me <3 wrote:USERNAME:
me <3
SHOW NAME:
Under the Spotlight
BARN NAME:
Princess
BREED:
Saddlebred
COLOR:
Dappled Grey
AGE:
5 years
GENDER:
Mare
STORY:
The Year Was 2008
It had been a hard day at the barn, and I was ready to lay down in my bed. One of the horses had been taken to the vet and died there, and another was in critical condition. Both had been attacked by vicious dogs from the house behind us. As I finished some late-night mucking-out-stalls, I heard a chorus of loud whinnies erupt and the pounding of hooves. The whinnies came from the barn, and the hooves came from...outside? Had one of the horses escaped?
I ran outside, my Ariat boots clomping on the ground in a rhythmic way. As I came outside, every noise ceased as I saw the scene in front of me. There, standing now eerily silent, was a gorgeous dapple grey mare. I tentatively reached out my hand. "Hey there, girl. Where'd you come from?" My thick country accent was weaver in there of course. I reached into my shirt pocket and drew out a carrot.
She snorted at me, watching the carrot intently. I held it out, and she stuck her nose up at it. With a chuckle, I quietly moved forward. I moved forward more, than more. At one point I could touch her...and I did. My hand outstretched and and she met it with her nose. In one movement, the mare allowed me to clinch a halter over her. "She must be trained..." I muttered. I led her to an open stall and settled her in. I'd have to check around tomorrow for anyone that'd lost a horse -for now I was dead tired.
So, as the mare snorted at the horse in the nearby stall, I clomped into my house and ascended the stairs quietly.
- - -
It was early morning when I went out to find her rightful owner. I realized I could use a horse like her -she was perfect. But I had to find them, was the only thing I told myself firmly. Plus, I was going out on a tour only tomorrow -I couldn't deal with a new horse. Not now, at least.
It was the first house, and the mare was reluctant to start down the driveway. After a couple fierce and firm tugs, and two treats, I managed to get her through. The sign was labeled Martin's, with some old, faded letters. I sighed and continued. When I made it to the barn, I noticed they were loading horses up. I tapped on a man's back. "Excuse me," I questioned.
The man whipped around. "Hello," He said in a gruff voice.
"Hello. Um, I found this horse. Is it yours?" It stepped away from where the mare was hiding behind me.
Was that a smirk I saw forming on his face? Well, the man snatched the lead rope from me. "Yes, she is! We've been looking for her all over!" He said excitedly. "Oh, and I'm Mr. Martin."
I nodded suspiciously. "Well, what's her name? Could I come visit her sometime?" I pointed at the mare.
"Umm...her name is...well, we haven't decided her name yet," Mr. Martin blurted out. "I mean, we just got her. When we were unloading her from the trailer when she broke away and ran off. We searched 'til midnight for her." He sighed, stroking the mare's nose. She shied away instantly. As I pursed my lips, he spoke more. "And...yeah you can come visit her."
One of the other men loading the horses smirked, "Good luck with that." He muttered. Mr. Martin shot him daggers before he disappeared into the barn, I assumed to get another horse.
"And where are you going, Mr. Martin?" I said, accusation thick in my voice.
He sighed, "Rodeo. We're about to leave, so you should be on your way." He gestured towards the road simply.
I stared for a moment, hands on my hips. "Fine. Bye, girl." I stroked the mare finally and turned on my heel, down the road.
On my way out, I took a better look at the sign. Martin's...Horse Slaughter? No, no, no. In horror and anger, I whipped around so fast, coming face to face with the truck. I went to the side where a guilty-looking Mr. Martin sat and banged on the door. He rolled his window down.
"What now, Missy?" He snarled violently.
I flinched slightly. "Let these horses go." I growled back.
He smirked, "What did you say?"
"Let. These. Horses. Go." I seethed, biting my lip.
"Poor girl. Finally realized what happens here. No." Mr. Martin stared at me evenly.
I thought, sadness rushing through me. "At least give me that mare." I knew where those horses would go -to some auction with mangy, stupid farmer that would wave their money around like idiots, calling out random prices for one horse. So they could slaughter it and eat it. Or sell it again.
Mr. Martin pretended to think. "No." He then said in a flat, arrogant tone.
My breath caught as the mare whinnied, eye visible from the trailer. "I'll give you a half-million dollars!" I squealed. It blurted out, part of desperation. And now I refused to take it back.
His eyes widened. "You got a deal!" He turned to his driver, "Get that mare out! Now!" Mr. Martin snarled.
I was sad that all those horses couldn't be saved, but would I rather save one rather than none? As the trailer shut with a chorus of loud, desperate whinnies, I flinched. Then I smiled slightly at she was led out. I yanked the rope from the man in the same manner Mr. Martin had before. I raced down the street, away from that terrible place. I couldn't help but let a tear fall out. Those poor horses.
The Year Is 2013
Cheers echo around me. They are all for me. And Princess, of course. I did it, we did it. We won. It was a world-wide show, and we won.
Her dapple-grey saddlebred shape is anxious beneath me. I know she's not used to this. After 5 years of pure training after that fateful day in 2008, we made it to this one show. I had worked her hard and she'd wanted to collapse, I knew that. Some days I had wanted to collapse, too. The announcer's voice suddenly boomed overhead.
"It's Anna and Under the Spotlight! The won! The new champions!"
The cheers got louder. Princess, or Under the Spotlight, whinnied loudly. Man, I loved when she whinnied. I would never forget that noise. It helped me to know I wanted to save her. As we pranced around the arena in a victory lap, I watched all the faces. Some familiar, some completely unknown. As we started walking out the arena, I froze at one face.
Of course, he was older. Much older. But I would know that face anywhere. He had...he had.
---Flashback---
It was early morning when I went out to find her rightful owner. I realized I could use a horse like her -she was perfect. But I had to find them, was the only thing I told myself firmly. Plus, I was going out on a tour only tomorrow -I couldn't deal with a new horse. Not now, at least.
It was the first house, and the mare was reluctant to start down the driveway. After a couple fierce and firm tugs, and two treats, I managed to get her through. The sign was labeled Martin's, with some old, faded letters. I sighed and continued. When I made it to the barn, I noticed they were loading horses up. I tapped on a man's back. "Excuse me," I questioned.
The man whipped around. "Hello," He said in a gruff voice.
"Hello. Um, I found this horse. Is it yours?" It stepped away from where the mare was hiding behind me.
Was that a smirk I saw forming on his face? Well, the man snatched the lead rope from me. "Yes, she is! We've been looking for her all over!" He said excitedly. "Oh, and I'm Mr. Martin."[/i]
- - -
I gasped in anger and stopped, whipping Princess around. "What are you doing here?" I growled accusingly.
"To watch." Mr. Martin looked amuse, reaching a hand out to Princess. She snorted and yanked her head away.
"Don't touch us." I mumbled, turning my horse's but towards him.
I heard a loud sigh from behind me. "Fine, I won't. But...I just wanted to say good job. You did better than anything I did." it seemed forced out.
I glanced back. "What?"
"That whole thing. A month after what you did, I took down that sign. I began to ride those remaining horses that I hadn't...you know...and sell them to good new riders. That girl and her horse in second place? Missy and Code Red. I came to watch her. I now sell them to riders in need of a good horse to launch there careers."
Missy. She was a good rider. Speaking of which, she walked by with Code Red. "Thank you, Mr. Martin. You're the best." She smiled and hugged him before leading Red away.
I stared at Mr. Martin. "R-really?" He nodded solemnly. "Thanks. H-here-" I handed him a ribbon. It was one from our first competition -I realized that, no matter how much I'd hated him, he was a different man now. Mr. Martin had given me and Princess the chance. And now look?
A genuine smile crossed the old man's face. "Thank you, Anna."
All I did was nod -and then ride away.
- - -
I never saw Mr. Martin again. In the newspaper a saw an article about him dying by being stepped on by a horse, and then having a heart attack. His son became the new owner, and I joined Mr. Martin's son to help. Besides that, later on Princess and I won more and more ribbons, training again for that worldwide show next year. Those last five years had been bumpy, but totally worth it.
- - -
-An Afterword-
I named Under the Spotlight that name because she was also an attention-stealer. She loves to be, well, under the spotlight. And Princess? That's because of her diva ways and the need to be pampered. I also did pamper her -she deserved it. She is sweet, don't get me wrong, but she is also very demanding and bossy. She can be a bit prissy and she wears the brightest, pinkest tack. But that's Princess for you, and I love her. She's perfect to me. A that's where those names come from.
To Win, Tell me about how this horse came from an amazing Saddlebred breeding farm to Cottonwood Ranch and how you ended up getting him/her. I will also be looking for names that suite him/her~
- Code: Select all
Username:
Show Name:
Barn Name:
Breed: Saddlebred
Color: Dappled Grey
Age:
Gender: Mare/Stallion (??)
Story:
From the 23rd-30th we will be celebrating the Grey Games, so come and join the fun~!
A few facts and rules:
Every horse put up for adoption is to be some variety of grey.
Horses that look white but have dark skin are actually gray
EVERY grey horse put up for adoption must have at least two trinkets/line edits/tack
If you are ordering a custom, it does NOT have to be grey
If you do order a grey custom, you may choose 2-3 trinkets/line edits/tack to go on him/her for FREE
If you are ordering a grey game custom, please do not asighn any particular artist, the artist that thinks she can do it will call it
