta taunts Jacquelyn.
You wouldn't know it by looking at her but Jacquelyn is VERY competitive! She lined up Captain then looked up, bit her bottom lip and counted to five in order to motivate herself.
"Yahhh!" She called to Captain. Instinctively Captain took off with much gusto! In perfect rhythm the two of them fly over the first jump, over doing it a little, they continue to the next jump and power over it, Jacque slows down a bit as they go down hill. They jump the three logs and then seem kind of surprised by the steep descent. Jacquelyn loses focus for a second but then looks on to the creek, it's the easiest jump out there, and it’s not very wide. Even still Captain stumbles on descent. With great determination the two of them gallop to the coffin, suddenly Jacquelyn feels nervous when the coffin is in sight. She grabs mane and doesn't notice herself stare at the jump. Captain takes a sliding stop in front of it then shies to the left and takes off bucking. Jacquelyn tenses up.
"Relax and stop him!" Crysta shouts to her.
Consumed by her fear Jacque doesn't hear Crysta. Captain crow hops then bucks trying to release his tensed up energy. Jacquelyn looses her balance and falls on her side. Captain canters away acting like an idiot, when he came to terms with himself he settled down. Crysta dismounted and ran to Jacquelyn the moment her bottom left the saddle.
"Are you alright?" She asks.
"Yeah, I'm alright, I may have bruised my hip but other than that I'm fine"
"Jeez you scared me, don't ever do that again, ha-ha!" Crysta teased.
Jacquelyn stands up of the ground then gets Captain and re-mounts. Crysta holds on to Pickle in one hand and Captain in the other, to help Jacque keep him under control. As any rider can tell you, when you fall off, you get right back on. The girls decided to go on a quick trail behind the house and call it a day.
"Tomorrow, I'll come back and we'll get it right. I'm going to jump that coffin!" Jacque says to Crysta as she gets in her car to go home.
"I know you will, see you then" Crysta said with a smile.