The lights 

The fans 

The speakers 

The crowd

The competition bringing extreme intimidation 

The judge’s eyes staring into your soul

Everything together is really loud but also very silent, only hearing your heart pound

Entering class Grades 9, Western Pleasure

The entryway like a black hole leading you into the scariest ten minutes of your life 

The feeling of the leather reins in your sweaty hands holding onto a 1200 lb animal 

Others loping past you and you see the perfect head set and slow lope 

And hoping you look the same in the judges eyes 

The best part so far was the delicious vanilla bean cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory 

That melts in your mouth 

But then all at once

The silence slipping through the crowd when the speaker flips on 

The speaker flips on and the exhibitors pat their horse

Everyone hoping for the grand champion ribbon 

But only one lucky girl will get it 

The one lucky girl was me 

This ribbon screamed accomplishment like nothing ever before 

It brought tears to my eyes that spread like wildfire 

All these people hugging, smiling, and congratulating 

This moment, a treasure worth a million dollars