The Twins

When Will I Get to Jump?

Sarah Simmons

(2/2020) I love horses. I’ve always loved horses. I love riding horses. And all I really want to do is jump.

I’ve been riding this horse for weeks now. No, for months. And all I get to do is ride around in circles. And not just in circles, but in circles with my horse attached to a leash that he holds. How embarrassing. There are fences in the riding arena. He keeps them there. He keeps them there just so I see them when I ride. All I want to do is to jump those fences .

I brush his horses, even the ones I don’t ride. I brush their bodies. I brush their mane. I even brush their tails. I tack up his horses. I wipe sweat off his horse after he has been jumping.

I give the horses apples. I give the horses peppermints. I give them more apples and more peppermints. I even buy the horses apples and peppermints with my own allowance.

But after all of this, what do I get? Circles and the leash.

I say hi to his cats every time I go riding. I pet his cats. I feed his cats. I make cute little cat sounds to his cats. He tells me to pet his cat. I pet his cat and the cat just bites me.

I play with his dogs. I hug his dogs (they’re such cute dogs). I jump around like a crazy person to entertain his dogs because I really do love his dogs. And, when his dogs look sad because he is jumping his horse, I console them with soft pets and sweet words.

But I am still walking in circles on a leash. Every time I ride he tells me good job, that I’m getting better, that I’m doing well. But when can I jump? I want to jump.

I sweep his barn. I muck his stalls. I straighten up in his tack room. But I refuse to pick up his clothes off the floor.

I clean his bridles. I clean his reins. I clean his girths. I clean his bits. I even get the dirty little piece of grimy grass off the edge of the bits. I polish them all until they shine like new. He says he likes the way I clean his tack.

After all this, what do I get? Circles and the Leash. All I want to do is Jump! What will it take?

He says, "wash the horses." So, I wash all three of his horses. I wash their dirty legs. I wash their sweaty backs. I wash their tangled manes. I even wash their tails that has pieces of dried poop on them.

I towel off his horses so they don’t drip on the clean barn floor I just swept. I have to climb on a tall stool to dry their backs. The stool is not steady. It rocks back and forth, and I have to cling to the wet horse to keep from falling off the wobbly stool.

I never complain. But when will he let me jump? Why won’t he let me jump? I’m getting tired of this!

Am I missing something? Is there something else I need to do? Let me think. What does he always say every time I ride? Let me think….

"Remember the basics."

"Do your exercises at home. You need strong legs."

"It takes practice."

"You have to keep in a two-point position to jump."

"Keep your heels down."

"Arms straight."

"Grab mane."

"Chin up."

"Look where you want to go, not down."

"Get your bottom off that saddle!"

"You will jump when you’re ready."

So, when I ride this time, I remember all these things. I don’t think about the dirty barn or the mucky stalls. I don’t think about the sweaty horses or the cats that always need to be petted. I think about riding. Riding the way he tells me. Riding the right way. I don’t even think about jumping.

I keep my bottom off the saddle, my heels down, my chin up, my arms straight, and grab mane as I ride in that circle on that leash for the thousandth time.

I see him watching me. He tells me to ride over to him. Then he does something I can hardly believe. He unhooks that leash and tells me to walk around. I feel finally free. Free from the leash. And yes, free from him. It is amazing. It is just me and the horse. But then I remember that I got here because of him.

After a while, he calls me over to him and tells me it’s time for me to jump. I can’t believe it. I ride the horse to the far side of that jump I’d seen so many times in practice. He stands near the jump and tells me to hold on tight to the mane and get in my best jumping position. I listen to him and do what he says.

After so many months of the Circle and the Leash, I finally jump. And it was AMAZING!

But I think I’ve learned something more important than jumping. I’ve learned that it takes dedication, discipline, and patience to accomplish my goals. And that it’s important to listen and learn from those who know more than I do.

Thanks. Mr. Hillman….and Wesley too!