Letting Go Of The Reins

by applebatofalltrades

All-Around

“Come on, Barley, just you an’ me out here, right?”

The crowd roared, sending shivers down Applejack’s spine. She clasped the reins in her hand tightly, feeling the used leather dig into her skin in that way that grounded her. Her other hand absent-mindedly gripped the horn in front of her torso. 

The announcer’s voice echoed through the arena, introducing Applejack and her steed. The rancher took a deep breath and patted Barley on the side of his neck, rubbing his short, brown coat. He paced from side to side, as he usually did, hopping up the runway sideways. Applejack simply rubbed his neck as he did his own routine. “Alright, sugarcube, let’s do it. Just like any other day, run ‘round the barrels, Barley, run ‘em tight and we’ll win,” she whispered to her horse as they cantered up the tunnel and broke into a gallop, passing the timer.

Adrenaline coursed through Applejack’s veins as she pressed her hat down on her head, the same routine she did at the beginning of each competition. It was all about doing the same thing every time but better. She wasn’t usually one to believe in superstitions, but she knew that she had to do her routine or she would mess up. 

Her legs tightened around Barley’s flanks,  cueing him to turn as the pair approached the first barrel. Her boots, which were spurred, did not touch his body, however. She made sure of that. As she felt the bumps become more apparent, Applejack’s mind was empty, only focused on the area in front of her.

Come on, boy, dig in and turn. As if he could read Applejack’s thoughts, Barley turned tightly around the barrel. The perfect turn as far as Applejack was aware. Just like they had practiced.

Barrel racing was very different from saddle bronc riding – that much Applejack could tell anyone. Here, with her horse, working together as a team, as a unit. It was almost heavenly. There was nothing else that could quite compare to the feeling of feeling the perfect run with your horse. Your partner. 

Long nights, early mornings, sore legs, calloused hands. That’s what it meant to be a rider, to be a real equestrian. It was more than that to her, though. There was more than just practicing and riding; there was the bonding, too. The hours of spending time together, of brushing Barley’s mane and talking to him. Hours of feeding him and cleaning out his hooves and his stable. They had a connection that nobody that didn’t have a horse could understand. 

Right on time, they turned the second barrel, although Barley’s gait was a bit off. The tiniest bit, but it was extremely apparent to Applejack, so she adjusted her boots in the stirrups. The barrel skimmed against Applejack’s knee as she did so, but did not tip over thanks to her quick thinking. She clenched her jaw as she gave Barley a firm slap on the side of his shoulder and kicked her feet against his flanks softly enough for him to notice the poke of the spurs, enticing the equine to speed up his gallop.

She loved saddle bronc riding, sure, but being a team with her horse was an experience unlike any other. Barrel racing was her preferred rodeo event, and as Barley snorted beneath her, the world slowed down as they approached the last barrel. She sighed, adjusting the rein in her hand and whistling sharply as she always did when approaching the last turn. Barley’s ears stiffened as she did so, his full attention on Applejack. “C’mon, Barley! Last sprint. Bring it home, boy!”

Hooves thundered under the pair. Applejack grit her teeth and leaned forward, cutting down the air resistance as much as she could as she pressed Barley to his fastest speed. Her legs raised her from her saddle as she practically leaned onto Barley’s neck, the duo going as fast as they could. Applejack’s braid bounced up and down behind her, rhythmically whipping her back as if to speed her up, too.

They crossed the scoreline, and Applejack eased her legs, pulling on Barley's reins and massaging his neck all the same. As the stallion slowed to a trot, the announcers expressed their awe for the duo's run. 

"Wow! What a run by Applejack and Barley!" the first one exclaimed as his voice was nearly drowned out by the cheering crowd. 

"Seventeen twenty-two! That will put them in first place, only two-tenths of a second in front of Strawberry Sunrise and Whippy! What a way to end it!" 

Applejack grinned and scratched the side of Barley's head. "Good job, boy," she muttered as she let him rest for a moment. Behind her, the other two competitors who podiumed alongside her each trotted up near her, getting ready to go back out into the arena and run a victory lap with her fellow competitors. 

Next to her, a creamy white Palomino with light blonde splotches in her coat cantered up next to Barley. Both horses snorted at each other, shaking their heads in greeting. Applejack simply stared at the horse's rider. 

"Not bad, AJ," the girl commented with a smile, letting her free hand rest on her belt buckle. "Another win. Must be nice being the all-around cowgirl again, huh?" 

"Don't call me that," Applejack shot back as she ran her fingers through Barley’s black and white mane. She glared at Strawberry Sunrise, her long-time rival, and scowled. "Y'aint my friend." 

Strawberry lifted her hand, still gripping the rein and gave her best innocent pout. "Aw shucks, Applejack. I know you're a sore loser, but you're a sore winner, too?" 

Applejack ignored her, instead opting to listen for their cue to advance. The announcers were about to introduce the winners, so she cued Barley to trot forward and back out the tunnel. As she made her way back out the tunnel, flanked by Strawberry and Applejack’s cousin, Apple Fritter, she waved to the roaring audience with a big smile on her face. She could make out her own family members whooping proudly right at the fence. After some cheering and proud cantering in circles, the trio went back into the tunnel, free to watch the other events or go home.

“Good job, AJ,” Apple Fritter congratulated her as she dismounted her golden yellow horse. Her boots clicked as they hit the ground and she turned to smile at her cousin. “You an’ Barley are lookin’ like a dream team out there, cuz.”

Applejack dismounted off of Barley. The large, but sleek horse whinnied in response, so she rubbed the side of his face. “Thanks, Fritter. Dory’s lookin’ real good out there. Y’all been trainin’ her good?”

Apple Fritter nodded, proudly stroking her horse’s mane. “Yup! Every mornin’ and night, just like you recommended, cuz! Workin’ wonders!” Dory whinnied loudly and shook out her mane, causing Apple Fritter to giggle. “Right, girl, you’ve been doin’ fantastic!”

Applejack stuck out her hand for Dory to smell. The mare did so and gently nibbled on Applejack’s hand. She pressed her hand on the horse’s muzzle and rubbed. “Third place, eh? Gettin’ better, Fritter. Feels nice to share the podium with ya.”

The younger girl nodded in response. “Sure does, cuz! Although, I wish I got a prize for it,” she admitted, rubbing the back of her neck.

“Aw shucks, Fritter. Ya still get some prize money!”

“I know, cuz, but I wish I could get a buckle like yours or a prize saddle or somethin’.”

Applejack guffawed. "Well, you'll get there someday," she reassured her, giving the girl a pat on the shoulder. “Just gotta compete in some more events."

Dory whinnied in what seemed like a protest, which got Apple Fritter to giggle. "Not sure, cuz. I ain't too good at anythin' else." 

"Aw, that ain't true," Applejack reassured. "I've seen you with a lasso. You're pretty darn accurate." 

"Naw," Apple Fritter mumbled. "Still gotta get some practice in, cuz, but maybe you can show me the ropes?" 

Regardless of if the pun was intentional, Applejack snorted. "Sure thing, Fritter. You're welcome to stop by any time, ya hear?" Once Apple Fritter nodded with a smile, Applejack patted Dory's head gently. "Now, if y'all'll excuse me, I gotta pick up my buckle." 

Apple Fritter nodded and gave Barley a rub on his muzzle for good measure. "Sure thing, cuz! I'll see ya later, I've gotta stop by y'all's place to pick somethin' up and leave Dory for the weekend on account of the repairs on our stable." 

"Alright, Fritter, I'll see ya then. You're stickin' around for dinner, ain't ya? Granny's makin' lamb chops," Applejack told her with a grin. Truth be told, she wanted her cousin there so she could ignore Strawberry on the high chance that she would show up. 

Fritter nodded. "That's right, cuz. Although, ain't that Strawberry girl gonna come, too? She always leaves her horse at yer place," she pointed out, causing Applejack to frown in annoyance. 

"Maybe," Applejack admitted, rubbing the brim of her hat with no real purpose. "Just don't talk to 'er or anythin', I'd prefer if she leaves as quick as she leaves that Whippy of hers." 

The animosity between Strawberry and Applejack was no secret; in fact, the pair never tried to hide it. They always argued and were anything but friendly to each other. Even so, Strawberry Sunrise always chose to leave her horse at Applejack's family's stable. For what reason? Applejack could only guess at the answer, but she was mostly sure it was because Strawberry was the worst. 

For this reason, Apple Fritter simply smiled at Applejack's answer and nodded. Once upon a time, she might have mentioned that Strawberry isn't as bad as her cousin made her out to seem, but that only ever sent Applejack into a long-winded tangent about her rival—one that left her panting and red-faced with anger and possibly a lack of oxygen. 

After a final wave goodbye to Apple Fritter and Dory, Applejack pulled on Barley's lead and led him to the exit and back out to the main area to meet her family. She eyed Strawberry, who was petting her horse and talking to someone Applejack didn't know by name. Applejack huffed and walked faster. 

It didn't take long for Applejack to meet up with her family. Apple Bloom, dressed in a similar fashion to her older sister, ran up to her and jumped into her arms, whooping loudly. Her own hat fell off her head and onto the dirt floor, but the younger girl didn't seem to mind. 

"You did great, Applejack!" Apple Bloom exclaimed as she pulled away from Applejack with a huge smile. "We all won something today. I won first in my event, you won first in all of yours, and Macky placed second in his third!" 

Applejack grinned as Apple Bloom ran back to Big Mac, who led a smaller white and black mare and a larger light brown stallion, and grabbed a certificate, showing it off to her sister. On it, a black and white image of a horse rearing took up the centre, while the words ‘16U Breakaway Roping Champion’ were printed into it. A rather strange award, but a welcome one nonetheless. The prize money was nothing to sneeze at, either.

Applejack whistled lowly and picked up Apple Bloom's hat. “Good job, sis! What was your time on that?”

“Four-oh-three!” Apple Bloom all but yelled. “I beat the other girl by almost a full second!”

With a smile, Applejack nodded and placed the hat back on her sister's head. “Great job, sis! Told ya the lassoin’ practice’d pay off.”

“Yeah. Now ask Macky how he did! All-around cowboy over there!”

Applejack turned to Big Mac with raised eyebrows and a grin. “All-around? Well, look at ya go, ya ol’ bulldogger! Third year in a row, huh?”

Big Mac, with the same casual smile he always sported, nodded. “Eeyup.”

“Hoowee!” Applejack guffawed, punching her brother square in the shoulder. “What, bull-ridin’ and bulldoggin’? What’s next,” she snorted, “bullshittin’?”

The tall, young man chuckled lowly. “Nope. Got my buckle n’ everythin’,” he told her, gesturing at the larger horse next to him who held the alleged belt buckle in a bag hung from the horn on the saddle. “You won all-around too, right?”

Proudly, Applejack nodded. “Yup! Won first in bronc ridin’, breakaway, and barrel racin’, although I reckon I didn’t need to tell ya about that last one.”

“Go get yer buckle, then,” Big Mac instructed, holding out his other hand. “I’ll hold Barley. They’re givin’ out a hefty cash prize for All-Around, too. You’ll get some good money.”

Applejack handed the reins over to Big Mac and gave Barley a pat on the neck. “Alright, I’ll be back, boy, and I’ll buy you some of that hay ya really like, alright?”

Barley whinnied in response.

Ten thousand dollars certainly made the work worth it. At least, Applejack thought so. She knew all about working hard and cashing in the payoff—quite literally with rodeo—and despite the hefty money, only a fraction would actually stay with her. The rest would go toward working even harder for the next rodeo.

Still, she was happy with that. Applejack didn’t do rodeo for the money, or for the prizes. Sure, it was nice, and definitely a good incentive to keep going, but she did it for herself. A way to keep busy, as her Granny once said. “Workin’ hard so you don’t got hard workin’,” she said. Whatever that meant.

Still, Applejack put the money she had ended up being able to keep for herself and further split it in two. One for her savings and one for spending. Most of it went into the former category. It was already behind her—another buckle on her shelf, another accomplishment to be proud of—as she sat in the stable brushing Barley’s coat. 

Unfortunately for her, she had picked the worst possible time to care for her horse. 

“Pampering the prized stallion?” an annoyingly (and unfortunately) familiar voice called out from the other stall.

Applejack sighed and rolled her eyes. “Why are you even here, Sunrise? It really doesn’t take that long to drop off a horse.”

She couldn’t see her, but Applejack could just imagine Strawberry’s face from the way she snorted. “I just want Whippy to remember that I’m coming to feed and work her every day now,” she answered, her voice slightly muffled by the fence between them that Applejack had long since turned into solid planks. She just really didn’t like how Strawberry would look through the gaps at her, and she always put her horse next to Applejack’s if she could. “I hope you don’t mind, AJ.”

“Don’t call me that,” Applejack growled. “And why even have ‘er here, anyway? You’re just makin’ a hassle of comin’ here when you could keep ‘er at your place.”

Truth be told, Applejack didn’t want Strawberry at her ranch. Strawberry probably knew that.

“You guys have nicer stables,” Strawberry defended innocently. “I just want what’s best for Whippy.”

It’d be best for all of us if ya stayed away, Applejack thought irritably. She ran the brush angrily through Barley’s coat, causing the stallion to nicker in rebuttal. “Well, y’ain’t allowed to be here past sundown, so it’d be best if ya just went home now,” Applejack reminded her. 

“I know, I know,” Strawberry whined in that mocking way. “But I figured… if you’re still here, then—”

“—Well, how’s about that?” Applejack interjected, standing straight up. “I think I hear the dinner bell. Just about time, too.” Leaning over the fence on her stomach, she tugged at Strawberry’s shirt. “C’mon, git, ya pest.” Despite the teasing words, she made a point to sound serious. 

Strawberry glared at Applejack. “Alright, alright, fine. Sheesh.” With a groan, she placed her hands on her knees and pushed herself up. “I’ll be back tomorrow morning to take her for a ride.”

Despite herself, Applejack cocked her head. “Uh, you okay?” she asked, referring to her groaning.

“Yeah, just sore. Don’t tell me you care.”

“I don’t,” Applejack shot back. “But since ya are a payin’ client, I gotta make sure you’re alright. Apple family hospitality, y’know?”

Strawberry grinned. “Sure do.” With a wave of her hand, Strawberry opened the latch to the stall and walked out after rubbing Whippy’s muzzle. “I'm fine, though. See ya tomorrow, Applejack. Tell your cousin I say hi.”

Applejack feigned a smile and waved back much too enthusiastically. “I won’t!” she called out to Strawberry who had just turned her back and walked casually out of the stable. With a sigh, she turned back to Barley and gave him a soft kiss on the nose. “I really hate that girl, boy.”

Barley snorted in response.

“Yeah, her horse is awful pretty, though,” Applejack reluctantly admitted, gazing at the mare in the next stall over. She gazed into Whippy’s eyes, then sighed and placed a hand on the fence between both horses and skillfully vaulted over it.

“Whaddya think, boy? She look nicer with me?” Applejack asked, almost laughing at herself. She extended a hand, and Whippy allowed her to caress her. They were well acquainted, after all. Strawberry had been leaving her horse with Applejack for about as long as Applejack had known her, which was a while.

Barley sputtered and shook out his mane. 

Applejack made sure both horses had feed in their troughs before getting out of their space. “I guess you’re right, ‘Ley.”

And right he was. At least for a horse who couldn't speak and didn't have human levels of sentience. 

With a proper wave goodbye to all the horses in the stable, Applejack opened the front door and left. For a moment, she feared that Strawberry would have been waiting to annoy her some more, but she was pleasantly relieved when the redhead was nowhere to be seen. 

The rest of her evening could just be good old family time. Her favourite. Applejack smiled as she walked down the gravelly path that led to her house. Nothing about family time could sour her mood.