Jace and Pride's New Home

Jace dismounted Pride and walked over to some of the straight bars and splits in the course. The jumps were raised to a standard Olympic jump size, six ft. He smiled at the course now. This would be better. He mounted Pride and kicked his sides. They canter swiftly to the first jump and cleared it. He wondered what Leah was thinking.

Leah watched, paying special attention to Pride, how he collected his feet well and listen to his rider. She smiled to herself and patted Sniper, who was also watching them. "Don't worry boy, we'll get there" She rubbed his nose and looked back to Jace and Pride.

They came to a spilt bar next, Jace made sure Pride was steady and ready to jump. As Pride jumped his hoof nicked the jump but the bar didn't fall. Jace pushed the stallion on to jump a cross bar next, he cleared it without effort. At every jump, Jace made sure Pride was steady and ready for it. They cleared the course and Jace wished he had timed it. He gave the stallion a pat on the neck "Good boy" he murmured to his horse. Pride's ears were pricked as if he was happy. They trotted over to Leah. Jace smiled at her. Dismounting, he went over to Sniper and gave him a pat "You were good" He told not only Sniper but Leah as well.

Leah felt her face get hot, which was odd. "Thanks, you too" She looked at Pride, "He is gorgeous, did you train him?" She was interested since she trained Sniper and Haze, her arabian, but he was still a little green and there was still a lot left to teach him.

Jace smiled to see Leah blush. She was beautiful. "Thanks, yes we got him when he was around one. My dad helped me train him but it was mostly me. As soon as I saw him as a foal we had a connection so my dad bought him. His last owner told us he was bred from champions but we didn't think anything of it" He told her. Jace felt in his pocket and pulled out two carrot pieces. Pride pricked his ears towards Jace and started walking towards him. The boy put up his hand "stay" he said softly to his stallion. The stallion stopped. He walked over to Sniper and put his hand below the horses muzzle. He felt the horse lick his hand and the carrot was gone. With a hand motion he got Pride to come to him to get his carrot.

Leah nodded and smiled. "I got Sniper around one I think" She pulled a bit of straw that was stuck in his mane out. "I trained him too, he was fairly good with the breaking in" She shrugged then her phone beeped. Pulling it out of her pocket she read the message from her mother. see you at 2, honey she rolled her eyes. Another lunch that she would just have to sit there and smile. Great.

Jace saw the girls expression and looked at Pride. "I guess you have to do something. Well I will leave you to it" He turned to Pride and grabbed his reins. He pulled out another carrot piece and gave it to Sniper "Be good for you beautiful owner" He muttered and started to walk away with Pride.

Leah smiled and felt her face begin to burn. Again. She shook her head and started walking down to the stables. She untacked Sniper, gave him a good brush down and some hay and fresh water. Patting his nose she headed out. "Bye Boy" She called over her shoulder before heading to her cabin. Leah washed up and put on one of her pretty dresses. This was going to be boring, hopefully she wouldn't have to stay long.

Jace untacked Pride at the stables and put his tack away. He motioned for Pride to follow him to the paddock. Pride walked behind the boy without a halter on. Jace was happy that his horse was so obedient. As they got to the paddock the boy opened the gate and Pride galloped in to roll over straight away. Jace looked around to see Leah in a beautiful dress. Where was she going looking like that? He thought. He watched her while leaning against the paddocks fence.

Leah grabbed her phone and shoved it into her bag before walking out the door of her cabin and closing it behind her. She was carrying her shoes so she quickly bend down and put them on. Looking down at herself she picked off several pieces of hay, it seems to get everywhere and started walking towards the car park. She saw Jace next to Prides paddock she smiled and waved. Next to Prides paddock was Haze, she looked at him quickly, making sure he was okay.

Jace smiled back. What was he going to do now? He jumped over the fence into the paddock and laid down on the green grass. The sun was warm. Pride pricked his ears at Jace and trotted over. He reared near the boy playfully and took off in a canter while bucking. Jace jumped up and chased after his stallion playfully, when he was at the stallions side he jumped up onto his back. Pride took off again, giving Jace just enough time to grip his mane.

Leah headed out into the car park and waited. She looked at her phone, 2:15. Odd She thought to herself, her mum was never late. Just then, her phone rung, she picked it up knowning it was her mother. 'Hey mum, where are. . Are you kidding, with what I am wearing?' But of course, her mum was serious, she was going to have to ride there since her mums car broke down just now. Just great She thought. Heading back into the stables she went over to Sniper grabbing his halter and a lead rope, she'd need one for later and mounted.

Jace saw Pride heading for the fence. He knew Pride could clear it no matter what. The boy tightened his grip in the stallions mane. They got closer and closer to the face. Finally they lifted off the ground, Jace lent forward awkwardly. He felt his horses front hooves contact with the ground and lent back. As soon as Pride stopped, he reared and whinnied out happily. Jace stroked his horses neck and kicked his side. The cantered around the stables, having fun.

Leah pressed her calves to Snipers sides, he listened and walked on, just as they walked out of the stables Jace and Pride cantered by. Leah smiled and watched them, in no hurry to get to lunch.

Whenever Jace was with Pride he felt free and didn't mind acting silly. He let go of the stallions mane even though they were still in a flat out canter. He didn't let Pride go into a gallop. He put his arms out and looked at the sky. Laughing, Jace gripped Pride's mane and made a hand motion that made him rear.

She smiled and watched as Pride rose up on his hide feet. Sniper snorted, wanting to join in, but they needed to head off. Taking on last look around to check everything was ok she turned Sniper towards the car park and out onto the horse path. From here, she could still see the stables and paddocks. She patted Snipers neck and let him stretch out.

Jace kicked Pride softly in the side again, the stallion took off towards the fence to his paddock again. When he jumped back over, Jace jumped off and landed on his feet. Jace motioned for Pride to lay down on his side. Once the stallion laid on his side, Jace laid down with his head on the horses neck. They laid there quietly in the sunlight and closed their eyes.

Leah arrived at the lunch 1 hour late, thank god it was almost over, she did not want to sit here for more than half an hour. Dismounting she spotted her mother filling her plate with food. "Mum!" Leah called out, her mum raised her head, looking around to find where her name was called. She saw Leah and waved "Hey honey!" She walked over to her, carrying her plate of food. "Hi Mum" Leah patted Sniper and walked to meet her mum. The time past slowly but at 3:56 they were syaing their goodbyes. She hugged her mum goodbye and mounted Sniper. "Lets go home, boy" Sniper moved into a swift canter.

Jace had fallen asleep but when he woke up Pride was still laying there with him, he must have fallen asleep too Jace thought. He got up off the grass but Pride didn't move. Pride was enjoying the sun on his coat. Jace touched Pride's neck and the stallion lifted his head. "Come on boy" He said to his horse. The stallion got to his feet and looked around with his ears pricked. Jace started to walk to the gate while clicking his tongue so Pride would follow.

Leah rode down the drive way, ahead so saw the car park and one of the arenas. She sighed and looked around, checking on all the horses and ponies in the paddocks. She noticed on of the mares looked like she was due anytime now, Best call them She thought. Dismounting she gave Sniper a rub between his ears and together they walked into the stables.

Jace looked behind him to see if Pride was following, he was. The boy chuckled when Pride wasn't watching where he was going and nearly walked into a tree. "Be careful boy, I don't want you hurt because then we will never get to compete" Jace told the reckless stallion. He entered the stables and walked over to Pride's stall, when Pride reached him, the boy told him to stay. Pride obeyed and stood still, outside his stall. Jace walked off to get his rug. When he got back he noticed Leah was in the stables "Have a nice lunch?" he asked politely.

Leah looked up "Um, yeah, it was ok, good food, boring people, my mum always invites me and of course I just sit there and smile the whole time" She laughed softly and smiled. Her eyes a bright blueish green lined by a thick layer of eye lashes. She patted Sniper and put him into his stall. "Ok, I've got to call one of the owners of this mare, you can help yourself to food and drinks in the riders room, there is a fridge in there too" She smiled and locked Snipers stall door.

Jace nodded "I guess I'll see you later" he murmured as she walked away. He knew she wouldn't be able to hear him. The boy walked over to Pride and threw his rug over him. It was only a thin rug that he wore in his stall. He done up the straps and stroked Pride's neck. "How can I tell her boy?" He asked his horse. Pride flicked his ears back as if to listen to his owner talk about his problems.

Leah sighed and headed around to the front office, she picked up the phone and started dialing. "Hi, its Leah, Twister looks about ready to foal, do you want to come down, I can put her in the foaling stall". . She waited and listened. "Sure, ok, see you soon" Grabbing a lead rope she headed out to catch the mare.

Jace led Pride into the stall and gave him one last pat. He turned around and locked the door "Be good" he murmured one last time before walking away. The boy walked into the riders room and sat on the couch. He was tired. Jace stared up at the ceiling. Thoughts ran threw his head. Did he like Leah? Was it more then liking her?