Saturday, March 30, 2013

Sequoia's First Race, by Danni Williams


        "Make me proud," My mother nickered.

        "I'll try," I neighed quietly.

        We were standing a few feet from a starting gate. My mom already ran her race, but I still had a bit of time before it was my turn to run.  I looked around and could see the difference in the demeanor of the horses who already went, and the ones waiting for their chance to prove themselves. I could feel the tension in the air. The nervous, jumpy, excited energy was rolling off in waves. 

        The next horse up was one from our barn. We lost our two best barrel racers to old age last winter, so Manzee was our best hope for a win.  He was noticeably the most hyper horse waiting. As his rider maneuvered him to the gate, she had to spin him a few times and give him a tug on the reigns when he started to rear. 

        "He's the best one here today," My mom said, nodding to Manzee.

        His rider cued him to go and he shot off to the first barrel like a rocket. I had to agree, he is the fastest one here.

        "Do you think I'll be able to run the barrels like that someday?" I asked.

        She snorted and pawed the ground. She looked me all over, her one blue eye seemed to focus on me more then her brown one.

        "Well, If you're girl trains you up right... You just might be. Just remember the pattern and to run straight. And, when you round that third barrel, you run like there's a lion mountain on your heels."

        Her rider led her off toward the truck to untack and give her a treat for doing so well today. As I watched her go, Manzee came back through the gate. 

        The sky voice boomed out. "Sixteen seconds."

        'Woah,' I thought. 'My mom was right. He has everyone beat by at least four seconds.'

        I was lost in thought when my rider spoke to me. I must have missed someone because she gave me a little nudge with her heel to get my attention.

        "Come on 'Quoia. Get a move on. I have to get you a drink before its our turn to run."

        She clucked at me and gently tapped me to get me moving. We weaved through the crowd back to the other barn horses and someone brought me my water bucket. I could only swallow a few mouth fulls.

        Too nervous.

        "Run your best," She said, while scratching my neck. "We don't have to win it, just have fun."

        It helped calm me a little. And I knew I was one of the luckier horses here.  I took another drink and pondered my life.  My rider, Tree as I call her, is one of the better ones.  She sits lightly, and moves her hands gently.  She's yet to find a need to whip me or even kick me much to get me going.  Others here aren't so lucky.  Their mouths are yanked on, and they flinch as a heel comes near them.  Yeah, I am a lucky one.

        The sky voice boomed again. Couldn't tell what it said but I think it meant its almost our turn. 

        Tree cut off her conversation with her friend and said, "Well, that's us boy. Let's head to the gate."  And off we went to stand at the gate.

        The nerves were back in full force.  I neighed and pawed the ground. I was ready to go.

        "Run fast!"  It was my moms voice from across the arena.

        The other horse left the arena and their time was announced. My turn now.Through the gate I went.

        "Here we go," Tree whispered to me as the gate closed behind us. It was an ominous sound.

        I stood waiting next to the cone. Waiting. Waiting for the signals from Tree that would tell me to run.

        Her hands loosened up. And moved up my neck, giving me the freedom to move as needed. Then, she shifted her weight forward. Butt off the saddle, heels down, slightly leaning forward. 

        I waited on the last cue.

        I felt the shift before I felt her heel.

        One heel, her right, tapped my side.

        Time stood still for a moment as I flew from the gate.

        I couldn't hear the crowd and I barely registered Tree yelling to go faster.

        Around the first barrel.

        Heel to my left, I switched my leading leg.

        Around the second barrel. My back leg hit a soft spot and threw me off for a second but I was back on track before I knew it.

        Heel to the right. I switched leads again.

        One more barrel. As I rounded it, two heels tapped me. The sign she uses on the trail to give it my all.

        And so I did.

        Tree turned me to the left right before I would have crashed into the gate.  Tree asked me to slow down but I really didn't want to.  Too excited. I threw my head and eased from a canter to a trot and then to a walk.  When I calmed down she turned me back to the now-open gate and led me out of the arena.

        "You were great!!" She said, throwing her arms around my neck.

        That's when I registered the crowd of humans screaming. I guess I did pretty well. We waited what seems like an eon for the sky voice to announce our time.  I really don't like waiting.

        "Twenty-five seconds."

        Tree screamed. Something about third. I don't know. Humans are hard to understand when they start squealing and screaming. Ugh. More waiting. This time for her to calm down enough to understand what she was blabbering about. Humans. Can't live with 'em. Can't get sugar and carrots without 'em.

        "Third out of seven, Sequoia! You were amazing!"

        Hmm.. maybe I will beat Manzee some day.

        The excitement was done for the day.  We went off to the other barn horses and their girls. Tack came off, everything got packed away and on the trailer we all went. 

        'Someday,' I thought, ' Well, someday I just might be bringing home the blue.'

                                        I can't wait.


 Danni Williams is the 2012 recipient of the Matthew Juser Memorial Scholarship.

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