Chapter Nine
Mia rode into the ring. The bleachers where full. Banners draped on the rails of the ring. The sun was bright.
Mia sat as straight as she could. She spotted her parents as she turned onto the rail. Mom snapped picture after picture.
Maren stood at the center of the ring. Mia spotted Sky on Trixie. Then she saw Bobby with Erin on his back. She didn’t know they were going to be here.
Mia shook her head. She couldn’t worry about them. She just had to focus on showing Maren that she and Diamond had improved. That would be even better than a blue ribbon.
“Trot, riders!” Maren called out.
The horses began trotting around the ring together. Mia posted smoothly. Diamond moved at a gentle, steady pace. They trotted around the ring five times.
Then Maren lifted the white rails into place. Mia’s heart sped up. This was it!
“Riders, line up for jumping!” Maren called out.
A ripple of excitement went through the riders. Mia reminded herself to stay calm and relax. “Slow and steady,” she whispered.
The first horse came down the line. He hopped neatly over the rails. Then it was Sky’s turn. Trixie knocked one of the rails with her foot. But they made it over. Everyone applauded.
Mia gathered up her reins. Only one more horse. Then it was her turn. She sat forward in her saddle. She reminded herself to keep her heels down. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a brown blur. Bobby had spooked.
He jumped close to Diamond and knocked Diamond off-balance. The crowd gasped. Diamond whinnied. He leapt to the side. Mia saw his big neck coming up toward her.
The reins slipped from her hands. She saw the brown sand of the ring rushing toward her as she fell.