I wasn't born into a horse family, but I was born to race. I won't ever, and haven't let my gender set me back from racing.My name is Donna Woods and it is my destiny to win the triple crown.
I grew up on the outskirts of Saratoga. I earned my lesson money with jobs in between foster families, I never had it easy after the accident. I was 5. 5, when my mom, dad, and brother fell off the bridge into the murky, murderous waters below. I remember I was in kindergarten when I got the news. I was sent up to the office when a man with a grim expression and dark eyes looked at me.
"Donna, honey, your mommy and daddy and brother were in an accident. They didn't make it." I was too young to understand. Only that my life was changed forever.
12 years have passed. I landed a job at a barn, cleaning tack and mucking stalls though my calling is to race.
I believe that every horse has a story, a reason that makes them the way they are. Some abused, some broken too early. I belive in the same amount of play and work, whether just taking the horse for a trail ride, or jumping in the arena.
I am now working at a racing stable as a jockey. I landed this job about a week ago, but today is the day the new horse comes.
I jump up out of bed and get ready to go. I slip on a flannel shirt with a vest and breeches. I make some breakfast and slip out the door. I get into my car and drive the 15 minutes to the barn with the radio blasting. I know I am close to the barn when I see the 5 spacious paddocks filled with anywhere from 2-6 horses, broodmares, newborn colts and fillies, yearlings, stallions, and simply horses being trained. You can see the mile track to the right and Josh the owner's, cabin in the middle. In a field in the back, there are a few jumps I set up and a trail marker.
By the time I reach the stable, my cheeks are painted red by the freezing November air. I am gasping for breath as I reach the main office.
"Morning Josh. How much time we got 'till they show up?"
" 'Bout twenty five, why don't you ask Woody if he's in need of help?"
"Sure."
I trudge down the main aisle and say hi to the few horses that are in. I see Woody, a nice man of about 22 with brown hair and green eyes, sweeping the aisle.
"Morning Woody. Did you hear? 25 minutes till he comes!"
"Cool! Do you know anything else about him?"
"All Josh said is that the owner of Shady Springs called him up and asked if he could take him. All he knows is It's a 2 year old stallion i'm breaking and riding. Do you need help with anything?"
"Could you feed Acapella and Foxy? When you're done could you also groom Ruby? If you still have time you can clip her mane too."
"Absolutely!"
"Thanks. If you need anything, just let me know."
I walk up the ladder to the hay loft. My favorite part about it is that it goes right above every stall. All you have to do is throw it over the side! I grab three flakes of orchard for Acapella and four for Foxy. I throw the three over the black mares stall and the four across the barn to the light bays. I walk back down and grab Ruby's magenta halter and throw it over my shoulder.
She's a rather moody mare, partly because She's in gestation and partly because she was over worked as a filly but she seems to have taken a liking to me.
When I open her stall door, she is looking out the window.
"Hi miss Ruby! You want to get your mane clipped today?" I pet her neck and slip the halter over her dark brown head.
As I walk her to the cross-ties, I notice her mane has gotten long. I clip her up and brush through her silky mane. I start to cut it with scissors until It's perfectly cut and brushed.
"Alright Ruby, shall we?" She gives me a snort and practically trots herself into her stall. I roll my eyes as I hear the sound of tires on gravel.
I swiftly walk outside and see a large Chevy truck pulling in with a miniscule trailer attatched. A rugged man comes out of the truck and slams the trailer doors open. I hear thrashing in the trailer and I feel knots in my stomach forming. I hear Josh and Woody coming out.
"Oh Crud."
What do you guys think of the new series? What do you think of Donna and Woody and Josh? What do you think happened?
-Mollie
