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exclaimed with a groan.
    The buzzer went off as the woman, red-faced and embarrassed-looking, wrestled her horse around.
    â€œSorry, sorry!” she exclaimed breathlessly as a man—her trainer, Haley guessed—hurried out to grab the horse’s bridle and lead the pair away.
    Haley averted her eyes as they passed, trying not to imagine how humiliated the woman must feel. “Poor thing,” Haley whispered to the boys once the woman hadmoved off. They watched as several volunteers rushed over to fix the chain the horse had knocked askew.
    â€œYeah, bummer for her.” Kyle grinned. “But good for us, right? One less person we have to try to beat!”
    Andrew laughed, and Riley let out a snort. Haley had almost forgotten the older girl was still there behind them.
    â€œWhatever,” Riley said. “See you guys later. I’d better get Athena cooled out.”
    â€œBye,” Kyle called, and Andrew added, “See you.”
    Haley didn’t say anything, watching as Riley rode off and disappeared into the crowd. Once again Haley found herself a little annoyed by the other girl. What had that snort meant? Had it been just a reaction to Kyle’s silly comment, or had it meant that Riley didn’t think the woman on the draft cross was any real competition for her, whether the woman was still in the competition or not? Either way, Haley knew it would be awfully satisfying to beat Riley and her big, fancy horse. . . .
    â€œCome on,” she said, glancing toward the trailer where Wings and the other horses were tied. “We should probably go start tacking up. It’ll be our turn soon.”

CHAPTER
4
    â€œGOOD BOY, WINGS.” Haley patted her pony. “We can do this.”
    They were outside the ring waiting for the rider before them to finish her dressage test. Haley took a few deep breaths, trying to quiet the butterflies fluttering around in her stomach. She rarely got nervous when she rode, but she was nervous now.
    Jan was standing beside her, watching the previous rider, but she looked up at Haley’s comment. “You can do this, Haley,” the trainer said, giving Wings a rub on the shoulder. “Just relax and remember to use all your space and don’t let Wings rush his transitions.You get that stuff down, you’ll do fine.”
    â€œThanks.” Haley shot her a small smile. She wanted to do better than “fine,” but she didn’t bother to say so. Jan already knew that Haley always rode to win.
    As the previous rider snapped out her salute, Haley gathered up her reins. Wings had warmed up well, and he seemed to be completely over his travel jitters. She ran through the test in her head, reminding herself to ride into the corners and watch that final turn up the center line. Wings might not have as fancy a trot as Riley’s mare, but judges always seemed to like him. She and Wings could beat everyone if they did their best—even hotshot Riley from Iowa.
    The previous competitor rode out. She was a confident-looking woman in her fifties on a big Appaloosa gelding. “Good luck,” she called to Haley as she walked past on a loose rein. “Cute pony, by the way.”
    â€œThanks.” Haley nudged Wings forward, rode through the gate, and aimed around the outside of the chain while she waited for the judge’s bell. She still felt a little jittery but tried to swallow it down.
    â€œGo, Haley!” Kyle called from the rail. He and Andrewwere both sitting out there on their horses. Andrew had taken his turn in the ring right before the woman on the Appaloosa. Turbo had spooked at a leaf blowing outside the ring, messing up one of the trot circles, and both of his canter transitions had been a little early. Otherwise they’d done well, and Haley knew Andrew was proud of his horse.
    But he didn’t come into this expecting to win, she told herself. Wings and I can’t make any mistakes at