Dominate

Chapter 6

Meridium arched his neck and pranced on the spot. White foam dripped from his muzzle and splat all over his chest, and his coat was black with sweat. With a quick jerk, he shied away from something that spooked him  in the distance. I sighed and sat deeper in the saddle.

"Easy booyy." I crooned. I fixed my fingers on the reins again. My hands were slipping from the sweat that he was generating.

I glanced up at Mr. Harrison. He was watching a rider jump the course he had set out for us in the ring. The rider was good, but her equitation was atrocious, and she kept nagging her horse in the mouth when they landed. 

Meridium and I haven't done the jumping portion of the Advanced Riding Team tryouts yet. The flat portion wasn't  super easy like I'd planned. Mer wasn't used to all the riders in the ring at once. He had been super hot and bucking, rearing and bolting. I wouldn't be surprised if my performance today costs me a spot on the team. 

I glanced over at the rider waiting beside me. Her horse was standing still and looked like he was half asleep. The rider gave me an angry look when Mer threatened another rear. I sighed in relief when the rider in the ring finally finished her course and walked out.

I didn't have to squeeze to get Mer to move. He bolted forward into an upright trot, and raised his head so it was up by my face. I sat deeper and circled tightly by the rail, so he would have to drop his head. My eyes whipped around the arena figuring out the distances and how I might make my turns. Mer was in a pretty hot mood today, so I'll probably have to cut maybe one to two strides off all the lines, even when I asked him to collect.

Meridium danced underneath me, and I began to get worried. I glanced over that Julian who was also trying out for the advanced team. He was riding his horse, a tall, dark brown, german warmblood named Endle. His head was dainty and Endle's long legs were thin but strong. Endle was incredibly tall and from what I've seen on the flat, pretty hot headed. Julian rode him flawlessly.

Julian winked back at me and the nerves dancing underneath my skin settled to a soft waltzed. I took a deep breath, and slowed Meridium to a halt in front of Mr. Harrison. 

"Ms. Grande, we meet again." Mr. Harrison noted, while ruffling through sheets of paper. I could only nod.

"You know the course, if I'm not mistaken." 

Again, all I could do was nod. 

"When you're ready." 

I gulped and squeezed Meridium on the sides. He bolted forward, and feeling my nerves kept his head up stiffly by my face. His pace was quick and rocky and he was extra sensitive to my touch. Sweat build up around my face, and my breathing was heavy. 

What was happening to me? What happened to calm, cool and collected? Usually, when I'm at a show I never freak out. So, what's different now? I quickly snapped back into the present time so I could focus on the task at hand. I couldn't be off in another world when I'm riding, or go on autopilot. Mer would take advantage of me, and I would never be able to get back to my normal skill. Nervously, I gulped and began the course.

Without hesitation, he bolted forward into a canter and I rose into half seat to avoid his bumpy and choppy canter. I circled him and he smoothed his canter enough so that it was noticeable. I softly angled him to the first jump. Meridium's ears pricked forward and I felt his attention focus on the jump. Swiftly, we launched over the first vertical. 

I angled my body enough so that we landed on the correct lead. I looked over at the next jump. Already feeling the nerves go away, Meridium's stride smoothed out and he dropped his head onto the bit. I sat deep in my saddle and we worked as one, every little thing flawless. I grinned, loving the feeling of Mer and I working together.