Perfect Horse

by Raegan
(Wisconsin)

Chapter one, Trail Ride:


I Walked out onto my driveway and scanned the cracked road. Slowly, over the summer heat waves rising up over the black top I saw the bright pink glistening top of Sophia's helmet. Her matching pink bike came into view and she waved her hand at me, “Lily, hey!” My mouth broke into a smile and I waved back. She glided down the hill and turned to our driveway.
I jogged over to her and immediately asked, “Do you wanna mess around with the horses?” My family had a huge horse ranch with 63 horses. Most of them were boarders but a few were my families’. I had a feisty POA named turnip and an even naughtier Shetland pony named squeaks.
“You know it!” She replied enthusiastically and we bolted toward the small barn that held all my family's horses. My older sister's Hanoverian gelding swung his head over the stall begging for a scratch between the ears. “Oh, Benny!” Sophia chuckled, combing her fingers between his forelock. He whinnied and tossed his head in the air and we laughed. In the stall across from him was trigger, my dad's dun quarter horse. Then it was Cindy, Bonnie, and Phillip, and then squeaks and turnip.
“Can you go get the grooming boxes and I’ll set up the cross ties?” I asked Sophia.
“Yup!” She chirped and skipped to the tack room. I grabbed turnips lead rope and clipped it to his halter, then I attached it to the metal rings in the aisle way and did the same to the other side. I repeated the process to squeaks. Sophia walked out of the tack room and ducked under the lead line just as I finished hooking up the horses.
“Here,” she handed me the bright pink grooming box that belonged to turnip and she started squeak’s while I brushed turnip. I could easily reach the top of his back with the curry comb whereas Sophia practically had to bend over to flick the dust from squeaks shoulder. I brushed the snarls from turnips tangled mane and I was ready for tack. Sophia already had squeaks saddle pad on and was walking back with his saddle. I placed the grooming box under Turnips saddle rack and pulled out his sage green saddle pad. It was a little dusty but the color was lovely, vibrant and it screamed trail rides. With the saddle pad slung across my left arm I lifted the lid of a small black tote. With my fingers I plucked two half circle shaped treats and cupped them in my palm. On my way back to turnip I plopped one down in Sophia's hand and she held it out to squeaks who gobbled it up happily. Turnip slowly munched on his carrot flavored treat as his ears flicked back and forth listening to the birds chirp outside the barn.
After I had turnips saddle and bridle on it was time to go riding. We fastened our helmets and hopped on. Even though squeaks was really short and wouldn’t be able to carry everyone Sophia rode him. She was short for her age and as skinny as a twig. We trotted down the dust path along the white fences where the boarders were held. Benny, a Friesian stallion whinnied to us and both squeaks and turnip whinnied back. Amara, a Dutch warmblood mare cantered along the fence with us and a few other horses joined her. They were cut off when the fence ended, and we entered the woods.
“Wow, the woods are really lively today.” Sophia muttered.
“Yeah.” I whispered back. The trees provided a cloak for us, but the sunlight still danced and played on the forest floor. The leaves were a vibrant green and twirled in the wind, casting shadows everywhere.
“Do you want to canter?” I asked Sophia once we came to a straight piece of trail.
“Of course!” She half-yelled. And we were off. It was funny how fast squeaks could run with his short legs, but he kept up with turnip and even passed him a few times. After about two minutes we slowed to a trot, then a walk and rested. I pulled a granola bar out of my backpack and offered one to Sophia and we munched on them quietly.
“So, did you ask your dad about getting a horse and keeping him at my place?” I started the conversation.
“Yeah, but he basically said no. I mean, even though I told him about the boarding cost being free he thought it would be super expensive and with the new car we just bought and Emily's sweet 16 coming up he thought it wouldn't be a good time to invest more money in something.” She looked down and huffed.
“Yeah, I understand that but it would be perfect. Squeaks isn’t always going to be able to take your weight and the other horses aren’t trained enough to be trail buddies. You need a horse of your own, soph. Something that you could ride and feel absolutely free.” I countered.
“I’ll tell him that, but you keep your eye out for horses. He’d feel better with a professional eye.” Sophia laughed.
“Ha! Oh please, I'm hardly a professional.” I was smiling.


Chapter two, Only 750 Dollars:

“Ahhhhhh.” I yawned and stretched out my arms to the sky. I was tired after that ride yesterday and Sophia had left at eight o’ clock. The stairs creaked under my feet as I descended them. I found my parents sitting at the table, each with a cup of coffee. Their eyebrows looked concerned as they read a text from my dad's phone.
“Mornin’.” I grumbled, my voice was groggy, and I was still half asleep.
“Hey.”
“Good morning.”
They both responded but didn't look up, their eyes were glued to the phone. “What's wrong?”
My mom held up her hand to signal me to wait a second, then started talking. “Do you know Mr. McTrevor? He owns the thoroughbred marina?” I nodded my head, “Well we just got a text that he died three days ago, and his sister is putting the horse up for sale.”
“What! Really! Can we buy her?” I exclaimed, then looked down as my cheeks reddened because I had just heard that someone my family knew died and all I cared about was the horse.
“I don't think so. We don't have a stall left in our barn and each of us has a horse, you have two. Although she is going for an amazing price of only 750 dollars. The sister must not know a lot about horses.” My mom explained skeptically.
My dad cut in, “And you know marina is an amazing horse. She can jump, do a little bit of barrels, pull sleighs and carts, and she's great for trails. I don't know why she would be going for so cheap. I mean, Mr. McTrevor's sister must have known or researched a little about horses to know that a nice thoroughbred like Marina could go for at least 2,000.”
Then it was like something clicked in my brain. I bolted upstairs, combed my hair, brushed my teeth, and pulled on a pair of worn leggings and an oversized t-shirt. On my way downstairs I stepped into my crocs and said, “I have the perfect idea BRB!”
“Wait! Li-,” My mom was cut off when I shut the door. Sprinting across the lawn and to the barn I put on a turnips bridle and mounted him bareback. We then cantered down the road. The air was chilly and bit at my bare arms even though it was the middle of summer.
“Hey turnip, sorry I had to get ya running before breakfast, but I have the perfect Idea!” I clutched the reins and a chunk of turnips mane as we slowed to a trot in front of Sophia's house.
“Sophia!” I called Sophia's name as I pounded on her front door.
“What...” She cracked the door, groggy and tired eyed she asked me.
“I found the perfect horse for you!” And I really had.

Comment if you want more, I'll be working on it!