how far does someone go to overcome their challenges? How far will you go to win? Even if it means giving up your best friend? The one who stood by you through everything you worked for.
I sat astride my pony Jamie as he burst into a canter heading for the solid fence which bore down on us as we approached. 1,2,3 liftoff. I lifted myself out the saddle placing pressure on his neck to hold me up as he jumped. I turned him sharply to face the next cross country fence. We took that one easier than the last, at the end I rode back to the group of riders with a cocky grin on my face, I knew I was good. I could never resist rubbing my success in Lara’s face and today would be no different. “Hi Lara” I said as innocently as I could manage “so how do you think I did?” I quickly jumped back in before she could give a snarky response “because Jim thinks I did great”. When I say Jim I’m referring to our instructor, he was a fantastic rider who had taught me everything I knew. Lara rolled her brown eyes and gave me the reaction I had been waiting for “whatever” she snapped. I know it seems kinda mean and like I’m bullying her but it’s called payback. She bullied me through middle school. We are now in year ten and I’m getting payback. “Amilie” Jim said pulling me from my gleeful thoughts, “can you stay behind after the lesson? We need to have a chat.” I felt my stomach drop, this couldn’t be bad, right? I was doing as well as ever. Lara lent over “what can I say? Karma.” The smirk on her face made me cringe, the same Lara was there, the one which had teased me all through middle school. And I was back in middle school, being called four eyes for wearing glasses and having school books thrown at me. And I was angry, I was so so mad at her for that. I kept my cool and turned to Lara “we will see who comes out on top” I said coolly. She laughed before Jim dismissed the lesson, Mira glanced at me as she rode her pinto past “good luck” she whispered. We all new it wasn’t good if someone was getting held back after a lesson. “Thanks” I tried to smile but my bottom lip started to quiver and felt the tears start to sting my eyes. She rode off with Lara and the rest of the team, I turned my attention back to Jim. He was eyeing Jamie, “I think you need a bigger horse which can take you further” he said suddenly. I looked at him, “w-what?” “You are really talented, so is Jamie but he can’t do the bigger jumps and your getting too big for a 14.2 pony” he explained, I stared at him. “That’s it? Your not kicking me off the team?” I couldn’t believe my luck, Jim burst out laughing “no of course not, anyway have a think about it, talk to your parents and see how they feel.” I sighed and nodded turning Jamie to head back towards the barn. As I halted, Lara saw me and smirked, “I guess I won’t be seeing Amilie again in lessons” she said loudly. I ignored her to the best I could, “her and that untalented nag” she continued. I lost it “you know what Lara, actually Jim said I’m talented and probably more talented than you. But you couldn’t see talent if it slapped you in the face”. She stared at me, I stared right back, “Lara” a voice said from the breezeway “you better shut your mouth. It’s catching flies.” I started laughing, the source of the voice, Mira. The hours I spent cleaning Jamie’s stall and brushing him down made me consider Jim’s proposal, a bigger horse. That would mean selling Jamie for sure, my parents can’t afford two horses. I lay my head on my grey ponies back, the years we had spent together had taught me so so much. By the afternoon when my mother picked me up I had come to a conclusion, I needed to expand my riding skills. I would move forward as a rider and a person.
I sat astride my pony Jamie as he burst into a canter heading for the solid fence which bore down on us as we approached. 1,2,3 liftoff. I lifted myself out the saddle placing pressure on his neck to hold me up as he jumped. I turned him sharply to face the next cross country fence. We took that one easier than the last, at the end I rode back to the group of riders with a cocky grin on my face, I knew I was good. I could never resist rubbing my success in Lara’s face and today would be no different. “Hi Lara” I said as innocently as I could manage “so how do you think I did?” I quickly jumped back in before she could give a snarky response “because Jim thinks I did great”. When I say Jim I’m referring to our instructor, he was a fantastic rider who had taught me everything I knew. Lara rolled her brown eyes and gave me the reaction I had been waiting for “whatever” she snapped. I know it seems kinda mean and like I’m bullying her but it’s called payback. She bullied me through middle school. We are now in year ten and I’m getting payback. “Amilie” Jim said pulling me from my gleeful thoughts, “can you stay behind after the lesson? We need to have a chat.” I felt my stomach drop, this couldn’t be bad, right? I was doing as well as ever. Lara lent over “what can I say? Karma.” The smirk on her face made me cringe, the same Lara was there, the one which had teased me all through middle school. And I was back in middle school, being called four eyes for wearing glasses and having school books thrown at me. And I was angry, I was so so mad at her for that. I kept my cool and turned to Lara “we will see who comes out on top” I said coolly. She laughed before Jim dismissed the lesson, Mira glanced at me as she rode her pinto past “good luck” she whispered. We all new it wasn’t good if someone was getting held back after a lesson. “Thanks” I tried to smile but my bottom lip started to quiver and felt the tears start to sting my eyes. She rode off with Lara and the rest of the team, I turned my attention back to Jim. He was eyeing Jamie, “I think you need a bigger horse which can take you further” he said suddenly. I looked at him, “w-what?” “You are really talented, so is Jamie but he can’t do the bigger jumps and your getting too big for a 14.2 pony” he explained, I stared at him. “That’s it? Your not kicking me off the team?” I couldn’t believe my luck, Jim burst out laughing “no of course not, anyway have a think about it, talk to your parents and see how they feel.” I sighed and nodded turning Jamie to head back towards the barn. As I halted, Lara saw me and smirked, “I guess I won’t be seeing Amilie again in lessons” she said loudly. I ignored her to the best I could, “her and that untalented nag” she continued. I lost it “you know what Lara, actually Jim said I’m talented and probably more talented than you. But you couldn’t see talent if it slapped you in the face”. She stared at me, I stared right back, “Lara” a voice said from the breezeway “you better shut your mouth. It’s catching flies.” I started laughing, the source of the voice, Mira. The hours I spent cleaning Jamie’s stall and brushing him down made me consider Jim’s proposal, a bigger horse. That would mean selling Jamie for sure, my parents can’t afford two horses. I lay my head on my grey ponies back, the years we had spent together had taught me so so much. By the afternoon when my mother picked me up I had come to a conclusion, I needed to expand my riding skills. I would move forward as a rider and a person.
