Spoiler
Yes, I know this piece is extremely lame, but if you would just point out any errors in it I would be grateful 
I walked smoothly into the barn and immediately to Liza’s stall. She looked at me, for a moment, with her large brown eyes before going back to pulling hay off of the floor of her stall. I reached in, smiling, and scratched her thick black forelock.
“Hey, Liza,” I said softly to my horse. “You feel up for some jumping?”
She kept eating her hay.
“Oh, come on girl, I know you love it…”
“Niki?” Came a voice from outside the barn.
“With Liza!” I called back.
Marie Rubin entered the barn. “Are you ready for your lesson?”
“I just have to tack up Liza Jane.”
“OK.”
I grab Liza’s halter and brought her out from her stall, quickly brushing her then tacking her up.
“Indoor or outdoor ring?” Asks Marie.
“I kind of want to get her used to the noise of the cars more – so outdoor.” I reply as I lead Liza Jane into the indoor to mount.
After we warm up by slowly walking around the indoor ring a bit, Liza and I follow Marie to the outdoor ring by the road.
Outside, Liza and I start to trot around while Marie sets up jumps at three to three and a half feet high.
Although there are a few cars on the road Liza doesn’t spook at all when they pass. When she was younger she would’ve spooked all the time, but since she got to Rose Hill Farm she’s steadied herself and is now more dependable.
“How’s she feel?” Asks Marie once I’ve gotten Liza into a brisk trot.
“Great!” I reply, smiling as I urge Liza towards a warm-up jump set at two feet.
Once we’ve warmed up a bit more on the little jump I bring Liza into a canter and we take on the higher jumps.
“She looks beautiful!” Exclaims Marie after Liza and I have done a few round of jumping.
“She feels beautiful,” I say, grinning widely.
My life has changed so much in five years. I’ve finished high school at Pelham high, I’m going to go to college in a year, and I’ve bought Liza Jane.
Due to the money I got by working a couple different jobs I finally got enough that I could buy Liza from my friend Harley in Vermont. Liza has taught me so much about riding and horses, I now compete in small jumping competitions all around New England with her.
I reach forward and ruffle Liza’s mane after going over a tough jump. “Good girl.” I murmur to her.
Suddenly, a huge tractor-trailer truck roars past the outdoor ring. Liza spooks and breaks into a choppy, uneven gallop.
“Whoa, whoa, Liza. Easy girl, easy – it’s not going to hurt you.” I say to her while Marie shouts instructions on how to slow her back down.
Once I finally get Liza back to a steady trot Marie congratulates me on my riding expertise, “Great job, you’ve improved so much since you first came here. I’m so proud of all your accomplishments, Niki. I feel as if they’re my own!”
I glow at her compliments we walk back to the indoor ring. “Thanks so much Marie, but you know you’ve helped me a lot with the things I’ve done. Having you teach me riding has helped me to gain confidence in everything I do, getting a job, starting show jumping competitions, going to Spain, buying Liza… I owe you so much and I’m going to miss you all the time when I go to college next year.”
I start to grow sad at the thought of having to leave Pelham to go to college.
“I wish I could bring Liza Jane…” I say sadly as I dismount and Liza rubs her head lightly against my arm.
“I know you do but you’ll be going on your next great adventure! You survived without her when you went to Spain as an exchange student…”
“But that was only a month.” I point out as I bring Liza Jane back into the barn and start un-tacking her.
“I understand,” agrees Marie, “I think you’ll be ok though. You’ll be able to come back for Christmas and Easter vacations, right?”
“I hope so, but it depends on where I decide to go…”
Marie laughs. “You always take so long to decide things – that’s one of your traits that hasn’t changed over the years.”
I smile, “Yeah, but I’m not sure what I want to study yet! Science or math – it’s so hard to choose!”
Marie just smiles and continues giving cookies out to all the horses.
I lead Liza back into her stall and feed her a peppermint, “Good girl, Liza.” I hug her tightly around her neck.
I glance at my watch, “I’ve got to go now Marie, I’ve got work in half an hour.”
Marie nods, “bye Niki.”
“Thanks and see you.”
I walk out of the big, clean wooden barn and to my car, pulling out of the drive way I observe Rose Hill Farm. The small brown barn is attached to the silvery indoor ring and the three front pastures have a few horses grazing quietly in them. Marie’s little white house is right next to the barn and another four pastures are behind and to the right (behind the barn) of it.
Although I may leave Rose Hill, I will never forget it. No matter how many turns and changes my life takes, I will always remember the places and people who’ve helped me thrive.
