Hawk

by Regan
(Maryland, U.S.A)

Megan prepared to jump the log, her mount, Willow was a school horse and she and a group of other kids were training for the Redbox Trials.

Megan focused onto the log, counted her strides, and then right before takeoff a small brown rabbit shot out from the log. Willow spooked sideways, causing her to trip over the log.

Willow came thundering down and Megan felt the full weight of the brown mare on top of her for two long seconds. Willow got up and walked lazily away but Megan stayed, for her leg and arm was broken.

The peaceful riding farm suddenly turned into screams of despair for help. Horses in the pasture raised their heads in alarm, students ran over to see what was going on, and distant alarms of an ambulance rushed over.

Miss. Sarah rushed over to Megan and said “Megan, are you okay? Don’t move.”

“Miss…Miss. Sarah, I-I am okay…” Megan mumbled while trying to unlatch her helmet.

Megan lied then everything went black and she passed out on the soft arena sand.

Chapter one
Back in the saddle

“Are you sure you feel okay? If you don’t feel comfortable just tell Miss. Sarah, okay?” Mom asked, pulling into the gravel parking lot. Mom’s hair was a strawberry blonde too, just like mine as she always pulls it back in a ponytail.

“I’m fine; I heard they got a new rescue in so maybe I won’t even ride today.” I sighed, Timber To stables takes in a lot of rescues and usually using them in lessons or rehomes the horses, I liked helping out with the new horses.

Mom kissed my check then pulled out of the driveway when I shut the car door. I slung my brown backpack with horses on the front over my shoulder then walked slowly to the stables.

“Megan! How are you? I haven’t seen you in weeks! You were lucky you go to miss the last few weeks of school! Now we are in summer!” Annie, my friend yelled out to me, she started to run my direction but a red apple fell from her bag and she picked it up.

I walked over to her and hugged her then we giggled. “I missed you! We NEED to ride together, like now.”

“Yeah that sounds great…” I said looking down at my boots. I didn’t know if I wanted to ride right then, I needed some time.

We walked into the arena and my boots clicked on the floor, Miss. Sarah was in a strange horse’s stall.

“Hi Miss. Sarah,” I smiled at her softly but she scooped me up in a giant hug anyway. I laughed and then she asked me how I was doing.

“I’m doing great! I’m ready for light riding I think….” I said with a huge smile, even though I was more excited to see the new rescue.

“Oh I’m sorry, Megan,” Miss. Sarah motioned to a dark gray tall gelding, “This is the new rescue, he doesn’t have a name but he is really sweet. Sadly I don’t think he is going to fit being a lesson horse.”

I walked up to the sweet gelding and patted his face. “He was lucky, he broke his leg and a really caring lady bought his medical care for him to heal.” Miss. Sarah explained while looking at me, I didn’t look back but looked deep within this horse. His eyes were calm and he lowered his head into my arms.

Miss. Sarah smiled and started picking manure on the next stall over, Annie patted my back and went to tack up her bay mare, Blaze, while I stared into the gorgeous horse in front of me. He was extremely thin, hooves recently cut and his mane was buzzed but he was gorgeous to me.

Then to ruin our moment Mr. South stormed into the stable. He was the real owner of the barn and he was MAD. “Why did you bring this filthy animal in my stable?!” Mr. South raised his arms and pointed at me and the Gray gelding.

“He needed a home and I am going to re-home him, don’t worry he will be gone in a couple of months.” Miss. Sarah replied calmly.

“No, he is going in a month. You got thirty days or he is going back to slaughter where it belongs.” This is the first part, trying to get it published(:

Hawk - Part 2

by Regan
(Maryland, U.S.A)

I stared at the man with horror, I was mad. I never felt this rush before, but it happened so quickly. I slammed down my fist, startling the beautiful gray beside me.

“How could you EVER think to put such a beautiful animal like this in death so quickly?! He’s still young and there is nothing wrong with him! He would make and amazing jumper, but yet, cruel people like you want to ruin it!” I screamed, taking a few steps towards the old man.

Mr. South was the real owner but Miss. Sarah was in charge of the horses and the lessons. Mr. South doesn’t know a thing about horses so he hired Miss. South to take care of them and give out riding lessons.

Mr. South’s wife, who died long ago, convinced him to run a stable so she could learn and watch the horses. Mr. South was also one of the meanest man in the world, who thinks no animal or person can get a second chance. He already put down one of my favorite school horses because she bit him.

Mr. South grabbed my shirt and yanked me towards him, “Look you little brat, this is MY stable and I can come down here and shot every one of them!”

I trembled but was voice was still strong “You can’t put down the horses that are boarded!”

“True, but the ones that are mine, I can do whatever I want to them!” Mr. South said, slamming me down on the gray’s stall. He walked over to the gray and hit him on the side of his nose, the gelding, shocked, backed away from the man and lowered his head.

I was trembling with anger. I wanted to smack him on the nose for no reason to see how that felt!

Miss. Sarah tried to send me a warning to stay back but I ignored her, going into risk. “You can’t do that! Why would you smack him? He did nothing wrong!” I yelled, throwing up my arms.

Mr. South grabbed my shirt and told me “You won’t have to worry about your pretty little horse because he’s getting sold or back to the Slaughter house in ONE week!”

Miss. Sarah walked towards me and pulled me towards her side of the room while the old man grunted away.

I started to cry, the gray couldn’t be destroyed, he just couldn’t!
********

Sorry its so short ;-) I'll write tomorrow after I get back from riding my horse! :)

Hawk - Part 3

by Regan
(Maryland USA)

I started on brushing the beautiful gray; he lowered his head, content. After I brushed him and combed out his tail he was already starting to improve on his health.

I was still crying by the threats of Mr. South but Miss. Sarah calmed me down. After I made the rescue horse shinning, I discovered that he had a bloody hoof, it was dried but I soaked his foot and put cream onto his cut.

The Gray was tall, he had stunning conformation, and he was faint traces of scares along his muzzle. I continued grooming him, even though he was spotless.

I could hear Annie walking towards me. “That was brave of what you did with Mr. South, but next time don’t be so stupid.” Annie stroked the tall gelding on his nose and followed a faint scar.

“It’s awful, isn’t it? I can’t even think about what people have done to him.” I stroked my horse, as I thought of him. The birds outside chirped as happily as they would any day, without knowing an animal’s life is in danger; I wish I could just chirp along, like nothing happens.

“Want to ride? We could go for a trail ride, I tacked up Blaze.” Annie suddenly said out of the blue.

“No, I want to call my mom.” I said, fumbling inside my pocket for my purple iPhone. I made sure to pick out a purple case and I slicked a horse sticker on the front.

“Okay…” Annie mumbled, looking hurt. I gave her a small smile and walked to the back of the gelding’s stall. He muzzled my pocket, then gave up hope of any treats and went back to eating.

“Hey mom,” I said looking outside.

“Hi Megan, are you okay> Are you ready to go already?”

“No, No, No. Well…the rescue horse, he is perfect for me mom and he is tall, so he would be the perfect jumper!”

“Megan, I know I said you were ready for a horse of your own before the accident, you’ve changed. I don’t think that would be wise right now, if he is still for sale in a couple of months then I will get him if you improved.

“No mom, Mr. South is selling him to the slaughter house in THREE weeks! He will be destroyed if we don’t do something! I love him, he’s so sweet!” I felt hot tears running down my cheeks.

I heard mom sigh over the phone. “I will be there in ten minutes.” Then she hung up.

I kicked around a small stone while waiting for my mom, I saw Annie trot Blaze in the arena and Emily, a high school student take a course of jumps. She had perfect seat, reins, and form, I always watched her when I had the chance.

Emily was a really nice girl, and we made friends quickly, even though of our age difference, she didn’t seem to mind.

Piper, her six year old thoroughbred mare, took the jump with ease, cantered off to the other jump and took it as easily as the first.

Emily trotted the mare towards a small jump, which beginners jump and trotted over it. She smiled and walked Piper around the arena, waving to me. I waved back and went to meet my mom.

I sat down in the car, I wanted to talk to her privately first.

“Okay Megan, what’s up?” Mom asked smiling slightly.

I started to explain where the gray gelding came from to when Mr. South threatened him, leaving out the part about Mr. South throwing me.

“That’s why I need him! Or he needs me! If you want I’ll just do western with him!” I told my mom.

She sighed then agreed, “How much is this horse?”

“He’s free to a good home!” I said excitedly.

“Okay but boarding is not going to be cheap, I expect you to work here to pay off your riding lessons, which will be less money spent here.” My mom said giving me an eye.

“Uh... I... I don’t want to board him here. I love Miss. Sarah but he’s not safe here. Mr. South doesn’t like him. At all.” I looked down at my muck boots then back at mom.

“Stop being stubborn, he’s going to be boarded here, and that’s final. It’s cheaper.” Mom said without a hint of question or humor.