The Mare

Velvet

Pat said to collect myself and not to worry, this was just the practice time, just sit up straight and aim the mare like a bullet. I tried. I rode into the ring, aiming myself, except I didn’t know at what. And I could still feel that something was bothering the horse; her ears were back in that bother way. Pat was at the fence, giving me instructions I could only half hear: “Right heel down, eyes up, keep breathing, find your space!” But all of a sudden I didn’t care about winning. I rode around the arena while the other girls took the jumps, Lexy and these others I didn’t know. I looked at the bleachers, trying to find Ginger or Paul. They weren’t there. Only strangers were there. You are all alone with those people. Trust me. Fiery Girl bucked up under me so small it was more like bumping, I pulled her head up and scrunched the reins, turning her head good. If you ride in that race don’t bother to come home, because there won’t be a home here for you anymore. “Get her out in front!” yelled Pat. “Don’t worry about where her head is!” Fiery Girl went like a question mark under me, and I answered her with my legs. I shut out my mom’s voice, put my legs on the mare, and went for the jumps. She hit the first one with her hoof, and she knocked a rail off the second one. That’s when I heard them say our names, I heard “Velveteen Vargas and Fugly Girl on deck!” And I knew it was time to go for real.