Pomp in Paradise

The once lanky-legged colt was truly turning out to be something spectacular. Allie couldn't help but feel a deep sense of pride over the progress she had made with him during the past year. A lot had been happening at Angell's Meadow between Newnes and this show, including the awakening of Chubbs' incredible amounts of energy. It was almost dangerous to turn him out with others; he would sprint around the pastures, kicking and bucking as if he would never grow tired. Allie wasn’t sure where the energy came from and was honestly jealous, wishing she could have even a fragment of it.

Under saddle, Chubbs showed varying degrees of success. The ground gentleness had yet to fully translate to saddle work. There were new cues to learn, new challenges to tackle, and certainly new adventures to embark on. Through their work, Allie discovered a great way to help the young horse expel some of his boundless energy. Chubbs truly enjoyed launching himself, at nerve-wracking speeds, over poles and jumps. Anything in his pasture became an obstacle to leap over. While Allie was already setting aside money for the inevitable vet bills, she was also dreaming up a plan. It was no secret that he had poor form and over-jumped nearly everything he attempted. But she could work with this.

Over the year, Allie dedicated her time to helping Chubbs improve his form, work on his patience, and learn the intricacies of being ridden. She was proud—proud of all the time she had invested despite the chaos at the stables, and happy with their progress. Now, here she was, sharing pieces of an apple with the colt as they waited for their turn. She had gone over her mental checklist repeatedly, ensuring all was in order. Tonight, their hard work would be showcased, and she just had to hope that Chubbs wouldn’t over-jump or, worse, hurt himself.

Allie found herself alone again. She had hoped Hank would join her for this outing, but the timing was unfortunate, and someone needed to stay at the farm. She was puzzled by his desperate encouragement for her to go alone. It made her feel lonely, as if he didn’t want to be there. She felt the weight of doing these things by herself but tried to trust Hank. After all, he had been like a father to her ever since Angell's Meadow fell into her lap at such a young age.

Memories of the past year flooded her mind—long days and late nights spent training, the ups and downs, the small victories that kept her going. She remembered Hank’s steady presence, his words of wisdom, and how he’d been there to pick her up when she felt like giving up. His absence today stung, but she had to believe he had his reasons.

Chubbs lipped at her hands, begging for more of the apple, which she, of course, gave him. She would have stewed on those feelings longer, but it was almost time for their class. Allie pulled herself together, shaking her head to clear her thoughts, and stood up to give Chubbs a once-over. His coat gleamed in the soft light, She took a deep breath, feeling a rush of affection and determination

Word Count: 541