14. Ashlyn

14

ASHLYN

T he morning sun cast a golden glow over the ranch as I led Phantom out of his stall, his powerful frame gleaming in the light. His coat was sleek and glossy, a testament to the hours of grooming and care we had poured into him in preparation for the upcoming derby. As I swung myself into his saddle, I felt a surge of excitement in my veins. Today was another training day, another opportunity to see what Phantom could do on the track.

Phantom moved beneath me with a grace and agility that never failed to impress. His muscles rippled beneath his coat as he pranced eagerly, his hooves striking the ground with a rhythmic cadence that echoed through the quiet morning air. With each movement, I felt a deep connection forming between us—a silent bond that transcended words and language.

As it was still the beginning of our ride, I focused on guiding Phantom through a series of exercises designed to improve his agility and responsiveness. He responded eagerly to my commands, his ears pricked forward in anticipation as we navigated obstacles with precision and skill. With each successful maneuver, I felt so proud. Phantom was not just any horse to me. Instead, he had become a partner, a friend, and a companion on this journey toward greatness.

My choice of training journey for him might be somewhat unusual for a racehorse who is usually sent to the track and knows nothing but the track and his stall, but I liked that Stephanie and I both felt differently than that.

We felt Phantom would be happier if he lived a full and varied life and if he was happier, he would give his best performance on the track. That was the theory anyway.

We picked up speed and Phantom's powerful strides carried us effortlessly across the open expanse of the ranch. I needed to keep his running fitness levels high. I had ridden in races before so I was no stranger to it, but I wouldn't call myself a racing jockey. I had competed (and won at a decent level) in all disciplines over the years from barrel racing and bronc riding- I was an accomplished cowgirl- to the more english equestrian pursuits of Dressage and Eventing. I had started life as a cowgirl so that was always where my heart lay, but I was enamoured with the beauty of horses from the different disciplines. So over the years, I learnt to ride the english way and I spent time with some of the best riders in the world in the different disciplines. I always had a fondness and a skill for the difficult horses. And there always are difficult horses, whatever you are training them for, whether it is racing or dressage.

The wind whipped through my hair as we thundered along, the rush of adrenaline fueling our every move. In that moment, there was nothing else in the world but the two of us.

With each passing moment, I felt more alive, more in tune with Phantom and the world around us. His movements were fluid and graceful, a testament to his natural talent and the countless hours of

training we had put in together. I couldn't help but smile as I felt his power and strength beneath me. He felt strong and fit and I felt happy with the progress we had made. I slowed Phantom to a gentle trot, allowing him to catch his breath. He tossed his head playfully, his eyes shining with intelligence and spirit. In that moment, I knew without a doubt that Phantom although he might have never run a race yet, he was the fastest horse I had ever ridden, and I was grateful for the opportunity to be his partner in this journey.

Then my heart skipped a beat as I saw the horse trailer, a looming presence in the distance. Before I could react, Phantom sensed it too, his muscles tensing beneath me, his ears pinning back in alarm. In an instant, he exploded into action, his powerful hindquarters propelling us forward in a wild burst of speed.

I clung to the reins, fighting to regain control as Phantom bucked and twisted and then bolted, I was entirely unable to slow or stop him. It was the worst situation I've ever been in- the fear of Phantom falling and hurting himself (and probably me) was vivid in my mind as I hauled uselessly at the reins and tried to slow him. The world blurred around us as we raced across the open expanse of the

ranch, the wind whipping past my face in a dizzying whirl. With each stride, I could feel the fear and panic coursing through Phantom's veins, his instincts urging him to flee from the looming threat. But I refused to let him succumb to his fear. I would let him give in to the chaos unfolding around us.

With all the strength and skill I could muster, I fought to calm Phantom, to soothe his frayed nerves and guide him back to safety. It was a battle of wills and a test of our bond and trust in each other. I

was determined not to let him down.

Slowly, Phantom began to respond to my commands, and he came back to me. With each moment that passed, I felt a sense of relief wash over me, knowing that we were one step closer to overcoming this obstacle together. I headed him back toward the horse trailer at a trot. Finally, with a final nudge from my heels and a reassuring murmur, I guided Phantom to a stop beside the horse trailer. His sides were heaving after the exertion. I dismounted slowly, my legs shaking with adrenaline as I approached him, offering a gentle pat on his neck as a silent reassurance. As I looked into Phantom's eyes, I saw a glimmer of trust and understanding. There was a silent acknowledgment of our bond.

Then my eyes flicked to where Melody and Stephanie stood, their expressions a tumultuous mix of shock, horror, and ultimately, admiration.

For a moment, the weight of their gazes bore down on me and the gravity of what had just happened sunk in. But as Stephanie rushed over, her eyes wide with concern, I felt a surge of relief flood through me. Without hesitation, she enveloped me in a tight hug, her arms a comforting anchor in the midst of chaos.

"I could have lost you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "You handled him so well, Ashlyn. I'm so proud of you." Her words washed over me like a soothing balm, easing the lingering tension in my muscles. I returned her embrace, feeling the warmth of her body pressed against mine.

As Stephanie pulled back, I saw a glimmer of admiration in her eyes, and a silent acknowledgment of the trust she had placed in me, and the faith I had repaid in kind. And in that moment, I knew that our connection ran deeper than mere words could express. Without a second thought, I leaned in and pressed my lips to hers, the taste of victory mingling with relief on our tongues.

Melody's voice cut through the tension like a pop-up ad in the middle of a serious movie scene.

"Well, looks like Phantom just couldn't contain his excitement for the derby," she quipped, her eyes dancing with mischief. Her remark elicited a snort of laughter from Stephanie and me, the absurdity of the situation hitting us like a well-timed punchline. Leave it to Melody to find humor in the midst of something tough, like a comedian crashing a funeral.

Stephanie shot Melody a mock glare, her lips twitching with amusement. "You just couldn't resist, could you?" she teased, her tone fond, despite the lingering tension in the air.

Melody shrugged, a mischievous grin playing at the corners of her lips. "Hey, someone had to break the ice," she replied, her eyes twinkling with mischief. And just like that, the tension dissolved, replaced by a shared sense of amusement.