The Great Expedition

Chapter 12

Kristie woke up drenched in sweat. She had a night mare that she had left Stardust on the ranch and she broke out of her paddock. While trying to find Kristie, Stardust ran into barbed wire, blood gushing from the cuts, when she managed to escape the wire, she bolted heading nowhere in particular. Kristie screamed as Stardust headed to wards a cattle gard and her dainty leg fell threw the gap and got stuck. Stardust twisted, trying to break free but that only made it worse. STOP BABY YOU ARE MAKING IT WORSE Kristie screamed in horror as she heard a loud snap of a bone breaking. She looked down and saw Stardust lying down, her leg bent at a weird angle, The cuts were still gushing blood at this rate Stardust would bleed to death.

Oh thank god that was just a nightmare. Kristie said when she woke up. Kristie got out of bed and got dressed for the day. She then went into the bathroom, brushed her teeth and hair, then went downstairs where her mother was already hard at work packing things into boxes.

Hello dear you will have to make your own breakfast.

That is ok mother. Kristie made some toast and peanut butter. After she gobbled that down, went outside and into the barn. She saw that the horses had already been fed and that they just needed to be turned out.

Hello honey, please leave Amigo in. Someone will be here to try him out later. I'm going to go check on the cows.

Are you selling the cows too?

No they are apart of the farm that we are going to give to Rob. With that her left the barn. Kristie waked out to the closest stall that had an appaloosa, who was barely halter broke. He would probably be one horse that would stay on this farm until Rob decided to sell him or what not. Few people wanted a barely halter broke, shy, skittish and wary of people. After a few tough moments, Kristie finally got him into one of the smaller paddocks by the rings. She tossed a flake of hay into his paddock, which caused the green horse to bolt to the back of the paddock bucking as he went. Once in the corner furthest away from the hay, he started shivering. Kristie knew that once she left he would start munching away, this happened everyday and would happen again until he learned that people were not harmful. Kristie went back inside again and repeated the same process but this time with a pie-bald. With more struggles then the first horse, she finally got him into the paddock with the appaloosa gelding. Kristie tossed another flake of hay in. Again causing both horses to buck and start shivering in a corner.

It's ok babies I'm not going to harm you. Kristie said in a calm quiet voice. When neither horse moved forward towards her, Kristie went back into the barn. After about an hour of taking horses out to paddocks until only three horses remained int the barn.

Sorry Amigo. you have to stay inside today for a bit. Kristie led Honeysuckle and Stardust outside into the large mare paddock that once housed Moonshine, Willow and Stardust. Once they were free both horses dropped to the ground and rolled, when they got up they shot off at a gallop bitting and kicking out as they went. After the race, which Stardust won by ease, both horses settled down to graze. Once in a while one horse would go and nudge the other one and when they did not respond, the one that nudge would kick out on purposely missing the other one. Kristie laughed it was great to see Stardust enjoying herself and not stressing that Willow and Moonshine had left her. Kristie went inside the barn and started mucking out stalls. Once she got to Amigo's stall, she led him out of the stall and clipped him to a pair of cross ties right by his stall. After the stall was clean and new shavings were in Kristie led Amigo back into his stall. 

Phew this is hard work Kristie said to Amigo. After allt he stalls were clean and had hay, Kristie saw that Amigo was pacing in his stall or trying to at least in the small stall. 

Do you want to go for a walk? Kristie was about to grab his halter when her father burst into the barn.

I need you to quickly tack up Amigo. the buyers are here early. I also want you to ride him before they test him out.

Ok dad. Kristie got to work giving Amigo a quick brushing then getting the tack on him. She then quickly put on her boots and helmet. Then bridaled Amigo and led him outside. Once in the ring Kristie mounted and started walking him around. A few seconds later her father walked to the ring with a couple behind him and two screaming children runnin and chasing each other a few steps behind them. Kristie clucked Amigo into a trot and focused all her attention on Amigo. Kristie did figure 8s and spirals to show off his suppleness. After trotting both ways Kristie asked Amigo to stretch up to a canter. After 2 lqps of canter She crossed the middle and asked Amigo for a lead change both ways. She then asked him for a slidding stop to which Amigo responded. After a few more exercises she slowed him to a walk and walked him over to the family.

He is a nice mover and looks very responsive. said the man. Does he spook and anything? Is he good with cattle? And children?

No, yes and yes. I ride him every time I go check on cattle. Our 2 year old neice rides him whenever she comes to vist. 

I would like to try him. Kristie dismounted and the man ducked under the rail and in one swift motion got into the saddle. The man quickly put Amigo through his paces and when the ride was done the man was smilling. When he rode over to the fence he said.

I think we have a winner. This horse is a dream to ride and very reliable. The man dismounted and Kristie grabbed the reins, leading Amigo back to the barn to be untacked. Once he was untacked and brushed, Kristie grabbed Amigo's cooler and put it on him. She then led him outside to a waiting trailer. Her father gave her a cue to start leading him up into the trailer. But once they got to the bottom of the ramp Amigo refused to go up any futher. When Kristie urged him a bit more he reared up in the air. 

Kristie go grab some Quietex in the barn. Kristie ran to the barn and grabbed the needle int he box labled Quietex then ran back to her father. Her father quickly injected Amigo and after a minute he tried again to lead him up the ramp this time Amigo followed him willingly. Once he was secure her father reappered and the family hopped into the truck and drove off.

Well that went well. her father said.

It sure did. 

Now go finish your chores

yes dad. Kriste went back into the barn and started to finish her chores.

Author's note

QOTD: What is your dream job?

Mine would be a forensic scientist or a police officer/detective.