Catherine’s mare is an off-the-track Thoroughbred. The little ex-racehorse doesn’t fit in with the expensive German horses at the dressage barn because she doesn’t look or move like them.<br><br>So it’s no surprise that when a competition is held for all the boarders, Catherine and Besca are the only ones not chosen to ride on a team. The two are laughed at for having the nerve to hope they’d be invited to compete.<br><br>Catherine resigns herself to not taking part, but continues to work on her riding skills and practice the test she wanted to perform in the competition. But she doesn't realize she's being watched ... by someone intent on changing her life when show day arrives.

The Horse Inside

She’d been eliminated, and I knew why. Darcy was lame. Again, automatic elimination. Debbie’s entire team had been disqualified.


I’m sorry to say it was hard for me to feel sorry for her.


I knew the other boarders had known her horse was in pain, but were afraid to say anything. Thanks to the judge’s public recognition of his lameness, Darcy would now get the medical attention he needed.


As for the other two competitors, I couldn’t help wondering whether, if they’d ridden their horses on the trails and accustomed them to strange sights and sounds, the animals would have reacted less strongly to the unexpected stimuli in the competition ring.


I have to admit I felt rather smug and went off to prepare Besca for our pretend show.


Chapter 5