horse book 1- It happens in a blink

Meeting Sherry

Ali walked down the long driveway to her house. She lived in a big farm house with her grandparents. They had a stable on the property, but no horses. Only a farm dog named sammy. Ali always wanted a horse but her grandparents said no every time she asked.

Ali's mom died in a riding accident when she was 4. She was turning 14 this year and just wanted a horse. She never met her dad because he left when she was born.

Ali asked "grandma can I plleeeeaaasssseee get a horse? I will take really good care of him!"

Grandma replied "NO! I have told you before we are not getting a horse!".

Ali was so mad that her grandparents didn't let her do anything! She ran out of the house as fast a she could. She ran to her best friend, Anna's house. Anna had her own horse along with all her other friends.

Anna's horse was a big grey warm blood mare named Felise. She was a very talented hunter/jumper mare. Ali always rode her when she was with Anna. They had a lot of fun with her until march 5, 1998.

"Hey anna! What's up?"

"Nothing much, want to go ridding?"

"Sure, what are we going to do with felise today?"

"Want to jump?"

"Yes that will be fun!"

So the two girls went and tacked up felise and brought her to the arena. Anna got on first and started ridding, once felise was warmed up Ali got on. Anna set up a cross bar for Ali and they jumped it perfectly.

When Anna got back on Ali raised it to 3'9" and Anna headed towards it. Felise stoped right in front Of the jump and Anna flew over felise's head. Ali ran over to Anna but she was unconscious. Ali ran up to the house and yelled for Anna's parents. They all ran to Anna and her parents took her to the hospital. When Ali's grandpa picked her up he didn't say anything.

When she got home her grandma came out of the house and said "you could have been the one who fell off! What were you thinking young lady?

"I love to ride, just because you gave it up doesn't mean I have to!"

Then Ali stormed to her room. The next day was her birthday and she was so upset about Anna she didn't leave her room until her grandma came and said they had a present for her. Ali walked down stairs and her grandma said go outside. Outside there was a stunning 15'2 pinto gelding. Her grandma said "you were right, here is a horse of your own! His name is Nevada and he's a 4 year old quarter horse. Happy birthday sweetheart!"

"Thanks grandma! He's gorgeous! I love him!"

"If its your dream then go ahead and make it happen."

Later that day Ali went on Facebook and noticed a new ad in the group 'Horses and Ponies for sale' it was the big beautiful black dapped grey mare her friend owned. She couldn't believe it! Her parents were selling felise. She read the description and then the price, $20,000. She was a very talented mare and could go far but Ali still couldn't believe they would sell her. Anna would be so upset once she found out. Then Ali read the comments and some one was coming to look at her that day, a 'Sherry Djon' I swear I have heard that name before but were? She decided to go to Anna's house and meet this buyer. When she got there she noticed felise being ridden over a 4'6" course with room to spare and it wasn't Anna riding her, it was the new buyer. Ali walked over to the arena where Sherry was riding and Anna's mom Helen was standing. Felise looked perfect while being ridden, Sherry interrupted her thoughts when she said this horse is worth more than $20,000.  

"I will buy her for $50,000"

Helen replied "okay deal!"

"I will be back with a trailer in 1 hour" sherry said

Ali's POV 

I just can't let felise go to this Sherry girl! I have to stop it but how? Just then I thought I will hide her in my barn! So I jumped on her and galloped back to my barn Helen yelling at me to bring her back but we just ran and ran.

I knew Helen would be after me so I hide felise in the last stall and ran in my house. My grandma asked what's the big rush and I told her everything. She said she had to call Helen and I begged he not to but right when she picked up the phone Sherrys car pulled in, no trailer, no Helen and no way to transport a horse. I was relived. She came and nocked on the door and I answered. 

"Hey Ali I'm wondering where felise is? Helen called me and said she was missing and I thought you might know where she is" Sherry said. 

"Umm, she's kinda in my barn" I said worried she might yell at me

"Can I go get her?" She asked

"Please dont! She belongs to my best friend who's in the hospital and she will be devasted!" I replyed

Tears started falling down my tanned checks. I began to sob in front of Sherry, I didn't care.

"If she means so much to your friend why are they selling her? I guess I could find another horse but she can go far in competitions, so tell your friend to start competing on her!" Sherry said

"Thank you thank you thank you!" I shouted ignoring her first question.

"Why don't you come for a drive to my farm with me?" Sherry offered

I hesitated for a moment and said "sure."

We got in her big ford truck and drive do what seemed like hours. We finally turned onto a drive way, I couldn't see anything but trees. After another 15 minutes we arrived at what I beloved was the barn. It could easily fit 50 or more horses. When we drive right passed it I asked "why did we pass the barn?"

Sherry laughed and said "that's not our main barn, it's right there!"

My jaw dropped in amazement. Their infront of me was a huge green barn, it had great flower beds in the front and some paddocks of to the sides.

We walked into the beautiful barn and in the first stall was a little black arabian. I studied this little horse when sherry said her name was scotia. Sherry told me she would show me all the horses so off we went. In the stall beside scotia was a dappled bay gelding named sword. Sherry told me this whole isle was the lesson horses. There was scotia, sword, missy, star, midnight, karma, Scarlett, wesley, prince, hope, comitan, haley, parker, danny, twizler, mia, bunny, dancer, nifty, toba, Monty and lacey.

They were all gorgeous. I wanted lessons here so bad but they would be so much money! We only completed 1/3 rows and I was already exhausted.

When we finally finished all the rows sherry took me back to the first row and told me to pick out a horse, I went straight to Karma. She was a 17.2 hand leopard Appaloosa. Her black spots shone I the sunlight coming in through the window. Sherry took her out of her stall and put her in crossties. She took me to the tack room and showed me Karma's stuff. There was one problem, she was western. I had never ridden western in my life.

Sherry asked "what's wrong Ali? Are you alright?"

I answered "umm.. I have never ridden western before......"

We'll it good your getting a lesson then sherry joked as she grabbed karma's tack. She yelled back at me, grab a saddle rug from the green box! I walked over and opened it. They had saddle pads of every colour!