Show Judge by Bonnie Bryant Read Free Book Online Page A

rider to adjust the length of her horse’s stride so that it would arrive three clear paces in front of the first pole. After that, the horse was to step, with one foot only, between each pole. The pair had negotiated the course fairly easily at a walk, but the posting trot was giving them trouble. Outlaw knocked one of the poles down with his back foot, then, turning to see what had happened behind him, he practically stepped on top of the next one. Not helping matters was the fact that Jasmine was completely off balance in the saddle and pulling too hard on the reins in an attempt to regain control of the situation.
    “I’d better go talk to her,” Lisa said, climbing through the fence.
    “That sounds like a good idea,” Carole agreed. Interested in hearing what kind of advice Lisa was going to give, she tagged along.
    Jasmine was close to tears with frustration. “Lisa, it’s hopeless. I can’t make him do it.”
    Outlaw was also looking unhappy. Lisa put a soothing hand on his neck. “You’re not adjusting his stride correctly before he reaches the three-out position. You two have to work together.”
    Carole was trying to be subtle about her eavesdropping, so she made herself useful by putting the cavalletti back up.
    “I know,” Jasmine said, obviously discouraged. “I can’t make up my mind if he should be going slower or faster.”
    Lisa, who had already explained this several times, could feel her patience slipping. “Jasmine, I told you, it’s not a matter of slower or faster, it’s about the size of the step you’re asking him to take.”
I have to think of another way of describing what Jasmine needs to do, but how?
Her eyes fell on Carole. “Look, sit up straight, shoulders back, chin up, heels down. Good. Now get Outlaw collected, and I’ll be right back.”
    Lisa hurried over to Carole and began helping toreset the poles. “I can’t seem to explain to Jasmine what she’s doing wrong,” she whispered urgently. “What can I say to her that will help?”
    This was the moment Carole had dreaded. She was going to have to choose between being an impartial judge and being a supportive friend. She straightened up and looked Lisa square in the eyes. “I can’t tell you that,” she said firmly.
    “What? Why not?” Lisa looked genuinely puzzled.
    “Because it would be unfair to the other teams.” Her friend’s hurt expression made her feel terrible. Look, Lisa.” She reached out to touch her shoulder. “This isn’t like after the Horse Wise meeting. I’m not here to give advice. My job now is to see how you handle situations like this.” She gestured toward Jasmine and Outlaw.
    Lisa began to protest. “But Carole, you’ve always helped—”
    Carole cut her off. “That was Carole your friend. Right now, I’m Carole the judge. We should both keep that in mind.” Just then she spotted May at the far end of the ring. She and Macaroni were also working over cavalletti, and, as usual, Veronica was nowhere in sight. “I’m sorry, Lisa, I have to go.”
    Lisa watched Carole’s retreating back with a mixture of hurt and anger. She was obviously going off to helpMay—why wasn’t that against her precious rules? Apparently now that she was a show judge, she didn’t have time to help her old friends, only impress new ones.
    Lisa returned to Jasmine and Outlaw, determined to solve this problem without Carole’s help. That would show her.
    “What did Carole say?” Jasmine asked.
    Lisa thought quickly. “That she has every confidence in you and Outlaw mastering this technique.”
    “She does?” Jasmine said, obviously encouraged.
    “Of course, and so do I.” Lisa assured her. Even as she talked, her mind was racing furiously, trying to think of any training techniques from all the books she had read that might be useful in this situation. Then it came to her. “You know, Jasmine, Outlaw is looking a little frustrated,” she said, patting his neck. “He was doing so well at the