Elite Ambition Read Online Free Page A

time to talk before morning lessons. I grabbed the dandy brush from Charm’s tack box and ran it over his withers, back, and legs. Dust whisked off his hindquarters and flew into the air.
    â€œHow
do
you get so dirty overnight?” I teased. “Aren’t you supposed to be sleeping?”
    Charm huffed, turning his head to look at me with a look as if he wanted to roll his eyes.
    I patted his shoulder. “Kidding, kidding,” I said.
    I took the softer body brush and took my time going over his neck, chest, and barrel. The brush made his coat shine.
    After I picked his hooves I combed his mane and tail and cleaned his nostrils and eyes with a wipe. Then it was time to tack him up.
    He was awake now and all about getting to our lesson. He’d been away from the arena for a week, so he was probably ready to stretch his legs. Charm didn’t move as I smoothed the saddle pad onto his back, placed the English saddle on top, and tightened the girth.
    As I tightened it I shook my head at the memory of our early days together. My parents had bought Charm for me when he was five and I was a fairly new rider. Supersmart Charm had taken advantage of me whenever he could. One of his first tricks after I’d taken him home was blowing out his stomach when I was tightening his girth. Then, he’d breathed normally when I put my foot in the stirrup to mount. The saddle had slipped sideways, and I’d ended up on the ground.
    Not cool.
    But he hadn’t done that in years.
    I finished tightening his girth and picked up his bridle,slinging it over my shoulder. It took me seconds to unclip the crossties. I put the reins over Charm’s head and left them looped around his neck. I placed the bit on my palm—holding the crown piece of the bridle. Charm took the bit without hesitation. The crown piece settled over his bridle path.
    â€œTime for a trim soon,” I said. Charm would need to be clipped and bathed before the schooling show on Sunday.
    I took my helmet out of the trunk and snapped it on. I looked down at my fawn-colored breeches and royal purple shirt, checking for any bits of hay or dirt from grooming Charm. It was my first lesson in a week; I wanted to look ready.
    â€œLet’s go,” I said to Charm, patting his neck.
    Ahead of us Heather had already led Aristocrat away. Charm kept his head by my shoulder as we walked down the middle of the mostly empty aisle. The only riders here who had a lesson with Mr. Conner right now were Heather and I, since we were the only two middle school students at Canterwood on the Youth Equestrian National Team. The YENT allowed Mr. Conner to teach our lessons, but he had to report often to Mr. Nicholson, the head scout for the YENT. It was a team that Callie, Julia, and Alisonall wanted to make—a decision that would be made at the next team tryout.
    I stopped in midstep thinking about Julia and Alison. They’d been kicked off the advanced riding team and forced to miss YENT tryouts because of Jasmine. The former Canterwood student had framed them for cheating. With my help, the girls had proven their innocence and were prepping for the next chance at the YENT.
    And Callie … I closed my eyes, thinking about my former best friend. She’d tried out for the YENT and hadn’t made it. More than anything, I wanted her to make the team this time—it was her dream.
    Stop thinking about that now,
I told myself.
You’ve got to focus and show Mr. Conner that you worked hard over break.
    I started forward again, and Charm followed me into the arena. We stopped beside Heather and Aristocrat. The darker chestnut Thoroughbred laid back his ears a fraction as Charm approached. The two horses had never gotten along and were in constant competition with each other—just like Heather and I had been.
    â€œBack to lessons at this evil hour,” Heather said with a wry smile.
    â€œNo kidding. But I did miss it. Just not the getting