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Description

Something I’m actually pretty pleased with. I have commissions to do but there’s so many competitions I want to enter 😭 I hope Lana and Jet place decently but there are so many amazing entries I’m doomed 😂 it’s ok

Artwork without snow:
sta.sh/0zig6m6gof8

Horse reference: Bailey’s Airforce One
Horse name: Bailey’s Airforce One
Horse Age: 6 Years Old
Rider Name and age: Lana Wilson (19 Years Old)
Class(es): Cross Country
Event: 2nd PVS Winter Event
Placing: 1st Out Of 7

Story

The first show for Bailey Oaks Farm. This will be the show to get their name out. To mean something. To be someone. To become everyone’s competition.

The Peterson’s had finally gotten settled into their new property, riders and trainers slowly coming in, horse auction after the next. Bailey had decided it was time to have her stable and horses represented. Funding was generous enough to be able to travel to different countries to compete. There were no limitations. Bailey sat in her office on her computer scrolling through ‘Equestrians Classified’ trying to find a competition. Lana knocked on the office door and slowly entered.

“You wanted to speak to me?” Lana asked Bailey. Bailey nods and points to a chair next to her.
“How comfortable are you riding Jet?” She asked her student.
“He’s been progressing as you’ve seen and he definitely isn’t as skittish as when he first arrived. Why?” The teen asked.

“We’ll now that we’re settled in I was thinking it’s time to start building our client list. Easiest way to get our name out would be a competition. Only problem is that you and Jet could really only compete in Cross Country. Show Jumping is too high for how green he is and we really haven’t worked on Dressage. He’s bold enough to take on Cross Country. But are you comfortable?” Bailey asked once more. Lana hesitated.

“Yes and no. Jumping is no problem for us but I’ve never competed Cross Country.” Lana rubbed her arm trying to comfort herself.

“We could set some jumps up in one of the lower fields to practice. It’s not exactly the same but at least you could change turf and scenery.” Bailey recommended grabbing Lana’s hand seeing she was in distress.

“We can try. I really do want to help you and the Farm and get you those clients. I’m just nervous. I don’t want to let you or Jet down.” Lana lowered her head.

“Lana, you wouldn’t disappoint me. And the only way you’d disappoint Jet would to not at least try.” Bailey smiled at the young girl. “We can start training this evening. The event is in almost 2 weeks.” Bailey left her computer screen on with the flyer and left her office. Lana watched her trainer walk out and sat looking at the flyer. ‘Cross Country Debut for Bailey Oaks Farms? And Bailey wants me to represent the farm?’ Lana thought to herself. She rubbed her forehead stressed and got up to leave the office. ‘Might as well try. Can only home for the best outcome’. After walking out of the office she walked over to Jet’s stall.

“What do you think about competing boy? I know you haven’t been in a competition since your racing career.” She stroked the stallions neck. He nuzzled his rider and started playing with her zipper.

“We could do it right? I got you and you got me?” She reached into her pocket and grabs a carrot for the best boy. He happily takes his treat. Lana opens his stall and throws a lead rope over Jet’s neck followed by putting his halter on. The stallion keeps his head lowered and waits for Lana to lead him out.

“Well let’s get to it buddy.” Lana walks towards the cross ties with the stallion to get him brushed off and tacked up. They were gonna need as much practice as possible.

Lana mounted Jet and rode into the lower arena to warm her horse up. The weather was quite chilly and the ground in the field wasn’t the softest. Bailey walked down to meet the pair in the arena.

“I thought we were gonna try the field?” Bailey asked confused.

“I went into the field but the ground was too solid to even attempt jumping. The last thing we need is for Jet to come up lame right?” Lana frowned. Bailey nodded in understandment.

“That’s right. We’ll just keep practicing in the arena. If it unfreezes then we can try in the field.” Bailey sat on a mounting block. “In the mean time go ahead and trot his over the cavalettis that are set up. Lana brought the stallion up to a slow collected trot and set him up straight over the cavalettis. The stallion pranced over the alternating heights making sure to keep his feet up. “Good! Go ahead and do it a couple more times.” Lana listened to her trainer and went over the poles a couple of times before bringing the stallion back to a walk. Jet had starting sweating already.

“We should probably give him a clip.” Lana suggested noticing how sweaty her horse already was. “He really seems hot..” Lana gave the horse hi head and let him stretch out for a minute.

“Yeah he is sweating pretty bad. After this ride so ahead and wash and let him dry in the heated stall and we can give him a partial trace to help him out.” Bailey walked towards the cavalettis and raised them to be vertical and paced out a bounce grid. “Go ahead and bring him into the grid at a trot and come out in a collected canter.” Bailey directed Lana taking a step back. Lana brought Jet back into a trot and approached the grid. Jet took the bounce grid with easy and listened to Lana’s cues.

“That was beautiful Lana! Go ahead and do it one more time and then let him rest while I set up a few jumps.” Bailey instructed. Lana nodded and brought Jet back down to a trot to go over the grid again. Once again the stallion jumped the grid with ease and responded beautifully to his rider’s cues. Lana let Jet have his head once more watching her instructor set up a couple of lower jumps. Bailey finished setting a mini course and sat back on the mounting block. Jet caught his breath and perked his head back up.

“Ok Lana I want you to bring him into a nice collected canter at this corner.” Bailey started explaining her course. “Take him over this vertical line, rollback to the blue oxer, take the right curve line and finish back over the vertical line.” Bailey pointed to the jumps as she described the course. Lana watched and once her instructor finished explaining brought Jet into a canter. She lined him centered for the first jump, counting strides in her head. ‘One, two, three, four, one, jump, one, two, three, four, jump.’ Jet popped her slightly out of her seat on the second jump making her rollback slightly harder. She tried to straighten the stallion to the oxer but ended up almost clipping the right jump stand on the blue jump.

“That’s ok, just bring him back slightly, he’s getting ahead of himself.” Bailey talked to her student. Lana took a breath and lined him back up straight to the curved line. He took both jumps beautifully. Lana brought him back around to the straight line. Jet gained just a little bit of speed and chipped the rail on the first jump and over jumped the second. Lana brought him back to a walk.

“He just wants to go!” Lana sighed in distress. How was she suppose to take on a solid cross country course if he’s chipping jumps that can actually fall.

“It’s fine Lana. These jumps are a lot closer than they would be on a cross country course. You can lengthen or shorten his stride easier inbetween those jumps.” Bailey explained to her nervous student.

“I guess, but what if he doesn’t listen to me on the course.” Lana tried not to get discouraged.

“I don’t think he will. If you’re calm, he’ll stay calm. He can feel whether you’re anxious or not.” Bailey told Lana. She got up and raised a couple of jumps. “I want you to go ahead and try the same course again but pace him and sit deep in your seat.”

Lana took a breath and tried the course again, Jet took every jump confidently and Lana kept her seat more confidently. She pat the stallion, rewarding him for jumping a great course.

“That was a lot better! Go ahead and let him cool down and wash him off and get him ready to clip. I’ll be in the office, just grab me when you’re ready.” Bailey walked back up to the barn. Lana followed shortly after. Lana quickly untacked the stallion and bathed him. She put him in the heated stall as per Baileys orders and waiting for him to dry. While waiting she went to the office.

“He should be dry enough soon.” Lana told Bailey. She was looking for the clippers in some cabinets.

“Do you know how to trace clip?” Bailey asked. Lana nodded. “Ok so this is a little different. Follow his cheek line and leave his head alone, get the top of his neck and create a smooth line down to almost his stifle. Leave his front legs as well. Let me find a picture just incase.” Bailey went on and she pulled out her phone finding a picture to show Lana. Lana looked at the image and remembered the clip.

“Alright, did you want me to do anything else after I clip him?” Lana asked. Bailey shook her head handing her student the clippers.

“If you need help I’ll be in here. There’s this new horse I’m bidding on and she’s quite gorgeous. Possibly a new Dressage prospect.” Bailey gleamed. Lana smiled and left the office to go get Jet and start clipping him.

“Good girl! That’s it! Let him go until you start approaching the next jump!” Bailey yelled out to her student. Lana finally got to ride Jet in the lower field. The ground had started to soften up enough to practice. The pair had gained lots of confidence over the last few days and were really feeling ready for the upcoming event. Jet flew over the jumps put in-front of him with easy, galloping towards the next. Whenever Lana asked him to give her more control he listened and would collect himself. They truly looked like an unstoppable force.

“He’s changed so much already! He feels so much more confident in my hands than he has the whole time I’ve ridden him. It’s insane. Like he’s a complete different horse.” Lana beamed and let the stallion rest. Bailey smiled and nodded.

“You look a lot more comfortable as well. I think y’all are about ready for the competition. I think both of you could use a couple days off before we fly over to Planina Vlasic Stables.” Bailey told her student while walking beside the pair, patting Jet’s neck.

“I think Jet would like that.” Lana dropped her stirrups and stretched her very sore legs. The pair cooled down and went on a small trail ride. The most relaxing ride they’ve had in the past week. The competition was approaching faster and faster.

Jet was calm as could be. He was snuggled up in shipping equipment next to some new horse buddies on the cargo plane. The employees taking great care of the horses. Lana on the other hand was a wreck.

“I’ve never flown before. This is awful. And a long flight. Jet is probably terrified.” Lana kept shifting in her seat. Bailey grabbed her arm.

“He’s probably fine. He’s got plenty of hay and other horses around to keep him calm. I’m sure you’re just nervous about the competition. You know there’s no need to be. You both have tremendously improved and no matter what I’m proud of you.” Bailey smiled and leaned back in her seat. The plane started to move. Lana gripped onto her arm rest. “Relax.” Bailey told Lana. Lana closed her eyes and started to drift off. The plane was off the ground and the three were on the way to their debut.

Lana tried to sleep as long as possible but the flight was far too long. A couple hours in she woke up and grabbed her laptop, connecting to the airplane WiFi. She scrolled through Facebook looking at everything her friends were up to while she was traveling halfway around the world. She really had given up her social life to be a rider for Bailey Oaks Farms. Lana searched up Planina Vlasic Stables and took a look at the event page they created. Lots of Stables from all over the world were going to attend. Including ‘Harley Cooper from KhanCohban Farm’. An Olympic athlete? Lana closed out Facebook and open Netflix, she put her favorite show, ‘Heartland’, on and tried to clear her mind.

“It’s so cold here.” Lana shivered leading the stallion into the barn. They were up in the mountains after all.

“I think you’ll live, it’s not like we’re sleeping outside. We get to rent out the ski cabins that are close to the cross country trail so we can go check out the course!” Bailey told her student. That would more than likely help the teen. Lana nodded and walked Jet into his designated stall. The stallion immediately started eating the hay that was set in his feeding. He had no problem settling in compared to his otherwise nervous rider. He sensed her anxiety and tried to comfort Lana by nuzzling her.

“You’re such a baby. You always know how to cheer me up.” She rubbed her stallion and took his halter off. “I’ll see you tomorrow boy. It’s a big day for us.” Lana slipped him a carrot before closing his stall door and walking by her trainers side.

“Shall we go catch a nap?” Bailey asked. Lana nodded as she climbed into their rental truck. The two drove to the ski slopes and hiked a couple minutes to their cabin. Lana immediately set her suitcase inside the door and climbed into one of the queen beds. She definitely needed to sleep before walking the course that was just feet outside the windows.

Lana heard a door open followed by cold air. She opened her groggy eyes to see her trainer in the doorway to outside.

“Well hi there.” Bailey laughed. “You ready to go walk a couple of jumps now?” She asked. Lana rolled her eyes and drug herself out of bed.

“Let me grab a couple more layers before I freeze to death.” She threw on a thick jacket, scarf, sweatpants and boots. Ok let’s make this fast. I’m beyond jet lagged.” Lana stomped towards the door. The two walked some of the course. Lana coming her height to the jumps and the distance between the jumps they did walk.

“Not as bad as you thought, right?” Bailey asked, hands by her face trying to keep warm. Lana nodded. “Jet should have no problem taking these jumps and so long as you let him go when he needs to and collect him when jumps are coming up you both should have a pretty quick run time.” Bailey explained strategies to her student. Lana listened and mentally mapped striding and speed needed in her head. Multiple scenarios playing out, but her trainer was right. They should easily have a fast run time. “Let gets back to the cabin though, I feel like my feet and hands are gonna fall off.” Bailey laughed and picked up a jog, cabin in sight. Lana laughed and followed.

“Number 12, Lana Wilson on Baileys Airforce One.” The announcer said over the intercom. Bailey led the pair to the starting box.

“Remember to breathe.” Bailey told Lana. “Both of you.” She joked to the stallion petting his nose. Lana took a deep breath. “Also. Kick some ass.” Bailey smiled and stepped outside of the box. She nodded and went to the sidelines to watch but close enough to the tv to watch the pairs run.

‘3,2,1’ sirens went off and Lana urged the stallion into a hand gallop and started her timer. The first jump came up quick. Lana pulled the stallion back some. He added in a half stride jumping weirdly over the first fence. Once landing she regained her balance and let the stallion go again.

“Shake it off, we’re ok Jet.” She told her stallion. The pair started going down the ski slopes and into the forest approaching the next jump. She played what her trainer instructed her to do in her head. She shorted her reins and sat deeper, counting strides. ‘Three, four, jump’. The pair soared effortlessly. She slapped the stallions neck. “GOOD BOY!” Lana rose into a two point seat and let the stallion go once again, each jump they took with ease, Jet not phased at all. Lana kept track of her time, they were currently running a 1,34 minute time. Pretty fast for first timers. The end of the course came faster than Lana had imagined. Jet’s hooves were pounding towards the finish line, Lana’s heart beating out of her chest. They had done it. They didn’t die. Everything was fine and they had a fast, clean ride. Lana held back tears and rewarded her horse, Bailey approached the pair.

“You both looked so great out there.” She grabbed Jet’s reins and lead them away from the course. “There’s still competitors that need to go, but I have a really great feeling for you both.” Bailey beamed, beyond proud of her student. “Go ahead and cool him down and let him graze while we wait for the rest to run the course.” Bailey told Lana. Lana unmounted Jet and walked to his stall to untack him. Soon enough they were going to find out if their debut was successful.

Word Count: 2,973 words so far

Art, Lana and Jet © by me
Own ref used

Description

Something I’m actually pretty pleased with. I have commissions to do but there’s so many competitions I want to enter 😭 I hope Lana and Jet place decently but there are so many amazing entries I’m doomed 😂 it’s ok

Artwork without snow:
sta.sh/0zig6m6gof8

Horse reference: Bailey’s Airforce One
Horse name: Bailey’s Airforce One
Horse Age: 6 Years Old
Rider Name and age: Lana Wilson (19 Years Old)
Class(es): Cross Country
Event: 2nd PVS Winter Event
Placing: 1st Out Of 7

Story

The first show for Bailey Oaks Farm. This will be the show to get their name out. To mean something. To be someone. To become everyone’s competition.

The Peterson’s had finally gotten settled into their new property, riders and trainers slowly coming in, horse auction after the next. Bailey had decided it was time to have her stable and horses represented. Funding was generous enough to be able to travel to different countries to compete. There were no limitations. Bailey sat in her office on her computer scrolling through ‘Equestrians Classified’ trying to find a competition. Lana knocked on the office door and slowly entered.

“You wanted to speak to me?” Lana asked Bailey. Bailey nods and points to a chair next to her.
“How comfortable are you riding Jet?” She asked her student.
“He’s been progressing as you’ve seen and he definitely isn’t as skittish as when he first arrived. Why?” The teen asked.

“We’ll now that we’re settled in I was thinking it’s time to start building our client list. Easiest way to get our name out would be a competition. Only problem is that you and Jet could really only compete in Cross Country. Show Jumping is too high for how green he is and we really haven’t worked on Dressage. He’s bold enough to take on Cross Country. But are you comfortable?” Bailey asked once more. Lana hesitated.

“Yes and no. Jumping is no problem for us but I’ve never competed Cross Country.” Lana rubbed her arm trying to comfort herself.

“We could set some jumps up in one of the lower fields to practice. It’s not exactly the same but at least you could change turf and scenery.” Bailey recommended grabbing Lana’s hand seeing she was in distress.

“We can try. I really do want to help you and the Farm and get you those clients. I’m just nervous. I don’t want to let you or Jet down.” Lana lowered her head.

“Lana, you wouldn’t disappoint me. And the only way you’d disappoint Jet would to not at least try.” Bailey smiled at the young girl. “We can start training this evening. The event is in almost 2 weeks.” Bailey left her computer screen on with the flyer and left her office. Lana watched her trainer walk out and sat looking at the flyer. ‘Cross Country Debut for Bailey Oaks Farms? And Bailey wants me to represent the farm?’ Lana thought to herself. She rubbed her forehead stressed and got up to leave the office. ‘Might as well try. Can only home for the best outcome’. After walking out of the office she walked over to Jet’s stall.

“What do you think about competing boy? I know you haven’t been in a competition since your racing career.” She stroked the stallions neck. He nuzzled his rider and started playing with her zipper.

“We could do it right? I got you and you got me?” She reached into her pocket and grabs a carrot for the best boy. He happily takes his treat. Lana opens his stall and throws a lead rope over Jet’s neck followed by putting his halter on. The stallion keeps his head lowered and waits for Lana to lead him out.

“Well let’s get to it buddy.” Lana walks towards the cross ties with the stallion to get him brushed off and tacked up. They were gonna need as much practice as possible.

Lana mounted Jet and rode into the lower arena to warm her horse up. The weather was quite chilly and the ground in the field wasn’t the softest. Bailey walked down to meet the pair in the arena.

“I thought we were gonna try the field?” Bailey asked confused.

“I went into the field but the ground was too solid to even attempt jumping. The last thing we need is for Jet to come up lame right?” Lana frowned. Bailey nodded in understandment.

“That’s right. We’ll just keep practicing in the arena. If it unfreezes then we can try in the field.” Bailey sat on a mounting block. “In the mean time go ahead and trot his over the cavalettis that are set up. Lana brought the stallion up to a slow collected trot and set him up straight over the cavalettis. The stallion pranced over the alternating heights making sure to keep his feet up. “Good! Go ahead and do it a couple more times.” Lana listened to her trainer and went over the poles a couple of times before bringing the stallion back to a walk. Jet had starting sweating already.

“We should probably give him a clip.” Lana suggested noticing how sweaty her horse already was. “He really seems hot..” Lana gave the horse hi head and let him stretch out for a minute.

“Yeah he is sweating pretty bad. After this ride so ahead and wash and let him dry in the heated stall and we can give him a partial trace to help him out.” Bailey walked towards the cavalettis and raised them to be vertical and paced out a bounce grid. “Go ahead and bring him into the grid at a trot and come out in a collected canter.” Bailey directed Lana taking a step back. Lana brought Jet back into a trot and approached the grid. Jet took the bounce grid with easy and listened to Lana’s cues.

“That was beautiful Lana! Go ahead and do it one more time and then let him rest while I set up a few jumps.” Bailey instructed. Lana nodded and brought Jet back down to a trot to go over the grid again. Once again the stallion jumped the grid with ease and responded beautifully to his rider’s cues. Lana let Jet have his head once more watching her instructor set up a couple of lower jumps. Bailey finished setting a mini course and sat back on the mounting block. Jet caught his breath and perked his head back up.

“Ok Lana I want you to bring him into a nice collected canter at this corner.” Bailey started explaining her course. “Take him over this vertical line, rollback to the blue oxer, take the right curve line and finish back over the vertical line.” Bailey pointed to the jumps as she described the course. Lana watched and once her instructor finished explaining brought Jet into a canter. She lined him centered for the first jump, counting strides in her head. ‘One, two, three, four, one, jump, one, two, three, four, jump.’ Jet popped her slightly out of her seat on the second jump making her rollback slightly harder. She tried to straighten the stallion to the oxer but ended up almost clipping the right jump stand on the blue jump.

“That’s ok, just bring him back slightly, he’s getting ahead of himself.” Bailey talked to her student. Lana took a breath and lined him back up straight to the curved line. He took both jumps beautifully. Lana brought him back around to the straight line. Jet gained just a little bit of speed and chipped the rail on the first jump and over jumped the second. Lana brought him back to a walk.

“He just wants to go!” Lana sighed in distress. How was she suppose to take on a solid cross country course if he’s chipping jumps that can actually fall.

“It’s fine Lana. These jumps are a lot closer than they would be on a cross country course. You can lengthen or shorten his stride easier inbetween those jumps.” Bailey explained to her nervous student.

“I guess, but what if he doesn’t listen to me on the course.” Lana tried not to get discouraged.

“I don’t think he will. If you’re calm, he’ll stay calm. He can feel whether you’re anxious or not.” Bailey told Lana. She got up and raised a couple of jumps. “I want you to go ahead and try the same course again but pace him and sit deep in your seat.”

Lana took a breath and tried the course again, Jet took every jump confidently and Lana kept her seat more confidently. She pat the stallion, rewarding him for jumping a great course.

“That was a lot better! Go ahead and let him cool down and wash him off and get him ready to clip. I’ll be in the office, just grab me when you’re ready.” Bailey walked back up to the barn. Lana followed shortly after. Lana quickly untacked the stallion and bathed him. She put him in the heated stall as per Baileys orders and waiting for him to dry. While waiting she went to the office.

“He should be dry enough soon.” Lana told Bailey. She was looking for the clippers in some cabinets.

“Do you know how to trace clip?” Bailey asked. Lana nodded. “Ok so this is a little different. Follow his cheek line and leave his head alone, get the top of his neck and create a smooth line down to almost his stifle. Leave his front legs as well. Let me find a picture just incase.” Bailey went on and she pulled out her phone finding a picture to show Lana. Lana looked at the image and remembered the clip.

“Alright, did you want me to do anything else after I clip him?” Lana asked. Bailey shook her head handing her student the clippers.

“If you need help I’ll be in here. There’s this new horse I’m bidding on and she’s quite gorgeous. Possibly a new Dressage prospect.” Bailey gleamed. Lana smiled and left the office to go get Jet and start clipping him.

“Good girl! That’s it! Let him go until you start approaching the next jump!” Bailey yelled out to her student. Lana finally got to ride Jet in the lower field. The ground had started to soften up enough to practice. The pair had gained lots of confidence over the last few days and were really feeling ready for the upcoming event. Jet flew over the jumps put in-front of him with easy, galloping towards the next. Whenever Lana asked him to give her more control he listened and would collect himself. They truly looked like an unstoppable force.

“He’s changed so much already! He feels so much more confident in my hands than he has the whole time I’ve ridden him. It’s insane. Like he’s a complete different horse.” Lana beamed and let the stallion rest. Bailey smiled and nodded.

“You look a lot more comfortable as well. I think y’all are about ready for the competition. I think both of you could use a couple days off before we fly over to Planina Vlasic Stables.” Bailey told her student while walking beside the pair, patting Jet’s neck.

“I think Jet would like that.” Lana dropped her stirrups and stretched her very sore legs. The pair cooled down and went on a small trail ride. The most relaxing ride they’ve had in the past week. The competition was approaching faster and faster.

Jet was calm as could be. He was snuggled up in shipping equipment next to some new horse buddies on the cargo plane. The employees taking great care of the horses. Lana on the other hand was a wreck.

“I’ve never flown before. This is awful. And a long flight. Jet is probably terrified.” Lana kept shifting in her seat. Bailey grabbed her arm.

“He’s probably fine. He’s got plenty of hay and other horses around to keep him calm. I’m sure you’re just nervous about the competition. You know there’s no need to be. You both have tremendously improved and no matter what I’m proud of you.” Bailey smiled and leaned back in her seat. The plane started to move. Lana gripped onto her arm rest. “Relax.” Bailey told Lana. Lana closed her eyes and started to drift off. The plane was off the ground and the three were on the way to their debut.

Lana tried to sleep as long as possible but the flight was far too long. A couple hours in she woke up and grabbed her laptop, connecting to the airplane WiFi. She scrolled through Facebook looking at everything her friends were up to while she was traveling halfway around the world. She really had given up her social life to be a rider for Bailey Oaks Farms. Lana searched up Planina Vlasic Stables and took a look at the event page they created. Lots of Stables from all over the world were going to attend. Including ‘Harley Cooper from KhanCohban Farm’. An Olympic athlete? Lana closed out Facebook and open Netflix, she put her favorite show, ‘Heartland’, on and tried to clear her mind.

“It’s so cold here.” Lana shivered leading the stallion into the barn. They were up in the mountains after all.

“I think you’ll live, it’s not like we’re sleeping outside. We get to rent out the ski cabins that are close to the cross country trail so we can go check out the course!” Bailey told her student. That would more than likely help the teen. Lana nodded and walked Jet into his designated stall. The stallion immediately started eating the hay that was set in his feeding. He had no problem settling in compared to his otherwise nervous rider. He sensed her anxiety and tried to comfort Lana by nuzzling her.

“You’re such a baby. You always know how to cheer me up.” She rubbed her stallion and took his halter off. “I’ll see you tomorrow boy. It’s a big day for us.” Lana slipped him a carrot before closing his stall door and walking by her trainers side.

“Shall we go catch a nap?” Bailey asked. Lana nodded as she climbed into their rental truck. The two drove to the ski slopes and hiked a couple minutes to their cabin. Lana immediately set her suitcase inside the door and climbed into one of the queen beds. She definitely needed to sleep before walking the course that was just feet outside the windows.

Lana heard a door open followed by cold air. She opened her groggy eyes to see her trainer in the doorway to outside.

“Well hi there.” Bailey laughed. “You ready to go walk a couple of jumps now?” She asked. Lana rolled her eyes and drug herself out of bed.

“Let me grab a couple more layers before I freeze to death.” She threw on a thick jacket, scarf, sweatpants and boots. Ok let’s make this fast. I’m beyond jet lagged.” Lana stomped towards the door. The two walked some of the course. Lana coming her height to the jumps and the distance between the jumps they did walk.

“Not as bad as you thought, right?” Bailey asked, hands by her face trying to keep warm. Lana nodded. “Jet should have no problem taking these jumps and so long as you let him go when he needs to and collect him when jumps are coming up you both should have a pretty quick run time.” Bailey explained strategies to her student. Lana listened and mentally mapped striding and speed needed in her head. Multiple scenarios playing out, but her trainer was right. They should easily have a fast run time. “Let gets back to the cabin though, I feel like my feet and hands are gonna fall off.” Bailey laughed and picked up a jog, cabin in sight. Lana laughed and followed.

“Number 12, Lana Wilson on Baileys Airforce One.” The announcer said over the intercom. Bailey led the pair to the starting box.

“Remember to breathe.” Bailey told Lana. “Both of you.” She joked to the stallion petting his nose. Lana took a deep breath. “Also. Kick some ass.” Bailey smiled and stepped outside of the box. She nodded and went to the sidelines to watch but close enough to the tv to watch the pairs run.

‘3,2,1’ sirens went off and Lana urged the stallion into a hand gallop and started her timer. The first jump came up quick. Lana pulled the stallion back some. He added in a half stride jumping weirdly over the first fence. Once landing she regained her balance and let the stallion go again.

“Shake it off, we’re ok Jet.” She told her stallion. The pair started going down the ski slopes and into the forest approaching the next jump. She played what her trainer instructed her to do in her head. She shorted her reins and sat deeper, counting strides. ‘Three, four, jump’. The pair soared effortlessly. She slapped the stallions neck. “GOOD BOY!” Lana rose into a two point seat and let the stallion go once again, each jump they took with ease, Jet not phased at all. Lana kept track of her time, they were currently running a 1,34 minute time. Pretty fast for first timers. The end of the course came faster than Lana had imagined. Jet’s hooves were pounding towards the finish line, Lana’s heart beating out of her chest. They had done it. They didn’t die. Everything was fine and they had a fast, clean ride. Lana held back tears and rewarded her horse, Bailey approached the pair.

“You both looked so great out there.” She grabbed Jet’s reins and lead them away from the course. “There’s still competitors that need to go, but I have a really great feeling for you both.” Bailey beamed, beyond proud of her student. “Go ahead and cool him down and let him graze while we wait for the rest to run the course.” Bailey told Lana. Lana unmounted Jet and walked to his stall to untack him. Soon enough they were going to find out if their debut was successful.

Word Count: 2,973 words so far

Art, Lana and Jet © by me
Own ref used