Back in the Saddle by Catherine Hapka

Author:Catherine Hapka
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin

CHAPTER

7

SUNDAY WAS WARM and still, with a hint of the pleasant spring weather that would be arriving before long. Haley leaned forward in the passenger seat of her uncle’s truck as he pulled up to Jan’s modest clapboard barn, set in the midst of stubbly winter fields that would soon be sprouting with corn and hay and soybeans. Andrew was already grooming his horse in the outdoor wash rack between the barn and the outdoor ring.

By the time Haley had unloaded Wings and led him over to the tie ring beside Turbo, Kyle and Augie had arrived too. Andrew had Turbo tacked up before the others, but he stood nearby and let the thoroughbred graze on the wispy bits of early spring grass while Haley and Kyle finished getting their horses ready.

“So,” Kyle said. “I talked to my parents, and I’m going to do that event next weekend too.”

“Cool.” Haley looked up from trying to brush a manure stain out of the white part of her pony’s coat. It was still too cold for a proper bath, so keeping him clean was a constant challenge. “Guess we’ll all be fighting for that blue ribbon again.”

Andrew laughed, but Kyle shook his head. “Nope, I’ll leave that to you two. I’m going to drop back a level.”

“Really?” That made Haley look up again. At unrecognized events it was common for there to be levels well below beginner novice, which was the lowest recognized level. She and Wings had done their first competition at something called mini-amoeba level, over a cross-country course that had been totally enclosed in a large fenced field, with obstacles ranging from small logs on the ground to railroad ties and simple flower boxes.

Jan appeared at the end of the barn aisle just in time to hear Kyle’s comment. She was leading a tall, elegant dapple-gray gelding. The horse was fully tacked up in Jan’s jumping saddle, with a running martingale attached to his bridle. Haley had met Cancun the last time she’d come to Jan’s for a lesson. He was a talented jumper but had turned out to be a little too lively and bold for his previous career as a show hunter. His new owner wanted to event him, so Jan was teaching him the basics.

“I got your text about dropping back a level, Kyle,” Jan said. “I think it’s a good idea. You guys did fine last time, but I think you’d both gain confidence from a good stadium round, and dropping down is probably the best way to do it.” She glanced at Wings. “Haley, you might want to consider trying elementary this time too. You and Wings could probably—”

“No!” Haley blurted out. “I mean, I don’t think that’s necessary. We’ll be ready for BN this time.”

Jan raised her eyebrows. “Okay,” she said with a shrug. “Thought that stop might’ve shaken you up a little—you were awfully quiet afterward.”

“I was just trying to figure out what I’d done wrong so I could fix it.” Haley squared her shoulders, looking her trainer in the eye.

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