Ellipse of a few hours

End of the day. Last class. RIDING optionNNNNNNNN. Sorry for the shouting, but this is the only class of the day that promises to be enjoyable. Mélia quickly changes into a more appropriate outfit, which is still very colourful. The teacher is a former jockey. His face reminds me of someone, I can't work out who. He is very small. I am several centimetres taller than him. The wear on his hands, trousers and boots tells me he knows what he's talking about. So does his speech. When he asks us one by one about our level, Mélia and I tell him frankly that we have never taken the usual little tests in the equestrian world. We think we have a good basis. Mélia explained that she was more gifted in dressage and acrobatics, and I in show jumping and cross-country.

When the teacher tells us that our parents have thought of sending us our horses, we can't hold back our shouts of joy and jump. Wow, they have used their brains for once. The teacher smiles and makes us calm down. Other young people also have their own horses. However, for the level exam, all students will have to take an assessment on one of the four horses in the school. We wait patiently for our turn. I am surprised that the fourth horse, which is chomping at the bit, is never chosen by the teacher. He seems to me to be quite a temperamental nag. In any case, he is the most nervous. I hesitate between an Arab and a purebred English. He is magnificent with his detailed muscles and jet black coat.

Mélia goes over a gentle and hard-working mare. She quickly shows her good balance and coordination with the horse. Despite the classic western saddle that disturbs her and the animal not used to leading itself, my sister manages to do some quite complex balance tricks. Mélia launches the mare into a canter, the most common gait for this discipline. While holding the reins with one hand, she takes her balance and does the headstand using the edges of the saddle as supports for her hands. Then, in order not to frighten her mount, Mélia acts gently and uses the saddle's lasso holder to block her right leg and places herself head down with her left leg in the air. It is more difficult for her to return to her initial position, fortunately for her, she has very good abs and powerful thighs.

She dazzled the teacher with her relatively simple aerial demonstration. Of all the people who have passed, she is clearly the best. The teacher asks her about the movements she can do with her own mare and the appropriate equipment. Mélia does not necessarily know all the technical terms, but she details the sequences so well that the man easily understands which figure it is. Mélia is not boastful and she underestimates her skills. When she half-heartedly mentions being able to lead her mare without reins, with just her voice and her body to explain what she wants, the teacher is admiring.

It's my turn. I'm the last to go. Melia having stipulated that I am much better than her, the teacher points out the fourth horse named Prince. I smell a trap. No problem. I love a challenge. I climb on quickly while the teacher holds the reins with a big smile. Suddenly I realise why I know his face. He is Naya's father. She's just arrived, by the way. Naya is giggling as she sees me get on the back of the beautiful, nervous stallion. It's definitely a set-up. I'm not going to let this happen to me, Miss Bitch.

The horse starts galloping as soon as the teacher lets go of the reins. I squeeze my thighs and hold on without difficulty. You'll see what you're going to see, donkey. I've seen some of the toughest. The horse goes for it, stops suddenly and lowers his neck. He does antics, flea jumps. Prince rears up and runs with force. He jumps in all directions to throw me off. A real rodeo. He might have succeeded if I didn't have a solidly attached saddle to help me. Riding bareback, the rodeo is much less easy.

I don't let go. I tighten my grip. On top of that, I yell at the horse, telling him he's a soft rag. I kick him with my heels when he gallops to tell him that he is too slow. In short, I make him even more angry. I want him to give it his all. I want him to exhaust himself. I want him to understand that I am the strongest and most stubborn. The whole point of taming wild animals, especially equines and whole males, is to show them that you are stronger so that they will submit and put you at the top of their herd hierarchy. Physically, I am far below him and his powerful muscles, but in terms of determination and dominant instinct, I have a lot.

My stallion was not born in a stable, but in a herd of wild horses. I had to tame him as a foal before he would accept me on his back. Some people talk about taming, I prefer to say making a place for myself in the hierarchy. I never used whips, riding crops or instruments that could hurt. I just showed superior stamina and stubbornness. I spent days and nights at his side forcing him to accept my presence, holding the bucket of food at arm's length until he agreed to let me touch it.

As I was treating his mother, who had been injured by a trapper's trap, the foal gradually began to trust me. The mare had a broken leg and many would have killed her without hesitation. I nursed her back to health, swimming her in the river to build her up again. I think she came from domesticated horses, she seemed to know humans and was not afraid of them, which made my task much easier. Her foal, on the other hand, had the wild and fierce character of his father. It took a year before I was able to stay on his back for more than a minute. Prince is an amateur in comparison.

My distinguished and precious language makes the whole audience piss with laughter. My gentle, peaceful nature at its best. I see Naya filming me. I have the elegance to raise my middle finger in the air in her direction without her father seeing. Naya talks to Melia who shakes her head and laughs. My double knows I won't let him go. Prince is panting. He finally stops in the middle of the ride. He catches his breath. Prince lasted half an hour. He's a tough guy. Nevertheless, I won. I get off with a big smile and give the horse a piece of carrot.

— You fought well Prince. But when it comes to mule-headedness, I am queen.

The professor comes to take the reins from me with a beautiful smile. I think I have just become his favourite pupil. The best. Naya runs up with Mélia.

— Well, grunge, you've got me hooked. Respect. Even me and Dad end up on the floor when Prince is in a bad mood.

Yeah, maybe we'll both get along. Especially since Prince is her personal horse and he's giving her a big hug. She pats his neck. I do the same. Prince is a good horse. He has done well. The lesson is over.

Without any hard feelings, I help Naya take Prince back to his stall with Mélia. We groom him and give him a drink. Naya shows the newcomers the horses' stalls with her usual sarcastic comment. They all lower their eyes in front of the queen bee, except Mélia who admires the horses, and me. Because she can die with her mouth open before I lower my eyes, Miss Queen Bee.

At last, it's our horses' stalls. Naya laughs at us as she describes the appearance of the man who brought the horses. When I hear the description of the "groom", I understand that it was not my dear parents who had the idea. Richard, Papinou's best friend, bought them back from my parents in search of money, to give them to us. They had no right to sell them. They are ours. Papinou gave them to us. I ruminate on the words I'm going to say to them the next time they deign to check on us. Mélia wipes away a tear of sadness.

Mélia joins Étoile her white Lipizzaner mare. Me, Grumpy my paint horse pie. Naya admires our horses. They are in perfect health, fine and powerful muscles, bright coat. Mélia has fun braiding Étoile's hair with Naya while I untangle Grumpy's dishevelled hair and he bites my pockets to steal the bits of carrot. I listen to the two girls chatter. The love of horses is clearly visible in Naya's words. On top of that, she is friendly to Melia, almost protective. Yes, maybe we won't have to kill each other.