That next Saturday Rachel found herself at a horse show a few hours away from home. She had only brought two of her horses this weekend. She is competing in Equitation on Wicked and the jumpers with Sail. She was excited that her best friend was also competing that day. Emma was also competing in equitation on her horse Enchanted Forest. Instead of the jumpers like Rachel, she was going to compete in the junior hunters on her hunter, Cheshire Cat.
"Come on Rachel. Holly is taking you and Emma to walk the course." Emma's mom, Mary, called waving her over.
"Okay Mimi!" Rachel said back to the woman. She had taken to calling Mary, Mimi, a long time ago when she and Emma were in their pony days.
Rachel got up from where she had been watching the medium pony hunters, where she had been hoping to see some of her ponies, which was going on in a nearby arena and joined her best friend and trainer at the main door of the stabling. They walked together to the equitation ring to walk the course. Rachel knew it would be a tricky course just by looking at it. She knew walking it was one thing but riding it was going to be a whole different ballgame. Everything looked different once you saw it from the back of a horse.
An hour later Rachel was mounted up on Wicked, waiting for her turn in the ring. She was trying to keep her nerves in check. Which was proving to be difficult for her at the moment. She knew she needed to do well. If anything, to help with her confidence. Sometimes her confidence or lack thereof held her back. Even more so now after her fall off of Wendla. She could see her mom with Emma's parents by the water jump. She internally groaned thinking about that jump. She hates water jumps in general. She had ridden a boarder's horse in the past that absolutely hated water jumps and he often dumped her into the water. She would have to make sure that Wicked jumped it by riding more forward on the approach. Emma had already gone in and had done well. She had guided Forest smoothly through for the most part. There was a slight hesitation at the water jump, but it wasn't anything really noticeable and Forest jumped it anyway when he was legged on.
On the other side of the arena, the parents were not all that focused on what was going on in the ring, since it wasn't either of the kids they were interested in seeing.
"Shelby, how is Rachel doing? I know things are not easy right now but how is she doing?" David, Emma's dad, asked. Shelby sighed, thinking of everything that had happened recently.
"She is just going through the motions each day. There hasn't been anything big so far. The only thing that has happened is a small tantrum because she didn't want to take a nap. Even then I didn't really take it seriously because she had been released from the hospital that morning which I can assume Holly filled you two in about." She saw the other parents nod in affirmative answers. "I've taken her to therapy to help out and she isn't as reluctant to go to school now like she had been when she attended McKinley. In fact she had no issues at all with transferring schools. She really wanted to go to Carmel anyway."
"Why did she want to leave her old school?" David wondered.
"Rachel was bullied there and it was driving her away. Even some of the teachers join in on the bullying there and encourage it within the student body. She is doing much better, school wise, now. She seems to really like Carmel and has made some friends already. She joined Vocal Adrenaline and has been doing well. Plus, she is pushing herself into riding as usual. I am basically waiting for her to blow up because she isn't really letting her emotions out. I've been warned that it is likely to happen and now it just feels like I'm just sitting here waiting for it to happen."
"I know you don't want to hear this but maybe letting her have her blow up will help push her along in the right direction of dealing with everything. I know you said she had problems at school and now with her dads being gone, maybe it's what is needed." David told her.
"If you ever need help, feel free to call us. You know that we're here for you guys." Mary told her.
"I know. Thanks." She said with a smile. "Right now I'm just hoping that Rachel gets through this show without a fall. There is a reason we left Wendla at home this weekend. I don't think Rachel is as over that fall as what she says she is. She has really only been willing to take Wendla on the flat lately. Before the fall she was taking Wendla over whatever Holly told her to without question. Including the jumps that scare the shit out of me like the wall."
"Isn't that just typical of these girls though? They've grown up in a sport where even if they are terrified of what is being asked of them they are still expected to saddle up anyway. It's kind of sad if you ask me." David muttered.
"That is true. Remember last year at WEF where the girls were both showing some of the boarder's horses and kept getting dumped into the liverpools? I think both of them developed fears of liverpools because of those rides. Those two were eyeing the water jump warily as they walked the course this morning." Mary slightly laughed. "It's like they were both thinking that they were riding Sterling and Kensington again."
Shelby shook her head in amusement remembering the faces the girls had on their faces when they had fallen into the liverpools. They looked like drowned rats and were not amused with the horses at all. David had videos of both of their falls. In the end on the year video that he made for the barn he had made sure to include those clips. Everyone had burst out laughing at the faces the girls had made and how silly they looked. Rachel honestly looked like grumpy cat. But to be fair, Emma had never ridden Sterling before and didn't know that the grey mare needed extra encouragement over water, yes she should have been prepared for it but mistakes happen. Rachel on the other hand was riding Kensington, a young Thoroughbred, who had probably never seen a water jump before. She had been giving encouragement but he refused sending her into the water, causing a large splash as she landed.
"Speaking of WEF, this year we are doing our time in Florida slightly different." She said. Mary and David just looked at her, waiting for her to continue. "Holly and I thought it would be best to have our first week at HITS Ocala and then going to Wellington for WEF. That way the girls can ease into things instead of jumping head first into the shark tank with everyone from our barn being there. Sure the show will still be hard but not nearly as much as jumping into WEF first thing. Plus the adults that are going to Florida are going straight to WEF with the assistant trainers. Rachel and Emma will have Holly to themselves for the week in Ocala."
The other two nodded in agreement. The two girls having their trainer to themselves for a week was great. It would help them a lot. Normally the girls would be shuffled between Holly and her two assistant trainers because of how many people were there showing.
"That sounds good. We have no problems with that." David said before turning to the arena where Rachel's name had just been announced.
- Line Break
"Okay Diva, your turn." Holly told her, patting her leg. She nodded and urged Wicked forward into the ring. She heard the announcer call out, "Entering the ring, Rachel Berry-Corcoran on Wicked." A few minutes later she was exiting the ring with a big grin on her face, pleased with how she did.
"Good job Diva! With how you rode, nobody would ever know that you were scared of the water." Holly praised her.
After competing in the flat, both Rachel and Emma, plus their parents and Holly, were pleased with the final results. They had placed first and second respectively. Rachel ended up with champion so Holly went in with her when she got her ribbon to get a photo taken. Rachel also ended up with a backpack as part of the prize. When she left the arena, she handed her prizes to her mom so she could dismount.
"Great job Boo!" Her mom said as she hopped off of Wicked. A groom led him away and she was swept up in a bear hug. "I am so proud of you and I know your dads are too." Rachel tried to bury herself further into the hug. She just wanted to cuddle now. Sure, she was happy with how the results ended up but she was still trying to accept the fact that she was doing things well enough for everyone. Sometimes being the best still didn't seem like it was good enough. She was glad that she didn't have any other classes today. She just wanted to be with her mom and to try not to worry about things. Sure, she loved to show but she still struggled with accepting that she didn't have to be the best for people to be proud of her.
- LINE BREAK HERE -
Shelby knew that Rachel had been doubting herself lately and still had been feeling like she was letting everyone down. Even after the girl had just won a class, she still was doubting herself. When Rachel tried to bury further into her arms she pulled the girl closer. After the sessions with the therapist they figured out that it would be a while before Rachel would buy into what they were saying about her not letting them down. She would need plenty of support. Shelby had no issue with providing that support. If all Rachel wanted was to be in her arms for a while, then so be it. She would hold Rachel however long, until the girl decided that it was enough. Like now, how Rachel was cuddled into her arms and did not seem to plan to leave them anytime soon. She knew that Rachel was done for the day literally and figuratively. She was not going to be showing Sail until the next day and Vocal Adrenaline's performance was the next day as well. She knew that Rachel wouldn't be able to deal much more of the show for today.
"Come on Boo. Let's go to the hotel and relax." Rachel nodded against her shoulder before pulling away slightly to hold her hand as they walked to the car.
- LINE BREAK HERE -
The next morning Rachel woke up cuddled up to her mom. Just like how they had fallen asleep the night before, cuddled up on the bed. After heading back to the hotel last night they had eaten dinner and cuddled in bed and watched a movie before falling asleep. Sure it wasn't the most fun thing to do but it was enough for her for the time being. She just wanted to be with her mom and that was what she got.
She carefully got out of the bed and took a quick shower before getting dressed in some show clothes. Her mom was awake when she got out of the bathroom.
"Hey Boo. Why don't you order our breakfast while I take a shower? I have a surprise for you when we get to the showgrounds." She winked at her before heading to the bathroom, leaving the confused girl wondering what the surprise is.
"Okay momma." She wondered what the surprise was but didn't focus on it. Not only did she have the jumpers today with Sail, she also had the event with Vocal Adrenaline. Today her mom had her performing "Quiet" from Matilda. Then Jesse was going to perform a duet with one of the other girls on the team. Then she was going to perform a duet with Haley. They were going to perform "What is this feeling?" from Wicked.
She quickly ordered breakfast for herself and her mother. She ordered their favorites. Chocolate chip pancakes for her and French toast for her mother.
Soon enough, after her mom had finished her shower and they had eaten breakfast, they were in the car on their way to the show.
"Momma, what is the surprise?" She asked bouncing in her seat a little bit.
"You'll see when we get to our stabling." Her mom replied back. "Now sit still in your seat."
Rachel gave her mom a displeased look. She wasn't happy with her mom's cryptic answer. She wanted to know what it was.
When they parked the car Rachel rushed toward the stabling. Ditching her mom for a few yards.
"Boo slow down." Her mom called from behind her. Rachel stopped walking and waited for her to catch up. Her mom grabbed her hand.
They walked to the stabling where their barn was and Rachel's jaw dropped at what was in the crossties. There was a Palomino Paint who was tacked up with a big teal bow around his neck with most of the people from their barn waiting.
"He's yours, Boo." Her mom whispered in her ear.
She looked at her mom in almost disbelief before turning back to the horse. Her mom looked back at her grinning and nudging her towards the horse. She was completely surprised. As well as extremely happy. She walked up to the horse and held up her hand for him to sniff. She looked over the tack, not recognizing it at all. It was a Delgrange saddle with an Oglivy pad that was light gray with teal trim underneath it with a plain square white pad under that. She turned back to her mom who had a huge smile on her face.
"Did you get me a new saddle?" She asked in slight confusion. "This isn't one of my saddles."
"Yes, he needed his own saddle. Your other ones wouldn't fit him." She hugged her mom tightly.
"Thank you so much Momma!" She squealed in excitement.
"You are welcome Boo Boo."
"What is his name?" She looked at her mom for the answer she was seeking.
"His barn name is Toby but his show name is Exquisitely Tailored. He has mainly been used in hunters but he has also done some jumpers."
"Can I hop on?" She wanted to see how he went.
"Why do you think we have him tacked up Diva?" Holly interjected. "Of course you can get on your horse." Rachel grinned and went to grab her helmet.
During the ride she had the biggest grin on her face. Even when Toby let out a small buck after landing from a 3 foot vertical. She even started laughing much to the amazement of others who thought that after her issues with Wendla, she'd be frightened of bucks or other bad behaviors.
Shelby loved the grin that her daughter had while riding Toby. She hadn't seen that grin in a long time. She wanted to see it more often. She just wanted her daughter to be happy.
While cooling out Rachel heard Holly talking to her mom.
"Shelby, I hope you don't mind but I entered her in a low jumper class on Toby that starts in a few minutes."
"Oh, it's fine. She is clearly happy with him. You could tell just by looking at the grin on her face during that ride."
Holly turned towards her. "Diva! Hop off Toby and have someone hold him while you put your show gear on. You are showing him in a few minutes before you sing and then you will have your classes on Sail."
Max was nearby so he took Toby's reins. Rachel ran to get her show coat on and her number. Soon enough she was back on Toby after learning the course.
"Don't expect anything from this. You probably won't get any ribbons from this class." Holly told her. She nodded in response as the announcer said her name.
She nudged Toby forward. She quickly cantered around a few of the jumps and crossed the start by heading to the first jump. It looked perfect. The rest of the jumps looked the same even though they were going fast. Coming out of the arena Rachel had a huge grin on her face.
"Diva I think that was your best ride this weekend so far and you may actually get a ribbon after all." Holly told her with a big grin on her face as well.
"Thanks Holly." Rachel beamed at her trainer. She hopped off of Toby to wait for the possible jump off. She was quickly pulled into a hug by her mom.
"I'm so proud of you Boo." Shelby said with pride, beaming over her daughter's accomplishments.
"Thanks Momma. I love him." She said with a gigantic grin. "I can't wait to show him some more."
"How about you have some lessons on him before you show him again?" Shelby suggested. Knowing Rachel she'd enter the next class as soon as she could and over face herself and the horse with something.
"Okay Momma. Sooo…Florida?" She asked hinting to when she'd like to show him next.
"Yes, he will go to Florida." She answered her kid with a smile. Said kid attacked her with a hug. It made it all worth it to her to see the smile on Rachel's face.
A few minutes later, it was announced that Rachel had won the class.
Rachel never knew that part of her team had watched her round. She didn't know that they had arrived to the show yet.
Rachel's Vocal Adrenaline friends were amazed at what Rachel could do. They knew that Rachel rode horses and competed on them at shows but they didn't know how good she was. Plus when she had said that she rode horses they all kind of thought that she did small little shows for just the heck of it. They realize now that, that isn't the case. This was a large show with very competitive riders. Now they had just seen her go fast over jumps and she made it look easy. They now had no doubt that she was Coach Corcoran's kid. She made singing and acting look easy and strove for perfection for both so it made sense that Rachel was the same way with riding. She made it look like they could get up and do the same thing easily. Although both of them knew that wasn't the case since they had seen a few people fall off and a few had issues getting their horses to jump during their rounds.
Both were still standing there in shock and hadn't noticed that their coach had spotted them.
"Hey guys, you're early. You two ready for the performance?" She asked as she walked up to them with a smile on her face.
Of course she'd have a smile on her face. Jesse thought after a moment from being dumbfounded by the action. Her kid just won a class.
"Yes, we are." He answered for the both of them. Haley nodded.
"That's good. Well I better go make sure Rachel is getting ready for the performance instead of spending all her time with Toby in the barn." Both Jesse and Haley gave her a weird look at that. They were both assuming that Toby is a boyfriend that Rachel had never mentioned or something. She laughed at the looks, knowing what they must have thought of considering Toby could be some guy's name. She had received the same look many times from people after mentioning that Rachel was with one of her horses.
"Toby is the horse she just competed on. She just got him this morning so he is brand new to her. He was a surprise." She cleared the confusion up for them. They both nodded. Now understanding a bit more than they had previously. "I will see you both in a bit for the performance. Make sure you are warmed up and ready to go." She walked away to one of the barns where they assumed Rachel would be with her horses.
Haley turned to Jesse once Shelby had gotten out of hearing range. "I think that is the happiest I've ever seen Coach C. Even when we won Nationals she wasn't that happy. She even laughed! That may have been the only time I've heard her laugh in a way that wasn't sarcastic. She's changed in the past few weeks. I think it may be for the better."
Jesse nodded in wonder looking where their coach had disappeared. "I think having Rachel full-time is helping her mellow out a lot. Yeah, she had Rachel somewhat before Rachel's dads died but then she only really focused on Vocal Adrenaline because Rachel wasn't around that often. Now that she has Rachel all the time she is more focused on other things and it seems like it is helping not only her but Rachel too. Have you noticed that over the past week or two that Rachel has seemed…I don't know, more relaxed than she was at first?" Haley nodded.
"Rachel is definitely more comfortable around VA. She wasn't worried at all when Coach C told her to sing "Quiet" this week. After she sang she told me that if you had asked her to sing it a week earlier it would have been a flat out no. Apparently last week she had been told that she would be working on it soon but she had no idea that it would be this soon." Haley informed him.
"I'm actually surprised at that choice of song." Jesse admitted. "I would have thought that Coach C would have Rachel do more of a belting song like 'Defying Gravity' or 'The Wizard and I'. But, at the same time if you think about it, it is a good choice because Rachel has to demonstrate that she can sing using an accent. It doesn't hurt that Rachel is so tiny that it doesn't look awkward for her to be singing a song that is for a little kid. I'm just glad we all didn't have to learn to sing in British accents so we could perform Revolting Children. "
"Ha with our luck that will be next on Coach's agenda." Haley laughed. "Come on, we need to get to the meeting spot to warm up. I just saw Rachel heading that way." She pulled Jesse away from the arena fence to head towards their friend.
Line break
Rachel was happy to be getting ready to perform with Vocal Adrenaline for the first time. Luckily for her though, since she was wearing breeches, she didn't have to change all of her clothes for the performance. She only had to change her shirt for a navy polo shirt so she can fit into the dress code for the performance.
She was still slightly nervous for her solo, "Quiet". Sure she had performed it for the club this past week but it still was a difficult thing for her because she still expected to be cut down by everyone like everyone in the New Directions did every time she opened her mouth. Her mom kept reassuring her that it wouldn't happen in Vocal Adrenaline but it was hard to believe her. It was like she could still hear the voices of Santana and Mercedes along with the rest of the New Directions in her head.
Walking up to the performance area she was joined by Jesse and Haley.
"Hey Guys. What's up?" She asked.
"You are amazing that's what." Jesse told her. Haley nodded.
"Umm…What?" She asked, tilting her head towards them in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"We just saw your round on your new horse. You made it look so easy. I can't believe you do that. Isn't it scary to jump the horses like that?" Haley asked her.
"Sometimes. I am kind of scared to jump one of my horses right now. We left her at home this weekend. I haven't jumped her since my accident a few weeks ago."
"Was that the accident that Giselle caused? I remember hearing something about it." Jesse asked, wondering.
"Yeah. She ignored the signs that are posted along the driveway to the barn and was blasting music. I was jumping my horse, Wendla, and the horse spooked at the car once we got to the jumped and I crashed through it."
Both Haley and Jesse stared at her with blank looks on their faces for a moment. Then Jesse spoke up.
"And yet you are still riding? I would most likely be terrified to do it again after that. Not to mention the fact that I'm amazed that Shelby is still letting you ride after that."
"Ha." She laughed, slightly bitterly. "In this sport, right from the beginning, you are told that even if you are scared to death of what you are doing, you are to do it anyway. My first trainer told me that after I had fallen off when I was first learning to canter. I was only five years old and was learning that even if I was scared I had to do it. Most kids at five are still learning to trot and are walking over poles. But not me, I was jumping and learning to canter. As for my mom, she knows I am scared some. But she also knows that I love this sport even though it can be a sick and twisted life. She wouldn't take it away from me because it is my life. This is my first love. I couldn't do without it."
The other two teen's jaws were slightly slack at hearing Rachel talk about riding the way she was. It wasn't something that they had expected to come out of her mouth. At all. Fortunately for them they couldn't dwell on that subject because the announcer was introducing Vocal Adrenaline.
"Please turn your attention to Carmel High School's National Champion Glee Club, Vocal Adrenaline!"
The club started out with "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.
Rachel, Jesse, Haley,VA
Alabama, Arkansas
I do love my ma and pa
Not the way that I do love you.
Holy, moley, me, oh my
You're the apple of my eye
Girl I've never loved one like you.
Man oh man you're my best friend
I scream it to the nothingness
There ain't nothing that I need.
Well, hot and heavy, pumpkin pie
Chocolate candy, Jesus Christ
Ain't nothing please me more than you.
Ahh home, let me come home
Home is whenever I'm with you
Ahh home, Let me go ho-oh-ome
Home is whenever I'm with you
La, la, la, la, take me home
Mother, i'm coming home.
I'll follow you into the park
Through the jungle through the dark
Girl I never loved one like you
Moats and boats and waterfalls
Alley ways and payphone calls
I've been everywhere with you, that's true
Laugh until we think we'll die
Barefoot on a summers night
Never could be sweeter than with you
And in the streets we're runnin' free
Like it's only you and me
Jeez, you're somethin' to see
Home, let me come home
Home is whenever I'm with you.
Oh home, yes, I am home.
Home is when I'm alone with you.
La, la, la, la, take me home.
Daddy I'm comin' home.
Jade, Alexander
Do you remember that day you fell out of my window?
I sure do, you came jumpin' out after me
Well, you fell on the concrete and nearly broke your ass
And you were bleedin' all over the place and I rushed you off to the hospital
You remember that?
Yes, I do
Well, there's somthin' I never told you about that night
Why didn't you tell me?
While you were sittin' there in the backseat smokin' a cigarette
That you thought was gonna be your last
I was fallin' deep, deeply in love with you and I never told you 'til just now
Home, let me come home
Home is whenever I'm with you
Home, let me come home
Home is whenever I'm alone with you.
Home, let me come home
Home is whenever I'm with you
Home, let me come home
Home is whenever I'm alone with you.
Alabama, Arkansas
I do love my ma and pa
Moats and boats and waterfalls
Lay awake 'til break of dawn
Home is whenever I'm with you
Home is whenever I'm alone with you.
The crowd loudly cheered for the group as they finished. The announcer started to introduce the next song.
"Now next up we have Rachel Berry performing "Quiet" from Matilda The Musical. You'd be amazed that this girl isn't British when you hear her sing this song." The audience lightly chuckled.
Rachel got center stage as the rest of Vocal Adrenaline vacated.
Have you ever wondered, well I have,
About how when I say, say, red, for example,
There's no way of knowing if red
Means the same thing inyourhead
As red means in my head
When someone says red?
And how if we are traveling
At almost the speed of light,
And we're holding a light,
That light would still travel away from us
At the full speed of light?
Which seems right in a way,
But I'm trying to say... I'm not sure...
But I'm wondering inside my head,
I'm not just a bit different from some of my friends...
These answers that come into my mind unbidden...
These stories delivered to me fully written...
And when everyone shouts - they seem to like shouting -
The noise in my head is incredibly loud,
And I just wish they'd stop, my dad and my mum,
And the telly and stories would stop just for once.
I'm sorry - I'm not quite explaining it right,
But this noise becomes anger, and the anger is light,
And its burning inside me would usually fade,
But it isn't today, and the heat and the shouting,
And my heart is pounding, and my eyes are burning,
And suddenly everything, everything is...
Quiet...
Like silence, but not really silent...
Just that still sort of quiet
Like the sound of a page being turned in a book,
Or a pause in a walk in the woods.
Quiet...
Like silence, but not really silent...
Just that nice kind of quiet,
Like the sound when you lie upside down in your bed.
Just the sound of your heart in your head...
And though the people around me,
Their mouths are still moving,
The words they are forming
Cannot reach me anymore.
And it is quiet...
And I am warm...
Like I've sailed
Into the eye of the storm...
Rachel finished the song perfectly and the crowd cheered for her. The loudest ones being the members of Vocal Adrenaline. They had all known how nervous she was about singing it in front of others.
Rachel had noticed that some of the audience included some of the boarders from the barn who are involved with Vocal Adrenaline as part of the boosters. What she didn't know was that they were pleased with how the group had performed and how Rachel had added to the group. Before leaving to do other things they told Shelby to keep up the good work and that they would be cheering Rachel on in the jumpers later.
After performing a few more numbers Vocal Adrenaline was done and was free to go home or even stay and watch the classes at the show if they felt like it. Most of the group decided to leave since they didn't understand what the big deal was with horses or how the sport worked. Some roamed to see what a horse show was like. Luckily for Rachel, she had some time before she had to get ready for her division with Sail.
She started walking to the barn when that was interrupted by her mom.
"Boo, you were great!" Her mom said smiling, before pulling her into a huge hug.
"Thanks Momma." She cuddled into her mom's arms. Loving the warmth and comfort that they provided. She was content right there and didn't mind the affection that her mom was giving her at all.
"Hey Ray! You were great!" Emma enthused. She had never actually seen Rachel perform like that before. It was usually just horses between the two girls.
"Thanks Em." Rachel was a little weirded out by barn people complimenting her on something that wasn't riding related. She didn't show her discomfort though.
"Do you want to go grab some lunch before we have to be ready for our divisions?" Emma asked her, glancing at Shelby too, to let her in on the invitation.
"How about we head over to Ruby Tuesdays to grab a bite to eat." Mary suggested as she and David joined the small group.
"That sounds wonderful to me." Shelby replied to her as Rachel and Emma nodded in agreement.
After the quick lunch with their so called 'family', it was back to the showgrounds so Rachel and Emma could get ready for their classes.
"Good luck Rachel!" Mary said giving her a hug before they left to wait for Emma's round on her Junior Hunter, Cheshire Cat.
"Thank you Mimi." Rachel replied. She herself needed to get ready for her to show Sail in the Junior Jumpers. She threw on her huntcoat and headed for the warm up ring with Sail.
"Okay Diva, pop him over a few jumps." Holly called from the center of the ring after she had warmed up on the flat. She directed him to a Swedish oxer that had been set up in the middle of the arena and cleared it easily. Next she ended up taking the long distance or what she calls the "Holy shit!" distance to a large vertical. "Let's try to avoid the long distances Diva." Holly told her as they heard her name being called.
"Number Two Hundred and Twenty Six, Rachel Berry-Corcoran on Awolnation."
It was her turn in the ring. Rachel took a deep breath before entering. She cantered around a few jumps before crossing the start and heading to the first jump.
A few minutes later she was exiting the ring, for the most part she was content with how it went. It wasn't wonderful but it was not a horrible ride either. It was enough. She didn't expect a ribbon with it though.
"That was a good ride Diva. You went in and had a solid round and that was all that I was asking for. You even avoided the long spots!" Holly joked, hoping to get at least a small laugh out of the girl, which she did. Rachel dismounted Sail since she wasn't called back for the jump off and gave him a mint before Max took him back to the stabling. In the end she and Sail had received fifth place in the class. Since she was thinking that they wouldn't have earned any ribbon, this was a surprise to her because she was competing against so many other riders. She almost thought it was a fluke until she remembered that it was jumpers, not hunters or equitation where the judging is more subjective. She had to remember that jumpers is all about speed and cleanliness. She went fairly fast, not speed demon fast like the pony jumpers though, and didn't knock any rails down.
"Baby, you've done so well this weekend." Shelby told her daughter. She was really proud of what Rachel had done. She had ribboned in everything she entered, including the bigger classes. She had sung beautifully with Vocal Adrenaline, performing with them for the first time. Even though the girl had done so well, she knew that Rachel didn't feel that she had done well. It was now the girl's mindset to put down anything she does. Shelby currently had Rachel's ribbons hanging from her belt like a proud parent would. A lot of parents were giving her jealous looks as they walked by.
"Momma, can we go home now?" Rachel asked her. She just wanted to be home with her mom, not at the show anymore. She had had enough of this show. Her next show wasn't for a while and she was okay with that. She used to love having shows all the time but at the moment she honestly didn't want to show. She was wondering if it was too soon to be back in it. She was still used to her fathers being there to support her as well. It felt wrong with them missing from the group.
"Yes Boo Boo, we can go home now." She gave the girl a small smile. After bidding Holly and a few others goodbye, she led her tired daughter to the car so they could head home after a long weekend of horses and glee. In her head she was leaving a mental note to schedule an appointment with the therapist for Rachel.
A/N: Okay. Well… this has taken forever to get out and I'm sorry for that. And just so you know I based the horse Toby off of one of my old lesson horses. I miss that horse so much. I still can't get over that horse and it has been over six years since I have seen him. I don't own either song that I used and sadly I don't own glee.