Elite Ambition

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Authors: Jessica Burkhart
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exploring as much as I did.
    A yellow caution sign with a horse and rider was posted alongside the road, but the road was deserted.Dark wooden fences were on both sides of the street and large trees, branches sprawled over the road, cast shadows on the pavement. I turned around, grinning at Brit.
    â€œSo awesome,” she mouthed at me.
    I smiled, turning back around before Mr. Conner saw me.
    We reached a metal gate, and he walked Lexington off the road and into the grassy shoulder. Heather, Brit, and I followed him. We watched as Mr. Conner unlatched the gate and without dismounting, opened it for us. That wasn’t easy to do, especially on a semigreen horse. But Mr. Conner had been working with Lexington long enough that the gray seemed to trust him; he allowed Mr. Conner to open what probably looked like a scary gate.
    Heather, Brit, and I rode through the opening, waiting while Mr. Conner relatched the gate.
    â€œAll right,” Mr. Conner said, pulling Lexington next to Aristocrat. “Keep your horses at a steady canter and let’s go.”
    I gave Charm rein and within seconds, he broke into a canter. His strides, long and even, were smooth and he kept pace with the other horses without trying to fight for the lead. He was
definitely
on his best behavior after tossing me earlier.
    It felt amazing to be away from campus. There wasn’t any pressure of classes, drama with Callie, or weirdness from Paige.
    I shifted in the saddle, leaning forward ever so slightly as we started up a gradual incline. Charm snorted and surged forward, determined to keep the same speed going uphill as we had on the flat ground. But I didn’t want Charm to strain himself, so I slowed him a notch while still allowing him to keep up with the other horses.
    Brit, Heather, Mr. Conner, and I kept the horses even with each other as we climbed the easy hill. We reached the top where the ground leveled off. None of the horses were even close to being winded.
    â€œKeep them at an easy canter,” Mr. Conner said. “We have a long way to go, and I don’t want anyone’s horse to burn out early.”
    I relaxed in the saddle, enjoying the rocking gait of Charm’s canter. The horses moved easily across the open field. There was nothing else I’d rather be doing. The late September air had a hint of a chill, but the sun kept me warm.
    Charm’s hooves made dull thuds against the grass. I’d left my hair loose under my helmet and the wind swirledit back behind me. Every stride Charm took made me feel more exhilarated. I looked over at Heather and she looked as relaxed as I felt. This was a workout for all of us, especially our horses, but it was also a release.
    From everything.
    Lexington tried to stick his muzzle in front of the other horses, wanting to be the one in the lead, but Mr. Conner held him back. Frustrated, Lexington shook his head, then settled.
    The flat ground started to raise again, steeper this time. The horses had to work harder to keep their paces steady. I concentrated on keeping my balance and watching for any sign from Charm that he needed to slow down. But the grueling workouts with Mr. Conner had him in top shape. Brit’s horse moved well, too, and we looked over at each other and smiled.
    We cantered the horses up and down a few more hills before Mr. Conner slowed Lexington.
    â€œTrot and then ease them to a walk,” Mr. Conner instructed us.
    Heather, Brit, and I did as he asked. Charm’s copper-colored coat had darkened from sweat. His breathing was heavy, but not too hard. I was probably more ready for a break than he was!
    â€œHow do your horses feel?” Mr. Conner asked. “Is anyone sensing any strain or fatigue from her horse?”
    We all shook our heads.
    â€œGood,” Mr. Conner said. “We’re going to walk back to make sure they’re completely cool, and we’ll take a different route that’s not so hilly. I don’t want

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