When the Underdog Rises: Ash's Awakening

er status, Charlotte m

y matriarch, the "patron saint" of our horse-br

ete in the "Fo

amily trial, a test of worthiness to lead th

e winner the matriarch's "blessing" and

tire Southern equestrian society bought into it.

e estate was packed. The air was heavy wit

center of the grounds. The stallion had recovered, but he lacked his

tatue of our great-great-gran

proclaimed, her voice echoing in the silenc

was a series of complex dressage movements, which she a

" a notoriously difficult sequence of five towering j

d. He cleared the first j

d held i

cleared it, but just barely, his hind le

ned. The highest, t

d him, screamin

ut at the last second, he refused. He skidded

in a heap i

ughter, rippled through the crowd. The prod

hung thick

was m

uiet, powerful grace that commanded at

mother, my voice a low, firm whisper mean

is trying to stea

ed Ash towar