The Calling

The Calling

My head snapped up as my alarm clock started to play a random song on the radio. To my dismay, the sound was turned up all the way, and Metallica roared to life in my own bedroom. I leaped up, and sprinted across my room, and slammed my hand down on the ‘snooze’ button. I sighed in relief, and slid down my dresser as quietness seeped over the room.

My name is Averie Alrarai, and I am a 17 year old girl. I have dark brown hair, with silver eyes. I slowly stood up, rolling on the balls of my feet, and walking across the short distance of my room to my window. I looked outside as thundering hooves passed my window. I smiled wide. I live on the main floor of our farm house. We own horses, lots of them. Mostly Hanoverian jumpers, but a few boarders are here at Calling Meadow’s Stable.

The trainer, Al, was exercising Ansos, a black Hanoverian stallion. Al is a dark haired, dark eyed, 19 year old, and our best trainer. He was working Ansos on a lunge line, jumping him over several large jumps. Ansos is our best jumper, and always brings home a ribbon, and lots of cash. He is a magnificent stallion, and he is mine. I haven’t ridden him in a show, yet. I am still in ‘training’.  I marveled at Ansos’ powerful muscles as he leaped into the air, clearing the 5 foot, and more, jumps with several inches to spare.

Soon, Al slowed the stallion to a walk. Ansos breathed heavily, and Al waved at me, beckoning me to come and join him. I leaped up, and closed my curtains while I got changed, then I bolted out the front door. My Dad, Kevin, was working with another horse, Thattin. My Dad has light brown hair, and dazzling blue eyes. My Dad always said that my mom had noticed his eyes first. That always made me smile. My Dad is an only parent because my Mom died giving birth to me, and he home schools me. Thattin is a young 2 year old filly. She wouldn’t be competing; she would be one of our brood mares.  I waved to my Dad, and headed to the training ring. Al smiled, and nodded a greeting.

“Hey, work with Ansos a bit; get him to trust you some more. He is your horse, if you do remember.”

I laughed.

“Of course I remember! How could I not remember this beauty?”

Al nodded admiringly. He ran his strong hands down Ansos’ barrel, wiping of some of the lather that had formed.

“He’s going well. And you’re looking pretty good on that quarter horse mare, Aray. I’ll go ask Kevin if you can ride him in shows soon. I think you’re definitely ready to ride him. Want to just get on him, but remember, no jumping. I’ll be right back to get his saddle and bit. You can ride him bareback and cool him down a bit.”

Al then walked away, and I led Ansos to the fence, where I pulled myself onto his broad back. I relaxed a bit when I was on Ansos, enjoying his smooth back. I urged him into a walk, using the lunge line as my reins, and walked him around. Ansos pricked his ears at the jumps, and paced slightly, but I pulled him away.

Ansos had the best gait; it’s long, and very smooth. He eats up the ground in seconds at a canter. Ansos was a tall horse, about 17.2 hands tall. His long legs helped to provide his excellent jumping career. He cleared all, and any fences without any effort. I had always watched as other rider’s won ribbon, after ribbon, after ribbon on Ansos. I now wanted to be the one to do that. Hopefully my Dad agreed to let me jump!

Ansos then sprang into a jumpy trot, as my heels lightly tapped his side. I settled the stallion down into a smooth, extended trot. I closed my eyes, and felt his muscles move beneath me. Ansos was the definition of perfect, of all beauty.

I started, and almost lost my seat as Al’s voice jutted my mind back into the training ring. I slowed Ansos to a walk, then a halt, and looked over to the fence. Al was setting down all of Ansos’ tack over the rail, and beside him, my Dad smiled encouragingly, and I knew I would be jumping. Not on Aray, but on Ansos.

“I trust you’ll keep Ansos under control Averie. He is very delicate, and very, very precious. I can’t have anything happen to him.”

My dad spoke in a cool, calm, serious voice. I nodded. He sounded like I would ruin his prized horse. I started to become agitated as I tacked up Ansos. Ansos snorted in confusion at my mood, and stamped a hind hoof. I tried to calm myself, and once more, lifted myself onto the giant horse’s back. Al squeezed my leg reassuringly, and I smiled down at him.

“Good luck.”

Al whispered to me, and I held the silver coloured reins in my hands, and made myself comfortable to the saddle. Once I was ready and relaxed once more, I trotted Ansos around a bit, warming him up, and also myself secretly. I then turned him towards the jumps. They loomed in front of me, and I felt myself to slowly deteriorate, but Ansos’ excited nicker, snapped me out of it. I pushed him into the canter, and let myself slide into two-point. I prepared myself for the jump, giving him reins, taking and giving to make sure he didn’t go too fast, and then, his front feet lifted off the ground, and he propelled into the air. Time seemed to freeze as we were air borne. His leap was gigantic, and this is how he performed. His pure black coat reflected the sun’s rays, and I closed my eyes, cherishing the moment. All too soon, his hooves thudded against the ground, and I instinctively gave him reins. I sat back in the saddle, and headed for the next fence. Soon enough, we had cleared all fences, and I slowed Ansos to a walk to cool him off. I looked over to my Dad, and he was smiling. I did well. I actually did well!  He climbed over the fence and walked over to me, with Al walking behind him.

“That was excellent Averie! You jumped like a pro! There’s a show next weekend, and after seeing you jumping like that… on Ansos, I think I’ll enter you!”

My smiled widened as my Dad praised me so well. Al smiled up at me, and I leaped lightly down from Ansos’ back.

“That would be great Dad! Thanks!”

He nodded, and patted my shoulder, before walking out of the ring. That left just me and Al.

“So… did I really do good Al? It felt like I was flying! Time seemed to stop!”

Al laughed.

“Ansos does that to people. You did great on him! He listened to every small gesture you told him. You two are, like, the perfect match!”

Then, before I could respond, Al hugged me excitedly. He stepped back, not realizing what he had just done. I laughed.

“Thanks Al. Your words, they mean a lot to me, especially coming from you.”

Al blushed slightly, and I quickly tried to change the subject.

“I should go sponge Ansos down. He had a really big work out today, and he’s probably exhausted!”

Al nodded in agreement, and went to get a sponge, and a bucket. He soon brought it back, and then left to work on one of the newer jumpers. I sponged Ansos down, lost in thought. I walked Ansos to the pasture in a daze. What were Al’s real feelings toward me? What were my feelings towards him…? I shook my head. I had to concentrate on the upcoming show. I had to prove that I could ride Ansos.

It was now the day of the show. July 10^th. I had worked vigorously on Ansos, and had gotten better with him day by day. I walked around the show yard, riding Ansos. I was looking for the practice ring, and Al was helping. He was walking in front of me, when all of a sudden, his arm was in the air, and he was pointing to a large ring with several jumps. I nodded thanks, and went to it.

I warmed Ansos up steadily, and then went back to the trailer. Al was waiting, leaning against the entrance.

“Al! Hey! I was just going to check out the jumps. I’m number 14, the last one, and I need to know what I’ll be jumping! You should get a seat; my class is coming up soon.”

Al nodded.

“Okay, Averie. Let’s go.”

We set off at a brisk walk, and soon came to the showing ring. I ducked under the fence, and started at the first jump. Many other people were looking at the jumps, seeing how they could shave off some time here and there. I studied the height, distance and degree of each jump, calculating how I would jump on Ansos. I had to live up to Ansos’ name, and I couldn’t lose.

Then, all too soon, the bell went off to go get your horses ready. I sprinted to the trailer, brushed Ansos down, tacked him up, and led him to the ring. His mane was braided, and I gave a silent thanks to Al for doing that for me. So far, there were no clear rounds, though some of the times were good. The jump that always ruined them all was the Ramped Oxer. I watched all 13 of the entries, and then, it was my turn. My turn to take a try at the Ramped Oxer, the jump that no one had been able to beat so far. I let Ansos walk into the ring, and steadied my heart beat. The jumps were alluring, yet very frightening. Considering Ansos being a large horse, these jumps were still massive. The jump that scared me the most was the Ramped Oxer. It was the highest jump, and the farthest, though the last jump. Water was in the front, making the horse have to jump harder, higher, and longer. Then, the bell rang, and I pushed Ansos into an excited, extended canter. The announcer told a bit about Ansos.

“Now this is number 14, Averie Alrarai on The Calling!”

So that’s Ansos’ show name… I nodded approvingly. I steadied my breathing, and the course went by in a blur. I thought we would win for sure, and then, I saw the Ramped Oxer looming in front of me. My eyes widened, and my pulse accelerated. Ansos missed a step, sensing my distress. Then, I remembered I had to do this, not for my Dad, or Al, but for myself. It was just a jump, if I didn’t clear it, then oh well. Ansos had won almost every ribbon. But not when he was a beginner. There was always a next time. I pushed him forward, and repeated in my head, over and over again. This is my calling… I was born to jump… this is my calling…my calling… Ansos sped up ever so slightly, and pricked his ears in determination. Then, one step away from the water, he thrust himself into the air. He leaped over the fence, and time seemed to freeze. I was leaned far over his neck, and I savoured every moment. Then, his feet thudded hard against the ground, and the announcer screamed into the microphone.

“And she’s over! She did…”

I didn’t hear the rest, because I knew we had done it. We had won the blue ribbon, and the money. I had achieved it, all because of Ansos, my calling.