We have tans up here. its when your pony dumps you in dirt. Then you get tan 
OMG! I just got back froma show… I got reserve and grand champion-In my reserve-I got : 2 2nds 1 first…my grand: get ready…all THREE 1sts! I was SOOO incredibly happy! 1st time I’ve ever gotten a grand/reserve! yippe for whitney! Oh…and it wasn’t even against crappy horses…all 4 of the people in my classes were currently showing the 'a’s… I’m so draned proud! ehehe my horsie was a GOOD GOOD boy tho oh, and the one I won grand in was a 100$ classic-So I came home with $50…but my daddy took it and won’t give it back 
poo…it’s just not right! well hi everyone! hehe
Poop a Loop…
ErinB-I refuse to put on my tap shoes-who the hell are you anyways, Betsy?.
Put your shoes on Betsy, tonight, we’re goin tap dancin’! Seriously…
I believe “If you were a baseball glove where would you be” and how privilaged everyone else but me and Raincloud are to be online till 3:00 in the morning on a school night. 
Chapter Fifteen:
“I’m not going.” Nicki’s words hung in the air, leaving Alex, Mistie and Samantha stunned.
“WHAT?!”, cried Alex. “Nicki, you have to go! Pine Fields is such an awesome oppurtunity! If I’m going, you’re going.”
“Alex”, Nicki said calmly, “You don’t seem to understand. I’ve made up my mind, and I don’t want to go.”
Mistie shook her head slowly. “Geez”, she began, “Pine Fields is the biggest show Kelly’s taking the barn to this year, and she’s letting you go! I don’t get why you would even think of missing it!”.
Nicki choked back a sob, unable to speak.
“Oh, Nick”, Alex said, suddenly sympathetic. “Is it money problems? Did your mom say it was too much money to enter?”. Nicki shook her head. “No, Alex, Mom said I could go… but Candace said… Candace said…”. Her voice trailed off and she buried her face in her hands.
“Candace said what?! What did she say?”, Samantha asked angrily. Nicki looked up. “She said… oh, why did Kelly think she had to lie to me!?”, Nicki cried. At her friends’ questioning stares, Nicki repeated her conversation with Candace in the hallway.
“I can’t believe she said that to you!”, Samantha yelled. “She is the biggest jerk-”. Samantha stopped talking and glanced at Alex. It wasn’t long ago that she was treating Alex and Nicki in the very same way.
Mistie finished, “She is the biggest jerk at the barn, and she had no right to say that to you.” Alex nodded. Her face was flushed red and she clenched her fists at her sides. “Nicki, of course you can’t believe Candace! She’s just trying to rule out the competition! She just doesn’t want to be beaten by you!”. Alex’s compassion for her friend and anger at Candace got the best of her. Her last sentence was screamed at the top of her lungs.
“Um… Alex?”, Mistie piped up.
“What?”
“No matter how great Nicki and Leaf do, she won’t be beating Candace, because Candace is doing the junior hunters and Nicki is doing the pre-children’s hunters”, Mistie said, a smile on her face.
“Oh, yeah. Right”, muttered Alex sheepishly. Samantha jammed her hands into the pockets of her designer breeches and stood up.
“Look”, she said, “I don’t know why Candace made up that story about Kelly, but it’s not true. We all know Kelly and she would never, ever lie to you, Nicki. And you’re a good rider, no matter what you think. Kelly wouldn’t let you show if you weren’t.”
“But… are you sure Pine Fields isn’t just some unheard-of little show that Kelly’s glamorizing?”, asked Nicki in a small voice.
“No”, said Mistie firmly. “No, she isn’t glamorizing it at all. Pine Fields is a huge, A3-rated show that all the top riders enter. In case you’ve forgotten, Nicki, Somewhere Farms is a show barn and when she says this is the biggest we’ve gone to this year, you bet it’s the biggest! I go all the time and my mother doesn’t let me go to the little ones anymore.”
Nicki sighed. “I… guess maybe you guys are right”, she said tentatively.
“Of course we’re right!”, Alex, Mistie and Samantha chorused. They giggled.
Nicki, remember when I schooled Dale for two hours and was so uptight that you made me talk to Kelly?", inquired Alex.
“Of course”, replied Nicki, nodding.
“Well, she gave me a long talk, but what she said mostly was that I was just being silly, and that Dale and I were very talented and that we could go far if I would just try”, Alex said.
Nicki smiled. “Of course, Alex! Dale has beautiful conformation and he’s got so much scope over fences! And he’s so brave at the shows! And you, Alex! Gosh, your equitation has improved so much, and you’re so confident over those big fences…” Nicki’s voice trailed off.
“Um, Nicki, I think you just lost your own argument”, Alex said sensibly. “Leaf happens to have tons more show expierience than Dale, and he’s gone to more A3’s than I can count on two hands and two feet, plus he’s got great conformation and all that stuff, and you’re a great rider, too.”
Nicki shrugged. “Well, maybe you’re right, Alex. I just don’t know.” Mistie, who had been sitting on a chair facing Nicki and Alex, stood up and joined Samantha at the lounge’s small kitchenette. “Well, Nicki, it’s your choice, but I think you’ll regret not going”, she said. Standing on tiptoes, Mistie reached into a cabinet and pulled out four paper plates and four plastic forks. She walked over to the counter and lifted a glass cake saver, which housed a delicious-looking chocolate cake. Mistie cut the cake and set the plates of cake onto the table.
“The woman who owns the pony Suave, Mrs. Atskensi, made two of these cakes for the lounge. She said we could eat them whenever”, Mistie explained. “And I always think better when there’s chocolate involved. Dig in, everybody!” Nicki grinned. It’s great having friends like them, she thought before she picked up a fork and took a bite of cake.
The next day, Alex tacked up Leaf for jumping, including his jumping boots and standing martingale. She finished just as Nicki walked into the barn.
“Hey, Alex, you riding my horse today?”, teased Nicki. Alex shook her head. “Nope”, she replied. “I’m giving you a jumping lesson.”
“Huh?”, asked Nicki blankly.
“I’m giving you a lesson in the outdoor arena. I talked it over with Kelly and we agreed that I should give you some extra help since the show’s coming up.”
“Oh.” Nicki raised her eyebrows. “Well, that’s nice of you. Let me just… get changed.” She darted into the lounge and reappeared a few minutes later in beige breeches, a Somewhere Farms white polo and field boots. She carried her helmet in her hand. Alex was nowhere to be seen. Nicki found her already in the arena, carrying a lunge line and whip in one hand, a paperback called 101 Lungeing Excercises in the other hand, and at her feet was a jug of water, a leather strap, two pieces of hay twine and a plastic baton. Alex grinned.
“Alexis Meekins, what is all this stuff? And what does it have to do with jumping?”, asked Nicki, a confused expression on her face.
“Plenty”, replied Alex. “Listen to this.” She opened her book. Turning to a page, she cleared her throat and read, “Until the horse and rider are completely at one and in balance at all gaits, it is imposible to be confident when jumping. The best way to develop this balance is without reins and/or stirrups, on a lunge line at the walk, trot, and canter, and over poles.” Alex closed the book and flashed Nicki a triumphant smile.
Nicki looked uncertain. “What’s all this for?”, she inquired, gesturing at the water, hay twine, strap and baton.
Alex replied, “The strap is to hold onto, in case you lose your balance. The hay twine is going to fasten to your stirrups- you’ll see. You’re going to use the baton in an excercise, and drink the water. Now get on while I fasten this lunge line.” Nicki mounted Leaf, and Alex clipped the long cotton line to Leaf’s bit. Nicki started to pick up her reins, but Alex stopped her.
“Hold it”, she ordered. Alex unbuckled Nicki’s reins and dropped them on the ground, then fastened the leather straps to the dee rings at the saddle’s pommel. Then she took Nicki’s feet out of the stirrups, and looped the hay twine through each stirrup and around the girth. When Nicki put her feet in the stirrups, she complained, “Hey- I can’t move my feet!”
“Exactly. Now your leg position will improve”, replied Alex. She backed away until she held only the end of the lunge line, and pointed the whip at Leaf. “Ask him to walk”, Alex told Nicki. Nicki clucked to Leaf, and he responded with an easy, forward walk.
“Good”, murmered Alex.
After a few minutes of walking, Alex asked Nicki to trot.
“Where do I put my hands- I don’t have any reins!”, Nicki said. Alex replied, “Put them on your hips.” Nicki shrugged and did as she was told. She laughed as she trotted with her hands on her hips, her head, held out to the sides, flapping like a bird, and straight up in the air. Then she cantered doing the same. Alex was pleased.
“Great, Nick!”, Alex said. “Now we can try some jumping without the lunge line.” She unfastened the lunge line and reattached the reins, but left the twine on the stirrups. Then she handed Nicki the baton.
“What do I do with this?”, asked Nicki, holding the baton between her thumb and forefinger.
“Hold it like a tightrope walker would, with both hands. I’m going to lead Leaf by his reins over poles and crossrails while you hold that baton for balance.”
“Um… that’s weird, but okay”, replied Nicki. “But what about this hay twine on my stirrups? Do I leave it on while I’m jumping?”
“Sure”, replied Alex. “You have a problem with your leg swinging way to far back over fences. Now you can get a feel of doing it the right way.”
“Okay.”
Alex picked up Leaf’s reins and trotted him over six poles on the ground and a mini-course of four small schooling jumps. Nicki struggled a bit with her balance, but she concentrated hard.
“Great job!”, praised Alex. “Now, if you’re ready, I can take you over a few bigger jumps.” She motioned towards two 2’ verticals.
“Well, I guess so. Can I drop the baton now?”
“No.”
Half an hour later, Nicki was walking Leaf in slow circles around the arena to cool him off and taking sips of water out of the bottle Alex provided. Nicki smiled to herself as she went over the lesson in her head. After Alex lead her over the schooling jumps while Nicki held the baton, Nicki was allowed to canter through a course without stirrups. It had been challenging and even painful, but certainly fun. Come to think of it, anything that involved Alex was usually fun.
“Nicki, hey, there you are! How was your lesson with Alex?” Nicki turned towards the voice and saw Kelly leaning on the arena railing, dressed in her always-professional riding clothes, her hair neatly contained under her hunt cap. Standing behind her was a chestnut mare that Nicki recognized as Valentine, a horse Kelly had taken in to train.
“The lesson was great. Alex is a good teacher”, Nicki replied. “Are you going to ride Valentine?” As soon as she said it, Nicki mentally slapped herself. What a stupid question- why else would Kelly be dressed in breeches and leading a fully tacked up horse into the arena? Kelly didn’t seem to mind, though.
“Yes”, she said with a smile, “Vallie is in training. I’m going work with her for a few months until her owners, the Afghansins, come to pick her up. She’s an equitation horse.”
“Oh… Kelly?”
“Yes, Nicki?”
“Um…” Nicki cleared her throat. “What do you think of Leaf… and my riding? Have we improved at all? Will we do okay at the show? Will we be laughed at? Will we-”
“Nicki, Nicki, slow down!”, laughed Kelly. “I think your equitation has improved a great deal, and I’m sure Leaf appreciates that. Leaf, as you know, was actually my horse for awhile when I was younger- I did the junior hunters with him.” Kelly’s voice trailed off as she remembered days filled with blue ribbons and championship trophies.
“Yeah, go on.”
“But then Leaf was replaced for awhile when I got Alachua.” Kelly looked at Nicki who was staring at her curiously.
“Alachua was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred gelding who needed training. Between him and all the sale horses I rode, I barely had time to show Leafy here, and surely not at the huge shows I used to take him too.”
“So what did you do?” Nicki had stopped Leaf and her eyes were as wide as saucers as Kelly remembered this unmentioned piece of Leaf’s history.
“Oh, I started leasing him to a girl near my barn in West Virginia, like I lease him to you now. The girl was a fabulous rider, and she really hit it off with Leaf. Her name was Fay something, don’t remember the last name. But anyway, that’s not important. Fay rode Leaf in the junior hunters, and did a lot of big shows with him. In fact, they qualified for a couple of season finals.”
“I bet you were proud”, Nicki piped up.
“Oh, I was. I went to most of their shows to watch Leaf and Fay. Quite a pair. But then, something tragic happened. Fay was in a bike accident. She did permanant damage to something, don’t remember what, but it was serious.”
Nicki almost laughed at that; Kelly could be so forgetful! She didn’t, however, when she thought of poor Fay.
“Anyway, Fay insisted on riding again. Everyone was concerned that she wouldn’t make it, but she knew that Leaf was such an easy horse that she’d do fine. And she did! Why, she qualified for another season final that same year and showed Leaf for two more years, until she turned eighteen and got a horse to do the Amateur-Owner hunters on.”
“Wow. I never knew that!” Nicki was stunned. She knew Kelly used to ride him, but…
“Yep. So then I took Leaf with me when I started working for Somewere Farms five years ago. He was my best lesson horse. When I became the head trainer and manager, Leaf was still my pal. I hope you have as much fun with him as everyone in the past, because you remind me a lot of Fay”, Kelly finished quietly. Nicki was pondering this when Kelly cut in, “Well, if I want Vallie to get any schooling I’d better get going. And I think Leaf here is more than ready to get back to the barn!”
“Yeah, okay. See you, Kelly!” Nicki waved, dismounted and walked towards the series of outdoor washracks that were often used on warm, sunny days. Turning back, she saw Kelly give Vallie a pat and mount crisply. Grinning to herself, Nicki patted Leaf as well, then picked up his halter and began unbridling him.
Dad can I PWEESE have me $50…
Laaa Deeeee Daaaaaaa
Spazz, you are very envied by me…must find boy…must find boy…ahh
kris
“If confusion is the first step to knowledge, I must be a genius.”
OMG! Devil school…no jeans??? I would be kicked out by now. I dress like such a slob to school, I just don’t care anymore.
~~Erin B~~
holo again
I am Phat, not to be confused with Fat, which could save you hundreds of dollars in poop, so stop calling me!
18 eh?
Erin*Lizzy
Oh my god… Tip of the Day: Do not try to read 30+ new pages of posts. My brain hurts so bad trying to keep up with you guys!
-Amanda
oh my goodness
I am Phat, not to be confused with Fat, which could save you hundreds of dollars in poop, so stop calling me!
That was me, Spaz! Hey, I have a pothead brother, too…
What? You have a best friend in a boy band too???
“Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree…”
So let’s have a head count. Who all is here at 9:33 Eastern Standard Time on April 29, 2001? Anyone? Anyone?
~Erin Lizzy
Visit my Website!
We are talented.
Fine. I reserve Matt for ErinB.
LOL I Like you sig phrincess
ErinB from Florida never ever give cpr to a lizard
[This message was edited by Lily on Apr. 30, 2001 at 06:37 PM.]
speaking of which…I have a lesson today! wahoo! I love giving lessons…to bad it’s ILLEGAL!
Put your shoes on Betsy, tonight, we’re goin tap dancin’! Seriously…
Maybe he’s a mormon…unlike ponyperson who is a catholic(don’t worry pp it is a great religion…im one too!!)
“You gotta LUV me”
~EM
THAT DAN GUY ON YOUR SCHOOL PICTURE IS HOT!
~~there is no such thing as a fence too big… or is there~~
