HomeTown Glory - Chapter 1

by Caroline
(Kildeer, IL)

Hometown Glory\Glory

Hometown Glory\Glory

I could hear the crowd cheering. They sounded like they were cheering for the scrawny bay thoroughbred. But I knew they were actually cheering for Black Diamond. The most famous horse here in my town. But I wasn't yelling for Black Diamond, I was yelling for the brown boy. Hometown Glory. Even his name was magical. He had a nice even colored bay coat and a flowing black mane and tail. Finally. The race had ended. Diamond in first, Glory in third. He did great. Except nobody else thought that except me. Cause Glory was my horse. Well my Dad's. But still technically mine.

"How was the race Ally?" Dad asked after I climbed into his truck. "Good. Glory came in third." I said. I look back and saw the trailer rocking back and forth with Glory in it. He didn't seem to care. He never cared. I smiled. "Third! God this horse is doing terrible this season! I might as well sell to the slaughter house if he keeps going up like this!" Dad snapped out. I held my breath. "No he can't perfect!" I said loudly. I could feel tears coming in but held them back.

"No." Dad jerked the car to a stop and climbed out. He threw the lead rope to me when I was out too. "Get Glory in the round corral." He instructed. He didn't say anything after that. Just walked inside the horse. Probably calling the nearest man, desperate enough to buy the 5 year old. He was still young.

I put on the hook on Glory's lead rope and led him to the corral. I remember setting up small X's and trying to make him jump them. I smiled and laughed. Glory looked at me and gave me the cute eyes he always did when he didn't understand me. Then an idea popped to my head quickly. What if I trained Glory to jump and Dad would change his mind! I quickly trotted with the horse to cross ties and tacked him up.

He looked beautiful in a jumping saddle. I led him to a mounting block and jumped on. He felt really tall from here. From there on,and trotted him through poles in the field and trotted a super small X. I knew Glory was going to be a jumper.

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Hometown Glory - Chapter 2

by Caroline
(Kildeer, IL)

I woke up feeling the chill on my toes. I looked out the window. Pasture, barn. Glory. I started to panic and ran downstairs. "What are you in a hurry for young lady?" Dad asked. "Can't talk now." I answered. I really didn't want to be mean to Dad but right now, Glory was more important.

I shot open the door and sprinted to the small barn that housed my racehorse. The doors were already opened. And the trailer was out on the driveway. Did he sell him already!? My mind raced as I power-walked to his stall. I heard 3 distant nickers. I finally let go of my breath. Glory was here. He was just munching on some oats. I smiled and went to the tack room.

The tack room was outside though in the shed because we didn't have any room in the barn. Just 4 stalls and a feeding room. I grabbed the tack and put it on a hook.

After Glory stopped eating, I grabbed him from the stall and cross tied him. He stood there with sleepy eyes. I smiled and put on his pads and saddle and bridle. After a few minutes, He was already cantering over a few poles. I decided to take him out in the field, maybe to gallop a little and test out his speed. Just to see if he could win 1st place in the next race.

I walked him out to the open field that was behind all the pastures. It was huge. Sometimes Glory's jockeys came to our ranch and tested out his gallop. I started to kick and squeeze. He galloped instantly. I was pulled back a little but shot into the two point position.

Just then, I saw geese honking and flying away. I knew Glory wouldn't spook from them. But he reacted a lot more than I expected. Glory started to gallop even faster. Water started to form in my eyes. I was blurred my the tears. A huge tree appeared. It was too late to pull left or right and get out of its sight.

He stopped so quickly Glory started to tangle over his own legs. I was violently thrown off into the tree. When I landed my leg was throbbing furiously. I held back tears. I looked up blurred by the darkness and saw Glory panicking terribly. The reins got caught on the fallen tree bark. Somehow he managed to rip off the bridle and bolt away terrified. Everything blacked out.

I opened my eyes. I saw 3 nurses looking at me. "Wha. Where am I?" I asked. My voice was raspy.

"In the hospital." One blond haired nurse said.

My leg started to throb again. "Where's Glory?" I asked. I started to worry a little. "Who hon?" The blond said again.

"My Horse."

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Hometown Glory - Chapter 3

by Caroline
(Kildeer, IL)

"You got a horse?" The nurse asked. I nodded and noticed my leg was tied up on one of those slings like for horses. "What, what happened to my leg?" I asked. " Your horse broke it." The nurse suddenly started to get serious. "Let me get some water for you." She walked out.

I saw my Dad outside talking to her. They were talking. "I think you really need to sell that horse. It could of killed your daughter." A more feminine voice said. "I've been thinking the same thing about the racehorse. He's not getting us money, not even a dollar." Dad agreed. My eyes blurred up with tears. I can't believe he'd say that! Suddenly Dad came in. "Why are you crying?" He asked. "You want to sell Glory. My horse. My only friend." I said briskly, wiping the tears away with the back of my hand. "DO NOT talk about it in public!" Dad yelled quietly. "Were going home." He pushed the doors open and took me with him.

Normally watching The Saddle Club helped me. Watching them ride so badly, I just wanted to jump in the tv and show them good riding. Today I didn't feel like doing any of that.

I quietly sat in the stall. Glory's stall. I just watched him eat for what felt like hours. He turned around right when I sat down though. Glory nuzzled my shoulder like he knew what was wrong. "I know, I don't want him to sell you either." I hugged his head and stood up. "Ow!" My leg started to throb. Just a little though. I can walk in this. I though. But I was wrong. It started to get numb and it felt like it was cut off. Before I even got outside of the doorway, I collapsed.

I shook my cold body in the dark light. Ally was in my stall for a little. She looked sad, so I nuzzled her. After a while, she left. But before she could get out of my stall she suddenly fell on the floor. I started to slowly realize and as I did I panicked more. I sniffed Ally. Her body was cold like ice. The door was open just enough for me to slip out. Ally needed help. I carefully got out, not stepping on her. I rushed right away to where the Yelling Man was.

Yelling Man was in the window, cleaning his buckets. I snorted and signaled toward the barn. He looked up and his eyes got so wide, I thought they were going to pop out! Yelling Man cantered through the door and grabbed me. Before he could hit me, I slipped through and cantered toward the barn. He followed me and when he saw Ally on the ground, he went right up to her and picked her up. I was put away and waited for Ally.

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