just a start.

Our season was set. Groton House in Massachusetts would be our first Intermediate of the year. It was a tough one, but Darren thought that Martha and I would be up to the challenge. We had done Intermediate the previous year, but Martha had pulled a ligament and with her having to take eight months off, we were set back to Preliminary. May 10 I had to write a check. $ 200.00 for the entry, $ 100.00 for stabling, $ 50.00 stall deposit, and $ 17.00 for drug fees.

May 10 was a Tuesday. Tuesdays were galloping days. Martha and I were set to do a 15-minute-trot and three 6-minute canters. We went up to the gallop field with Darren and Huronia, she was going Intermediate the same week as Martha, so they were on the same gallow schedule. I trotted a couple of steps.

"Hey Darren, does she look right to you?"

He was with Huronia and didn't hear me. I trotted a bit more. It had been five minutes.

"Kathleen, hunny, stop, your horse isn't right."

My horse, and my world, came to a crashing halt.