Flying Changes: An Equestrian Women's Lit Story

By Mary Kit Caelsto

For someone used to not staying very long in one place, having a farm of her own is a new adventure for Zahra. She's used to adventures, and as an African American equestrian, she's also used to going it alone. After all, there weren't many riders who looked like her at the barn where she'd learned to ride. Now, Zahra has left Noble Dreams, changed from show jumping to eventing, and with her friend and business partner, Rose, started Cardinal Oaks where she takes retired racehorses and retrains them for a new career.

With two new horses and about to compete in her first event, Zahra's facing her share of challenges. Her business partner has job trouble, and that could turn their goals for the farm upside down. Zahra wants to help her friend, but she keeps getting pushed away. She wants to stop trying to help, but if she does, what will happen to Cardinal Oaks? And what does it mean if her feelings for Rose are changing?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mary Kit Caelsto
• Release date: Jun 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005979188

Book preview

< Flying Changes >

Cardinal Oaks Book 1

Mary Kit Caelsto

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Also By The Author

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Flying Changes

Fox Hunt Inn

Steady On Course Preview

Correction on Course Preview

Spins Are Wild Preview

About the Author

The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. Permission is granted to make ONE backup copy for archival purposes.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

FLYING CHANGES

Copyright © Mary Kit Caelsto, 2021

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Cover Art ® 2021

Cover art by Epona Author Solutions

Book formatting by Epona Author Solutions (http://eponaauthorsolutions.com)

Electronic Publication Date: June 2021

This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the author.

Please support horse rescue and rescue organizations. You may just find your next best friend.

Also By The Author

Equestrian Women’s Fiction

Noble Dreams Series

Steady On Course

Standing On Course

Correction On Course

Walking On Course

Course Perfect

Shadbelly Faults

Husband On Board

Double Clear

Riding Double

Rompers and Rosettes

Crossed Rails

International Obstacles

Baby Green

Mare Stare

Future Courses

Western Star Series

(women’s fiction w/ romantic elements)

Spins Are Wild

Turn And Burn

In The Chute

Back In The Saddle

Winning It All

Sweet Equestrian Romance

Shiloh’s Second Chance

Racehorses and Romance

Riding Home

Claiming His Irish Trainer

His Irish Proposition

Roping Paige

Fantasy/Magic Realism

The Musimagium

Hidden

Tonic Chords

Of Songs & Horns

Of Songs & Paperwork

Chasing Neptune’s Cat

Draco Magus

The Pegasus Project

Pegasus In Flight

Tempus Magic

Radio Arcanum

Mythology

Racing Luck

From the Deep

Bad Luck Titan

Tyche’s Trials

Called to Rota

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Visit https://marykitcaelsto.com/newsletter and sign up for Mary’s newsletter. She offers free serial stories – one equestrian and one fantasy – to her subscribers.

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Chapter One

A sense of exhilaration filled Zahra as the wind tugged at the errant strands of hair escaping her riding helmet. The big brown horse galloped across the cross-country course, one far more difficult than the jumps she’d managed to set up at home. She steadied herself as they approached a large bank jump, then cued the horse. The gelding took the drop without so much as flicking an ear, though Zahra’s stomach flew into her throat.

Her instructor, Caterina, gave her a thumbs up from the horse she rode along the main track. Looking great, Caterina called. "Remember to steady him after the jumps. He’s an old campaigner, but he still could use some reassurance.

Indeed, the gelding picked up his pace and lengthened his stride as they galloped away from the bank and toward a coop on the way to the water. Zahra eased him back. Being in the field and running cross country was so different from show jumping. Of course in the sport she’d transitioned to, three-day eventing, she’d need to do that, as well as turn in a good dressage score. All new things to learn, and she looked forward to the adventure.

The lake loomed large before her, the three jumps indicating the different levels, spaced before it. Log rails, built with frangible pins so they’d drop if the horse hit them, sat before the lake, the water maybe a couple feet deep. Another jump sat in the middle of the water, with another set on the far bank. Right now she lacked a pond on her property, so coming here to school on Caterina’s course, as well as ride her seasoned campaigners, meant a lot to her.

Zahra set the gelding up for the jump, giving him enough support so he knew she was there, and then they were over the lowest of the three fences, splashing down into the water. Spray flew around her and within just a few strides they were up and over the next obstacle and back on dry ground. She completed the last two jumps, then pulled up next to the barn, walking the gelding and giving him several pats on the neck.

Caterina rode next to her. You’re looking good. Much more fluid than you did when we first began working together. Your fundamentals are there. I think just some more rides, and if you want, you can trailer your horse over. Just let me know when you’ll be riding so I can have someone keep an eye out and make sure we’re off the course.

Thanks. This ride felt much better. That bank though… Zahra shook her head.

Caterina chuckled. Gets everyone. But you grabbed mane and rode it well. Most importantly you didn’t jab him in the mouth.

Zahra’s cell phone chimed. I’ll cool him down. We’re paid up through a few more lessons, right?

I’ll double check, but I think so.

A blue van pulled into the barn’s driveway.

That’s my next lesson. See you next week?

Planning on it. I’ll let you know if anything changes, Zahra replied.

Caterina dismounted and led her horse, a pretty chestnut gelding with four white socks who just needed mileage, back to the barn. Sounds good. She waved at Zahra, then disappeared into the building.

Zahra finished cooling down the gelding, then turned him out into the paddock. She put his bridle away, then brought her saddle and pad out to her truck. A few moments later, she headed not back to her barn, but into town, where she planned to meet Rose, her business partner, at the local cafe.

She arrived a few minutes early and checked her hair in the mirror. She didn’t have too much helmet hair, though she’d cut off her long braids in favor of a much shorter and easier to manage under a riding helmet style. A few too many comments from the judges about her hair had pissed her off and driven her to just take the issue out of the equation all together. It was difficult enough for a black equestrian in this world; she didn’t need anything else to give them an excuse to take off points.

She ordered a nonfat latte with a bit of cinnamon and found a table near the front window. While she waited, she checked her messages. Cora wanted to know if she’d be taking her horses to an upcoming show to get them some experience. Zahra checked her calendar. She had a small, local schooling dressage show on the schedule, hoping to improve her scores in a stress-free environment. She sent back a quick reply that she wouldn’t be able to make it, but to hold a spot for her at the next one. Her first event would be in three months, if Caterina approved it, and she wanted to make sure her horses were ready.

She reviewed her training plans. Sooty, a dark gray 6-year-old gelding would be ready, and James, a bay gelding who had just turned seven, remained at the top of her list. She had a buyer interested in the mare she’d been training, and it looked like the young filly also had a buyer. Right now that left her the two older geldings, and honestly, she wanted to keep one, or both, for her own. They rode so well, and James had made such progress since coming to her farm.

Rose entered the cafe, her dark hair tied back in a ponytail. She wore a light pink blouse and a dark pair of jeans with low boots. She scanned the tables until she saw Zahra and smiled.

Zahra held her breath as Rose walked over. They were business partners, and she’d learned a long time ago to keep business and personal