Crown Prince Challenged (26 page)

“'Tis all right, Sarah,” Jack called. “We must remember he's green. Just keep your legs on him and let him take a look.”

Prince had his front legs braced, unwilling to go forward. Sarah felt extreme tension in his body as he contemplated jumping down. She reached to stroke his neck, to reassure him. A few moments later she used her legs to vigorously kick him forward, and this time he cautiously lowered himself off the bank, almost in slow motion, and cantered off. Sarah was relieved she hadn't needed to use her crop.

“Do it again!” Jack called, as he continued walking French Twist in a circle. On the second try, Prince jumped up on the bank, landed in a better place, and continued across it, jumping down on the other side.

“Again!” Jack shouted. Once more Prince jumped on and off the bank, this time without any hesitation.

Jack called out, “This time circle into the telephone pole and jump this obstacle as a combination.”

Sarah felt a stab of fear, knowing this would be challenging for her horse. She forced the thought out of her mind. If Jack asked them to do it, he knew they could do it. She must believe in her instructor and believe in Crown Prince. As they got closer to the telephone pole, Sarah called on all the drills and practice over fences they had done in the indoor over the winter, and with her legs sent him forward to the combination. Prince responded with a somewhat awkward jump, but he was over it, and after one stride he pushed up onto the bank and then off it. “Good boy!” Sarah shouted. She stroked her horse as he cantered away.

The spectators and all the riders except Rita clapped their hands and cheered. “Why do we have to waste so much time with a green horse in our class?” she said out loud. Jack glared at her but did not favor her with a reply.

After they had gone through the combination two more times, Jack asked Sarah to let Prince walk and take her place in the line. Kayla gave her a thumbs-up as she passed. As Sarah halted her horse, Rita spoke under her breath, so no one else could hear. “Do you know Jack spent longer getting your horse through the combination than it took the rest of us combined? I have better ways to spend my time than wasting it waiting for you!” Sarah said nothing. She had become accustomed to Rita's sarcastic comments and had learned it was better to ignore them.

“All right, then,” Jack said, “Let's make our way to the brook.” He pointed French Twist in the direction of a woods trail off the far corner of the meadow. Sarah turned her horse away from Chancellor so she could ride beside Kayla.

The path was wide enough for two horses to go abreast, and except for occasional windfall on the trail, the packed gravel footing was smooth and suitable for any gait. Rhodes and Quarry had undoubtedly been over it many times last year when Jack took them to school in the brook before their eventing competitions. It was unlikely Chancellor or Fanny had been on the trail, and Sarah knew it was a first-time experience for Crown Prince.

The horses were excited to be on the trail. Fanny carried her pretty head high, looking everywhere and moving with a slight prance in her step. Quarry's silver tail was raised, and he occasionally jigged forward. Rhodes and Chancellor showed their customary poise, but they were more animated than usual. Even though he was minding his manners and not pulling on the reins, Sarah could feel an eagerness running through Crown Prince.

“Fanny is loving this!” Kayla called out.

“Quarry too!” Paige said.

“We can trot once we're in single file,” Jack called out. A few minutes later he glanced back, and when satisfied, asked French Twist to move out. The others trotted behind him until Jack saw the stream ahead of them. He raised his arm, signaling the group behind him to walk.

As always in springtime, the water level in the brook was higher than it had been in the fall. Instead of a lazy waterway slowly meandering toward the ocean, it had a stronger current sending the water from spring rains and melting snow downstream. Sarah wondered how deep the water was. They'd be able to tell once French Twist stepped into the brook. With a gradual gravel path both entering and exiting, it was an ideal place to cross.

As they got closer, the riders saw a white painted coop in the field just beyond the stream.
Will we be jumping that today?
Sarah thought.

When the riders had closed up behind him, Jack gave them instructions. “We're going to walk across the stream and halt in the field on the other side. Even if your horses are comfortable going into water, we're first going to walk them across the brook. They haven't been through water for several months, and our objective is to reassure them that they have nothing to fear. If we have an argument with them, their fear will be confirmed. Now, let's close up to one horse's length distance, so every horse but mine will have another horse leading the way. Having a lead gives a horse confidence.”

Jack rode French Twist boldly into the brook and marched across it, walking up the path on the other side. Sarah noticed the water came almost to French Twist's knees.
That brook isn't shallow!
Sarah thought.
Prince has probably never been through water before.
She worried how he would react when asked to go through it.

Rita pushed Chancellor to the front, and her horse walked obediently into the brook. Without hesitation, Rhodes followed, with Fanny right behind him. “Fanny's gone through lots of water riding through the game preserve at home,” Kayla said. Quarry remembered the brook from last year, and he willingly followed Fanny across.

That left Prince bringing up the rear. When he first noticed the brook, his eager walk slowed dramatically, and Sarah could feel his body stiffen. When he got to the edge of the water, Prince put on the brakes, even as Quarry moved away from him. Watching from the other side sitting on French Twist, Jack called to her. “Stay calm, Sarah, and let him look at the water. Give him a minute. Then look up to the other side and firmly ask him to move forward.”

Rita looked back as she halted Chancellor. “Oh, no,” she said. “Here we go again.” Jack swung his head in her direction, looking at her sharply, but then turned his attention back to Sarah.

“He's probably never walked through water before,” Jack said, “and he's forgiven a stop to check it out. 'Tis just like the first time he loaded onto the horse trailer.”

Sarah took a few deep breaths. They were all waiting for her. But she needed to stay calm. Keeping a good contact on the reins, she pressed her legs firmly on Prince's sides and spoke out firmly, “Walk!” From his experience being longed, Crown Prince knew the word. Her voice in addition to her other aids must have made a difference, because Prince tentatively placed first one foot and then another into the water. Slowly at first and then quickly he moved across the brook. Sarah felt like leaning down to hug his neck! He trusted her! Even though he was fearful, he had done what she asked.

“Good job, kid!” Kayla called out.

After Prince was up the bank, Jack rode French Twist into the water and halted him in the middle. “Bring your horse back in, Sarah,” he said. This time, Prince walked into the brook without hesitation. Sarah praised him as she stroked his neck.

Jack then had the class go up the trail a short way, turn, and trot their horses back through the brook. When it was Sarah's turn, Prince came back to walk before stepping into the water, but then he picked up trot when Sarah asked and trotted across the brook. On the return trip, he trotted willingly into the water. For the last part of the exercise, Jack had them trot through the water, proceed up the bank, and jump the white coop. They were exuberant when all the horses did it perfectly the first time, and Jack had them celebrate by cantering across the field to the farm road.

Paige was laughing when Quarry came roaring past Prince, who pulled to join in the race. Sarah held him firm, not daring to test whose speed was greater. All the horses came back to walk when they reached the road. Paige purposely kept Quarry a distance from Tim, but Rita was more than happy to ride beside him, and she chattered to him all the way back to the barn.

As they approached the courtyard, Jack spoke to the riders. “I have a few things I want to say to you, so please gather in the courtyard before dismounting.” After they halted their horses near the mounting block, Jack turned French Twist to face them.

“We're only a month away from the Wexford Hall Cup,” he said, “and I know many of you are wondering who will be riding on the Brookmeade Farm team. After I've done a last check with the DeWitts tonight, that list will be posted tomorrow on the bulletin board by the office. I think people who are going to compete need to know so they can plan accordingly. We will have to consider transportation to the event and inquire about stabling arrangements. As you know, lodging and meals for the members of the team will be at the Belmont School, and the organizers will take care of that. But many of your parents will want to stay nearby, and I plan on looking into various lodging options.”

The riders grinned at each other, excited in anticipation of seeing the list. They'd soon know if they'd made the team. Most were optimistic.

But Jack hadn't finished. “There's something else I want to impress on you. For people who will be competing at Wexford Hall, 'tis important your horses be fit enough to handle the cross-country phase. 'Tis going to be fairly long, and the terrain in that area will allow the course designer to include any number of hills. Galloping the course while at the same time jumping obstacles and climbing hills will require stamina. So you must be conditioning your horses for what lies ahead. This means riding them almost every day, with lots of hacking on trails. Hill work will help make them fit. If you'd like some help with an exercise plan, just let me know.”

Kathleen came out of the barn and walked over to them. “Your four o'clock class is waiting,” she said to Jack. After he had dismounted from French Twist and run up his irons, he handed her the reins. The other riders also got off their horses. They'd cooled out on the walk back to the barn and could go directly to their stalls.

Bismarck wasn't in the barn when Sarah brought Prince back. She put her horse on the crossties, untacked him, and cleaned his stall. She had finished and was picking out Prince's feet when Kathleen came around the corner. She smiled at Sarah. “Jack asked me to give you a message,” she said. “He'd like you to come to the office after his class has finished.”

Sarah didn't know what to think. “Oh, okay,” she said. After Kathleen left, she went back to work with her hoof pick. While removing the packed earth from Prince's hooves, her mind raced.
What is this about?
Her watch told her that the lesson would be over soon. She picked up a soft brush from her grooming caddy and went over her horse, brushing away some of the last traces of winter coat he was still shedding. After Prince was relaxed and eating hay in his stall, Sarah headed toward the office.

Paige was getting ready to leave the barn when Sarah stopped at Quarry's stall. “Quarry was a star today,” Sarah said. “All the experience he got eventing last year really shows.”

Paige paused to face Sarah. “Thanks! For a first-timer, your horse was totally awesome. It won't be long before you two will be out on the campaign trail.”

“Not for a while. I'm sure he'll be holding down the fort here at Brookmeade when you guys compete at Wexford Hall. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to be your stable manager.”

“I really hope so. But Prince's time will come.”

Looking into the office, Sarah saw that Jack wasn't there. She stopped to look at the bulletin board outside the door. There were only a few items posted—classified ads announcing horses for sale and a notice asking riders to stay off the hunt course. But tomorrow they would all know who had made the team.
Not that there will be any surprises,
she thought.
Today showed how far ahead of me the other kids are.

Sarah heard the distinctive sound of Jack's boots clicking on the cement as he approached. “I'm glad you got my message,” he said, as they both entered the office. When Jack shut the office door, Sarah thought,
This must be serious.
He went around the desk to sit down while motioning her to take one of the office chairs.

“You know the team for Wexford Hall will be posted tomorrow,” Jack began, his voice measured. “I'm glad I have a chance to talk to you before it becomes public.” He paused to stroke his chin thoughtfully. “Since you may be disappointed, I want to give you advance notice that you won't be named stable manager for the team.”

Sarah took in a big breath and let it out. She hadn't realized how much she was counting on the chance to be part of the competition with her friends. She'd really wanted to part of the team.

Jack could see that Sarah was disappointed, but he continued. “We're going to name Kelly Hoffman to be the stable manager. Kelly works very hard in her lessons and is diligent in caring for Midnight Jet. She's owned her own horse much longer than you've had Prince. She and Jet aren't anywhere near competing, but the DeWitts and I think she would be greatly encouraged by being the team's stable manager. There were extenuating circumstances when she and her friend caused you so much unpleasantness several months ago. But we feel she has turned a corner, and should be given this opportunity to be part of the team.”

Jack's words didn't make Sarah feel any better. It would be so exciting to be part of the Wexford Hall event—to stay in the Belmont School dorm with Kayla, Paige, and Rita, and to help the team in their quest for the cup. Now Kelly Hoffman would be given that job. Sarah wondered if Rita's father had made a phone call to advance Kelly's chances.

Jack sat back, giving Sarah a chance to speak. She realized that it wouldn't do any good to grouse to Jack. The decision had been made.