[Arrows]

Weeklt Update - Week Seven
The week went by so fast. Gosh, what a blur. How can I even begin? I showed Blair some English riding, I cut his hair, I spent a day with him trail riding. What else? I'm probably leaving some stuff out. Next week I'll probably give Blair a lot of breaks. I know the training time is dwindling, but now it's less about winning - I just want to train my mustang and care for him best I can. And to do so I think he should have adequate time to rest. I'll go easier on him.

[Arrows]

Weekly Update - Week Eight
This week was just a wreck. I've been so busy I haven't been able to write my entries. I'll be quick, as I should get back to Blair. I was lunging the gelding, just an easy day, when he stumbled and fell. I was concerned, but knew he'd get up. Then he didn't. I quickly knew it was much more serious than I thought. I stayed by the mustang's side, worried like crazy, yelling for someone to call the vet. By the time the doctor got here, Blair was looking better, but still didn't stand.
"What do we have here, Ally?" He said immediately.
"Dr. Reynes," I cried, "He fell while I lunged him. We were just trotting. He's been acting fine and I've been careful to not overwork him."
He kneeled beside me and quickly inspected Blair's injured leg. After a moment, he sat back. "It's okay, Ally. There's some strain and what I think is a flare up of an old injury. I'll give you some things to ease the pain. Don't work him too hard, but keep him moving. Two weeks, I'd say."
Just like that, things changed. It's been almost a week, and I'm supposed to slowly edge Blair back into training, but it's cut out a large chunk of our training time. All the really matters is his health, but it's still a massive blow to me. I just hate all of it.
As of now, the mustang is still limping slightly, but nothing serious. The doctor was optimistic and seemed to think it would go away on its own - I trust Dr. Reynes. So I'll care for Blair in every way possible. And I'll be easy on him. I feel terrible, although Dr. Reynes said so many times it really wasn't me. I'll just have to be more cautious.

[Arrows]

Out of the Woods
It's been a bit since the big catastrophe - nearing the end of the second week. As Dr. Reynes asked, I've been easing Blair back into training. And I do believe we're out of the woods as they say. It was a harsh blowX but we're doing well. I'm still happy with our training. We're scheduled for a competition soon enough. The days are all coming to a close, and I'm already so proud of everything my mustang and I have done.
This week, I've been working Blair a lot on ground. Yesterday, I rode him bareback, going no faster than a trot. Today I saddled him and got up to the slowest lope. I suppose I'm doing some overkill, but I can't help but be worried. And I'm allowed that. Clearly, I'm very attached to this gelding. He's stuck with me.
We're going to make it. I believe that. Never underestimate the power of determination. This week, I've seen that. Blair has the heart of a true competitor and a clear will to fight. He will end up carrying me to victory, I know it. We will work together. Always.

[Arrows]

Weekly Update - Week Nine
Such a quick week. Within a couple days, Blair and I will be off to our first competition. Hard to let that sink in. Wow. I'll be brief. This week wasn't as productive as I would've liked it to be, due to Blair's injury of courseX but we've still done well. I insisted Dr. Reynes come back out to check Blair, and when he did he said he had made a full recovery. So we're still going strong. I'm not going to let it bump us off track too much. As long as the gelding is healthy and well, he seems to want to work. I will oblige, even if I do not go too hard on him. Wish us luck!

[Arrows]

Bare-Backed & Bridleless Blair
It was days before the competition that was sure to be life-changing. I wanted something special. I wanted to try something incredible. I didn't saddle or bridle Blair. I led him to the arena with a lead rope and a halter. How far would our trust go? I would put everything to the test here.
I mounted Blair quickly. He seemed almost uncertain. I squeezed gently on his back with a hand to tell him it was okay. Things were different without a bridle - odd. We'd already practiced without a saddle, but not without a bridle ever. Still, Blair took to it nicely. He hardly seemed to notice after a couple minutes. At first his responses were slow and uneasy, but soon he grew sure-footed and took everything in stride with him.
He got the hang of not having a bridle, and then I dropped the lead rope that was my rein and used my legs to guide him. The lead remained as a 'safety net,' but I didn't even have to use it. I worked him up to a canter and soon we were moving beautifully without saddle, bridle, or reins. My pride glowed. Breathless, after cooling him out and led him to the pasture I rode him alone bareback and reinless out into the field, the very back part, and left him there to enjoy the rest of the day. We could do this.

[Arrows]

First Competition
There was a huge arena before me. Competition day. This decided everything. I was starting out leading Blair - halfway through I would saddle and demonstrate our riding abilities. Undeniably I was nervous. Blair was jittery beside me, and I kept a hand wrapped around his hair, calming myself and him. Our name was called, but everything was surreal. We stepped into the ring and the gates closed behind us.
All eyes were on Blair and I. I had brushed the mustang's coat until I could practically see my reflection - he had never looked so good. I was dressed in a plaid blue long-sleeved shirt, a thick, shined leather belt around my waist, and high-quality jeans. I walked to the center and nodded at the judges, presenting Blair. Then I began the routine.
Everything went by in a blur. I can't even describe the groundwork. I saddled with lightning speed and mounted Blair without a block - second nature to me. I demonstrated western pleasure work as well as the gelding's versatility in other disciplines. I even switched to an English saddle midway through. But it was all so quick and everything melted into one blob in my memory. The only thing I can see clearly is the end.
I halted in the middle of the arena, waved, and then stood still, with my final presentation to the judges. Blair was quiet but excitement shone in his eyes. The judges nodded in my direction and then I walked out as the announcer repeated my name. I'll never forget the sight.
I glanced up into the bleachers, just to survey. All above me people applauded and smiled. I camera flashed somewhere. A few people whistled or cheered. In that moment, I was lost in the crowd, in everything. Everything has come down to this. And suddenly it was over, but the feedback told me everything I needed - I had done it. Blair was trained, including a couple tricks up our sleeves. All was well. I couldn't stop smiling.

[Arrows]

For the Future
After all this time, it's hard to think of the future. Everything happened so fast. I honestly don't know what the future will hold. But I know Blair will carry me far. I can see it now. I'll continue competing and training, although now I'll have some more time for my other horses too. I'm excited for what will come. I'm ready. Blair is too. I've been giving him days off now, and he is already growing restless - sometimes I don't think he'll ever stop.
So much has come out of this for me. Wildfire's year was great, but I always regret feeling like I slacked off. This year, well this year I've felt great. It's hard to shake what I feel now. I hope it never stops. I'm certain more problems will arise between Blair & I - there's already some things I see I want to fix - but we'll always have a connection after these 70 days. And that is something unbreakable.
To the future.

[Arrows]

Conclusions
A stack of papers landed on my desk. I lowered my glasses and glanced up. "Mail," Mitchell said, before turning away to head off to the barn. I'd been giving Blair some time off. I shuffled through the envelopes and various items until one caught my eye. I ripped it open and pulled out some papers. The first was a letter.
It was a letter of congratulations, involving my training with the mustang Blair. It went over what had been enclosed in the rest of the papers. When my eyes crossed over everything, I quickly disregarded the rest until I found one - bordered with a soft, silvery outline and in plain text, my mustang's name was printed. A certificate. I flipped past even that, and then carefully held up the document - Blair's papers. I was breathless.
There, printed clearly, HAUNTED DOCUMENTARY "BLAIR." And then all other information of my mustang. I smiled and set down the papers, careful not to crumple or bend anything.
I ran out to the barn, and threw open the gelding's stall door. I flew to him and gave him a great hug. "We did it, Blair. We did it." He didn't seem to understand, of course, but I was ecstatic. I kissed him square on his nose and then grinned. "Oh, baby boy. I'm so proud of you. Thank you for these 70 days. I love you."
What a perfect end. I guess things didn't go exactly as planned, but when do they ever? So now I'll wait until the next adventure rolls around - Blair will take me far, I'm sure. And he will forever hold a place in my heart. That gelding is a part of me.

[Arrows]

Afterword
Thank you for taking time to read about my character (Ally) and her training journey with Blair.
I wanted to do so much more with this. Unfortunately, I hit a bump in the road - my laptop broke, and I started the moving process. With everything going on I wasn't sure I'd be able to finish my MM. I had been so excited this year, and I had so many edits saved up that are simply waiting to be posted.
Obviously I have been confined to mobile. For that, I'd say I've done well. I'm so happy to have done this, even though the writing is shorter and less detailed than I wanted and I have less edits/scenes to show. With your permission, when I'm able to get on Oekaki next, I'm really hoping you'll allow me to post those still, as I did work so hard on many edits (as seen in the time spent on this cover, which was time spent doing edits). I had a big plan for a nice rack set and all that, yet had that ruined.
Even so, I hope I have created a respectable entry! I thank you for your time & everything!