Nora Earns Her Spurs

Helen N. Tyrrell



By the end of October, she thought Cinnabar was ready to go on but Janine insisted they stay at the two-foot six-inch level. Her horse, Windrush, was four inches (or one hand as horses are measured) shorter than Cinnabar so she told Nora that if they were going to be friends they should be equal. Nora got the message. Janine's parents did not appear to deny her anything. Janine was lively and fun but Nora sensed that challenging her would threaten the friendship.

But by the end of the first term, Janine had a new goal. "By the end of the year," she announced, she would either be wearing a varsity sweater or have a date to the senior prom.

Nora laughed like anything. "You're kidding, aren't you?"

A quick look at Janine's face showed that observation to be untrue.

"Well, you mean Junior Varsity, don't you? Oh, Janine, that is just plain silly. No senior is going to have you wear his sweater. That's like going steady, isn't it? Senior boys don't go steady with ninth grade girls even in Evanston."

Janine tossed her dark hair in a good imitation of Windrush refusing a jump and stalked off. Nora sighed, resolved to say no more on the subject but concentrated on her horse.

After that, Janine seemed to be losing interest in the stables. Nora noticed her hanging around the gym a lot but no one seemed to be paying much attention to her.

The last schooling show of the season was going to be held next Saturday. This would be Nora's first show. She was more excited about it than anything since before they left Michigan. The Wednesday before this all-important event, Nora was surprised to find herself alone. None of her group was at the stable. Janine had promised to come since she said she wanted to ride in the show. In fact, they both planned to ride in the Novice Hunters class. Novice meaning they had not won that class yet and Hunters meaning the horse was judged on manners, obedience and generally good behavior where as Jumpers were judged on performance - height and speed only.

She had groomed Cinnabar to a gleaming copper. The tack was in place. Nora swung up into the saddle. They both reacted to the brisk fall weather. The horse danced a bit on their way to the outdoor ring. Nora let him; she enjoyed it as well as the smoky tang in the air.

After the warm up as Nora guided her mount toward the course, she noticed that the jumps seemed higher. She made a quick judgment.

Deciding that it would be poor training to pull her horse up just as they had begun, she brought her legs firmly against his sides, checked his leading leg, and approached the jump confidently. As they flew over, for flying it surely was, she looked back to see if the bar was still in place.

A voice barked out, "Don't look back! Look ahead at the next jump!"

She recognized Captain Moody's voice. At the same time they were taking the second jump, she heard the tick of hoof against wood, a clear testimony to the good advice she had just heard. With her attention riveted on the jump to come, she shortened the approaching strides. They completed the course, once in each direction, then rode over to Captain Moody. He shook his head.

"Young lady, you and that horse are something special. Until you took him over, nobody paid him any mind at all. Now everyone has an eye on him. Is your dad going to buy him for you?"

"I think so," was all Nora could manage to say.

"Well, don't say I told you, but you might want to talk to your dad. By the way, didn't I tell you to stay at three feet?"

"Yes, you did, but I didn't notice until I started. How high were they?"

"I was just coming back to reset them. Miss Miller, you have just completed the three- foot six inch course. Congratulations! See you Saturday, and we'd best not mention this either. Okay? Actually, you be here Friday after school so you can check out the changes before Saturday."

"I'll be here!"

So, at last school was over for that week and Nora was pedaling hard. She missed Janine. It was foolish of her not to work Windrush before the show. Nora had learned the importance of conditioning her horse. She couldn't understand how Janine could neglect her's.

Friday finally arrived, Study Period crept by and Nora was off to Glencarth Stables. Janine had not showed up that day which surprised Nora who knew her as a highly competitive person.

Winning was important to her. So why didn't she do it properly. When she reached the stables, racked her bike and ran around to the back, an amazing sight awaited her. The new jumping course was finished. Nora had never seen anything like it. The jumps looked huge and there were so many. She recognized some from her books, but somehow she had a expected a schooling show would be easy.

Of course, she wouldn't be in this ring. The Hunter classes would be held in the back ring where they usually rode over the post-and-rail jumps. She thought of them as the 'Baby Classes'. Maybe Janine wouldn't show up tomorrow - this thought was interrupted by Captain Moody who joined her in leaning on the top rail.

"Well, what do you think, little lady? Do you want to take Cinnabar over those jumps?"

"Oh, Captain, could I? Could I really?"

"I was kidding, Nora. Anyway, I don't think you would like it much. It is a very poorly designed course."

"Why is that?"

"Because, Mrs. Schumann's daughter designed it and it looks to me as if she did not seek anyone's help. She, herself, does not ride, you see."

"Oh, I see."

"By the way, did you talk to your dad about buying the horse?"

"No, he's been coming home so late, I hardly even see him."

"Well, I probably shouldn't be saying anything but I think you ought to know that Janine McCoy is trying to get her folks to buy Cinnabar for her. She says Windrush is too small. You had better talk to your dad as soon as you can."

Nora felt the ice begin in her stomach. She turned her flushed face away.

"Thank you, Captain Moody. See you tomorrow."