Rescued - Part 9
by Becky
I sat down in the viewing area next to the arena and watched Hunter warm up. He was riding an amazing dark chestnut mare with a think stripe curving back and forth on its head and 4 white socks. Hunter had impeccable position. He rode by me and gave a a flash of a smile, making me realize u wasn't staring at the horse any longer... But Hunter.
"He's never gonna fall for you, you know. You're not as great a rider as him and... Well... You just aren't his type." I looked over my shoulder at a tall brunet with arms crossed daring out at the arena. I may be new... But I didn't like it when people tried to trample over me.
"I'm sorry." I said looking back at her," who are you? And who asked for your opinion?" I turned back around to watch as Hunter carefully piloted his mare over a small cross rail.
"I'm not giving my opinion," huffed the brunet," I'm just stating obvious facts that you should pay attention to." When I didn't answer her last remark she stalked off out the door leading back into the barn.
I disregarded everything the girl had talked about and focused back on Hunter's lean body going in and out of two point while jumping. Hunter guided the mare over on last vertical about 3ft and walked her towards where I was seated.
"How do u like her?" Hunter said with a wide grin.
"Well she's amazing from what I saw!"
"She is amazing! She might be a school horse here. Meet me in the cross ties where u tacked up yesterday." Hunter said nodding his head in the direction he wanted me to go. I walked out to the cross ties and watched Hunter walk the mare up to me.
"What breed is she?"
"Ella is a 7 year old Selle Francais."
"Wow. She's amazing." I raised my hand to pet her muzzle.
"She's also a sweetheart." Hunter sad giving a small laugh.
I helped Hunter untack and groom Ella holding small talk about riding and our favorite types of horses. Once Ella had been taken care of and put away, Hunter ran back into the tack room.
I walked in and saw him shuffling through is tack truck and pulling out horse shampoo, brushes, sponges, and everything needed to clean up a horse for a show.
"What are you doing?" I leaned in the doorway and watched him put together everything he wanted.
"Well if we want to clean up those horses you rescued, we need supplies!"
"We?" I said laughing. Although I wasn't disappointed at all.
"Well, by the look of it, your gonna need some help to get them tip top shape." He put all the cleaning stuff into a bucket and grabbed another bucket off of the shelf.
"Let's go clean up those horses and get them shining!"
I laughed and followed Hunter to his car.
We drove back to my house In silence, luckily it wasn't awkward. I just quietly watched the trees go thinking to myself.
Hunter and I went through the barn to the pastures to grab two of the three horses to bathe. I grabbed the gray and Hunter chose the Chestnut.
We found a hose and tied the horses to the tie rack on the side of the barn. We each grabbed a bucket and filled it with water and added soap. We started out scrubbing the horses in silence.
"Have you come up with names for them yet?" Hunter looked over the back of the chestnut.
"Do u wanna help me choose names?" As I was scrubbing the gray's coat more and more, it started to become less gray and more creamy silk colored.
"Hey Hunter! Come here! Look at this guys coat color!" Hunter came next to me and saw the amazing coat color. He looked at the horses skin color.
"He had pink skin, he's a cremello, not gray. Your one lucky girl here!"
"Well let's finish getting these horses cleaned up and dried off."
We continued scrubbing off dirt and dried mud for the skinny horses' fur as skin. By the end the cremello horse, although still having shaggy hair, looked much better and his coat finally had shine to it. I looked over at the chestnut Hunter had been bathing and he got the a red shine out of the chestnut's coat.
"Peanut..." I looked at Hunter.
"Haha what?"
"That's what I'll name her... Peanut. I think it's fitting."
"Alright then. Whatever makes you happy Hunter." I said laughing at him.
I then started thinking of names for the cremello gelding...
"Benedetto."
"Now it's my turn to ask. What?"
"It means blessed one. I nicknamed one of my ex boyfriends that haha. Guess that didn't end well."
"Oh so you'll have reminder of some guy that you broke up with? That's nice." Hunter crossed his arm and leaned against the barn.
I just laughed it off and led Benedetto, or Ben as I decided, back to the pasture to continue grazing. Hunter did the same and then we grabbed the little bay gelding out and started working the clumps of dried my out of his coat. I picked up the hose to spray off part of the bay's back but accidentally missed and nailed Hunter square in the chest. He stood there shocked. I covered my mouth with my hands trying to suppress my laughs.
"Oh you think that's funny huh?" He picked up one of the bucket with soapy water.
"Oh no! No, no, no! Put the bucket down!" I put my hands up trying to block the waterfall of soap suds and cold water as he threw it all over the back of the bay right onto me. Now it was my turn to be shocked.
"It's cold huh?" Hunter said in between laughs. His body was shaking and he could barely breathe he was laughing so hard.
"Guess who has the hose dumby." I gave Hunter an evil little grin.
"Ok. Let's think about this Felicity! Do u really want to get me even more soaking wet?" The bay was quietly standing between us not flinching one bit. I liked this horse already.
While I was off in my own world for a second hunter took advantage and dashed around the bay and wrapped his arms around me grabbing the hose and linking it before I had a chance to stop it. I got a tingly feeling up my spine. I could tell that Hunter worked out because being pushed up against him, I could feel his solid abdomen and chest. He then whispered in my ear.
"Gotcha." And unkinked the hose and started spraying the top of my head. I just stood there and turned around to face him.
"Isn't the horse supposed to be the one getting the bath?" Spitting out some water that got into my mouth I turned back to finish scrubbing the horse that had to be in the middle of our little water fight. Once Hunter and I had finally finished bathing the bay and making his coat spotless, we turned him back out with the other two, and then I invited Hunter inside the house for some lemonade. Today had been great. It was only the second day here, but I already loved it.
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Rescued - Part 8
by Becky
Kinda what the cremello gelding looks like
(YAY! Finally part 8! Exciting exciting! Hope ya'll enjoy!)
After Hunter's question about my ex-boyfriend, I quickly turned around and walked out of the tack room. I went to the stall with the chestnut mare and took the hater off the hook and walked into her stall.
"You can grab the bay gelding Hunter." I buckled the halter on the mare's face and rubbed her muddy, disheveled coat.
I walked her out toward the wash rack right outside the barn doors. I filled a bucket with soapy water and started sponging down the mare and scraping off the dried mud.
"So do these horses have names yet?" I looked at Hunter and shrugged.
"You have any ideas?" I continued scrubbing the at the mud as I looked over my shoulder at Hunter.
"Let's name this guy Buck." Hunter said patting the bay gelding's back.
"Buck?... Ok." I smiled at him and thought of a name for the mare. "Hmm... How bout... Dyna." As if on cue the mare bobbed her head up and down as if saying she liked it. I laughed and patted her neck.
"I guess she likes it" Hunter said letting out a small chuckle.
It took nearly 2 hours for me and Hunter to get all the mud washed off both horses. But when we finished Buck and Dyna had shining coats and detangled manes and tails.
We put the two away and I grabbed the other gelding. He was pretty skittish and shied away from me a couple times before I could put the halter on.
After several minutes the halter was on and the horse was in the wash racks and sparkling clean.
When his coat completely dried, he looked like a new horse. His coat went from a dull grey color to a bright shining white. I realized that he was a cremello coloring. I'd always loved cremello horses.
"Wow he's gorgeous!" I turned and looked at Hunter and nodded my head in agreement. He was more than gorgeous! Granted he was half starved and scraggly, I knew once he filled out he'd look superb.
It was later in the evening and Hunter and I had fed the horses and filled up water buckets.
"Thanks for helping me today Hunter," I smiled up at him. I hadn't realized he was quite tall. At least 6'1"-6'2". He pretty much towered over my 5"5 frame.
"Ya I enjoyed it. If you ever need more help or anything, you have my number." With that he turned towards his truck, and with a wave goodbye I went inside my house.
I realized it was Sunday, which meant I started work at Home Tree EC (equestrian center) tomorrow. Which meant getting up early to feed horses and then drive over there.
The second I stepped in my house the sweet aroma of steak and French fries filled my nose.
"Oh! Lizzy! Finally out of the barn I see." I laughed at my dad, and sat in a chair at the kitchen counter.
"It smells delicious in here!"
"Yes it does! Thought I'd actually put effort in making food tonight." My dad let out a chuckle, something that I didn't always hear since my mom's passing.
Remember what happened sends a pain through my heart, but I quickly think of other things.
My dad and I ate out steak and French fries, keeping conversation of his work, and horses. It was awesome to have a dad that lives horses as much as I did.
I quickly said goodnight to my dad and ran upstairs to take a much needed shower and head off to bed.
My last thoughts before I passed out were that I hadn't given the white gelding a name yet. I wanted something that was powerful. A name that represented what kind of horse he was.
And with that my thoughts ended and I fell into a deep sleep.
Duh duh duh duh duh duh. His hooves pounded on the turf, grinding like a hawk in the sky. We neared the sunken road combination, and I gathered him up and prepared him for the first jump. We swiftly galloped to it and made it over, then went one stride to the down bank, one stride to the upbank, and then bounced right over the huge coup jump.
"Good boy! Now go go go!" I pushed my hands up the crest of his neck and urged him forward, pushing him to stretch out to stay in our time.
RING RING RING!!!
(Sooo really not the greatest chapter, just kinda filler for the next one! This is to just kinda get an idea of the horses' personalities and that kinda thing, mostly using this as filler though, haha. But leave comments and tell me what you think!)
*BIG QUESTION!!*
•ok! Would you guys like to have a chapter in Hunters point of view? Or leave it in Felicities POV? I probably wouldn't do Hunter's POV until a few chapters later... But tell me what you think!•
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Rescued - Part 7
by Becky
(California )
I sat down outside the the arena just as Hunter was getting on his dark bay gelding. He did a normal warmup of walk, trot, and canter before he started up on some dressage work. Hunter got his horse rounded up and into a fancy dressage frame. I watched the horse move with the slightest cue from Hunter, and u tried to guess what breed the horse was. Hanoverian maybe? Or maybe a thoroughbred cross with a warmblood? I wasn't sure. I will jut have to ask after he's finished.
"Wow! He's looking just amazing Hunter!" I turned around and noticed there was a girl standing behind me with strawberry blonde hair put into a high ponytail, with her hands on her hips.
Hunter brought his horse down to a walk and looked at the girl. "Thanks Macy, he's finally gettin the hang of this thing we call dressage!" He said with a smile, and then picked up his reins and continued to work.
"So you're the new girl right?" Macy said with a tone that did not sound one bit friendly. "Well I don't really care if you are, just don't go trying to get friendly with Hunter, he's way out of your league." And with that she walked away. Once she out of ear shot I couldn't help myself, and I busted out laughing. Who did that girl think she was? The princess of Home Tree Equestrian Center? That made me laugh even more. Why did I think that was so funny? I don't know! But it was!
"What you getting all giggly at?" I looked up and Hunter was standing in front of me grinning from ear to ear in amusement.
"Oh nothing," I said still giggling a little."Marcy just said something I couldn't help but laugh at."
"Ah ok then, well I'm all finished up working this big guy, so I'm gonna untack him and then we can maybe head back to your house and take care of those horses?"
I nodded my head and got up out of my seat to help Hunter untack his horse.
Once we were finished up, and with Karin's permission, Hunter and I loaded up 4 bales of hay into the bed of his truck and headed back to my house. When we got there I helped Hunter unload the bales of hay. We put one in front of each stall of the three horses and the fourth we put to the side as extra.
"So..." Hunter started," Tell me about yourself." He looked at me with hopeful eyes.
"What do you want to know?"
"I don't know? Well how about how old are you?"
"I'm 17 and I'll be 18 In a few months." I went to each stall, cut the bales open and threw a flake of hay into each stall and headed out to the pasture to bring in the three horses.
"What about you?" I asked looking behind me while walking.
"18." He walked faster to catch up with me and started kicking up dirt."Felicity is it ok if I ask..." I looked at him questioningly. "Nevermind..."
I laughed a little,"It's ok just ask I'm pretty sure I won't mind." Things height ask tatted running through my head. Was he gonna ask me out?! I've only been here three days, I barely knew him, if he asked though.. What would I say?...
"Ok, did you have a boyfriend before you moved here?" Hunter's face turned bright tomato red. I couldn't help but laugh at his question and his embarrassment. But I answered him anyways.
"Yes I did Hunter." I looked over at Hunter and he was still looking at the ground his arms folded behind him. "But don't worry, I'm glad I left him." I smiled as Hunter looked into my eyes. Oh goodness those green eyes and those faint freckles. "So hurry up and help me bring in the horses and give them baths! They're filthy!"
(What does this mean! Gasp! Not an awesome part of the story really, jut some filler to what's gonna come! Comment and tell me what ya think!!)
See next parts in comments section! :)
Rescued - Part 6
by Becky
I woke up early the next morning groaning. I rolled over on my side and turned on my phone to check the time, 6:00. Why was I up so early, during the summer. Suddenly the events of te previous day can rushing back to me. And with that I flew out of bed and put on a pair of jeans and a purple riding shirt I got from a show I had went to.
I tried my best to exit the house as quickly and quietly as possible so I wouldn't wake my father. I entered the barn and saw three heads peeking over the stall doors. I decided that my first job would be to put the three into one of the grassy pastures so they could eat and soak up some sun. After I had finished that quick and simple task I decided to clean the stalls and tidy them up. I looked back at my phone. It was only 7:00. What was I going to do for another hour? I knew Home Tree EC didn't open until 8, and I was sure Hunter wasn't up yet. And just as if on cue my phone buzzed notifying me of a text.
"Hey! How r the horses this morning?!" My thumbs flew accros the keyboard as I typed back.
"Great! They seem happy! Put them out in a pasture together. Don't have anything to do for an hour though:/" I added the half frown face at the end for effect. Wow. I couldn't help but smile at myself.
I saw the little bubble at the bottom of my screen pop up that told me Hunter was typing back.
"Well maybe if ya wanna we can go grab some breakfast and then head out to HTEC after?"
I grinned and speedily typed back.
"Sure id love to, just let me confirm with dad first." I ran back into the house and my dad was walking down the stairs into the kitchen.
"What would you like for breakfast?" My dad looked at me with sleepy eyes. I could tell he wasn't close to being awake yet.
"Oh um, I was wondering if I could go with Hunter, the boy that helped me yesterday, to get some breakfast and then head to Home Tree after? If it's alright with you?" That last line was always what got me a yes to anything. It means you really want to go somewhere, yet I'm responsible enough to check that it's alright first.
"Fine by me! I won't have to make you breakfast!" My dad said laughing.
"Thank you daddy!" I ran upstairs and as soon as it shut my door I typed another message to Hunter.
"Dad said I could come!"
"Great! I'll pick u up in 15?"
"Sounds great!" I turned off my phone and hurried to put on some nicer looking clothes that weren't fancy, yet not torn up and ugly. I settled for my boot cut blue jeans, and a pink, white, and gray plaid shirt. I buttoned up the shirt and tied the bottom just to show a small line of my fairly flat stomach. I took a look at myself in the mirror and applied a light coat of mascara. As soon as I put the brush down there was a honk and I looked out the window to see Hunter's black truck waiting.
I hurried down the stairs and threw on my paddoc boots said good bye to my dad and calmly walked out to meet Hunter at his truck. My heart did a slight flutter as I saw him leaning up against the passenger side arms crossed over, in blue wrangler jeans, and a nice white cowboy hat on.
"So your a cowboy huh?" I said with a little giggle. Stop it! I told myself. I'm starting to sound like a flirty little girl!
"Only when I wanna be," he opened the door for me and waved me in,"Ater you Ma'dam." He said that last sentence with a funny little accent.
"Alright cowboy lets get breakfast and get to the equestrian center." I said playfully hitting his shoulder.
After breakfast, which was absolutely amazing Not just because the food was amazing but because I had the best company, we headed to HTEC.
"I gotta ride my horse real quick today, but it won't take me too long."
"Oh don't worry I'm gonna have plenty to do for now, so take your time," I said giving a small smile. I dropped out of the truck and started walking to the barn with Hunter next to me. I noticed he had taken off his hat before getting out of the truck. I just shrugged and kept walking.
"Do you know where I will find Karin?" I looked at Hunter.
"If she's not in the Indoor arena then she will probably be in her office," he said pointing to the left of where we walked in. I waved goodbye to him and walked in the direction he had pointed. I found the office and was lucky to see Karin in there. I knocked and heard Kadin tell me to come in. I slowly opened then closed the door and sat down in a char in front of her big mahogany desk.
"Oh! Felicity! What a nice surprise! What could I do for you today?" She said very pleasantly.
I decided to jump right to the point.
"Well um, I was wondering if I could possibly work here? I need some money so I can help take care of some rescue horses I found." I started to twine my fingers, as I do when I get nervous.
"Why of course Hun! I could always use the extra hand! How bout 12 dollars an hour?"
"Ok! That's great! Wow thanks a bunch! When do I start?"
"It's Friday now. So come Monday, 8:00 sharp. For now you can work weekdays and then when the school year starts up you can work weekends if u want."
"Yes that's perfect! Thank you so much Karin!"
"You're very welcome! Now get out of my office!" She said teasingly! I laughed and walked out. By this time Hunter had already made his way into the arena. I decided to sit and watch his ride.
Rescued - Part 5
by Becky
Hunter and I waited for my dad to come to come back.
"You should probably leave before my dad gets here." I said looking up at him. We were standing in the doorway of the barn watching as the sun set below the horizon. The sky was becoming an orange pink serbert color.
"Alright... I'm glad I was able to help u today text me tomorrow about how they are settling in and what your dad says." He nodded his head at me and I only just realized, in the lighting of the barn, little freckles that speckled his nose causing his adult like feature to look more child like.
I wave goodbye as Hubter got into his black truck and went down the driveway. I turned back to go in the barn. I looked at each horse. They needed names. I would figure it out tomorrow and after my dad found out. I slightly shuddered. I knew we couldn't afford keeping all three of them. Then a plan started forming in my head, and right then I heard the gravel driveway crunching underneath tires. I jogged out to meet my dad.
As my dad got out of the car and toward te trunck to grab the groceries I started putting my thoughts together of how to explain what had happened today.
"Um... Hey dad..."
"How much money do you want?" He said furrowing his brow.
"Oh no. I don't want money day...," then everything came tumbling out of my mouth. How I found the horses, when I asked Hunter to come help me. Everything. My dad just stood still and looked me in the eyes.
"Let me out the groceries away and I'll come see them."
In five minutes my dad was following me out to the barn and is stood in front of the three stalls that had the horses.
"We have to call the animal rescue shelter." Was all my dad said. I frantically looked at him.
"No daddy! We can't! Let me take are of them!"
"And how will you pay for everything! Huh? Feed medicine farrier and vet bills? Tell me that!"
I shrunk back a little and quietly said." I want to get a job at the new barn... I can earn money there and pay for these guys."
"What about when school starts up in 3 months? You won't have enough time to take care of all three of them, work, and manage school."
"I'll manage." I whispered feeling small and helpless. "I can take care of them and rehab them, then sell them to good homes?" I piped up a little hopefully.
My dad knew he couldn't win this fight. I had my mothers stubborn spirit, especially when it came to horses.
"Fine! Fine. But it's gonna be your job. Not mine." I gave him the biggest grin and threw my arms around his neck. That nigh,t after we had diner and had gone into out rooms to sleep, I stared at the ceiling thinking of names for the three horses until my eyes finally closed into a peaceful sleep.
(Alright!! Hopefully getting better?! Yes, Maybe? Comment your thoughts!)
Rescued - Part 4
by Becky
Cobwebs and dust covered every inch of the inside... Abandoned... Definitely abandoned.
Just then my phone vibrated in my pocket causing me to suddenly jump and getting one of those mini heart attacks.
I looked at the screen and read the text.
'Hey it's Hunter! Let's arrange A time to meet at Home Tree EC?' I looked back at the three horses and made a decision. I quickly called Hunter's number and on the second ring he picked up.
"Hey Felicity!"
"Hunter! No time to talk. Come to my place now!"
I quickly gave him my address and hung up. There was a small shed to the left of the house so u went and opened it. Inside I found five halters all with lead ropes. I quickly grabbed three and went to the paddock.
I slowly climbed over the brown wooden fence and made my way carefully to the horses. The Appaloosa was the first one to acknowledge me. He out his ears up and gave me a hopeful look.
"There there buddy. Come here... I'm not gonna hurt you." I slowly came next to him and put the lead rope around his neck so he couldn't run away. The other two horses slightly shied away from me as I bucked the dusty halter onto the Appy's thick square head. I looked him over. His ribs were showing, hip bones were jutting out, and he had a U neck. I went to the gate of te small paddock, unlatched it, walked the poor appy out, and relatched the gate so the other two wouldn't escape before I could come back for them.
I made the short walk back to my new house and put the pony into one of the stalls I found a bucket and filled it with water. When I put it down in the stall the appy instantly started sucking it all up. I head gravel being kicked up. Thinking It was my dad I ran out to tell him everything.
I saw thigh that it wasn't my dad, it was Hunter! Thank goodness! Now he could help me!
"What the Hell happened Felicity! You call me and tell me to get over here! I nearly got pulled over by a cop!"
"Oh quit whining and come here!" I grabbed his arm and started running to the barn. I pulled up next to the stall that had the appy.
"This Is why I called you! And there two more sitting in a paddock waiting to be fed, groomed and watered."
"Well then what are we waiting for? Let's go! Lead te way!" I started running back to where the other two horses were with Hunter in tow. I picked up the two halters that I had out down by the paddock and gave one to Hunter.
"You take the black mare and I'll take the other gelding," I said looking up at Hunter.
We opened the gate and walked in. We managed to get the halters on walk back to my house and put the two horses into stalls.
"My dad is gonna kill me when he sees this." I said shaking my head.
Rescued - Part 3
by Becky
(Ok! This chapter will hopefully be a little more interesting! Comment what you think! Thanks!)
Rubbing my forehead I looked up into two brown green eyes.
"Well, that kinda hurt," said the boy giving me a half smile."I'm Hunter by the way. You must be new around here."
"Ya... I just got into town today. I'm Felicity and I better go get Mac or else I'll be late for my lesson." I said trying to move around Hunter without making any body contact with him.
"Hey Felicity!" I turned around too look back in this gorgeous eyes of his. "Can I have your number? So we can like... Arrange to meet here sometimes?" He rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
I simply tossed my ponytail over my should and said with a fleeting glance,"We'll just have to wait and see."
I quickly got to Mac's stall and took the halter off of the hook by his stall.
"Hey there handsome. Wanna go do some work?"
Mac's head lifted up, and chewing hay he just stared at me, then went back to eating. I unlatched the stall door and slid it open. I managed to pick up the big bay's massive head and clipped on the leather halter.
I walked Mac out of his stall and went to one of the open cross ties. I picked up a black curry comb and started going in large circles all over Mac's already glistening bay coat. I finished brushing Mac and started to put on hunter green saddle pad and white half pad when I felt a little tap on my left shoulder. I spun around to see who was there and then heard someone laughing to my right.
"Oh that's very funny Hunter. I need to finish tacking up now."
"Ok! I can help!" And he rushed over to pick up the brown jump saddle and lightly tossed it over onto Mac's sturdy back. Mac was easily 17hands high or bigger. It would have been hard to put the saddle on, I would have had to throw it up.
"Well? Stop staring at me as get your bridle! I thought you were in a hurry!" I cheeks turned deep red because I was staring at Hunter's well defined arm muscles.
I grabbed the bridle, unclipped the cross ties and managed to finish tacking up without staring at Hunter's impeccable completion.
I got to the arena inside the barn and looked around for Karin.
"Oh Felicity! Good you made it, there's a mounting block in the corner there. You can use it to get on." Karin was in the corner sitting in a chair watching as a girl with a beautiful black horse, which I assumed to be a warm blood, gracefully cantered by.
Moved Mac to the block, put my foot in the stirrup and hoisted myself into the saddle. As I was adjusting the length of the stirrups I listened in on what Karin was saying to the girl riding.
"That's it Macy! Shoulders back a bit more and keep your elbows at your sides! There ya go! Just like that! Alright go walk and cool out Zaz."
"Thank you Karin!" Said Macy as she walked out of the arena.
"Alright Felicity! Your turn! Whenever your ready just go ahead and walk on the rail and get a feel of how Mr. Mac here feels like."
I walked for a lap before Karin finally said I could trot. I lightly squeezed my legs around Mac's barrel and he instantly moved into a flowing and lofty trot.
"I like what your doing there Felicity! Just put your heel down a little more. Go ahead and take up some contact on the reins and ask for some roundness out of Mac there."
I shortened my reins a couple inches and instantly Mac went on the bit and started pushing off of his hind end even more than before. God it felt good to be back in the saddle again! I hadn't ridden for 2 months!
"Wow! I'm impressed! When was the last time you rode Hun?"
"Um basically two months!" I said while maintaining my posting trot.
The rest of the lesson was kept basic and easy. We cantered and then did some lateral work at the trot and then ended the lesson. Karin complemented my riding quite a lot and I felt proud of myself! After I said thank you I went back to the cross ties untracked Mac and started to hose him off with nice cool water.
"I must say... I'm impressed. For the new girl here, your not to bad." Again... That voice that I had already head multiple times today but was not annoyed to hear it.
"Oh, you thought that was good? You haven't seen half of it!" I pulled out my iPhone and started to scroll through my pictures trying to find the one I wanted. When I did I turned the screen so Hunter could have a look at what I was showing him.
"Wow!" The picture was when I took my old horse cross country schooling, we were mid-air over a huge preliminary trakehner that we cleared with room to spare.
"That's you?"
"Yup! I was gonna show prelim, but we had to move because my dad lost his job." I said turning my phone off and putting it back in my pocket.
"Hey Lis!" My dad called out his nickname for me. I inwardly cringed at the awful name. "We should start heading back. We still need to unpack everything."
I unhooked the cross ties and started leading Mac back to his stall.
"Hey Felicity, how bout that phone number?" I put Mac in his stall and put everything back the way it was and looked up at Hunter.
"824-1342-0950." And I walked off as Hunter rushed to punch the number in his phone.
The drive back to our new home felt super short and when we got back me and my dad spent the next 3 1/2 hours unpacking all of our clothes and things we needed for daily living into their proper places. The furniture wasn't getting here till tomorrow so my dad and I layed out a bunch of blankets as makeshift beds. The sun was starting to set and I decided to go for a walk out around the new property.
"Felicity! I'm gonna head out into town to go buy some good for dinner, do u wanna come or stay here?"
"I'm just gonna stay here, I wanna explore a little more anyways," I gave my dad a smile and he got into our white truck and drove out the gate.
I walked through the barn running my hand over the stalls imagining what it would be like to have of of these full. I went out to the pastures, but didn't stop there, I just walked right through them. I climbed over the fences and found a small path leading through a small wooded area. I decided to follow it thinking why not? I walked along it for 5 mins and heard a small whinny. It sounded... Almost pleading and helpless. I went off the path and followed the sound where the whinny had come from.
What I saw shocked me. There was a small paddock with three horses, all covered in mud and obviously emaciated. I could see their ribs, their feet were way overgrown, and there was no water or hay anywhere to be seen. I walked up closer and saw that one horse was a bay gelding, a chestnut mare, and the other one had a white coat but was so covered in mud and gunk one could barely tell it's coat was grey.
Behind the little paddock was a small rundown house. Maybe someone lived here? Or maybe whoever lived here abandoned these horses here. I cautiously walked to the front door of the house and lightly knocked. When no answer came a knocked again, louder.
"Hello! Is there anyone home?" I decided to take a chance and turned to the door knob. Unlocked. I looked inside.
(This chapter is pretty long I know! But it's starting to get good now! What will happen with the three horses?)
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Rescued - part 2
by Becky
My dad pulled into a gavel driveway that led down to a gorgeous and massive white barn with a light green roofing. I assumed it had a huge indoor arena in the center of it because that is just how big it is. My dad came to a stop, but I just kept gawking at how spectacular this place was.
"C'mon let's go check it out!" My dad encouraged.
Right as he said that a woman wearing fawn colored full seat breaches, black boots, and a tucked in blue and white plaid shirt stepped out of the barn.
I opened the door when she came near and she reached a hand out to me and said,"Hey there! I'm Karin, I'm one of the trainers here at Home Tree. Your dad and I talked on the phone about taking a tour and maybe taking a test ride on a horse if you want to?"
"Hi Karin, I'm Felicity." I shook her hand firmly yet delicately.
"Alright! Let's get movin' then!" I liked Karin already! She seemed nice and spunky! My kind of person!
I walked right next to Karin while my dad trailed slightly behind. We entered through the door Karin had exited and what I saw pretty much took my breathe away.
There was an aisle throughout the whole barn, an my guess was right... They had an arena within the barn! Amazing! I would really like it here!
"Ok so! Right now we are in the east wing of the barn. Each side has four cross ties and two of which can be used as wash racks as well. There are also tack rooms for each wing of the barn.
Each side has 15 stalls and on the west wing there are little allies that are connected to the stalls." We walked through the barn looking at every tack room feed room and we would pass by some students or adults that rode there too and would greet each other nicely and move on. I was completely impressed by this place! I certainly wouldn't mind keeping a horse here!
"Ok! So what your dad has told me, Felicity, your already quite experienced so I'm just gonna show you the horse you will ride and where his tack is."
My dad can up to me and put his hand on my shoulder,"I'm gonna go wait for you in the arena. There a seating area." And he walked away to go find somewhere to relax.
I caught up with Karin and walked into one of the tack rooms with her. Inside there was a girl with brown hair braided down her back. She turned around when she heard us and gave a huge grin,"Hello! I'm Maria," she said extending her hand.
I grabbed her hand and gave it a light shake and said,"I'm Felicity."
"Well it was nice to meet you Felicity," she said grabbing a saddle and bridal,"But u got go ride now! Maybe I'll see u around?" And with that she walked out.
Karin pointed at which tack was my mounts stuff. I looked at the brass nameplate and on it it said 'Mac Attack'. I nearly jumped out of my skin! I turned to Karin and ha to restrain myself from screaming my lungs out!
"This is Mac Attack?! As in the winner of Rolex, Mac Attack?!"
"I knew you'd like him!" Was all Karin said as she slowly sauntered out of the tack room, "Oh and his stall Is number five on the left side of the tack room." She said with a little wink at the end.
I rushed to grab all the tack and then restrained myself to a slow walk. I was just about to turn left out of the tack room when SMACK!! My forehead joined in a painful knock on someone else's poor head.
I rubbed frantically on my forehead and when I looked up, I thought my day couldn't get better.
(Sorry! A bunch of intro stuff!!! The next chapter will be better!!! Leave a comment if u like it so far!)
Rescued - Part 1
by Becky
I watched out the window of the car as my dad drove down the highway. Kentucky was beautiful, but it wasn't home. I had a good life back home... Straight A student, lots of friends and I was even about to move up to prelim in eventing with my thoroughbred Oscar, but we had to sell him before we moved.
After my mom passed away 2 years ago my dad had a hard time coping and lost his previous job in Harrisburg Illinois. He recently got one in Kentucky and would be working as an assistant trainer at a place called Lane's End and maybe, just maybe, become a full time trainer there.
"Alright honey, here we are!" My dad's voice deep and strong rung through the car. He looked at me with a huge grin and I stared at the new house. It wasn't huge, but it wasn't small either. It was a much nicer house then what I thought we would be getting. It was two stories high, had a dark brown wood finish, a porch matching the color of the house wrapped around the whole house.
"It's amazing!" I said.
"You haven't even seen all of it yet! It gets better!" I could tell my dad was eager to let me explore the rest of the place. "Go on! We'll unpack later check out the rest of the house but I want to take u somewhere in about an hour ok?"
I nodded eagerly and jumped out of the car a walked around the house and what I saw was better than anything I ever imagined!
There was a barn! It was a six stall barn with an exterior that matched te same color of the house. I sprinted to the inside and stopped and took it all in. 6 huge stalls, a hay loft. I walked into a smaller room, a tack room! It already had saddle racks and bridle hooks put in.
I walked out of the tack room and exited the back of the barn. There was 4 big pastures. Each one large enough to allow 3-4 horses enough space to run and play together.
I couldn't believe it! My father was the best man ever!
"I'm guessing you like it?"
"Like it? I love it!! It's amazing! Why'd you buy it? I don't have a horse, let alone six!" I laughed a little.
"Well, part of the job I've been given is to help ex-race horses to find a new home or recover from an injury etcetera and so forth, so my employers pulled a couple strings and I got the barn and pastures with the house withouht extra charge!
"Well it's the best deal that you've ever even given!" I laughed and ran to my father and wrapped my arms around him. "Thank you dad." I said quietly.
"Ok!" He said pretending I didn't say anything,"I have somewhere to take you! It's not boring I promise! Because it involves your favorite things... Horses!"