The Great Expedition

Chapter 1

On a small farm nestled in the rolling hills of British Columbia little Kristie was in the middle of galloping her horse Stardust in a huge open field with no saddle nor bridle just her and her horse as one.

This is a stupid idea! thought Kristie, if Stardust shies or suddenly gets scared I'm a goner. 

Suddenly the back door that was open to get air flow into the house banged shut from the wind. 

Stardust stopped galloping the moment the loud bang happened, her legs were braced and her head was almost touching the ground. Kristie was not expecting the loud bang or Stardust to stop so suddenly, she grabbed a chunk of Stardust's mane to save herself from falling off.  After she saved herself from hitting the ground, she reassured Stardust that nothing was going to jump out and bite her.  After about 2 minutes of just standing around in the field Kristie decided that it enough was enough and that Stardust was dancing around underneath her clearly not remembering about her scare earlier. Kristie could feel that Stardust was going to explode any second and it was her choice whether Stardust was going to be galloping around the field with or without her on her back. Kristie decided that a few more minutes of galloping around the field would not harm Stardust nor will it harm the time she has to do her chores which includes riding a couple of the family farm's horses. Just as Kristie was about to go gallop Stardust her mother came out of barn.

KRISTIE! She called across the yard. Are you done your chores yet? 

Yes mother, I just have to ride Moonshine, Red Ranger and Honeysuckle. Responded Kristie  

Okay get to it. Dinner will be at 6:00 sharp. I'm making spaghetti and homemade garlic bread. So get off Stardust, turn her out and start riding the other horses. Double R needs a good gallop in the fields because he is looking a bit cooped up in his paddock. Pacing and rearing so I suggest you ride him first if you do not want your arms ripped off more then usual. Then after that it does not matter who you ride. Moonshine needs a good schooling about speeding up when asked to. The last few times someone has ridden her I noticed she was lagging behind and was reluctant to speed up so you will have to keep her at a good speed. Honeysuckle as you know a three year old needs lots of training about how to behave properly so you will need to give her a good schooling a every gait. A purposeful walk, a lengthened trot and a controlled canter no galloping or she will get high strung and think she can just get away with just bolting whenever she wants to. If she starts to bolt. Her mom lectured.

Okay mother I know how to exercise these horses. Kristie replied.

Kristie got off Stardust and turned her out in her pasture. Up at the gate was Sweetheart clearly waiting for her friend to come back so that they could graze with each other or groom each other. As she left to go get Red she saw out of the corner of her eye Sweetheart and Stardust grooming each other softly nickering in the process. Across the yard Red Ranger was galloping to the farthest corner away from the gate. Kristie detoured into the barn to grab a handful of grain to try and make the catch a little easier. As Kristie came up to the gate of the paddock where Red Ranger was turned out. Red Ranger caught sight of the feed scoop and was trying decide whether or not to run away but by the time he decided on his decision Kristie reached up and clipped the lead rope on his halter and started to walk towards the gate. 

It was a short walk to the barn and an even shorter groom session then a quick tack up. Kristie was in the field again for the second time today. She quickly but thoroughly warmed him up and from the start Red Ranger was yanking her arms off trying to bolt into a gallop but Kristie kept tension on the reins the whole time to keep him in control. After she walked him a bit to let him catch his breath she only had to tap her heels lightly to his sides once to get him to bolt forward almost leaving her in the dust but she quickly grabbed onto his mane to steady herself after she steady herself got Red Ranger into a controlled gallop and they galloped for a long time before Red Ranger started to waver from exhaustion. Kristie slowed him to a walk, Red Ranger lagging along. After a bit of walking around the field Kristie headed back to the barn with Red Ranger in tow. She quickly untacked him and turned him into his stall to dry all the sweat off of before she put him back outside in the paddock. She passed the hay wagon and decided that if she did not want to yell at Red Ranger the whole time he was in the barn. So to keep him quiet she threw a handful of hay to tie him off until either got turned out or he got his grain and the rest of his portion of hay. On the way out of the barn she stopped to get a carrot to bring to Moonshine not that Moonshine needed to be bribed to come to Kristie. Moonshine was more then willing to come into the barn, to her the barn meant she either got food or attention both which she loves. Moonshine was in the middle of taking a giant drink of water when Kristie, she looked up just as Kristie came up to her. Dribbling  water all over the front of Kristie's T-shirt.

Thanks a lot Moonshine! Kristie said to Moonshine. Moonshine just looked at her with a bored look on her face. 

Okay girl I will hurry up and get you into the barn. Kristie said. 

 I might not be able to ride Honeysuckle outside in the field I might have to ride her inside after supper.  She thought

Kristie quickly walked Moonshine up to the barn and since Moonshine was fairly clean so she skipped the grooming and just tacked her up. Kristie decided that since Moonshine had been ridden a lot outside that she would ride her inside instead. She quickly mounted up on Moonshine and started to warm her up. After a quick hack Kristie dismounted and untacked Moonshine. Once Moonshine was in her stall Kristie decided that it was too late to ride Honeysuckle and that she would just add her onto the list of horses to ride for tomorrow. And with that Kristie started turning in horses and feeding them.

Authors Note:

Hey guys! I'm open for feedback through out the book. if you have suggestions I'm willing to hear them. Question for you guys! How do you like thew first chapter/book so far? 

  Up at the top of the chapter is a photo of Stardust.

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