Liberty and the Dream Ride by Stacy Gregg

says,” she said eventually. “But I’m not promising anything.”
    Marcus looked incredibly relieved. “Fantastic! Thanks, Issie.”
    â€œDon’t thank me yet!” Issie said. “I know what Tom’s like. He’s going to think that this is a crazy plan. He won’t allow anything to interfere with my schedule on Comet. I bet he says no way.”
    â€œI think you should do it.”
    â€œExcuse me?” Issie couldn’t believe it. They had dropped Marcus back at his cabin and then she told Avery about the offer of the chance ride. She’d expected him to dismiss the idea outright, but instead, Tom was actually agreeing with Marcus’s plan!
    â€œIt’s a great opportunity,” Avery said. “Riding a horse the calibre of Liberty round the course at Kentucky would be great experience for you.”
    â€œBut Tom!” Issie said. “I’ve only got one day – how am I supposed to bond with Liberty in that time?”
    â€œI’m not expecting you to understand this mare deeply in twenty-four hours,” Avery admitted, “but you’re a good enough rider now to get on just about any horse and know which buttons to push to get them round a course. Remember the year that Mark Todd rode Badminton on Horton Point, a horse he’d only just swung a leg over the day before? He didn’t have more than a day to get to know that horse and he won it, Issie!”
    â€œBut what about Comet? I’ve already got a horse to ride.”
    â€œMark Todd rode two horses round Badminton that year,” Avery countered. “And what about British rider Lorna Clarke? She rode three different horses round Badminton in one day.”
    Issie sighed. “I do want to ride her, Tom. Liberty is a great horse…”
    â€œSo what’s holding you back?” Avery asked.
    â€œI just don’t want to let everyone down,” Issie said. “I mean, we’ve packed up our lives and moved to Laurel Farm for this, and everything is riding on me making it into the top ten with Comet – and now Marcus needs me to bring Liberty home as well! It’s too much pressure!”
    â€œIssie,” Avery was serious, “a professional rider is always under pressure. When you came to me years ago and asked me to be your trainer I told you that it would be like this, that you would need to be tough – physically and mentally – to cope with this career. As a rider at elite level you go out on that cross-country course carrying the hopes and dreams of your team, your fans and your nation on your shoulders. I know how terrifying that is because I’ve done it myself. But here you are with this brilliant opportunity, this chance ride, and you’re letting your fears get in the way.”
    â€œI’m not afraid,” Issie shot back.
    â€œThen stop hesitating,” Avery said. “Issie, this is what you’ve been trained to do.”
    Issie groaned. “I’m not going to win this fight, am I?”
    Avery shook his head. “You might as well give in now and save yourself the bother.”
    Issie was silent for a long time and then finally she turned to her trainer. “OK then. I’ll do it,” she said. Then she added, “But you have to be the one to break the news to Stella. She’s going to have a blue fit when she finds out that she’s got two horses to groom for me.”
    Avery smiled. “That’s my girl! Let’s go tell Marcus the good news.”
    After the trip to hospital it was past midnight when Issie finally got to bed, but she still set the alarm for 5 a.m. Thursday was going to be a big day.
    Her first morning task was a second walk-through of the cross-country course. Marcus wasn’t really capable of walking around with his newly broken arm, Stella was grooming both horses in preparation for the trottingup and Tara and Avery were sorting out Issie and