Dixie

Chapter 1

"Chirp, Chirp!" I heard the early morning birds sing.

Lifting my head, I looked out of my stall. Some of the other horses were waking up, too. Looking to my left, I saw Honey, my best horse friend.

"Good morning Dixie!" She said cheerfully. I nodded, still in a daze. I was so tired!

"Good morning Honey. What makes you so happy?" I asked her.

She turned around and pranced in her stall. I poked my head threw the window we had between the stalls to look at her.

"Well?" I said.

"Well! Caitlin's coming today! That means she's going to be RIDING me today!" Honey threw her head up and whinnied.

"Hush! Now any of the horses that were still sleeping, are wide awake!" I told her. My tone wasn't scolding, it was teasing, really.

She looked at me and I swore she rolled her eyes! "Of course, Dixie." She replied to me.

I shook my mane and went to the front of my stall again. Flicka, the horse to the right of me, nipped at my cheek to get my attention.

"Dixie! Look!" She threw her head to the end of the aisle and I looked. It was Sydney.

I turned around, facing the back of my stall, hoping she wouldn't see me.

"There you are Dixie!" I heard her voice. I moaned and turned to see her.

Sydney was the cruelest rider at the barn, and she always rode me.

"Come on now! Cheer up! You actually have a GOOD rider today!" She snapped. I flattened my ears back, and threatened to bite her. Sydney rolled her eyes and clipped the lead line to my leather halter.

She unlatched the stall door and led me out. I heard Honey and Flicka whisper "Good Luck." Behind me.

Sydney led me to the cross-ties and went to get my tack. When she came back, I saw that she had put on spurs and got her crop. I shook my mane and moaned.

Sydney quickly groomed me, not very well, and put on my violet saddle pad. Then came my black Antares Dressage saddle. She pulled the girth tight and then got my bridle.

She slipped off my halter, and put on my bridle. I took the bit with ease.

"Good girl." She patted my neck. That was the only nice thing she EVER did to me. Sydney only did that because she thought it would make me be good for her in the arena.

"Let's go." She gathered my reins and led me to the indoor arena.

I pranced all the way there. You had to go outside to get there, and there was snow outside!

"Be still!" Sydney told me, halting me halfway there. I calmed down. She didn't like it when I got antsy and pranced.

"Good." She said sharply. Then she started leading me to the arena again. I rolled my eyes and snorted.

When we finally reached the arena, I moaned because with Sydney-I knew I would have an excruciating lesson. I looked around and saw the other horses and riders that were warming up on the wall.

Sydney mounted me and told me to walk to the wall. When I walked there, she asked me to trot, but she used her spurs-HARD. I gave a little buck, then started to trot. I stretched my neck, asking for more rein. She gave me a little and I relaxed a bit.

Kelly, the instructor, walked in. "Walk!" She called out. Sydney slowed me and we waited for further instructions.

Chapter 2

"Posting trot!" Kelly told us. Sydney spurred me and asked me to trot. Even though I was furious about the spurs-I did as told. She started posting, and didn't pay attention.

"Sydney! Watch your diagonals!" Kelly told her. Sydney nodded and switched my diagonals.

"Sydney, come here please." Kelly asked. Sydney nodded and walked me over to Kelly.

"How many times have I told her this? No spurs, and no crops! Dixie knows what she's doing and doesn't need them from you!" Kelly scolded.

"But she bucks before she trots for me!" Sydney protested. I rolled my eyes.

"She only does that because you spur her when you ask her to trot! Now go back. Jillian's going to start the Dressage test." Kelly told her.

Jillian was the best riders out of the group that was taking the lesson right now. I used to be her school horse. She had light hands and gave very good signals. I was sad when she switched horses, and eventually bought that horse.

Now I was stuck with Sydney.

At least I had Tess, I thought. She was my other rider. Tess was about a year older than Sydney, but she just started riding.

And one of the things I loved about Tess, she rode me in Western! My favorite!

Sydney walked me to the end of the arena, and we watched Jillian perform her Dressage test.

She looked very professional, on her Mustang/Quarter cross, Spud.

Jillian trotted to X, then saluted Kelly.

She trotted A to C, cantered B back to A, did a posting trot A to B, B to D, and back around to A, then she trotted A to G, and did a flying change from G to M. Finally, she trotted back to X and saluted Kelly.

She trotted over to us, and it was now Sydney's turn.

Sydney had the exact same test, but I planned a little something.

She did the first part, but the when she cantered B back to A, she used the spurs-hard, and I gave a huge buck. I know it was mean, but someone had to put her in place!

Sydney held on and Kelly grabbed my reins.

"Dismount. Now. I told you not to use your spurs!" Kelly told Sydney. She nodded and dismounted.

"I'll hold Dixie while you go put away your spurs and crop." Kelly said. I saw Sydney's cheeks turn bright red from embarrassment.

"Good girl Dixie. Someone needs to keep her in line." Kelly stroked my neck. She knew I didn't do it to hurt her, but to teach her.

Sydney walked back in, with no spurs or crop. Now I could finally relax.

She mounted me and walked back to the end of the arena, and we watched the next girl complete the course.

When Sydney un-tacked me, she put me in the pasture. I saw my buddies Zip, and Lisa.

Zip was just a trail horse for his owner, Tony. And Lisa is training to be a Grand Prix horse with his owner, Amanda. Tony and Amanda are both around the age of 30, and they're married.

"Hey!" I trotted over to them.

"Hi Dixie!" Lisa greeted me.

"Hey, Dixie." Zip said, lifelessly. He laid on the ground and looked tired.

"Let me guess, Tony took you for a long, hard trail?" I asked him.

Lisa nodded for him. "And Amanda jumped me today!" She told me excitedly.

"Cool! I did Dressage with Sydney. I think Tess is coming later to ride me though! I hope we barrel race! I love barrel racing! And I'm good at it too! I'm long-legged, stocky, and fast!" I pranced with delight.

"Dixie you're too full of yourself!" Lisa joked.