By Hanna Pattie
The brisk early morning air streamed through the pickup truck windows, keeping Tina Tramontozzi awake in the passenger seat. Five a.m. the digital clock read on the dash. Tina and her trainer, Olana, pulled out of the Springfield Marriott and drove to the Big E Colosseum up the road where the competition would be held that day. The F-350 rumbled breaking the silence as Tina repetitively fixed her socks, making sure they were out of sight beneath the tailored leather of her tall boots.
“You nervous?” Olana asked as she glanced from the drivers side.
Tina exchanged glances with Olana and quickly shook her head.
Months of searching for the right horse and hard training have led up to this day. The New England Championships is known throughout the East Coast as a prestigious competition which tests riders at their highest ability. For the past two months, Tina has leased a top notch horse named Calypso from Walnut Hill Farm in Plainville, Massachusetts. Four days a week for two months, the pair had gone through extensive training at the horse’s home farm with trainer Kellie Monohan. Tina, a member of the Stonehill College Equestrian Team, practiced twice a week with their coach and competed weekly. Presentation, technique, position, studying the course, and perfect execution of every jump was needed to be considered a successful rider in this event.
The truck stopped next to the barn, and Tina and jumped out on to the cold gravel of the parking lot. She could make out Olana’s co-trainer riding Calypso in the warm up ring across the lot. Stadium lights shone over the sand ring, illuminating the early morning sky. In figure eights, Andrea cantered Calypso over a jump in the center of the ring. One, two, three, jump, Calypso launched his four legs over the fence with his ears pricked forward.
He was on today.
Tina smiled, swung her bags over her shoulder, and began walking across the gravel and into the cement aisles of the barn.
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Looking in the mirror, she fixed her hair, tucking lose ends up into the hairnet.
It was seven o’clock now.
Olana called for Tina as the course walk was about to begin.
The competitors were allowed to enter the ring on foot, and discuss with their trainer’s how to successfully execute the course. From a small piece of paper the competitors quickly memorized the order of fences and walked into the colosseum.
Boards surrounding the ring were spotless, and rows of seating climbed high above the ground floor of the ring. A massive scoreboard hung at the far end, flashing equestrian sponsors and wishing all exhibitors the best of luck. Up to the left, four computers lay on a counter high above the ring, with the seats where judges would be sitting.
Following in Olana’s footsteps, her students weaved around groups of trainers and students, all walking the same course fence to fence. Together they measured lines and decided how to execute each turn. Stepping at the base of a white rail, Tina walked to the next fence measuring the number of strides her and Calypso need to take without getting points taken away. Sixty feet. Four horse strides.
“As long as I sit up and keep my leg on around the corner he’ll jump” she said.
“He’s a different horse in the show ring” Olana said. “Don’t give him an inch.”
Exiting the ring Tina kicked her way though the dark brown footing. Turning left through large glass doors, she walked beneath the stands to order lunch. She ordered a grilled cheese and coffee, helmet in hand, brushing her shiny black boots on the tile floor. Placing her five dollar bill into the greasy glove of the vendor she added milk to her coffee and turned in the direction of the barn.
“Tina Tramontozzi ten riders away!”
The announcer called off the next fifteen riders as Tina led Calypso down the aisle, brown faded stalls on each side. Horses pawed and grunted as if they were wishing the pair good luck. His shoes clapped along the cement floor until they entered the sandy padding of the warm up ring.
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The past year of showing and training had come down to the next two minutes. Calypso carried Tina out of the sunlight and into the cool air of the spacious colosseum. Heavy lighting was directed onto the ring, lighting up the jumps which were spotless and each set with a different color scheme. Crowds of riders, trainers, and viewers were watched from the stands looking down. Jump crew men stood around the ring ready to run to fix any rails that are brought down by a horses legs.
Breathing in and out, Tina sat on Calypso. Trainers Olana and Kellie both stood on either side of his head, hands on his neck. The final minutes of waiting at the in-gate seemed to take forever. The rider on course made her final circle. Her horse was pulled together in a collected manner, his large face tucked down by his chest which was now shining with sweat. She came to a walk and with a few large horse steps was walking out of the gate and into the sunlight.
With gentle pressure Tina lay her metal spurs on Calypso’s side and he began to walk forward.
“Go get em,” Kellie whispered behind her.
Entering the ring, she could feel the horse step up onto the dirt footing, bright lights now shining upon them.
Entering the ring, she could feel the horse step up onto the dirt footing, bright lights now shining upon them.
The crowd now was watching.
Her name, number and horse now was brightly displayed on the scoreboard.
No turning back now.
She sat tall, and with another quick pressure of her spur Calypso sprung into a collected canter. Tina sat deeply in the saddle, organizing her reins and fixing her feet in the stirrups one last time. Pressing her right leg and squeezing the left rein, she and Calypso made an opening circle around a green and gold pair of jumps which despite previous riders did not have a spot of dirt on them. With even pressure on both sides, Tina straitened her horse out as they made their way to the first fence. Five, four, three, two one. Calypso found the spot perfectly and they sailed over the brown rails. She tweaked her left rein to take his attention away from a fake vegetable stand displayed on the right side. With attempt to lower his face and regain control, she squeezed her rein and sat back with her legs on. Calypso began to steady and lower his neck as they round the corner to fence number two. The horses feet hitting the ground was the only sound in the ring. His breathing was getting heavier as he carried Tina around the large ring, however was drowned out by a quiet song being played over the loud speakers. Fence number two came up quickly. The horse’s pace was building. Tina sat back and steadied him as they approached a set of orange and white striped jumps, two strides were to be taken in between. Trusting her horse, she brought her hands up his neck allowing him to lower his head again and take over the next task. Landing off the first orange jump, he pushed forward and with two easy steps sprung his front feet off the ground and sailed over the oxar. The next three jumps were executed without mistakes. Tina’s Stonehill College team mates stood ring side, watching intently. The four judges were in their booth, looking from their computers to the ring, tapping their keys as notes on Tina’s ride appeared upon their laptop screen. Just two jumps and another five strides to mark the end of this year’s work with riding.
Slightly grinning, she bent Calypso around the corner and set him straight as an arrow to the final line.
Speeding up then slowing again, she began to lose sight of a distance into the line. She pressed her spur and leg onto the side of his sides and looped her rein.
He should take over from here, he knows where to go she thought.
Three, two, one.
They still haven’t left the ground.
Rather than filling the next half step and leaping over the jump, Calypso’s back skid underneath him and his front shoes hit the ground rail. The momentum from their course thus far brought his neck and head over the top of the jump pushing Tina out of the saddle and sliding down his mane.
Her feet were tossed out of the stirrups.
Squeezing his neck she continued to fall forward. As her boots touched his neck she let go, allowing herself to fall to the ground. Laying in the cool dirt she peered up to the skylights. The crowd gave a slight moan and people began to whisper. After a few seconds, she pressed her leather glove into the footing and brushed the dirt off her once spotless tan breeches. Event staff and spectators clapped as she brought herself to her feet.
Calypso was way ahead of Tina. Immediately after the fall, he turned and began to walk out of the ring, strategically weaving around people running to catch him as if he too was embarrassed. Kellie grabbed him at the in-gate. Swinging open the heavy wood panels she led the horse outside, Tina trailing behind. Exiting the arena, they stood next to the brick wall of its exterior. Tina let small tears run down her face.
“You rode beautifully up till that point, it happens”, Olana said, holding the blue material of her show coat.
Tina smiled and nodded her head. Walking over to Calypso she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave his bay coat a pat. He turned his long neck around to Tina, nuzzling his nose into her chest.
“Good boy,” she said.
Kellie’s groom tossed a blue fleece cooler on the horse protecting him from the chilly fall air. Turning towards the barn Tina and Olana walked alongside Calypo’s barn’s staff. Entering the barn, they walked beneath an overhanging garage door and strode down the grey aisle. Finished wood with rows of stalls for individual barns lined each side. Dogs barked and the hustle of mucking stalls and preparing horses caused an array of chatter and noises. The months lease for Calypso was now over. The New England Finals marked the beginning of a new show year for Tina. The group walked together, Calypso’s shoes clinked sound upon the hard surface. They reached Olana’s stalls. A royal blue banner was hung evenly overhead with the words “Evenstride Ltd.” in block letters. Tina glanced over at Calypso and Kellie who slowed to a stop. They both smiled. She then walked over to the horse, rubbing his soft coat then embracing his neck in her arms.
“Thanks boy,” she said.
REFERENCES
HYPERLINK "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_yFIHPZcDM" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_yFIHPZcDM
HYPERLINK "http://www.newenglandequitation.com" http://www.newenglandequitation.com/
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