Jumping Thoughts

Dying. I’m dying, dying. Why do I do this to myself? Because I’m a glutton for punishment. That’s why. Dying, I’m dying.

“Next up Anna Boston on Silver Knight. On deck Cassandra Coleman; and after her Laurie Ferris,” the announcer said.

“Cassie.” Her father peered into her face. “You’re up next.”

“I’m dying,” Cassie whispered matter-a-factly. “Dying. Watch me shrivel up and sink into the ground. Dying, dying, I’m dying.”

“Don’t be melodramatic.” Her father stepped back as Cassie’s horse paced around her. “You’re not dying.”

“Yes, I am,” Cassie said, her eyes glued to the rider galloping around in the arena. “Ooooohhhh, I can’t do this.”

“Then don’t ride,” her father said.

“Don’t ride!” Cassie exclaimed, focusing on her father.

“Clean round for Anna Boston on Silver Knight. She has the fastest time, 40.35 seconds. Next up Cassandra Coleman on Classy Lady; and on deck Laurie Ferris,” the announcer said.

“Hold her,” Cassie said, snapping the chin strap on her helmet. Grabbing a fistful of mane, she swung up onto her horse’s back and took the reins softly into her hands. She clucked to her horse and steered Lady into the arena. Her horse picked up an excited jig and moved in front of the announcer’s booth. Cassie reined Lady up and saluted the judge.

“When you’re ready,” the announcer said.

The window to the announcer’s booth slid open and the judge stuck her head out. “Be safe!”

“Don’t rush,” the course designer added, standing next to the timing cones.

Here we go, Cassie thought to herself taking a deep breath. Nice and slow. Easy canter, not too fast, tall vertical. There it is. “Eeeeeeeasy.” Nice canter, slow, slow, slow. “Sloooow.” Almost there, hard check. One more stride. “Eeeeeasy.” Don’t touch and “up!”

Good girl, hard turn, sit back, check, check. Turn! Darn! Turn! Here it comes, Scary! You won’t refuse. Turn! Check, stride, and “up!”

Turn! Jeeze, that fence is close. Okay, here comes the next one. “Eeeeeeeasy.” Nice oxer, easy jump. Release, hold a little, easy gallop. Not too fast. Here it comes. Swift check and “up!”

“Good girl.” Good jump. Turn, turn. Release just a little. Easy gallop across arena. Here it comes, easy oxer. Not too fast, check and “up!”

Catchy jump coming. Check, hard check. Don’t touch it. “Slooow.” Nice turn. Check, sit up, check and “up!”

Good girl! Perfect jump! What next, darn where’s the next jump. “Whoa.” It’s behind us. Turn, hard turn! Whoa, easy, look at that. Good turn. Smart girl and “up!”

Brilliant girl, you’re great. “Good girl.” Turn. Okay, easy, slow, slight check.Easy, got to go slow through these. “Eeeeasy.” Check. “Eeeeasy.” Check. “Eeeeasy.” Check and “up!” Hang on. “Eeeeasy, up! Eeeasy, up!” 

Aaaaahhh, turn, turn. What next? What was that? The whistle. Done. Finally. “Whoa...” Check, sit back, turn. Check, sit back, turn. “Eeeeeasy.” And halt. “Walk.” Do you have to jig? Easy, almost out of the arena. Okay, we’re out.

“Cassie!” her father said, grabbing onto Classy Lady’s reins. “Great job!”

Cassie grinned back weakly and slipped off of her horse. She realized that she’d made a big mistake doing that when she hit the ground and her legs buckled out from under her. Crumpling to the ground she laughed hysterically looking at her trembling legs.

“Cassie!” Her mom walked up with the video camera. “Stop fooling around and say something to the camera.”

“Look,” Cassie said, holding her hand up that had a firm grip on the reins. “I remembered to hold onto the reins. Ever heard of anyone falling off after they get out of the arena?”

The whistle buzzed and Cassie realized she missed the announcer giving her time. “What was my time?!”

“What?” her dad said. “I didn’t hear it.”

“A lot of help you are,” Cassie said, standing up on her still trembling legs. Now that she was standing, Lady started pacing around her in an excited state. “That’s right; you’re the best. Good girl, great girl, pretty girl.”

She shakily undid Lady’s ‘shut up’ noseband and loosened the girth. The whistle buzzed signaling the end of the last rider’s round. She ignored the announcer giving the last rider’s time and rubbed her horse’s neck whispering sweet nothings into her ear as she waited for the results of the class.

Cassie stood quietly, half absorbed in telling her horse how wonderful she was and half absorbed in the announcer announcing fifth place and up. Though she couldn’t remember any word after he said it.

“You won!” her father said excitedly.

“What?” Cassie snapped out of her daze. Registering what the announcer and her father had said she threw her arms around Lady’s neck and gave her a kiss.

“Go get your ribbon,” her father said, tightening the cinch and fastening the noseband.

Cassie accepted his offer for a leg up and urged Lady into the arena. Slight squeeze, time for victory gallop. Better not make a fool of me, horse. Here comes the judge, be nice, hold still. Don’t make her jump around to fasten the ribbon, like last time.

“Congratulations,” the judge said, glancing warily at Classy Lady as she jigged in place. The judge moved up quickly and slid the ribbon into place, jumping out of the way as Classy Lady lurched forward. “Will you lead the victory gallop?”

Cassie grinned and let Classy Lady charge forward. Nice and slow, this is for fun, it’s not a race Lady. Well, maybe just this once. Cassie released the reins a notch and thrilled in the feel of the win(d).

Jumping Thoughts originally appeared in Ride! Magazine in 1996.

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