Meeting My Chrismas Gypsie and Training Her

[Ariana Black]

It was a cold and wintery Christmas day. Snow was falling heavy and I was waking up to feed the horses. I groaned seeing all that snow. I knew it would take longer to feed them because I figured I would have to unbarry the shed door. I go dressed then pulled on my heavy jacket and snow boots along with my snow shoes. I grabbed a snow shovel so that I could use it to unbarry the shed door. I thn started out or the shed. I could hear the horses in the barn as well as out in the pasture under the the outdoor area that kept them safe from the blizzard. I unbarried the door and grabbed the ice pick and bucket first before heading to the stream in the pasture. I broke up the ice and illed up the bucket with he cold crisp water and walked over to the trough. I broke up the ice there as well and poured the stream water inside. The horses all quickly came to drink while I went to go get there winter feed. I first grabbed two things of hay and headed back. Thank goodness the pasture wasn't far from the shed! I threw in the two things of hay and went to get more. Soon I had brought them all four things of their hay and was heading back to the shed to et their huge bag of oas. I threw it over my shoulder and nearl fell over. I shouldered the wait and walked back to the pasture. Once there I opened the bag and filled their seond trough with the bag of oats. I then went back to the shed and put the empty oat bag inside. I carried the shovel back with me to the barn so I wouldn't lose it. Once inside I fel the change almost immediately. It was alot warmer in here. I heard the sounds of hungry hoses all around me. Unlike the horses outside that were used to the cold these were our special horses that didn't like being out in the cold. These were show horses that brought in alot of money while the others were all work horses. here was twenty in all in here while only si outside. Unlike the others I had to clean the stalls as well as feed the twenty. I started irst with tuning on the water heater and turned on the pipes. Soon cool water filled each and every trouh. I then we and got n the small machine that would pick up all the hay and help me carry it all. I was also able to grab all the bags of ats I needed. I don't know why but I bouht exra. Soon I was filling in each and every stall with hay and oats. I reached the las stall and sighd. It was an empty one because I had planned it for my own horse. Suddenly I ead a snort and dashed inside. There stood the most eautiful Gypsie horse I ever saw.

[AnneBoleyn]

Nice!

[Ariana Black]

It had been a few days since that fated night that I met my gypsie. I haven't quite yet chosen a name for her. The perfect name just hadn't came to me yet so I chose to call her, "Gypsie" for now. Gypsie didn't seem to mind it one bit. By now I had finished all my chores and was working with Gypsie. I wanted her to get to know me so I was grooming her. She seemed to love the feel of the brush. Today was the day I was going to start training her. She already wore a halter so I didn't have to worry about that. I just needed to train hr take the bit and to relax to the saddle. Then I would train her for jumping for other things. When I was done grooming her clipped the lead rope to halter and brought to a small corral. I already had tack there waiting for her but I wasn't going to saddle her just yet. I tied her to the post and and slowly came to her holding the bridle and bit. She sniffed it over looking at me with trusting eyes. She blew hot air on my hand and slowly opened her mouth taking the bit. I slid the bridle the rest of the way on and slid off her halter. I led her around getting her used to the bit. She seemed to take to it easily enough but I was still careful to make sure I didn't harm her. After twenty minutes of this I led her back to the post and tied her reins to it. I then introduced her to the saddle blanket. I knew she liked other blankets so I figured she would like this one as well and I was right. She squealed happily and allowed me to place it on her. I then introduced her to the sacks I would put on her back. She snorted and backed away but came back with trust in her eyes. I placed them on her back and walked her around for a half. This continued on for a week until finally I introduced her to the saddle. She sniffed it over curious then bobbed her head ready to accept it. I slowly put it on up over the saddle blanket. I let her walk around with it before I cinched her up. This happened for a few more days until I decided it was time to try and ride her. I groomed her longer today whispering sweet nothings in her ear to her before taking her out. She seemed eager to go out and pranced showing off her gleaming coat. I tacked her up as usual and walked around before cinching it a little tighter. I then led her o the mounting block before sliding onto her back. She squealed and bucked for a few minutes then cantered around the corral before bucking one last time. She then calmed down and stood still. She nickered softly her eyes ablaze with delight and interest. She nudged my foot asking what was next and I knew then that Santa not only brought me a horse but also a best friend.