The Great Expedition

Chapter 8

The next trailer was for Double R. A 17 year old boy wearing blue jeans and a plaid shirt with a baseball cap on his head, stepped out from the truck first. 

Hello, I'm here for a sorrel Quarter horse named Red Ranger. My name is Dylan and I saw your ad.

Ah yes Dylan, Kristie will show you the paddock where he is now.

Follow me. said Kristie.

As Dylan and Kristie walked down towards the paddock Kristieasked Dylan.

Now that you own Double R what are your plans to do with him.

Double R?

That's his barn name that we call him.

Ah. Well I plan to train him to be a barrel racer and compete on him. The ad said he was really fast and would prefer an expirenced rider.

Have you owned any horses before him?

I own a small chestnut pony that was my mini barrel racer as a kid but he will be my first horse. I still have that pony. He is right now sitting in the field munching on grass. He comes in every night and gets good grain and hay. Once they got to the gate Kristie asked. Did you bring your own halter?

No sorry. I have not bought anything for him yet.

No worries. You can take the halter we use for him. No need o return it once you get him home we are moving into the city so we will not need it any more.

Thanks so much. Anything I need to know about him before I take him home?

If something spooks him, he will bolt and you will not get him back for a while until he either gets tired or he forgets what he was running from. He is very fast like bullet fast. He has had no injuries since we got him. If you get him while he is eating he will make your ride torture. Constently bucking, threatning to rear all the time, tries to bolt every ten seconds. Sorry you probably do not want to buy him now.

NO I'm always up for a challenge. He sounds very quirky.

He is. Do you want to try and catch him?

Sure. Dylan un hooked the lead rope and halter from the gate, climbed into the paddock and with the halter behind his back he started walking towards Double R. What suprised Kristie the most was instead of running away from him like he did with her, Double R walked right up to Dylan. Double R stood perfectly still while Dylan clipped the halter to his face. While the pair walked to the gate Kristie noticed that Double R did not lag behind shuffling his way nor did he try and run him over like he would do with Kristie. When the duo got to the gate Kristie said He really seems to like you.

You think?

Yes I can see you guys going great places together.

Thanks.

The two kids walked back to the trailer with a horse in the middle of them. Once they got to the trailer Dylan said. Do you want to load him up into the trailer just so that you can have a private moment to say goodbye to him. 

Sure thanks. Kristie said gratefully to him. Once Double R was loaded into the trailer Kristie started her goodbyes.

Goodbye boy. I know you will achieve great things with Dylan. He will take good care of you. I hope in few years I will see you competing in the Calgary Stampede taking home the grand prize. Kristie exited the trailer and started closing up the ramp Dyaln came over and grabbed the other side, helping her seal up the trailer. Dylan then said goodbye to the family and hopped into the truck before pulling out of the yard. After he was gone another trailer pulled into the yard. On the side of the trailer the words Therapeutic Riding Association. A woman parked the truck and got out. Her dark brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She was wearing black jeans and a light pink plaid shirt.

Hello I'm Kat and I'm here for Sweetheart.

Hello I'm Ann. Kristie please go grab Sweetheart. She is in her stall. Please give her a quick brushing and put her cooler on before you bring her out. Do you have you own halter that you would like us to use?

No if we could just use yours that would be great. Kristie walked to the barn and stopped in the tack room to grab a grooming kit before heading to Sweetheart's stall. After a quick grooming because Sweetheart was already clean, Kristie threw a light pink cooler on Sweetheart and secured it to her body. She then clippped the lead rope to the halter, opened the stall door and led Sweetheart outside to the trailer waiting. Once they were stopped at the three people, Kristie asked.

What will be Sweetheart's job when she is at the thrapeutic stables?

She will help kids improve range of motion, balence, posture and hand-eye cordination. She will be surrounded with kids who will love her so much all day everyday. 

She does love children.

Kristie can you please load her into the trailer?

Yes mother. Kristie led Sweetheart towards the trailer and up the ramp. Once inside the trailer Kristie tied Sweetheart tightly to a ring to keep her secure during the ride, but not too tight that she could not munch on her hay nor take sips from the water bucket suspended to the trailer wall.

Goodbye Sweetheart. I will never forget you. I also will never forget that you were the first horse I ever sat on or that you were the one who taught me the basics. Kristie gave Sweetheart one more hug then exited the trailer.

Okay Sweetheart is loaded and secure int the trailer. Kristie said on she got back to the three adults. 

Thanks sweetie.I'm going to go say goodbye to her now. Kristie's mother entered the trailer. After a couple of minuets Kristie's mother exited the trailer and Kat went over to the trailer to close the ramp. Kat then came back to say goodbye to the family and reassure them that Sweetheart would be well taken care of and well loved. She then hopped into the drivers seat and drove off down the path. The rest of the day went like that people showing up with trailers. Them saying what horse they bought. Kristie getting the correct horses and loading them into the trailers. 

Author's Note

Photo on the top is Kristie and Stardust at a dressage compettion.

QOTD: What is your favorite drink to drink?

Mine would be Brisk Iced Tea. I drink at least one can a day.