The Prize by Stacy Gregg Page A

forward with her legs and held the black horse with her hands so that the energy collected beneath her. The great black stallion was like a coiled spring as they moved their way across the centre of the arena in a series of perfect one-tempi changes.
    â€œI’m trying to get him to use his hindquarters more,” Allegra called out to Alice as she rode the flying changes. “Sometimes he has a tendency to be a little downhill and I really have to work him to keep him in front of my legs.”
    Alice nodded but she had no idea what Allegra meant. As far as she could tell the horse looked perfect.
    Allegra cantered around the arena and came down again to try the tempi changes once more. The black horse flung out his front legs like a schoolgirl doing double-dutch over a skipping rope.
    â€œThat was much better!” Allegra seemed pleased. “Did you notice how nicely he lifted his knees?”
    As she continued to school the horse Allegra kept her focus but managed to also keep talking simultaneously the whole time to Alice. Even though it all looked perfect from the sidelines, Allegra was hyper-critical of her performance and was constantly pointing out when the horse performed nicely and when his movements needed improvement. “That pirouette was a bit rushed – my fault!” she would say. Or “watch how his trot improves when I ask for more energy…”
    Alice found it surprisingly interesting to watch with Allegra’s running commentary.
    â€œThis horse, Virtuoso, has just started competing at Grand Prix level so he knows the movements but he needs to establish them and make them second nature,” Allegra told Alice as she pushed the black stallion sideways in a canter half-pass all the way to the centre line and then back again in the opposite direction.
    â€œNow that was a perfect half-pass, good lad!” She pulled the horse up to a walk and gave him a slappy pat on the neck to reward him. “Very good, Virtuoso!”
    Allegra came over to the bench seat and dismounted.
    â€œRight!” she said. “Your turn!”
    â€œMe?” Alice squeaked. “I’m only grooming for you.”
    â€œNot at this yard,” Allerga countered. “One of the perks of being on my team is that you get a regular private lesson. So why don’t you mount up and we’ll get started.”
    â€œUmmm,” Alice wasn’t sure how to phrase it without being rude, “I’m not really that into dressage.”
    Allegra arched a sceptical eyebrow. “No, of course. You’re an eventer, aren’t you? Don’t worry – I know the score. I was a Blainford pupil myself years ago and I don’t imagine things have changed. The eventing kids all think they’re far too cool to do anything except jumping – leave the dressage to the geeks, huh?”
    â€œUmm, yeah, kind of.” Alice admitted.
    Allegra shook her head in disbelief. “Well then, little miss eventer, why don’t you get onboard and show me what you’ve got?”
    She held out the reins and Alice ducked through the white post and rails fence and stepped on to the soft sand surface of the dressage arena.
    â€œI’ll leg you up,” Allegra offered.
    Alice was about to say that she didn’t need it but then she noticed the size of the black horse. Standing next to Virtuoso was like standing beside a mountain.
    â€œI know, he’s big,” Allegra said, clocking Alice’s expression. “Seventeen hands. A typical warmblood in both build and temperament too. He’s quite… opinionated.”
    In the saddle, Alice’s legs didn’t even reach the stirrup irons. Allegra had to shorten the leathers by four holes.
    â€œYou’ll learn to stretch and ride with your legs in the longer position while you’re here,” Allegra told her, “But for now you can keep your stirrups short.”
    Settling into the saddle, Alice