When we were kids, it felt like our parents took turns having to be the ones to come to the shows.They were long, dusty, exhausting days, so I get it.I don’t think any of us would have expected to have an entire family turn out to watch.It’s strange that it took a trip to Ireland, but I finally have a family here to watch me, too.
When I prepare for my dressage test, Clara preparing alongside me, I keep looking around for Richard, and worse, his father.I’ve googled him, so I know roughly what he looks like.I really, really hope Richard listens and either stays home or at least keeps his father away.Scout’s jumping around like a fox before a hunt, and I’m sure I’m doomed.
“It’s just to get him some experience,” Natalie says.“So don’t worry.”She has cooled Riona down, and now she’s standing calmly on the grass beside us like she’s always spent her weekends at a horse show.Natalie drops her free hand on Scout’s nose, and he startles like she slapped him.“Easy, big guy.You’re going to be just fine out there.”
“He doesn’t think that,” I say.“He’s convinced there are attack rabbits hiding behind every corner.”
Natalie shrugs.“Ireland’s weird.No snakes, rain all year.Maybe there are attack rabbits.Who knows?”
I laugh.“I know you pray, so say one for me, please.This is about to be very bad.”
“Riona was kind of panicking earlier.She tried to bolt twice on the way over to the warm-up ring.I bet he settles in once you start doing the patterns he’s done before.”
I’m not so sure, but then Natalie’s polishing up my boots, and it’s almost go time.We lunged Scout pretty well, so I have to believe we’ll be alright.At least I know he looks great—he’s always been a striking horse.And then we’re on our way into the ring.
A tiny part of me is a little annoyed Richard isn’t here.
He’s not my boyfriend—I’ve been clear with him about that—and I didn’t want his father to come.But my own boy...well, almost boyfriend...isn’t even around to watch my first show in Ireland?Especially after saying he was going to bring his dad?It’s just irritating.It feels like Brent Round Two.
But once we start the pattern, there’s no room for me to ruminate.
In fact, there’s barely room for me to stayon.Scout has always done better outside, but we aren’t doing an especially challenging trial, so I hoped we’d be fine.But oh, boy, we aren’t.When I ask him to trot, he canters.And then, when I tell him strongly to stop, he ignores me.
Scout’s on fire.
He spooks at the people standing and watching.He spooks at the low white poles, which every single outdoor “test” arena has.He spooks at a little girl with a fascinator in her hair.And then to top things off, after we halt, when I try to salute, he takes off again, nearly cantering out of the test area.
My face is bright red when I finally take Scout out of the dressage test area.I don’t even wait for my score.I’m sure I’d be lucky to have a forty.I’ve never been more relieved that someone didn’t come to witness my failure in my entire life.At least, not until I’m tacking Scout down and Richard circles around us slowly.“So I’m guessing you’re not in the best of moods right now, but for what it’s worth, everyone could tell it was Scout’s first show.”
“How could they possibly?—”
“Other than Vanessa explaining it to Natalie’s ex-husband in a very loud voice,” Richard says, half-smiling, “he clearly looked like he had never been in an outdoor arena.Ever.”
“Which he has,” I say, exasperated.“That’s precisely what was so upsetting.I spent plenty of time with him doing exactly that, and he never bolted like that before.”
Richard drops a hand on the side of my upper arm.“Sam.”He’s smiling.“He’s a green horse.We’ve all been there.”
Before I can argue with him further, I’m off to calm Clara down, because she’s panicking a little.My epic failure probably didn’t inspire confidence for her.The moment I reroute to meet her by the warm-up area, Richard salutes me, and then he heads the other direction.
“Thanks for coming.”I say.“You donothave to stay.”
“I couldn’t miss the fun parts,” he says.“I’m excited for cross-country and for show jumping.I’m sure the worst is behind you.”
His words are not prophetic, because Clara’s dressage test is even worse than mine.I can’t help noticing how worried Trace looks.He almost looks worse than I feel as he watches her, his eyes wide and attentive.When they announce her score, Trace boos.
That’s not something people do at horse shows, so alotof people look.I cringe a little, but he’s a teenager.Surely they can see that.I’m not sure Clara even heard him as she exits, clearly trying hard to hold back tears.
“Girl, this is just how it goes,” I say, patting her leg.“Did you see my round?”
“You looked amazing.”And the floodgates open, tears streaming down her face.“I ruined everything, and it was all my fault.”
She’s not wrong—it’s rarely the horse’s fault in stuff like this.Sometimes, but rarely.We’ve either brought them before they’re ready, or we haven’t properly guided them in the movements in the ring.This might have been a little of both.Clara was planning to just do jumping, but at the last minute, she decided to try dressage too.Her mom and I were happy enough that she was game that we let her.
That might have been my mistake, honestly.
By the time I get her cheered up a bit, it’s time for the cross-country segment.This worries me more, to be honest, because even though she’s in the newcomer’s league, Hannah’s still a bit of a nervous rider, and cross-country rewards the bold.I’m not surprised when she gets a refusal at the first ditch, and another on the second, a water jump, but she does manage to finish the course, even if it wasn’t a good pace and she had quite a few faults.
Natalieownsher course, and she’s actually sitting very near the top of her class.That’s encouraging for me, right as I prepare to entire mine.Scout isn’t really much of a dressage horse, but we’ve been riding outside a lot, and he seems to love jumping in the open air and galloping, so I’m as optimistic as I can be after completely falling apart at dressage this morning.
