Jane was super excited for this whole rescue mission thing. She was so excited to wear the neon, reflective bridle, polo, breast band, and saddle pad set that had just been chilling in her tack box. She just wasn't so sure about this out in the woods, roughing it thing they were going to have to do. And while she wanted to help those lost horses. She half wondered if her owner could have just donated some of her old stuff instead of dragging her away from her warm stall.
As they pulled into the stable that was the starting point for the search for the lost horse Jane peered out the window. Trying to catch a glimpse of the other horses tack and blankets. After parking the trailer Jane was unloaded and led around to stretch her legs. She arched her neck in pride, she was wearing her favorite purple traveling blanket and boots. While they were one of her plainer prices they still had bedazzled flowers on them and the blanket had some fuchsia piping along the edge.
Jane was a little put out that no one really paid attention to her and all the horses and their stuff was so plain and utilitarian. She just could not understand why they were serious about the whole rescue thing. Jane gave a mental shrug and decided to just ignore these strange people and horses. All too soon they were headed back to the trailer to wait for the next day and the next party to head out.
The next morning dawned cold and crisp, Jane was not thrilled to have her beauty sleep interrupted. But her poor owner did not look any better then she felt and heck she was even wearing plain clothes with only a small gem heart on her sweatshirt in a normal shade of peach. As Jane munched on her favorite high-energy grain mix. Her owner tacked her up in her neon gear, drinking her second mug of coffee to wake up. As soon as Jane was done with her berkfest and her own was done with her coffee. They set off to the meet up point.
As they stood there waiting for things to start. Jane listened to the other horse talk about what to expect. There was even a search and rescue horse that was swapping stories. She wanted to pin her ears back in disgust at what she was hearing. It was one thing to go into a ring and get dirty performing. And a gentle hack around the fields next to the stable was ok. This whole over rough ground, through dangerous areas and creepy forest. Was sooooo not her thing, what was her owner thinking? Was this like the one time she wanted to try jumping. Just a fade, Jane really hoped so. Or if this was going to be a new thing maybe her owner would get another horse. Which would be perfect or wait maybe not this horse would need to be everything opposite of herself. She shook her head to get read of these weird thoughts.
Finally they were moving down the path and word had come back, it was to be the hardest part of the trail. Jane trudged along, she could not see why some of the horses thought this place was creepy. Had they never seen some of the underside of the small town grandstands. She snorted in frustration as it was getting late and now to top it off they were having to pick their way over giant, ugly, sharp rocks. Ok so maybe they weren't that bad but still why couldn't these lost horses have picked a nice clearing or even an old abandoned farm. Then word came back that a cave had been found and there were horses in there. Jane perked her ears at this news and thought to herself, "finally we can rescue those horse and head straight home."
As they came to the front of the cave some of the horses were ready to bravely plunge into the cave, some were willing to make a go for whatever reason, whether it be to please their person or prove themselves and some just did not have the courage to go into such a scary place. Jane was not that excited about having to go into the cave, but she had been in tight and dark spots before. These horses really need to get out to some shows. Thankfully her owner decided they would stay outside to set up a tent and help with the other horse that were not able to go in.
Jane stood relaxing and waiting for something to do, when she heard a panicked whiny. Only it was the quietest whiny she had ever heard, it reminded Jane of the shy little girls at the birthday parties she sometimes went to as a unicorn. Jane looked around but realized that no one else had heard the whiny. She preeked her ears and strained to hear it again. And there it was, why couldn't anyone else hear it.
Someone really needed to go help that poor horse. Jane made up her mind she would do it. She was tied up though, thank goodness that silly mare Aly at her barn had taught her how to slip out of her halter. She had never thought in a million years that she would do something like this. Jane hesitated for a moment if she did this her pretty halter would get all muddy. But then she heard it again that whinny. Without another thought she pulled her head out of her halter and headed straight into the cave.
Jane's owner was frantic, she had come to cheek on the mare and all she had found was her halter laying there in the mud. Jane would never leave her gear laying in the mud, she was too much of a clothes horse to do something like that. Don't get the wrong idea she was sweet and great around kids. But she was a bit of a diva, just then another group of sheachers came out of the cave and there was Jane leading a small group of horses one stallion in particular was right at her hip. Jane's owner went rushing up to her fussing over her making sure she was ok.
Jane's owner listened in stunned silence as the group told her what had happened. Her Jane had marched right into the cave, she had proceeded to go down a tunnel that everyone had thought was too small for any of the horses to fit through. The only reason she had been spotted was her neon-reflective gear. A few rescuers followed her; they lost her a few times but were able to find her due to her gear. She led them on a merry chase through the cave system.
Eventually they came to a spot where some stones had fallen and were blocking the path. When one of the rescuers went for a closer look, they realized there were a few horses on the other side. The poor little group looked like they had given up hope until the light shown on them. There was however one pale stallion that let out a horse whinny. Jane whickered in response, which revived the other horse even more.
It took a bit but soon the group had moved enough stones for the horse to squeeze out one at a time. Jane stood on the other side seeming to encourage whatever horse was coming through at the time. The last one out was the pale stallion. He immediately came up to Jane and greeted each other like long-lost friends. Jane had then turned around and started to head out of the cave. Making the humans have to scramble to catch up. Jane never went so far or so fast that anyone horse or human was left behind.
As Jane's owner stood there absorbing it all, she looked at Jane with what turned out to be a light dun tobiano. Heck, he might even be a mushroom. But that's besides the point the two stood side by side like a pair of good friends. Jane's owner started to think maybe she should try and take him home with them. Those thoughts kept going through her mind as the vet checked him over and said he was fine other than being a little dehydrated and seeming to be hoarse from calling out for so long. Jane's owner volunteered to lead the stallion back. So the trio headed down the path back to the barn.
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