Chapter 296 – Schenectady Show part 1
Saturday morning everyone was up early because they had to leave for Schenectady by eight since the girls had to check in by nine because jumping started at nine thirty. Everyone knew that it was going to be a long day for them all because the guys won't jump until after lunchtime. It was decided that everyone would go together and leave together, as long as there were no problems with the press. Even John, James and Margaret left with the group. Conrad could handle things at the race track as it wasn't uncommon for James and John to skip the races to head to a show, especially if Jack was jumping. Marco, Carlo and Andy had left with the five horses in two trailers by six. Marco had taken the large four horse trailer with the sitting area. Andy took a smaller two horse trailer also with a sitting area. They knew it was going to be a hot day so the decision had been made to take the second trailer with the sitting area so they could all have a chance to stay cool. They also had the canopies and camp chairs for everyone.
Nathan drove the truck with Jack, Elizabeth, Doug and Lee. Trish took Frank's SUV with the twins. Frank ended up riding with Father Mark. Peter and Andrew came and drove John, James and Margaret. Chris, Rob and Katie picked the group up as they left the ranch and followed them. John had also sent other security ahead. He knew that the press might be there, but everyone was hoping for the best. Trish and Gran had packed coolers with drinks and food for the crew that was with the horses as well as those that would be watching from the stands. Gran had also grabbed a couple of umbrellas to keep the sun off them for part of the time.
The group got there and Trish went with the twins to check in. The guys also went to see if they could check in. Lee and Elizabeth headed to find a place to sit with Gran, Frank and Father Mark. John was checking on something on his phone and said he would join them in a little bit. James headed to find Marco and Andy. Security went with the group heading to the stands. Peter stayed with John in case he needed something.
… … … …
The group went to check in and it was a good thing that Trish went with them as she had to sign the release for the girls to jump. They drew for their spots and ended up twelfth and nineteenth of twenty-one jumpers. They were told that they would be able to start walking the course soon and it would be announced when. The girls grabbed their course sheets and a couple extra for Marco, Andy and James. Trish gave them each a hug for good luck and said she would see them after they jumped. The guys were able to check in as well. They were jumping ninth (Doug), fifteenth (Jack) and sixteenth (Nathan) of twenty-five jumpers. They were told it would be announced then they were able to walk their course, but it would be sometime after two.
Jack, Doug and Nathan took the twins back to where the horses were while Trish headed up to the stands. Since they had time, Jack and Doug sat and went over the course sheet with the girls and asked if they wanted them to walk the course with them. The twins thought it might be a good idea, so the boys agreed. The girls were excited because it was a straight speed course. They were all doing straight speed courses. It was unusual for Jack's level to jump a straight speed course but there were a few over the course of the season. The only reason that they were jumping was to give the girls a chance to jump. Straight speed courses were not Jack's favorite, as it was a one and done. Then you have to hope and pray that your time holds up.
While going over the course sheet with the girls, Jack also talked to Doug and Nathan about the straight speed course. Jack wasn't sure when the last time that Nathan had done a straight speed course. They talked about the difference when it was a straight speed versus a jumpoff course. The guys agreed that they would need to be careful, but they would also have to push it to lay down some good times. After talking with the girls and before they walked the course with them, the three guys sat down and went over the course sheet for their jumping course.
When the announcement was made Jack, Doug, Maddie and Missy headed to walk the course with Marco. James and Nathan watched from the in gate.
"Is he okay?" James asked Nathan.
"What do you mean?" Nathan asked.
"John said he was worried about JP taking on too much." James said. "Especially with what is going on with Father Mark."
"What is going on with Father Mark?" Nathan asked.
"We will talk about it later if you don't know." James said. "This is not the time or place. John just said that Devin got a call last night from JP to go scorched earth on Lacy, Charlie and their families."
"If they have pushed him to that." Nathan said. "Then they have it coming, but he hasn't said anything to me. If anything he is quite focused on winning as he doesn't want to lose three weeks in a row."
"Good luck." James said. "A straight speed course is hard, especially with where you guys are jumping."
"I feel pretty good." Nathan said. "Jack was sounding/feeling pretty confident about the course when we were talking about things."
"Okay." James said. "Just keep an eye on him, please."
"Always." Nathan said.
James and Nathan stood there watching their crew walk the course. They saw Jack and Doug point out different things to the girls and then re-walk a section a few times. The other thing that both James and Nathan noticed was that it wasn't really grass and it wasn't really sand either. The course looked more like hard packed dirt.
"I thought that Lee said this was supposed to be on grass." Nathan said.
"I thought so as well." James said. "This looks like an outdoor arena that has been packed down and the ground is going to be hard."
"That was what I was thinking." Nathan said. "It is either going to make it easier to turn or slippery."
"I think you are going to have to watch very tight turns." James said. "But I think you should all be okay. Our horses have run on this before. I am more worried about Maddie and Missy to see how their horses react."
"I think they will be okay." Nathan said. "The sand ring has been getting pretty packed down and they also worked with them in the round pens which are looking more like this."
James pulled out his phone and sent a message to have someone turn over the sand ring and round pens since they were at a show all day. He hated when it got too packed down. Nathan just looked at him, but didn't say anything. Nathan watched as Doug and Missy came toward the in gate and Doug didn't look happy.
"What happened?" Nathan asked when Doug got close.
"Later." Doug said, curtly and quickly followed his sister back to the trailer.
Nathan looked at James.
"I didn't see anything." James said. "I was sending a message. Let's give them a little space and then we will talk when we all get back to the trailers."
Nathan nodded. It wasn't long and the rest of their crew came off the course and were headed to the trailers. Jack hung back a moment and looked at Nathan.
"What happened with Missy?" Nathan asked.
"Some Sugar Creek brat made a remark about getting wet again since there are two water trays." Jack said. "Missy wanted to say something back, but Doug stopped her, because she had a bit of a temper like me."
"Oh." Nathan said.
"I think he was afraid that she would hit the guy." Jack said. "I reminded her that we have been working with the water trays and the horses are okay with them and she just needs to trust her horse."
"Good advice." Nathan said. "Should I be worried?"
"No." Jack said. "We will get her to calm down. That kid is just jealous and she needs to shake it off."
"Okay." Nathan said.
They walked the rest of the way to the trailers without saying anything more. When they got there, they didn't see the twins anywhere. Doug motioned toward the sitting area inside and shook his head. Jack nodded.
"Let Maddie talk to Missy." Jack said. "If she can't calm her, no one can."
"Understood." Nathan said.
Everyone took a seat in the shade of the canopies that Andy had set up. They each grabbed water and started talking about the competition. They all agreed that the ground was going to be a factor given how hard packed it was. The other thing that they all realized was that the heat was going to be a factor. It was only mid-morning and it was already sunny and pushing seventy-five. It was predicted to get up into the high eighties or low nineties by the afternoon.
They were all able to relax and cool off some before it was time for Maddie to jump. She would be jumping while her sister was warming up, but that was okay. They understood and didn't make a big deal of it. Missy knew that she could watch her sister and then go warm up since there were six riders between them. They hadn't made the call and would just have to see. They both made sure their horses were ready when Maddie went to warm up, because if Missy did decide to watch her sister, she would need to hurry and warm up. Given how warm it was, she opted to watch her sister and not warm up Squeak as much.
As Maddie waited for her turn, her sister stood next to her on her own mount. They whispered back and forth in their own language. Doug and Jack just looked at them and shook their heads. They hated it and loved it when the girls did it. Nathan just laughed because he understood James walked over and said something to the girls and they nodded.
Finally it was Maddie's turn to enter the arena. She took her time showing Bubbles several of the jumps. Finally she came around and lined up for the first jump. She easily cleared it and the water tray was no problem. She looped around for the second jump. Some people had been having trouble with the wall that was the second jump. Some horses didn't like the solid look of it. Once Maddie had cleared two she let Bubbles run as there was room between two and three. Maddie easily cleared the double oxer at three and turned to come around for four. She took the double at an angle and had to correct to line up for five, but easily did it. She made it through both parts of five and swung wide to line up for six. She cleared it with no problem with the water tray. She cut close to number nine to line up for the two singles that made up the seventh jump. Again Maddie let Bubbles run between the jumps. She cleared them and swung out to line up for the last two jumps. Once Maddie was lined up for eight, she let Bubbles run and easily cleared the last two jumps. She immediately looked up at the board and saw that she was in first place with a time of fifty-seven point eighty-two. She had almost a full tenth on second place so breathed a sigh of relief. She headed off the course and was met by her brother and Marco.
"Good job." Marco said. "But you need to be more consistent with your strides."
"Yes, Sir." Maddie said.
"Go cool off your horse and then come watch your sister." James said, coming over.
"Yes, Grandpa." Maddie said.
Maddie went to cool off her horse as her sister warmed up her horse. Andy met Maddie to help unsaddle and put a cooling blanket on her horse so she could go watch her sister. Once Bubbles had been dealt with Andy and Maddie made their way back to watch the other jumpers. When they got back to the area they could watch, there were still two jumpers until Missy went. That was when Maddie spotted the Sugar Creek rider waiting at the in gate, but she knew that he had jumped earlier because he was in second place. Maddie pointed it out and James made his way over so there was no way that the kid would be able to get at Missy. They had told him what happened. When Missy rode, Jack saw him open his mouth and dared everyone to stop him.
"Say one word and I will file a formal complaint and get you kicked out." Jack said, sternly.
"You can't do that." The kid hissed.
"Try me." Jack said, glaring at him.
The kid shrunk back under Jack's glare before Marco came over.
"I suggest that you step away." Marco said. "I have already had words with your coach and event officials about what you said to my rider when you were walking the course. So I suggest that you leave before you find yourself in more trouble."
The kid stocked off and then Marco looked at Jack.
"Behave." Marco said. "He is twelve. You are eighteen."
"I didn't touch him." Jack said with a smirk.
Marco just shook his head at Jack. They all moved over to surround Missy so she felt better. They watched the rider before her finish up and then Missy moved forward to enter the arena for her turn. She stopped and took a deep breath, but didn't move. Jack went to her.
"You got this." Jack said. "Trust yourself and your horse. No matter how you finish, we are proud of you. We just want you to do your best."
Missy nodded and clicked to Squeak to go. They went in and she showed him the water trays and he danced a little, but settled down. She also showed him the wall and then moved to bring him up to a canter to start. She took one more deep breath and then Missy lined up to start. She sailed over the first jump with ease. She circled around for two, cutting very close to the number nine jump. Once she landed at two, she opened up Squeak's stride to three and easily cleared. She swung around and lined up for four at an angle. She knew that she would have to be careful and quickly cut back to avoid the eighth jump. Missy made the landing and the cutback to make the fifth jump. Missy rubbed the rail at the first part of five, but got through clear. She swung out to make six and cleared it. She then opened her stride to make the turn for seven. She knew that she needed every fraction of a second that she could get. She cleared seven and swung around for eight and then again opened her stride to nine.
Missy went through the timer and looked up at the board. She had gotten a time of fifty-seven point eighty-one. She was in second place behind her sister. Missy was happy with her run and as she came out of the arena, she got a high-five from her brother and uncle. Nathan patted her on her leg and told her good job. James, Marco and Andy all congratulated Missy as well. As she went to cool her horse down, she was congratulated by her sister. Maddie and Missy were happy for each other. They never minded losing to each other.
When they all got back to the trailer, Maddie and Missy were happy. With only two jumpers left, they knew that at least one of them would walk away with a ribbon. They weren't at the trailer long when they heard the announcement that Maddie had gotten first and Missy had gotten second with a rider from Albany getting third, having knocked the kid from Sugar Creek to fourth. Maddie and Missy were even happier about that. She quickly got their horses and headed to the in gate to get their ribbons and have their photos taken. James and Marco went with them while the guys stayed back.
Once the girls came back. They showed off their ribbons and then went to care for their horses. They went to brush them out and make sure they had gotten a treat. They knew that the horses would be out all day. Yes, they had the cooling blankets and were in the shade, but it was still not an air conditioned stall like they normally have been in. The group sat around in the shade and talked while they had some sandwiches and stuff. The second group to jump was walking the course and would jump in about twenty minutes. There were twenty jumpers in that class and it was also a straight speed course so it shouldn't be too long and the guys would be able to walk their course.
After a while the girls asked if they could go sit with their mother up in the stands. James told them that was fine as long as their tack cases were picked up and their horses were taken care of. They promised to put their tack cases in the trailer and check on the horses again. Once the girls had taken care of those things, they waved to the others and then headed up to sit with their mother. James texted his wife and Trish to let them know that the girls were on their way up there to sit with them. Gran texted back a thank you and she would keep an eye out for them. Gran and Trish knew that they girls were responsible and would come right to them. They also weren't worried as the girls could handle the press and wore panic buttons.