The Great Expedition

Chapter 17

The same thing would happen the next day and the next. Every day Rob would have a huge hangover, he would ride Buckshot, and he would ''train'' some horses. Buckshot would always come back drenched in sweat, bleeding from  the mouth and hair loss on his sides. 

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 At the end of the week the cuts were more frequente on her, the newer ones would bleed and the older cuts would start to scab over only to be reopened. Rob would also try to ''train'' Honeysuckle but everytime Stardust would kick him and run away before he could slap her. Honeysuckle never got ''trained'' by Rob, she knew that Stardust would protect her. Rob would also conveniently forget to feed the horses, so every night Stardust would jump out of her paddock and grab bales of hay to feed the horses. Once fed every horse would nicker thier thanks and after her job was done, Stardust would walk down the trails to the clearing or the creak. Sometimes when Stardust went to the clearing, she would eat the sweet green grass, but mostly Stardust would stand looking up at the stars remembering all the fun times she had with Kristie. Sometimes Stardust would stay out all night but she made sure she was always back before Rob came out. Tonight was one of those nights, Stardust was thinking about Kristie when some animals came out to the stream. Stardust stayed as still as a statue so none of the animals were spooked. Stardust saw deer, bears, rabbits and foxes. As the sun started to rise Stardust galloped back to the farm and lept into her paddock. Rob was drinking a glass of water and looking out the window, when he saw a white flash jump over a the fence and gallop across the paddock before coming to a walk.

What the hell. Rob said. Man that is one fast mare maybe I should start riding her. Rob went outside and took Buckshot out of his paddock and started to walk him up to the barn when he saw that Buckshot was limping.

Oh damit I can't have a horse that is lame. Rob tied Buckshot to a nearby post and went into the house and grabbed his shot gun. Rob then led Buckshot into the clearing and a few minutes later Stardust heard a gun shot. The shot spooked her and Stardust began to bolt around the paddock with Honeysuckle at her heels. Finally Stardust was tired and stopped bolting and a few strides later so did Honeysuckle. Stardust looked around and saw some horses still running madly. The appaloosa gelding tried to bolt in his paddock but there was not enough space to begin with never mind with his paddock friend. After about 30 minutes all the horses on the farm had stopped running and forgot what they were spooking at. Rob came back and got Stardust. Rob led a saddled Stardust into the ring and tried to mount her. Rob got on her and a second later Stardust started to buck like a bucking bronko. Rob landed on the sandy ground and got up to go slap Stardust, but she galloped around madly so he could not catch her. Stardust then turned and lept over the rails of the arena and galloped 5 strides to her own paddock's rail, which she cleared with ease.

Darn that horse. Well it will serve her right when I do not take her tack off. She can spend the night in that tack. Rob stomped up to the house and slammed the door. Stardust walked over to the water tub only to find it was empty, Rob must have forgot to fill it up just like he forgot to feed the horses TWO DAYS IN A ROW. At first Stardust tried to graze but soon got restless due to thirst. Honeysuckle ignored her, just munching on grass. Finally Stardust had enough, she galloped across the paddock to the fence and lifted her body into the air. When she landed on the other side, she continued to gallop right to the stream. Honeysuckle walked up to the fence and started to pace back and forth, not wanting to be left alone. Stardust only stopped when she was knee deep in water, she then leaned her mouth down into the water and started to glug the cool water. Once she got her fill of water she layed down in the water to cool off her boiling body. Once Stardust cooled her body 10 degrees, she walked to the land and put her head down trying to get the reins off of her neck. Once the reins were just dangling from the bit, Stardust put one of her front legs through the hole and yanked her head up. The bridal broke and the bit fell out of  her mouth, Stardust then rubbed her head on a tree and the head peice fell off. The saddle was a bit tricky, Stardust got a sturdy stick in between the girth and her skin. Stardust then lept in the air a couple of times to loosen to elastic. Finally the girth had enough and the elastic snapped on one side. Stardust then pretended to spook and the saddle fell right off. Now free from the mean equipment, Stardust began to walk upstream, taking in the view. All too soon the sun began to set and Stardust knew it was time to go back. If Rob would not feed the horses it would be Stardust's job. Stardust started to gallop towards the farm. Once Stardust sailed over the gate, Honeysuckle stopped pacing and walked over to her. Honeysuckle started to nuzzle her back, glad to have her friend back. Once the sun set and it was clear Rob was not going to feed the horses, Stardust hopped out of the paddock and begin her routine, starting with her own paddock to keep Honeysuckle busy. Once the hay was done Stardust went over to the outdoor hose and started to unwind to hose. She the tugged it over to the first paddocks water tub and ran back to twist the knob that releases the water. After everything was done Stardust hopped back into her paddock for the night.

Author's note 

The photo at the top is Kristie and Stardust jumping bare back.

QOTD: Would you ever jump bare back with no bridal/halter?

I would, it seams really fun. I would want to try it with my gelding.