Victory and the All-Stars Academy by Stacy Gregg

to be dressed ready for impact—it was time for showjumping.
    In the arena where they had practised their dressage to music the day before, a showjumping course had now been set up. The fences were a fair size—most of the jumps measured a metre-ten in height—coloured rails laid out in oxers, doubles, hog’s backs and spreads.
    Even though the fences weren’t any bigger than Issie had jumped before, she felt her stomach knot with nerves as she rode into the ring. If she had been riding Comet around this course, she wouldn’t havehad any reason to feel nervous. She knew exactly how to get the best out of Comet, how to control his speed and channel his energy over the fences. But her partnership with Victory was untested. She had no idea what the brown horse would be like in the showjumping ring.
    At least Issie already knew Araminta. She’d had lessons from her before at Chevalier Point, and even though Morgan’s mum was hardly a pussycat, she might be the soft option compared to Minka and Tara.
    Araminta looked amazing, as always, when she entered the arena. Dressed today in banana-cream jodhpurs and a mint green shirt, with a gold Hermès scarf tied tight over her raven hair, she had an air of careless glamour. Issie noticed that she was wearing a headset with a microphone mouthpiece, the same as Minka had worn, to amplify her voice so that she wouldn’t have to shout at the riders.
    Araminta asked the sixteen squad members to come into the centre of the ring for gear inspection. She didn’t spend long checking their tack. Her only changes were to make Charlotte take off her running martingale—she thought they were old-fashioned andunnecessary—and to ask Jace to take his stirrups up another two holes.
    â€œRight. I’d like you all to give your horses a warm-up before we get started,” Araminta instructed. “Find yourself some free space and work your horse in. Don’t overcook them—just give them some trot and canter work on both reins and get them supple and on the bit and listening to your legs and hands.”
    Issie remembered how she had tried to avoid Dee Dee in the arena the first day when she was warming up. Now, as the riders all trotted around the arena to find themselves a space, it was Dee Dee who was avoiding Issie. The minute she saw Issie and Victory, Dee Dee abruptly turned Floyd around, riding off in the opposite direction.
    After last night, when Issie put the masking tape line down the middle of the bedroom, the girls were no longer talking. Issie felt miserable about it, and she desperately wanted to talk to her friends about what had happened. But Kate was so busy. She was taking her role as team captain really seriously, watching the other riders and trying to figure out their strengths and their weaknesses for the competition. As forStella, she had no time for anyone except Shane. She was with him right now at the far end of the arena, giggling as he whispered something in her ear.
    â€œExcuse me? Stella! Shane!” Araminta called across the arena. “I’m not breaking up a special moment, am I?” she said sarcastically. “I believe I told you to warm up your horses, not sit there being lovey-dovey!”
    Stella turned pink with embarrassment as everyone turned to look at them, but Shane just gave Araminta a cheeky grin. “It’s OK. My horse doesn’t need much warming up.”
    â€œIs that so, Mr Campbell?” Araminta said archly. “Well, you can be the first through our showjumping course today then. In fact, why don’t we have all the Australian riders through after you?” She looked coolly at him. “You’ve got five minutes to get your horse collected and then I want you in the ring.”
    Issie knew that nobody wants to be the first to go around a showjumping course. The first rider is always at a disadvantage because they don’t know how the course will ride.