Regaining Hope Part 1

by Natasha
(New Zealand)

Rayne :)

******Note From Author*******
THIS STORY IS NOT ABOUT ME BUT IT IS BASED ON A FRIEND OF MINE, I HAVE RE-CREATED IT AND HOPEFULY MADE IT SOUND MORE INTRIGUEING, IT IS VERY LONG SO THIS IS THE FIRST TWO PAGES, PLEASE COMMENT AND I HOIPE YOU LIKE IT

Regaining Hope

The sun comes up from behind the hill allowing it to cross my eyes. My eyes open I breathe in the fresh air after lying here all 6 months in this hospital bed. My eyes glide open with the sun as it races into the sky bringing a new day. A day that would hopefully shine on me. I heard a scream and my younger sister and mother were upon me smothering me in kisses. I tried to remember what had happened but could only remember that I had fallen and something had gone straight through my hips damaging my liver. I tried hard to remember what it was I feel off when suddenly it clicked. My Horse. She was obviously dead now. As soon as she had chucked me off she had taken off and the last thing I heard before falling unconscious was her screams as I saw a truck smash into her. Her frail lovely Chestnut head splattered with blood.


I look down at my feet. I am lucky to still have them. I looked at my caring and worried mother then at my crying younger sister. I didn't want to ride horses anymore. I cried while mother told me I didn't have to. I was scared and couldn't bare looking at one picture while my little sister tried to show me pictures of Selena my Chestnut Mare that had nearly got my legs amputated. I cried and I cried. I could walk now after being in a coma for 6 months but not for long. I will go and live with my Nan for 2 years then come back. It was nice and peaceful up in the mountains. The birds playing peek a boo with each other. The waterfall rushing down the edge. Me and Nan sitting on her deck watching her new puppies that would now be 7 months old and would have gotten bigger. The only reason I didn?t want to go to Nan?s was because, she was also in love with horses and she had Selenas mother. I would walk around on Love Selenas mother but that was all. I would do nothing else. I remembered when Selena had been born. Her coat dark with wetness and Love licking her clean.


I crawl out of the sheets. I hated that bed and I never wanted to go into it again. I shuddered as I felt the cold lino floor on my feet. A tickle of coldness shot up my spine. My first emotion came after feeling like I was reborn into another world. I tried to stand, my legs wobbled and I collapsed, I truly was like a baby. I would have to learn again from the beginning. I didn?t want that. I was determined to get my clothes on before mother returned with Robyn and she had to help me into my clothes, I was 16 I think I know how to get changed I thought to myself. I held onto a pole that was going through the roof. I pulled myself up and felt wobbly for a second before regaining my balance. I stood up straight slowly testing myself. I could see my clothes. I reached for them and was just able to get them without taking a step. I quickly pulled my short shorts on and my singlet over my under garments. Mum knew my style of ?Random things to wear around the house? all to well. I sat on the edge of my bed and waited. Experimenting on weither I could lift a glass of water to my mouth and drink and weither I could eat without some one helping me. I smiled as I drunk down the water. Another achievement in one day no make that more like 20 minutes. I remembered again my first achievement on a pony. My first pony. I remember her so vividly it was as thou I could touch her. My first achievement on her was jumping her 20cm. I was trotting her towards the jump. I leaned forward into the 2-point position and she jumped it perfectly fine. I also remember mother yelling and screaming, her overjoyed voice telling everyone I had jumped my first 20cm jump at the age of 4.

I see my little sister?s pigtails bopping up and down outside my window. I smile as she enters the room and squeals running up to me and remembering I have an injury. I smile and open my arms to her. ?Don?t worry It doesn?t hurt as much I am just a little stiff? I say smiling down at her while she runs the rest of the way into my arms and squeezes me tight whispering ?I Love You Sara? I smile down and wrap my arms around her and whisper ?I Love You To Robyn? She looks up as mother comes in the door. I see mother?s expression and smile as she realizes I had gotten dressed all by myself. ?Hi Mum? I smile and stand up still a bit wobbly but able to walk over and sit in the chair beside her.? You... You got dressed by yourself?? My over protective mother asks. I just nod and wrap my arms around her smiling.


1 week had passed. I grabbed my suit case. I had decided to go to my Nan?s now she was here. I grabbed my suitcases and chucked them in the boot of the car. I get in slowly. I blow mother and Robyn a kiss and strap myself into the car. I smile as Nan asks ?Are you ready Sara?? I smile and say ?Yes Nan I?m ready? ?Okay Let us be off and into the wind of the mountains? my Nan says. She always had funny comments and remarks like that I just smiled and wound down the window. The wind gushed in my Golden Brunette hair flew back like a flag. It streamed through the car. I felt as if I was already in the mountains.


We arrived at Nan?s driveway. I saw the row of stables up the top and shuddered. Nan put a hand on my knee ?Don?t worry Sara you don?t have to ride? Nan said calming me, soothing me. We got to the garage and I got out of the car just as the wind blew into my face and brushed my hair back. I smiled and looked up into the trees just like normal the birds were paying peek a boo with each other in between the trees and the 2 Horses in the paddock were cantering round ion the paddock. The forest life here was amazing. I noticed Nan had planted some new flowers and went over to smell one. They smelt divine. Nan looked at me ?Hara Flowers? she said and smiled. ?Come on in we will get you settled in? Nan said as she picked up one of my suitcases and carried it to the room I would be staying in for 2 years. Maybe longer if I decided to. I was already glad I had decided to stay with Nan for 2 years. I looked over my Nan?s house. It was the same as it use to be? Brown 3 Stories high the bottom being the horse stables. I smiled and lifted my head to the sky feeling the light breeze on my face and my hair brushing back. Sara would ride but only Selena?s mother. She would make sure I was safe.


The next day I awoke at the break of Dawn. I was stiff and couldn?t move. I jerked my head up and sat up facing the picture of me riding Selena. I smiled that was the good days. Now it was horrible remembering her. I finally got enough strength into me to actually get out of bed and go to the stables to help Nan with the horses and their feeds. I smiled as Selena?s mother shoved her muzzle into my hands and nickered gingerly. ?hello Love? I said to Selena?s mother the chestnut mare whinnied happily at hearing my voice and tossed her head. I stepped backwards as she did so and lost my balance luckily Tuppence my Nan?s chubby little miniature Pony was there and I fell back onto him. I regained my balance and stood up properly walking gingerly over to the feed store where already Nan was hard at work ?Nan?? I said and Nan lifted her head from Chocolate?s feed ?Yes you can do Love? Nan said smiling ?Can I ride her today?? I asked quietly and just loud enough for Nan to hear ?Yes. It is good to get back on as soon as possible but only walking through the tracks okay?? Nan said looking a tad worried but then once again my Nan?s hard indecipherable eyes turned back to their normal state and she continued working on Chocolate?s feed.


I walked out of the feed room Love?s Feed in my hand and Rocket one of Nan?s little 7 month old puppies dawdling at my feet. Rocket is my favorite and Nan had said he could be mine. I had named him Rocket because like a Rocket he was the first out, the first to open his eyes, the first to come and play and run with me. I smiled and he barks happily. Love sticks her liver chestnut head over the stable door and whinnies delightedly at the sign of food. I prop it up in her feed tyre in her stall and she eats away at it. Love was a messy eater and Rocket was eating the bits of feed Love dropped. I giggled and hugged Love. I smiled and went to get dressed into my old riding gear so I could ride Love. I hopped up the stairs carefully and quickly. I felt rather happy today, which for me was unusual. I dragged my old black jodhpurs out of my draw and pulled them on. They were still a bit too long for me but that didn?t matter when you were riding. I pulled on some socks and got my old show helmet from when I was showing on Love. I jogged down the stairs and went to Loves tack room got out her saddle pad, her bridle, her saddle, her grooming kit and her halter. I went to Love?s stall and got her out and lead her to the wash pad where I groomed her liver chestnut coat till it shone. Sara mounted Love, her coat scintillating.

Regaining Hope Part 2

by Natasha
(New Zealand)

Orca, My Puppy :) Random Image.

*****NOTE FROM AUTHOR*****
THIS STORY IS ABOUT MY FRIEND. IF I CATCH THIS STORY ON ANY HORSE SITE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION IT WILL BE REPORTED IMMEDIATLEY, THANK YOU AND PART 3 IS COMING SOON !

REGAINING HOPE PART 2:

Love walked through the gate leading to the well worn trail tracks in which Sara first learnt to ride on. Sara squeezed love on. The mare responded immediately. Love moved into a nice trot. Sara smiled and lifted her face to the light breeze, she let the reins go and let her hands out by her side. The wind seemed to respond to that and blew harder but softer. My hair streamed back and Love moved into a soft canter along the well worn track. I gathered back up the reins and slowed her to a walk once again. Going up hill was hard and we had a long, long way to go before we reached the mountain edge. Love’s ears flicked forward and she sighed. I sighed too. The view was always stunning from this exact ledge were Selena and I had first come on our first ever trail ride through these very same tracks. Now the small conducting stream flows neatly in a southern direction and I can see the birds and a deer drinking from it. I know that it is clear and salt water free and that there is nothing dangerous in their. I am just happy to be feeling the light breeze on my face once more and seeing the long sloping hills roll along in the distance with the big beautiful, vast open landscape surrounding me and Love. It felt as if the wind was calling my name. The sound drifting past my ears ‘…Sara…’ The wind whisps as I lift my head to the wind. It blows my brunette hair back off my shoulders surrounding the air was the swishing of the trees and my brunette hair’s dark swirling pools as the wind brushed through it easily. Sara smiled and turned Love down one of the most worn tracks in the whole trails. It was her favorite and by far the most adventurous.


Love picked her way happily down the well worn trail. Her hooves clopping along the grassy path. She whinnies loudly and her ears prick forward. She remembers this track well. I can feel it vibrating through her. Conquering her heart to go faster. To gallop along the lush grass at the bottom and through the river. I feel her muscles pulsate through her body and I see the water ripple as if its excitement shows on the top of it at seeing the sight of Sara and Love. I see fish jumping out of the water and I squeeze Love on. She arches her neck and accepting the bit. Going into a slow canter. She speeds up when I keep my leg on and then I let her have her head. She lurches forward my hair powering back as the wind whipped against my face. Her hooves entered the water and sprays of droplets sprayed up onto my face and through my hair. I smile and lean forward over her wither. I let my arms move in synchronization to her head speeding through the wind while my hair whips wildly round in dark pools. I look to my left and I see fish jumping out of the water. Their fins powering them on but Loves Arabian blood pushes her on even faster. Her liver bay mane tickles my face as she gains more ground. The water still spraying up and wetting my already wet face. My smile goes bigger showing my perfect white teeth as Love tosses her head and once again lurches forward powering us on up the river.


I smiled even wider as I feel the wind powering into my face, as I feel mine and Loves hearts combine. As Love’s mane bristles lightly against my face I remember Selena, I remember her long, swift, breathtaking strides. I smile but shudder. I rein Love back in to a walk and she obeys immediately. As we plod along through the water I watch as trout dodge away from Love’s feet trying not to get squashed. I giggled and Love tossed her head. I patted her neck calming her down. As we neared a trail I turned her onto it. I sighed as I saw the familiar trees in the exact same place. As Love and I plodded along I watched a beautiful pigeon fly from the trees it swopped up through the tangles of branches to get out into the vast beauty of the landscape surrounding it above the trees. I smiled and lifted my hair to the wind. It immediately brushed back as the wind seemed to respond to my gesture and blew lightly against my face.


As Love continued on I watch the scenery around me. My confidence was already glowering my remnants of the love that I had for horses strengthening with every confident step that Love took. I watched as the sparrows and pigeons poked out of the branches twisting and twirling their dances and songs that they done all day. As Love goes past another trail she moves closer to a narrower pathway. I smile Love had remembered my favorite trails well. As I squeezed lightly a hot searing pain came up my legs and I had to sit back down. I clutched my leg. I guess it isn’t quite fully healed yet. I thought to myself silently. Love stopped immediately as she felt my weight move in the soft saddle. ‘Good Girl’ I say bravely and pat her warm pulsing neck. I sit back up into the correct position once more taking up the reins. I cluck with my tongue twice and love moves on into a steady, sturdy walk. I smiled proudly as Love realizes my sore. She had always been a good mare.


I turn Love around. It was time to go home. Love had a great day and she had successfully regained my confidence to an extent but I still felt wary around horses although I knew that I could never stop loving there absolutely stunning strides, their pulsing muscles, there refined elegance. Love responded immediately and we turned onto my favorite track home. Nan would be expecting me home soon. In time for lunch cross dinner. I smiled as Love nearly read my mind and she moved swiftly into a long, loped, stretched trot. It wasn’t as bouncy but it was comfortable. Love always looked after me even when I wasn’t hurt. She was the most careful mare in the world and she knew it too. I smiled and held onto Love’s perfect silky mane.


As I turned round the bend I squeezed ever so lightly, Love immediately moving into a loped long strided canter settled in for sturdiness and surprisingly it was extremely comfortable. I watched as the birds flitted from one tree to the other. I watched as the small lizards zipped under rocks as they saw Loves perfectly trimmed hoofs coming towards them. I watched as some leaves fell off branches as the birds shook the trees. Smiling I let m hands fall to my side letting Love steer herself. I watched as the breeze blew the soft sweeping trees to the left. The wind was a westerly and it was amazingly warm. I grabbed back the reins as Love down tranzed to a trot to go over a small fallen over tree lying over the trail. Then I saw it. A black shape moving faster than ever through the trees its black pelt shining lighter than Selenas ever had I saw the silk like coat shimmering but then it was gone. Bedazzled by the exhilarating thrill of whatever that animal was I stopped love and she pawed the ground anxiously.


As the shape moved out of sight, nothing came to my lips; nothing came to my brain, just the picture of that bright glare of the black pelt of whatever animal that was. I kept looking in the direction the animal had disappeared to. Love snorted and started walking on. I let her, knowing she would take me home safely. She was a good mare but that animal must have been stunning. I knew that I wanted to find out what it was but I was not yet strong enough to ride Love round the sharp bends that I would have had to endure if I pursued the animal. I kept staring in the direction, blind sighted of how utterly irresistible that glare from the pelt of that animal was. I though hard over what it could be, a deer? No. I kept pondering and settled over unknown.


As Love kept tottering along the well worn trails. My mind shifted into motionless trances . I didn’t know how to control it. The stunning beauty of that animal penetrated all emotional barriers that I had built up. I knew I was doing the wrong thing, I shouldn’t allow my emotions to be flowing so freely, allow them to take over my body so that I am not focusing on my riding. I shook my head and took the reins. I squeezed Love softly and she moved into a canter. Her strides lengthening out to make it more comfortable for me. My eyes go back t their normal indecipherable state. I am pretty sure I have my Nan’s eyes but I keep riding anyway. I lean over Loves withers as she strides on her pelt glowing and her strong effortless strides carrying me with ease. I loved Love with all my Love in my heart.