Cowgirl Is a State of Mind
by
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Riley felt ready when the announcer called her name. She had already positioned her gelding, Novocain, where she wanted him as the competitor before her exited the arena. She was aware of the announcer still speaking but was no longer listening – her complete focus was on her riding and the horse under her.
Novocain began to hop, almost in place, as they came closer to the mouth of the alley. He was ready to go, coiled like a spring, waiting for her to let him go. She put all her weight in the stirrups as they passed the protruding fence so it no longer posed a danger of catching her leg. Her seat and upper body switched to a forward position, and she released the firm hold on the reins. Novocain burst into a full run immediately.
With her seat and legs she encouraged the gelding to run. Both hands were on the reins to help guide and steady him, with her eyes fixed on the point just before the first barrel where she wanted to be when she would ask him to start the turn. When she cued him at that point he responded immediately; he checked his momentum and wrapped the barrel so closely her leg skimmed the top all the way around. As he straightened from the turn his powerful hind end pushed away and he covered the ground quickly to the second barrel. She sat deep in her saddle and cued him again. He gathered his body to shorten his stride and made a pretty arc around the barrel, wasting no time.
As they left the second barrel the crowd was silent, watching the near flawless run unfolding. Riley knew that although Novocain was running hard and fast, he was also running carelessly, and she feared he would crowd the last barrel. They were covering ground to it very quickly and she caught herself over analyzing, debating how much to let him turn it on his own. As they closed in on the barrel she failed to raise her inside hand or sit back to cue him to gather for the turn. Her body reacted by stiffening as she realized she was neglecting to ride her horse.
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About the Book
Many things look easier than they really are. Barrel racing, ramshackle farm restoration and relationships are no exceptions, and all three are intertwined in this heartwarming novel.
Split between the security of her job in a big city and longing for country simplicity, it takes a detour during a string of weekend rodeos to set in motion changes for Riley Montgomery. Riley follows her heart and buys a run-down farm, only to find that living in the country isn’t what she expected. Her rookie mishaps embarrass her and amuses the locals, and further complicating things is the strained relationship that develops with the town’s respected jack-of-alltrades, Jay Tapperd. Riley and Jay form the kind of bond where one would do anything for the other, but Jay doggedly stays out of reach emotionally. And although Jay helps her through a major setback, in the end it’s Riley’s cowgirl spirit that drives her to roll up her sleeves and take charge of her life once again.
“Not only do you feel the excitement and disappointments that Riley experiences but you feel her sheer determination as well. A must read for every horse enthusiast!” says Shelley Schaefer, producer of Maverick Rodeos and Turn N Burn Barrel Races.