horses grazed And now there was this gangly boy with a mischievous smile and cute sticky-out ears asking questions and grinning at her Sure you can you’re the best young rider in your county Jack said to her Your dad told Lizzie they put you in the saddle at the age of two But I don’t know any stunts Kami said She gasped as three riders galloped their mounts around the pen under Lizzie’s instruction Not yet anyway she finished The horses came so close she could almost reach over the fence to touch them She caught the smell of sweat and dust and felt dirt that had been kicked up by the horses hooves sting her cheeks Hey A girl in a pink shirt on a sorrel mare waved as she galloped by seemingly glued to the saddle Her glossy long dark hair hung loose beneath her helmet and she wore sunglasses to protect her eyes Horse and rider in perfect harmony it was beautiful That’s Alisa on Diabolo Jack told Kami She’s a pro Watch and learn Hi there A second girl greeted Kami from atop a dark bay Quarter Horse She wore a yellow plaid shirt
beneath a blue vest and she rode her pony bareback Kellie and Dylan Tom said taking over the introductions Kellie’s my little sister She’s thirteen The same age as me Kami said She watched with awe as Kellie suddenly switched from sitting to crouching on Dylan’s hindquarters Then she went from crouching to standing her arms spread wide Lizzie’s teaching them a new trick said Tom Kellie and Dylan caught up with Alisa and Diabolo then Kellie leaned sideways and shifted her weight across so that she stood astride the two ponies Roman riding Jack explained watching Kami’s amazed reaction Kellie’s a natural stunt rider Now take a look at Hayley on Cool Kid Kami switched her attention to the third horse and rider a stocky little Paint ridden by a skinny girl with a long dark braid that made her look younger than the others Her pony kicked up a cloud of dirt as she pulled him to a stop She sprang from the saddle and gave Cool Kid a tap on his hindquarters The pony set off again at a trot Hayley chased after him came alongside then vaulted back into the saddle Think you can do that Tom asked with a grin
Kami frowned and shook her head These girls were seriously good Now Lizzie called in other riders a couple more girls and some boys until there was a total of ten riders working their horses in the pen You will no problem Jack told her kindly Everyone feels a little nervous at first But you just have to put in the hours Stunt riding is one part talent and three parts hard work Kami nodded as she watched riders fling themselves sideways then hang from their saddles by their legs which Tom told her was called a drag and riders clinging to the saddle horn and throwing their weight forward toward their pony’s head a front wing They were exciting dangerous stunts Kami was afraid she’d never learn them Lizzie do you have time to introduce Kami to her pony Jack called out as his wife walked by Hey Kami Lizzie had been focused on teaching and hadn’t noticed her arrival She came out of the pen to greet her How was your trip Did you drop off your stuff in the girls dorm You’re rooming with Alisa I’m sure she’ll show you around How about getting something to eat
No I’m good thanks Kami said She was glad to say hi to a familiar face at last She recognized Lizzie from Clearwater she was short and slim her hair tied back under a black Stetson and gold hoop earrings that added a touch of glamour to her western outfit that consisted of a dark plaid shirt blue jeans and tall stylish riding boots So are you ready to meet the horse you’ll be working with Lizzie asked picking up on Kami’s excitement Yes please Kami replied Lizzie gestured for Kami to follow and led the way across the corral toward the barn Don’t be nervous she said turning to Kami with a smile His name’s Magic You’re going to love him I’m never going to be that good Kami told Magic Lizzie had just gone to the office to order more grain for the horses leaving Kami alone with her new horse in his straw-lined stall Magic nudged her gently with his nose He was the horse who had caught her eye in the stalls earlier that
