Phew!! alright! that's it....:) Let me explain now what happened in those 3 weeks because not everything went as smooth as it sounds like.
The first week Hannah, Katherine and I hopped in the car dressed in our jogpers, chaps, boots, and white collared shirts. On our laps sat our black jackets, crops, water bottles, and Hannah had her black velvety pretty shiny beautiful gorgeous helmet (i'm so jealous...grr..while she has her nice very own helmet i've got to wear those sweat-stinky-, mosquito-filled, broken up old hats!!) On the long car ride butterflies swarmed in our stomachs and the panic set in. Surprisingly though, once we stepped out of that car and smelled that musty hay horsie smell the butterflies were gone and we were ready to go!
i was sad to see that i was Kapris. She's good--but just a bit too small for my taste. Anyways, this was who everybody was on:
Hannah: Unique
Maddy: Cheyanne
Katherine: Unique
Rebecca: Radical
Caroline: Achador
Emma: Achador
I watched the gallop twoers (we're gallop fourers) do their thing until Kapris finished and it was time for me to go and warm her up. She was obidient enough but i just dont like her in general. Then, i got off and walked around the arena with all the others and miss soraya who showed us the course and where to go and stuff. Well, it didn't seem too hard a course...i would probably remember it. So, when it was my turn i rode in and trotted Kapris up to the judge stand. i saluted(in a French way) and said my name and who i was riding. Then, the bell ringed loud and clear and i was off! All fear and panic and nervousness vanished as i lunged over those jumps! But then, kapris's leg hit a pole and i received 4 points. But oh well, the rest was great! i cantered over the finish line and out of the arena. That was the first week, i got 5th place. .....arggh...but oh well!!! After i demounted from Kapris i went over to Maddy, who was waited for her turn. I shared some of my Royal D with her and then she went. I hurried back to the seats to watch. This is who won 1st 2nd and 3rd:
1st: Hannah
2nd: Emma
3rd: Caroline
The second week i was on Unique. Okay.... i thought to myself. unique was good for Hannah last week, maybe he'll be good today. This is who everyone was on:
Hannah: Radical
Maddy: Achador
Katherine: Gabelou
Rebecca: Achador
Caroline: Gabelou
Emma: Unique
Sadly, i only got 3rd place. I had knocked down another pole...
Katherine fell off Gabelou but she mounted that big hunk of horse again and finshed the course! She had hurt her arm badly but that didn't stop her!!Rebecca also fell off, but she finished it too! This is who won that week:
1st: Maddy
2nd: Emma
3rd: Kristine
it was SO fun when i got to canter out of the arena, with my yellow ribbon fluttering in the breeze and the bag of French mints imported from France crunching and crackling in my hand.
Hannah was on Radical and she decided not to canter him so that's why she fell behind a bit. But i agree with her decision..i mean, it's like, if she had tried to canter Radical anything could have happened and he might have knocked down a pole, thrown her...there's numerous things. The good thing is is that she kept him in control!
Then...the last week....i desperately wanted to ride Achador because he is SO good and i LOVE him!! I looked at that list and a great big smile formed on my face...i WAS riding Achador!! ooohh!! yay! I knew that today was my chance to win! today was my chance to shiiiiiiiiine! i knew since i had 8 points and was in 4th place and 3rd place i didn't have a chance to win 2nd place but i knew that 3rd was still possible. This is who everybody rode:
Hannah: Achador
Maddy: Unique
Katherine: couldn't ride--hurt arm still painful and swollen
Rebecca: Unique
Caroline: Radical
Emma: Kapris
I rode second..right after Rebecca. I walked up to the judge and said proudly, "Hello, my name is Kristine Burgess and I am riding Achador..." as i said Achador's name i reached down and gave him a pat or two. I gripped the reigns and held them firmly, planted myself to the saddle and gripped my legs and put my heels down. I was ready. The bell rang and i gave Achador a kick. He started off slow and so i gave him a soft swat with my crop and he sped up a ton! I cantered over the 1st jump, 2nd jump, 3rd jump, 4th jump---and then my mind went blank. Where was the 5th jump??? i glanced frantically around the arena, my eyes searching for #5. Where was it?!!? i began to trot so that i would have more time to find it. Then i saw it. I kicked Achador and cantered again. Over the 5th jump i went. I made a quick turn and kicked. I held my reigns firm but i wasn't pulling.. I saw the 6th and last jump ahead of me. Achador saw it too. Both our eyes were glued forward. Achador tore through the air, his mane flowing back, revealing his blazing eyes. he wanted it. and so did i. We gallopped up to the jump and without hesitation we were soaring over those polls. Achador and I. Me and Achador. Flying through the air, the wind in my hair.... We gallopped past the finish line and i pulled him to a controlled canter, then a trot, and then a walk. I went out of the arena, hugging and giving Achador big pats on the neck. I dismounted and began to walk him over to the water trough. Maddy and Hannah and Rebecca came rushing up to me, exclaiming with delight "you were great!!" "good job!" "wow, Kristine, you looked amazing out there!!" "Thanks!" i replied, in a breathlesss smile. And then i realized how tired i was. My throat was parched dry and my legs were wobbly. I handed Achador over to Hannah and Maddy and made my way to my mom. I passed Helen and she congratulated me and said i did great out there. My mom gave me a biiiiiiiig hug and also said that i did wonderfly!! I was soooo happy!! Trevor also said i did an awesome job and showed me that he had filmed me. I didn't get 1st place that day but i did get 3rd again. Hannah got first and Maddy got 2nd. Then, the judges added up all the points and Hannah had gotten 1st place, Maddy 2nd, and Emma 3rd. Hannah got a gold medal, Maddy got a silver medal, and Emma got a bronze medal. Then, Hannah went home. It had been a fun day and even though i didn't win i felt like i did! Maddy, Kath and I sat together on a bench and watched the gallop fivers jump. Afterwards, when EVERYBODY was going home, Maddy and I walked timidly up to Miss Soraya and asked her if this Wednesday we could ride bare back. To our surprise, she said yes! not just yes, but "of course"!! We shrieked with delight as we ran away laughing and giggling.
Anyway, i hope you enjoyed that! my next post will be all about how we rode bareback on Wednesday! bye! -krispy
ps. oh ya and the pic above is of me on Achador!!
Hello, my wonderful readers!! Today i would like to discuss 
