Horsemen Trials, A Fantasy Story about Horses

"Good ride," said Norah softly. I looked at her with a bit of surprise. She'd been so quiet I'd forgotten she was there, much less that she was watching.

"Thanks."

She stroked the bay horse's neck. "What's her name?" She asked with a glance toward Destiny.

"Destiny, I figured we'd be making each other's future together. And what's his name?"

"Juniper." Her face grew wistful. "There was a juniper tree near my home that I always used to go to that I liked."

I nodded, curious, but decided not to pry. "A good name."

"Why'd you decide to train with Mr. Blair?" She asked me.

"What do you mean?"

She snorted. "Come now. You and I both know Mr. Blair is considered 'out of style' and 'old fashioned', despite the fact he did win the title of Horseman. It's not likely we'll win."

Apprehension built like a storm cloud in me. "You don't think so?"

She shook her head. "No. Not really. I mean, it's possible, if we work hard. And of course, it depends on the judges." She looked up into Juniper's eye. "But that's alright. I didn't enter to win."

But I had. And I didn't like the thought of not winning. "Then why did you enter?"

She kept looking at Juniper. "Because I wanted a horse. And I wanted to learn how to be a true horsewoman."

Her words pricked my conscience, and reminded me of Mr. Blair's when I was picking out Destiny.

Mr. Blair had gotten on Rejem and schooled him for a few minutes, but now he had dismounted and was walking up to us. "Grab your halters and come with me."

Mr. Blair walked Rejem up to the barn, where he took of his bridle and tied him to a hitching rail. He told us to do the same.

I wrapped the halter around Destiny's neck and slowly took the bit out of her mouth. Once it was out she shook her head, licking and chewing, enjoying the feel of them metal out of her mouth. I patted her and put the bridle on my shoulder.

After slipping her halter on, I began to take the saddle off like Mr. Blair was doing. When I removed it, sweat stains darkened her beautiful coat. It'd been hot.

We washed them off with cool buckets of water drawn from Mr. Blair's well, then scraped them off and lead them around.

I couldn't help but notice with what infinite tenderness Mr. Blair handled Rejem. He and the stallion seemed like old familiar friends who know each other's traits as well as their own.

"I want you, while we're cooling them out, to review your ride and think about what you could improve," instructed Mr. Blair. Norah and I solemnly nodded.

We walked along under the sun in silence, the horses strolling along slightly sleepily beside us. I tried to focus on my ride, and was half way successful. However, the sun was so warm and relaxing I found it difficult to concentrate.

Until I realized that Mr. Blair might quiz me later.

And so that was the beginning of my time with Mr. Blair. I went everyday to ride with him. I grew to love the dear man, but I also started to resent his methods a little.

I mean, I just didn't feel like Destiny and I were progressing enough. Most of the time we worked on dressage or flatwork, sometimes going over trot poles and jumping. But, we never went out on trails or anything.

Destiny's and I's bond got stronger, I knew her better now. But that still wasn't enough.

My feelings compounded one cloudy day while I was out riding Destiny in a field, getting some extra practice in. We were working on canter circles.

I deepened my inside leg and put my outside one farther back, clucking at Destiny for her to keep cantering. "I know you're tired girl, just a little longer..."

Heaving in time with her strides she pushed on at my nudge. "Good girl," I murmured.

I let her walk and patted her neck. "We've nearly got them mastered now Destiny."

"That's all you're doing?" A voice dripping with disdain startled me.

I turned Destiny around to see Nadia Veldworth behind me. I didn't know what to say.

"Me and Prior are much farther along," she said.

Again, I kept silent. What could I say to that? She was probably right.

"I hear you're training with Mr. Blair."

I nodded.

"You know you don't stand a chance with him," she sniffed.

I was both angered and frightened by her words. Angry she would dismiss him so quickly, fearful that she was right.

"He's a fine trainer," I defended.

She snorted. "Sure, back in the days before you were born. Face it, his methods just don't work these days. They're outdated."

"Who says?"

"Mr. Bellton, my trainer, for one."

She turned her horse around roughly, in a way that made me wince. I knew Mr. Blair would yell at her for that. With a sharp boot in the ribs, she sent her horse off in a jerky trot, which made me wince. Then she booted him again for canter, and again I winced.

And I wondered if winning was worth doing that to my horse.

As I walked Destiny back my camp, I pondered this.

I did want to win. But why? Well, for one thing, it'd been my dream since I was a little girl. It would bring honor to me and my family. I would also be able to readily earn money from people who wanted their horses trained by good trainers.

But just what would make me a 'good trainer'? The ability to make the horse do whatever I wanted it to? Regardless of the amount of force needed?

Or the ability to coax the horse into doing what I wanted it to do, and looked unforced while doing it?

A combination of both?