August 2

After I helped Kayleigh get ready for the event, she walked towards where her horse was.



"Devin!"
"Hey, Kayleigh," Devin Huff said. She's in our class at school, and her parents raised thoroughbreds for the royal family. "What are you doing here?"
"Trying out for the national team."



"You? On the national team? Get real!"



"Look, Devin, I belong here just as much as you do."
"You do realize this is the ENGLISH riding discipline. The national team is for SERIOUS riders only. Last time I looked, westerners from Appaloosa need not apply."
"Look, Devin, my mother was a show jumper and I've been doing it since I was ten. I know I belong and I'm going to prove it!"



"Oh yeah? We're going to see about that."

 

Devin took her horse and walked away to await her turn. But for now, she'd have to watch Kay.



"First up, Kayleigh Andre!"
Amberly and I nudged each other as Kay and her horse, Epiphany, stood at the gate to begin.



Kay and Epiphany entered the arena with their heads held high. She gave her horse a nudge and off she went.
Epiphany cleared her first jump, then her second, then her third. When it came to the fourth jump, Amberly and I let out a gasp as she was coming around so quickly. "I hope she doesn't hit her head!" Amberly whispered.



There was no need to worry. Epiphany cleared it with no problem.



Epiphany cleared the next three jumps, then went on the hilly section and cleared two more.



When she was done, Epiphany had cleared all ten jumps and we jumped for joy.

 

 

Devin was next. She led her horse to the starting gate and cleared the first two gates but stumbled on the third. The horse she was riding even refused one of the jumps. She kicked his side to get him to jump but he refused.
After that hiccup though, her ride was smooth as she cleared the rest of her jumps, including the more difficult ones.