Nightstorm and the Grand Slam by Stacy Gregg Read Free Book Online Page A

Badminton.”
    As she cantered into the showjumping arena, Issie knew that everything was riding on this round. If she didn’t go clear in the arena then her chances were over. The pressure on her now was intense – could she handle it and bring Victory home without a mistake?
    A hush fell over the crowd as the bell sounded and Issie circled Victory in a collected canter to come through the flags and confront the first jump – a blue upright.
    This was the moment when Victory’s calibre as an eventer would be truly tested. Yesterday the gelding had been fearless and bold, taking the knocks as he bashed his way around six kilometres of solid, rough-hewn jumps. Now, here in the showjumping ring, a totally differentmindset was required. Victory needed to pick up his feet carefully over every fence to avoid bumping the delicately balanced rails if they wanted to take home the gold.
    Issie felt her heart hammering in her chest as Victory took a sluggish approach to the first jump and dragged his hind legs over the fence. Was the brown gelding more exhausted than any of them had suspected? Would this phase prove to be too much for him?
    The pole rocked but it didn’t fall and Issie collected the horse up and rode him firmly towards the next jump. If Victory was tired, then it was up to her to help him get round the course.
    At the second fence, she rode with precision and determination and Victory seemed to wake up and lift his game, clearing the jump with air to spare. This was more like it!
    Issie urged him on towards the double, putting her legs on firmly. Victory responded a little too well. He cleared the first jump but the excess energy in his stride left him off balance for the next fence and he took one long stride and leapt from too far back. His hind legs scraped the pole as he went over the jump and once again the rail rocked in its cups.
    Issie wanted so badly to turn around and see if the rail had fallen, but she knew it would be fatal. Don’t look back , she told herself, stay focused on the next fence .
    â€œShe’s still clear,” Mike Partridge confirmed. “The rail hasn’t fallen. Now she takes a sharp turn and in to confront the big spread, the red and white rails…”
    The red and white spread was a huge jump and Victory was all class as he took off perfectly and cleared it. The brown gelding’s neck was white and frothy with sweat and his breath was coming in keen snorts as they turned to take the white gate and then the treble. This time the striding was perfect and they popped in and out with a single stride between each fence and didn’t drop a rail.
    With just three jumps standing between her and a clear round, Issie was doing her best to keep her cool. But as she came at the oxer she realised she had totally messed up her line, and her canter lead was wrong. Luckily, Victory was the ultimate schoolmaster. He saw that he was on the wrong leg and did an amazing flying change, righting himself in time and putting in a little short stride right in front of the jump to make it work. Issie held her breath, worried that Victory would bringa hind leg down on the back rail, but nothing fell. She kept her eyes ahead to the next fence. Only two more jumps to go and she would be clear.
    At the penultimate jump there was a heart-stopping moment when they took the fence too fast and Issie panicked that Victory wouldn’t take off in time – but again his talent showed through and he got his knees up just enough to clear the rails.
    All this time they had been belting around the course between the fences, cantering as fast as they dared to try and stay inside the time. And with one jump to go Issie wasn’t slowing down. Coming in at a fast canter she rode hard at the jump and relied on her horse to find the perfect take-off point. Victory obliged, arcing beautifully and clearing the final fence with half a metre to spare.
    As she crossed the line a roar