The next morning I woke up with the same butterflies in my stomach as yesterday. I had thought they would be gone. But instead they were back better than ever.

Once again I skipped breakfast, opting to eat at Mrs. Jodie's this round, where I could get something to quiet my stomach down.

However, I was more confident than before. Mr. Blair did not find me and Destiny making tense circles, but rather walking along calmly.

"Feeling better today, Iris?"

I smiled thinly at him. "A bit more confident, but the butterflies are back in full force. I guess I'm better at containing them."

He nodded. "We'll go to Mrs. Jodie's again," he replied with a wink.

Norah and Lillian joined us, then we started off for Greenspire.

We check the board to see when we were going to compete. I was at 2.35,Norah at 12.15, and Lillian at 5.20.

Then we went to Mrs. Jodies. Norah loved her tea and food as much as Lillian and I did.

I was almost scared to watch the showjumping after just how bad it could be yesterday. But, on the other hand, there were some good competitors and I wanted to watch them.

We picked out out spot among the crowds and settled in. While we waited for the jumping to start, I filled in Norah and Lillian about Mr. Blair acquiring Nadia Veldworth's horse.

"I'm glad you weren't here to see it. It was horrible, watching him being forced into that terrible piaffe."

Norah's eyes widened. "He was piaffing? Oh that's horrible."

I nodded. "I turned away. But then I heard a scream and looked back. Her horse was bucking like crazy. I got to hand it to her, she did stick to the saddle for awhile. But then he reared. And then he came down and spun to the side, and well, that was it."

"She started yelling at the horse, saying he had cost her a win, but guess what? One of the judges stood up and told her that she never would have been placed first, and that she'd clearly botched the horse's training. He said he hoped that someone else would be able to undo the damage done."

"And let me guess," interjected Lillian. "That someone was Mr. Blair."

Mr.Blair smiled slightly. "Yes, that was me."

"Have you picked a name?" Asked Norah.

"His name will be Nodreth, for he will survive and conquer. His tree has been planted."

I nodded. It was a good, strong name.

"What do you mean, "his tree has been planted?" Asked Lillian.

"I've planted a sapling near his pen. It and he will grow together through the years."

The jumping was much better to watch than the dressage. However, it could still be painful at times. Mr. Blair pointed out how the riders who had better dressage had better jumping. That helped boost my confidence.

Jumping was also more exciting. It was full of twisty turns and daring strides. You held your breath when a pole was bumped and groaned when it fell to the ground.

The time ticked closer to when Norah was to go. As it did, her face grew more pale. I began to wonder if she would be even able to compete.

Yet she had more strength than I gave her credit for, and at 12 she was in the saddle, tuning up Juniper and looking more relaxed. The saddle was her home, regardless of what she was doing in it.

The judge called out her name and number. We held our breaths as she entered the ring, saluted, and started her round.

Her canter was even, able to be lengthened or shortened as needed, even if Juniper did fight her a little on the shortening. She didn't take as tight turns as some of the others had, but she sped up where she could and slowed down where she needed to.

When she jumped the last fence clear without having even a nick, Lillian and I cheered our heads off.

She came out looked a little shell shocked. "I... I didn't have a rail?" She said in amazement.

"You were perfect," Lillian told her.

I stroked Juniper's neck and looked up at her. "That was one of the best rounds."

She finally smiled and hugged her horse's neck. "Good boy, Juniper, good boy! Double treats tonight."

I couldn't wait for it to be my turn to go. Destiny and I did very well at jumping. I knew endurance would be our best phase though.

"Make sure that you have an adjustable canter," called Mr. Blair as I trotted off to warm up. "That will be key."

I nodded. I knew how key it was. Tricky courses became way easier when you had a canter you could adjust on the fly.

I cued Destiny into canter, flowing with her strides. She was nicely on the bit, although I knew she could only hold it for a certain amount of time. I wouldn't ask more than that from her.

I half-halted to get her attention, then took up a little more contact on the reins and resisted her motion with my seat. I was asking to collect her canter more.

Her strides became shorter, and I whispered, "good girl," as we turned.

"Iris Backwood, number 192, riding Destiny."

I saluted to the judges, then cued Destiny to trot. I turned her in a circle, making sure my reins were nice and short. Then I sat down and asked for canter.

I rose into my half seat and looked up. The jumps were numbered, which would be a big help, but I still would have to depend heavily on my memorization of the course. If I forgot it, it wasn't going to be pretty.

The first jump was open and inviting, and so was the one after, located on a wide turn. I knew if I kept Destiny's strides short and quick, we could cut it closer and save time.

With this in mind I sat up a little and resisted on the reins. She shortened and I marveled at the feeling of power underneath her.

"One. Two. Three. Four!" I counted down underneath my breath, then rose in fluid two-point with her. After doing this multiple times together, we worked like a team.

As soon as he landed I deepened my inside leg and began to sharply turn.  The momentum threated to throw me out of the saddle, but I grabbed mane.

The turn cut a whole two strides out, it was supposed to be eight but we made it in six.

I let go of the mane, which I had kept a hold of throughout the second jump and kissed to her, asking for a faster and longer stride. Up ahead was a double, and I knew that if I asked for it faster here, then collected her just before it, I could be quicker and hopefully not have a rail.

It would be dicey though.

A couple of strides out I bore down, asking for a shorter stride and for her to rock back on her hindquarters.

She did the best she could on such short notice. We jumped through the double in two strides. It was messy, but somehow we cleared both jumps.

"Good gal, you're the best," I murmured as I looked for the next jump, which happened to be a big oxer.

I kept that short canter because I knew that I'd need it's power to make it over that wide oxer. I hated oxers. But I had no choice.

Destiny pricked her eyes at the oxer, and seeing the flowers at it's base(who had the idea to put them there?) she began to back off. But I kissed to her and urged her on. We couldn't loose steam here.

Because of those flowers we nicked the last pole on the oxer. I listened anxiously as I started to turn, but I didn't hear the tale-tale thump.

The next fence was the water fence. It was on a weird diagonal line. Once again I leaned forward and asked for more speed from Destiny.

She surged forward under me, almost reaching galloping speed. I checked her a little, then waited until it was time to collect her a bit more. However, I wouldn't slow her down too much, we were going to zip through this.

Destiny plunged into the water without hesitation. We'd done this many times before, water was her thing. We'd even gone swimming once.

However, because the water slowed down her strides slightly, both she and I underestimated the distance, and she ended up having to take off a couple of feet early.

I winced as I heard the pole splash down in the water behind us. "Sorry gal," I whispered. "That was my fault."

The sharp incline was next. I could have taken a tighter turn, but I didn't feel comfortable with that.

Still, it came up too quick. I leaned back and let the reins slide, trusting Destiny to maintain her balance.

She fumbled at the top for a moment, then took the plunge. My stomach leapt up to my throat. The wind rushed through my ears.

But then it was all over, and we were at the bottom. I gathered my reins and managed to get a good canter before the next jump.

The next jumps went quick and clean. Destiny was on her A game, and we didn't have another rail or nick.

When we were done, I saluted, then threw the reins down and hugged her sweaty neck. "Good girl, good girl!"