The Great Expedition

Chapter 2

Kristie woke up to the rooster clucking away. She jumped out of bed and got dressed as quickly as possible, running down the stairs while pulling her jeans over her leg. She just finished getting her jeans on just as she reached the entrance to the kitchen, From the doorway she could smell warm just cooked bacon, eggs and buttered toast. When entered the kitchen and saw what was on the table, it was then that was exactly what she had smelled from the doorway. Toast was in a pile on a plate, butter and peanut butter was set out next to the toast. The eggs were on another plate under a plate on top of that plate to keep them warm. Three tall glasses were set out in the three usual spots of the family, orange juice was set out on the table along with milk and coffee. Kristie sat at the table waiting for her father to arrive so that they could start breakfast. Her father came down the stairs a few moments later, grabbed a plate and started loading up his plate. By now Kristie knew the drill by heart her father would get his food first then her mother then finally she got whatever was left. Once all of them  had there plates full and were sitting at the table her mother started telling everyone the news for today.

Today we have 3 trail rides to lead, One at 11 o'clock, 2 o'clock and the last one at 4 o'clock. Her mother stated. We will let the guest chose their horses because they are all trained to do what they are said, but if they chose Honeysuckle then we will kindly ask them to pick another horse because Honeysuckle is not fully trained. After the trail rides Kristie you will need to ride about five horses, I will assign you to ride some of the horses that were not ridden in the trail rides today. Dave at some point today you need to go check on the cattle, while you are up there please check on the food and the water there. And since there are three trail rides today we can each take one trail ride to lead. Her mother said rapping up the news for the day.

Thank you for breakfast mother, I will now be on my way. Replied Kristie. As Kristie entered the barn to start turning out horses she saw Stardust's head sticking out of her stall. 

Do not worry baby you will be outside before you know it. Kristie said to her horse. She decided to turn out Willow, Moonshine and Stardust into the pasture together because they all got along with each other. Then she turned out Red Ranger, Amigo and Buckshot into another paddock with some other horses that stayed outside all of the time.  The moment she let all three horses go they took off at a gallop, racing each other to win. Smiling at the frisky horses one last time Kristie headed back up to the barn to turn out the rest of the horses and start her chores.

Around 11 o'clock the people that were in the first trial ride showed up, Kristie stopped mucking  out the stall she was on and went to go meet the family that had just arrived. Standing at the barn entrance was a man and what she assumed that the lady standing next to him  was his wife. Around them was four kids one little girl who looked about 5 or 6 years old was petting one of the barn cats. the other two kids a boy who looked about 10 or 11 was chasing after a smaller boy about 2 or 3 years old. The eldest kid looked about 15 or 16 was sitting on a hay bale and was what looked to be texting on her phone.

Hello and welcome to Happy Hearts Ranch. today you guys will be going on a trail ride. You may chose your own horse to ride. Kristie said to the family.

Why thank you dear! the mother said.

If you follow me the horses are out here and you can chose which one to ride. Kristie motioned for the family to follow her.  

In this paddock is Red Ranger, Amigo and Buckshot. The others are not usally used in trail rides but if you really want to ride one of them then I guess we could make an exception. Just speak up when you see a horse you would like to ride. Kristie told the family. 

Actually I would like to ride that red horse with black feet please. The father spoke up  

Okay, I will go grab Red Ranger for you and then you can take him up to the barn. Kristie went into the paddock and for the first time since they got Red Ranger him came right up to her no need to chase him around or get grain to have him come in. She quickly led him out of the paddock, handed the lead line to the man and asked the rest of the family if they wanted a horse from this paddock as well they all said no. Kristie went onto the next paddock. Finally they had all chose their horses. The young girl chose Blueberry a black little pony that was happy to walk along. Blueberry never spooked at anything so it was a good choice for the girl. The older girl chose Willow a pretty light grey mare with black socks. Willow did not need any guidance on where to go on the trail which was a good thing because so far the girl had only looked up from her phone once and that was to chose a horse. The mother was riding Sweetheart a pinto horse with a sweet personality. Sweetheart would be carrying two riders the mother and the little boy because the little boy was too young to control an animal by himself. The older boy chose Superhorse a bay pony that was notorious for trying to prevent and save people from getting hurt. The family had just finished tacking up when Kristie's father entered the barn ready to take the family on a trail ride

                                                                                         ...

The trail ride went and when it was time for the family to leave the two youngest kids were crying because they did not want to leave the ranch. Kristie and her dad had just enough time to untack the horses that had been used before the next group of people showed up. Kristie's dad thought that it would be okay if the people from the next group chose some of the horses that had just been on the trails because in the trail ride before they had only walked. The next group was a bunch of 8 year old girls that were giggling and chatting really loudly Kristie's mom was leading this trail ride which was a good thing Kristie thought.

After the girls left it came the last trail ride of the day Kristie was outside in the paddock catching Stardust because she was going to ride her in this trail ride because it was her turn to lead a trail ride. When she got up to the barn with Stardust in tow there in the aisle stood someone she would have never thought she would see on her propriety. there in the Aisle stood...........

Authors Note

  The photo at the top is Red Ranger but from now on I'm going to refer to him as Double R

Question of the day: What is your favourite horses breed?

Mine would probably be an Arabian horse. With their Hot headedness and the way they move. 

Stay safe