Phoenix pawed at the gate, and nickered.He slapped the flies with his tail.A tall lanky figure appeared at the top of a nearby hill.Emmie Phoenix thought.He perked his ears and neighed.The girl came over and poured the bucket of oats on the grass.Phoenix nuzzled Emmie, and then he ate the grain."Eat up boy, we have a big day today." Emmie murmerd.What big day? Phoenix thought.Emmie climbed over the gate, and ran to the tack room, which was a couple yards away.

        Emmie came back with some tack, and tacked up Phoenix.The saddle and bridle smelled so strongly of saddle soap and leather shiner, that Phoenix flared his nostrils and snorted.That new, shiny brown saddle was familiar.Just like before, when Donald and I would jump the 7'' .Donald was phoenix's old owner.Donald had pushed Phoenix too far, and Phoenix fell and crashed on the 8''. So Donald had sold him.But Emmie was pushing him.At first they jumped the 3'', then 5'', but she was pushing for the 7'' and 8''.

        Click!Click! Emmie clucked her tongue after she mounted Phoenix.Phoenix walked into a extended walk.But, instead of having a hour ride, she rode for ten minutes, then loaded Phoenix into the big red horse trailer.Phoenix winnied in surprise as the trailer started moving.The smell of leather shine filled Phoenix's nostrils, and he snorted. 

        The trailer rumbled to a stop.Phoenix was unloaded, and tied to a fence post.Phoenix flicked his ears back as sounds of horses neighing, judges shouting, music blaring, and cars parking filled his ears.Emmie brought out a new black velvet helmet, and clipped it on."Come on boy, lets go destroy those 7''. 7'' !! I haven't practiced those for years! Phoenix thought worriedly.They walked to the line.Tall glossy horses pranced with nervousness. Phoenix was 17.0 hand tall, so he was a little taller than the tallest horse there.Phoenix's mane was brushed, and his body was shiny because of grooming.

        The judges began calling out numbers.Phoenix watched with awe and nervousness as each horse barely cleared the jumps.A couple knocked the poles and brushed the bricks.But none fell."We are up next!" Emmie whispered to Phoenix.He could sense that Emmie was full of excitement and was nervous too.He looked at the horse that was up.The horse cleared the first, second, but the third she knocked a pole, and got penalty points.The fourth was cleared with a burst of energy, but the last jump made Phoenixes heart drop.No! Don't jump so soon for the 8''!! Phoenix wanted to neigh, but the horse did what Phoenix had done. The large jump was looming ahead, still several yards, but the over confident horse and rider leaped way too early.The horse and rider crashed into the jump.The horse flailed around, and was upside down.The rider, had been thrown during the crash, was standing up.

        Then they called Emmie number.Phoenix cantered out into the ring.Some of the audience clapped, remembering him.The first jump was an easy pole jump, and he cleared it with ease.The second was a water jump, which he had to pop at the end, but he cleared it.The third, was slightly taller, but Phoenix cleared it. The fourth was a triangle jump, and he leaped over.Now, as they rounded the fifth jump, the 8'', Phoenix could sense Emmie's fear.His hooves pounded the sand.Am I going to fast?Too slow? Worried thoughts filled his brain.His front legs lifted off the gravel.It was like in slow motion.His back legs kicked off strong.He seemed to hang in the air.The large jump was under his front legs.Under his chest.Under his stomach.Finally barely under his back legs.His back hooves knocked the rail.His front legs landed with a thud and a fly of gravel.The crowds cheered.Phoenix landed the jump and circled around the ring.But the crowds energy was somewhere else.The pole, which had knocked his back hooves, was rocking back and forth.Would it fall?But the pole stopped, and the crowds roared.

        Back by the trailer, Phoenix drank some water.His flank was streaked with sweat.He loved competing, and mostly had no competition or rivals.But his peaceful thoughts vanished as he saw a large bay horse clear the 8'' and smirk at him.A rival.

        It so happens that the new rival, Colby, was about Phoenix's level, and had many awards.Colby also happens to have a very competitive attitude, and loves destroying others at the 8''. Colby had not crashed in a long time.But Phoenix wanted Colby to crash at the finals.The finals are in a month, and have two 8''.

        Phoenix had finished his 7'' and 8'' class and finished his 6''.Colby had finished the first and was doing the 6''.Phoenix watched him clear a water jump and brush a oxer.Colby foamed and pulled on the rien.He flicked his ears in Phoenix's direction, and flattened them.Phoenix snorted with grumpiness.

        Colby's rider, a light haired girl named Hannah had a similar attitude as Colby.After Colby had finished his round, Emmie went to go say hi.But Hannah was cold."Since we are rivals, we can't talk.Me and Colby don't like talking to rivals.So we don't get close because we destroy them at finals." She sneered and walked away, leaving Emmie muddled.

        Because the show was like a camp, Phoenix had a stall in the show stables, and Emmie shared a cabin with a couple other competitors.Including Hannah.Next to Phoenix was Colby.Great.