Work Text:
Veronica is sweating under her customary navy show jacket, coattails and all. She mentally checks everything, second, third, even fourth checks. A true horse girl is always prepared.
Girth: Tight.
Tack: Secure.
Makeup: Running down her face and staining her ridiculously expensive jewelled stock.
Hair: Rapidly escaping from her hairnet.
She breathes, once, twice, before feeling her girlfriend’s hand clasped in hers as Heather offers a reassuring squeeze and a warm smile.
“You’ll kill em, babe.”
“I know I will.” Veronica whispers back, before letting go.
She holds her reins with an iron grip, smoothing a few loose strands from Bear’s forelock back into his ear-net as she runs through her test one more time.
This was it. The biggest event Veronica had ever done. Hundreds of lorries, the most expensive. The most challenging pairs to beat in the whole state, maybe even country. Veronica felt like a fool trundling in with her rich girlfriend in the front seat, a $200 horse in the back, a shitty trailer and a rapidly dying hope of a rosette.
Veronica heard the whispers. Junior Olympic team selection, they said. She heard. And she showed up, albeit with a slightly stained pair of breeches and raging sweat stains under her arms. She knew the competition was fierce, but she was ready. She had Heather fucking Chandler by her side, after all!
The duo were efficient, Chandler tacking Bear up with maximum speed as Veronica rushed around putting on stocks and air jackets and tailcoats and rapidly chugging multiple energy drinks.
Even as she mounted, ready for her warmup, she felt her girlfriend's hand a reassuring weight in hers. She would show those rich bitches what a real dressage round was like. Bear warmed up well, readily accepting contact and flying across the school in half-pass and leg yielding as Veronica gently clicked and nudged him forward into extension and collection and a neat backwards motion. Finally, it was their time to go into the ring.
Chandler stripped Bear’s white polo wraps off, while Veronica took several deep breathes. She heard her name being called, and took Bear forward into trot.
Jesus, this ring was crowded. And spooky too? It was by far the hardest test and settings the duo had ever faced. But they were up for the challenge.
Her test went well, Veronica thought. His collection was good, extension the highlight of the day, Bear feeling like he was floating under Veronica’s seat. It wasn’t a winner, though. As she dismounted, her gloved hands finding Heather again as she handed the reins over to the girl in red.
“How did it go?” Heather asked, smiling gently as she led the bay around the beautiful scenery of the show location.
“Not our best.” Veronica signed. “He tripped when I was leg yielding to B then he spooked at the flower box there. Hope the judge didn’t see.”
Heather embraced her girlfriend, giving her a gentle peck on the cheek.
“Babe, I’m sure you did great. We’ll go for ice cream after, my treat.”
“Okay. Let’s just go back to the trailer and get Bear unsaddled and head home. I’m starving and I’m sure I didn’t place.”
They walked slowly back to Veronica’s trailer, both experiencing a well-needed moment of peace after the chaos of the day.
“Seriously though, just borrow my lorry. It’s got 6 partitions, a bed and a kitchen. This shitbox barely even starts.”
“Shut up, Heather.”
The two chuckled. Heather had been on at Veronica for replacing her beat up trailer, but Veronica would never. She loved the thing. Called it her Blue Bird when Heather wasn’t looking.
They started with the process of untacking Bear, Veronica frowning at the sticky sweat buildup under Bear’s pristine white saddlepad. “Seriously Bear? You were in that ring for like.. 10 minutes.”
The couple laughed, ready to load the bay back in and head home. Before they could, a red-faced attendant rushed up to them, looking worried.
“Are you Veronica.. Sawyer?” They said, checking the clipboard pressed to their chest. Veronica gave a nod, her confusion building.
“You’re wanted for prize giving. Please head over to the main arena now. Please hurry, we have to start the ceremony.”
“What place did I come? I thought I placed horribly?” Veronica stared, perplexed.
“First.” The attendant promptly answered, before rushing away, leaving the duo alone.
They embraced, Heather whirling the smaller girl up in the air before bringing her in for a passionate kiss. Veronica’s hands threaded to Heather’s blonde curls as the former gently pushed her away.
“Not now, silly! We’ll have plenty of time for that later.” The girl winked in a suggestive way.
“You have a prize giving to get to! Hurry up and get your helmet back on. I’ll tack Bear up quickly and leg you up. Hurry!”
The brunette did as told, quickly fastening her helmet and rebuttoning her jacket. Heather had the bay tacked up in what felt like a second, and after she had legged the girl in blue up, they walked speedily to the arena. The same red-faced attendant was waiting there, ushering Veronica in quickly to the podium in the arena.
She ran quickly over to the podium as they placed a large rosette and wreath over her head. She beamed with pride, holding her large rosette and trophy and smiling wide for the cameras. As she left the arena to mount in preparation, she saw her girlfriend’s eyes, shining in respect and admiration for her. She gave her the pleasure of a chaste kiss before the hissing attendant ushered her into the arena for her victory lap.
The duo did as told, cantering through the entrance as Veronica pressed her steed into a gallop, the pair flying round the arena as the sea of people around her clapped a thunderous applause. The loudspeaker rang with praises of Veronica. She pressed her head into her beloved equine’s neck as she whispered gently in his ear. “I love you, Bear.” He had been decorated with a colourful sash round his neck and a beautiful new rug. Veronica couldn’t be more proud. After all, this was the horse she had raised from the ground up.
After Veronica had exited the arena to a standing ovation, the pair quickly untacked and loaded Bear into the trailer, setting of quickly in search of the blonde’s promise.
Veronica looked at her girlfriend in the drivers seat, forever glad that they had found each other.
“I don’t think I can love you anymore than I do right now, Heather. My heart will burst.”
“You’ll recover.” The blonde said dryly.
“Anyway, I’ll pay for whatever you want from Dairy Queen. Go crazy, baby.”
“I was wrong.”