Page 41 - SophiesPonyTalesJuly10C

CHAPTER 19 ON TO THE CONES

Sleep came easy that night. The rejections As soon as that class was finished the cones
of the day were put to rest. I could always tell if we were reset for the pick your own route class. My
had done badly. Sometimes it was my fault but whip walked the course using different possible
sometimes it was my whip’s fault. There were routes, counting the steps in each route.
times when he forgot the details of a cones We won that cones race. We were fast and
course. My whip had forgiven me for my mistakes had no penalties. We received the blue ribbon and
and I forgave him for his mistakes. Improvement the first place points. We went to the trailer to get
comes in small increments. A little calmer, faster, ready for the trip home. An announcement came
and smoother, together was our quest. over the loudspeaker, “Will St. Gertrude and her
I had learned to concentrate on what was whip please come to the announcer’s stand?”
before me and to pay total attention to my When we got there officials came to me and put
whip. He was in charge and made all the decisions, large three color ribbon around my neck with the
obedience required doing what he asked. He had word “Champion” on it. It was announced that,
never asked me to do anything unless there was “St. Gertrude is the winner of the Margaret
preparation and conditioning. Sawmiller Memorial Perpetual Trophy, awarded to
Being in a ring with other horses and ponies the single pony, with the most points in obstacle
made me fearful. When on a marathon course or classes and marathon during the two days of the
cones course I was at ease. When having fun peo- competition.”
ple noticed my attitude. People said things like, Imagine, my name forever engraved on a
“When that pony gets going through the cones she large silver trophy. It was a glorious day. We had
looks happy. She knows what she is doing and it come far. Far from being a reject with no future, a
shows” rescue from a sales pen, now an accomplished eq-
We crossed the finish line that day and the uine athlete and a champion in our sport. We had
announcer said “one minute and thirty six sec- come to compete among the best.
onds. That is the course record for the day for all At first we were unsure that we were in the
classes, horses and ponies to this point in the com- right place but by the end we had gained confi-
petition”. The record held. We won the class, the dence and the respect of many competitors. Try-
blue ribbon and the first place points. ing something new can be scary but rewarding.

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