High Hurdles Read Online Free

several circuits, Bridget lowered the rails on another jump and set the two in a straight line.
    “Good, Megs. You’re so smooth.” DJ patted the mare’s neck.
    “Now maintain the pace up to the first obstacle, then canter to the next. Count the number of strides and keep her going straight.”
    Keep her between your hands and legs , DJ reminded herself. She had heard the instructions so many times before that she knew the routine, but making Megs do it exactly right wasn’t as easy as she’d thought. Invariably Megs drifted to the right.
    “Pay attention, DJ. You are using too much left leg.”
    DJ nodded but overcorrected, and Megs obediently swung to the right.
    “You are trying too hard—just relax and forget we are in a class situation.”
    DJ tried to smile, but it felt more like a grimace. She set the mare into another round: cavalletti, two point, jump. Going straight was much harder than she’d ever dreamed.
    “No, keep the pace. Get yourself in balance before you reach the jump.”
    DJ returned to the two point and completed the circle. Trot, jump, count one, two, three, four, five, and over. “Fiddle.”
    “What was wrong there?”
    “I needed six strides and I used five.”
    “And got left behind?”
    DJ nodded. Circle again. Jump, count, and jump. By the end of the hour, DJ could feel the pull in both her back and calves.
    “You must keep her going straight. She has a tendency to pull to the left.”
    “I know. I’m using too much right leg.”
    “I know you know, so don’t let her. One more time around and we will call it a day.”
    DJ concentrated on everything she’d been told. This time Megs jumped once, took six strides at a canter, made another jump, and headed straight toward the arena fence before dropping back to the trot. DJ rode a tight circle and met Bridget at the gate.
    “I have always said you have a good seat,” Bridget commented when DJ stopped in front of her. “I know you would practice for hours if you could. Just do not neglect your other duties. You know which horses need the work. I will lay out a program for you if you like.”
    “Thank you. Oh, thank you, Bridget! I can’t wait to try the big ones.” Visions of triple jumps, water jumps, brush jumps, and in-and-outs flew through her mind.
    “In good time.” Bridget shared one of her rare smiles with her charge. “Now, you have stalls to clean and horses to work—after you cool out Megs, of course. Oh, and about the show. You know you may ride one of the school horses.”
    DJ’s shoulders slumped. No Diablo to show meant no chance for a decent ribbon. She mentally ran through the stable horses. Only Megs would have a chance, and she was retired. Bridget would never change her mind on that.
    “Thanks, but none of them are ready. I’ll help coach the beginners.” The thought of not competing in the better classes this summer made her groan. If only she had a horse of her own—then things like this wouldn’t happen. Now she had to prepare another horse, which also wouldn’t be her own. She clenched her teeth as a blaze of anger ripped through her.
    Megs jigged to the side. “Sorry, girl.” DJ ordered her body to relax. There must be a connection between my knees and my jaw.
    She looked up to catch a look from Bridget that clearly said, never take your personal problems out on your horse.
    “I’m sorry.” DJ seemed to be saying that a lot. “I . . . I . . . what if I can’t show at all this summer?”
    “Is that what is worrying you?” Bridget stepped close to Megs’ shoulder. “There will always be a horse here for you to ride. You just need to take the time to prepare one. I will talk with one of the owners. Mrs. Orlando might be pleased to have you show one of her horses.”
    DJ started to ask which one, but thought the better of it. Early on she’d learned that when Bridget was ready to tell her something, she would. And asking before that would not make her popular with the academy