Post by sammie on May 23, 2012 18:01:53 GMT -5
I take a deep breath, in and then out, trying to control my raging nerves. I'm dressed poshly in fitted cream-colored show breeches, a quarter-sleeved velvety show jacket and my best Tipperary helmet. My quality grey riding gloves were on my hands, and I clutched my long golden whip in my left hand. I had polished my boots the night before, and the tall black boots looked gorgeous. So did Midnight. I had carefully braided his mane and tail, brushed him till he shone like a copper penny. His hooves were cleaned and shoed, polished and shiny, just like his face and coat. He seemed so laid back, so calm. So easy, so relaxed. I was the opposite. Even though I'd been practicing for my Advanced Team tryout for weeks and weeks, even back home in Virginia, I still shook with nerves as Mr. Conner walked into the indoor arena.
"Hello there." He said to me sternly, but he had a tiny smile on his cropped face. "Hi, I'm Samantha." I say, trying to sound confident. "Yes. And I'm Mr. Conner, I'm sure you've heard of me from the school website?" I nod. "Alright, so, for your tryout, I'd like you to do the simple course I've had the stablehands, Mike and Dave, set up for the Advanced rider recruits. I will be judging your jumping skills based solely on how your riding is displayed to me in the tryouts, so I hope you've practiced." He tells me. I tense up and nod, of course I've practiced.
He sits in the closest stand to the arena as I ready myself and mount Midnight. "We've got this" I whisper, though I'm not so sure. I pat him before clicking him into a fast walk, followed by a collected, perfect trot and then a packaged, seamless, forward yet utterly gorgeous canter. I smile. I can tell the jumping round will go well already. We fly over the course, landing cleanly every time. At one point, we rattle the bar ever so slightly but I easily shake it off. We make a perfect flying change as we finish, then I slow Midnight. I pat him, smiling from ear to ear. Time for dressage. I think to myself. Mr. Conner smiles, clapping slightly before walking up to us. I can tell he's very pleased with how I rode, but of course he isn't aloud to say anything. He finally speaks. "Wonderful. Now, please cool Midnight out as Mike, Dave and I set up the dressage course based on the skill level you just displayed." He says, turns, and leaves the arena, seemingly heading for the outdoor dressage ring. I sigh happily, patting Middie. "Good boy!" I cry, hugging his neck before giving him a loose rein and cooling out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dressage and X-Country seem to fly by flawlessly. Other then a tiny slip in Cross Country, a misstep in dressage and a little knock of a bar in jumping, I did amazing and I can tell Mr. Conner and I are both very proud. I smile from ear to ear on the way back to my dorm after grooming, cooling, a treat, and turnout.
"Hello there." He said to me sternly, but he had a tiny smile on his cropped face. "Hi, I'm Samantha." I say, trying to sound confident. "Yes. And I'm Mr. Conner, I'm sure you've heard of me from the school website?" I nod. "Alright, so, for your tryout, I'd like you to do the simple course I've had the stablehands, Mike and Dave, set up for the Advanced rider recruits. I will be judging your jumping skills based solely on how your riding is displayed to me in the tryouts, so I hope you've practiced." He tells me. I tense up and nod, of course I've practiced.
He sits in the closest stand to the arena as I ready myself and mount Midnight. "We've got this" I whisper, though I'm not so sure. I pat him before clicking him into a fast walk, followed by a collected, perfect trot and then a packaged, seamless, forward yet utterly gorgeous canter. I smile. I can tell the jumping round will go well already. We fly over the course, landing cleanly every time. At one point, we rattle the bar ever so slightly but I easily shake it off. We make a perfect flying change as we finish, then I slow Midnight. I pat him, smiling from ear to ear. Time for dressage. I think to myself. Mr. Conner smiles, clapping slightly before walking up to us. I can tell he's very pleased with how I rode, but of course he isn't aloud to say anything. He finally speaks. "Wonderful. Now, please cool Midnight out as Mike, Dave and I set up the dressage course based on the skill level you just displayed." He says, turns, and leaves the arena, seemingly heading for the outdoor dressage ring. I sigh happily, patting Middie. "Good boy!" I cry, hugging his neck before giving him a loose rein and cooling out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dressage and X-Country seem to fly by flawlessly. Other then a tiny slip in Cross Country, a misstep in dressage and a little knock of a bar in jumping, I did amazing and I can tell Mr. Conner and I are both very proud. I smile from ear to ear on the way back to my dorm after grooming, cooling, a treat, and turnout.
