Write a story about how he reacted to become older, which means his age should be a tad older as well!
Gray (Black) Tobiano - EE aa GG nT
Medium Black Dip
LadyAlpha wrote:Owner: LadyAlpha
Name: TC Texas Spectacle "Showtime"
Gender: Stallion
Age: 28
Height: 14.3 hh
~Story~
Ai, age is a mixed bag. To the child, it is an enticing prospect; to the young adult, an intimidating one; to the older person, terrifying. What a shame, a cruel shame, that some of us just don't really realize what's happening until it all comes crashing down. Isn't it? Is it crueler for someone to know they're on their way out?
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Will you marry me?
Showtime sighed deeply. Those words kept playing in his head, over and over, each and every time he saw his owner walking in. He'd never seen him looking so happy, so bright. A change had come over him; he patted his horse with a new zeal Show hadn't known since he was a young colt. After being introduced to the lucky lady (whom he'd come to love), the Teke had seen less and less of his caretaker, but more and more of the happiness he'd never expressed before. Truthfully, it made the big boy happy; his owner had found a true friend, a lover, and someone who liked horses at that!
"Showtime!" The name made the pinto jerk up his head, his ears perfectly erect. A stetson-tipping man turned to the horse, having finished soaping the big Western saddle he used when riding the horse. Show silently wished that the little English saddle would come out so they could go jumping again. Whatever happened to that? Still, he appreciatively leaned into the patting he recieved, his mouth quietly working. He knew full well what was coming. Sure enough, the jingling of the halter gave way to the feel of it running along his bony face, and there, the lead line. "All set," came the gruff words that preceded his being led out of his stall, his bony frame enunciated in the bright new light of the recently replaced lightbulbs. Prancing in place, he awaited the light tug that would send him off to his paddock. As he was led, he noticed an inconspicuous low spot in the fencing; something unnoticeable to all but the most attentive. His owner obviously had his head in the clouds; this was a perfect opportunity to have some fun!
As soon as he was turned loose, Showtime politely waited for the man to back away before trotting off. Tail held high, he looked around before breaking form and taking off for the fence. "Show. Showtime! Showtime!" His owner saw the plan, alright, and raced along the fence as soon as he realized the horse's intent. But it was far too obvious that there was no stopping the elderly black-and-white who could not for the life of him figure out where his abilities ended. Not really paying attention to anything but the fence, he got himself more into his dangerous little game. Gather, gather, gather up his thin body the way he had many times before. The fence looked more and more intimidating but - there - he took off!
Time slowed down as the man's eyes, shaded by the brim of his black cowboy hat, followed the sloppy takeoff. The horse, in all his excitement, had sent his body forward instead of upward, and far too early.
He would not clear it this time.
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"Show...Show...," the man croaked, kneeling at the horse's side. The paint watched as a stranger wrapped up his legs, his expression dark. "Charles, it's not your fault. It was an accident," his ears caught for the twentieth time. He watched rather guiltily as his owner's wife wrapped her arms around her husband's shoulders, trying to comfort the practically inconsolable rider. He couldn't understand what had gone wrong, why his legs hurt so badly, why he couldn't get up. The stranger sighed and stood. "The left leg...'S all good. Scratched up, will be sore. The right one..." Charles watched intently, begging silently for good news. "Tendon injury. Looks bad; torn up. I'm afraid that he won't be ridden no more. Prob'ly won't even be trottin'," he explained rather bluntly. Charles' head dropped. "I'm sorry, sir. Best I can do." The man nodded sympathetically before walking back to his truck to retrieve the pain medications the horse was to receive while he healed. Showtime felt a hand on his ear. "You gotta be more careful, buddy," his owner whispered, then, after a pause, "it's all right though. You're going to be fine. You can walk, and that's good enough." To his utter joy, Show felt a tug on his halter, urging him to stand. Aside from the numbed pain in his legs, he felt the creaking in his joints he'd felt for years, but this time it meant something different, something darker. He gave his owner a pitiful look. Whatever happened to me?
The horse was surprised to see a tear run down his caretaker's cheek before his arms wrapped around the Teke's neck.
"I'm sorry, Showtime."
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((Wow, this did not go in the direction I intended it to. Still had fun writing it. Hope you enjoy it!))
Gray (Black) Tobiano - EE aa GG nT
Medium Black Dip
