Never Apart

Rocky

"Rocky's owner is really sick. She wanted to know if we could buy him."
"OMG! Are you kidding?!"
"No! I'll let her know tomorrow morning."
"I have to go call Lauren!"
I hugged mom and dad and then scurried up the stairs to my room and dial Lauren's number.
"Hi Amy, did you forget somethi-"
"Guess what?! We're buying Rocky!"
"Who's that?"
"My old lease from Oregon! The owner is extremely sick so she wanted us to buy him!"
"No way! Are you serious? That's awesome! I can't wait to meet him!"
"Yeah! I can't wait to show him to you!"
"Text me when you know more!"
"Okay, I will! Bye"
"Bye!"
I hung up the phone and smiled. Even though I have to still ride Rosie, things are starting to turn around at home.
The following morning I awake to sunlight streaming in my window. I look outside and see the horses in the pasture grazing. I change my clothes to a cobalt blue tank top and a pair of grey shorts. I comb my hair and braid it into two shoulder length braids. I run downstairs and grab a banana and a bagel for breakfast. I hear mom talking on the phone in the living room. "That soon? Amy will be very excited. Okay, thanks again! Bye!"
"How soon?"
"Friday."
"Friday!? That's two days away!"
"Yes it is! Why don't you and Lauren ride to the tack store and get a halter and stuff and prepare his stall?"
"Okay!"
"Amy?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't forget to feed the horses before you go."
"I won't!"
I run outside to the barn and text Lauren.
Meet me at my house ASAP! A few minutes later Lauren texts back.
On my way! Saddling Ty now! :-)
:-)
I feed the horses two flakes each. By the time I'm done, I see Lauren cantering up on Ty.
"What's the scoop?!"
"He's coming on Friday!"
"NO WAY!"
"Yes way! Can you help me get his stall ready and go to the tack store?"
"Sure!"
I grab my saddle, girth, a blue saddle pad, and his d-ring bridle. I brush Vinny down outside collecting all the dust and mud he accumulated since last night. I pick his feet and lift the golden colored pad onto his broad back. I lift his saddle over the pad and lift his girth two holes on each side. He accepts the bit easily. I tighten the throatlatch and noseband and then I bring him to the mounting block.
"Ready to go?" Lauren asks as Ty lets out a big whinny.
"You bet!" I tighten his girth again and pet him before putting my foot in the stirrup and swinging my other leg over.
"Horse And Hound or Tack In The Box?"
"Tack In The Box for sure! Plus, you've never been, correct?"
"Nope! Maybe I'll find something new for Ty!"
"Maybe!"
We arrive 20 minutes later. We dismount the horses and tie them to a tree near the back of the store. We run in and I check my list.
Buckets
A halter
A saddlepad
A bridle
Horse treats
Shampoo
Fly spray
"Lauren, can you get fly spray and shampoo while I get the buckets and treats?"
"Sure thing!"
We split up. I found peppermint and carrrot flavored horse treats, a teal bucket, and a lime green corner feeder. Lauren comes back with fly spray and shampoo a couple minutes later.
"I didn't know what flavor shampoo you wanted so I got vanilla and honey."
"Perfect!" I cross off shampoo, fly spray, horse treats, and buckets. "Now we have to get a bridle, halter, and saddle pad."
We walk over to the halter bin. There is a red and black halter. Not his colors. Orange and yellow. No way! I finally fish out a teal and lime green halter. "Perfect!"
"What color is he?"
"Chestnut with a star and dapples."
"Those are good colors for him then!"
"Yep!"
I get a bridle and a snaffle bit. I also get a cobalt blue saddle pad. Lauren gets Ty a new bridle and a new halter. The total comes to 50 dollars for me and 20 for Lauren. Not bad, if I do say so myself.
We ride home and get to work on the stall. We put Vinny and Ty in the pasture after bathing them. I put up the teal one under his window and the corner feeder in the corner opposite of the door. I hang his halter up and put the fly spray and shampoo in my bathing supplies bucket and make him a spot in the tack room. I write an R in blue sharpie on a wooden peg next to Vinny's. I put the pad on it and put up the bridle on a hook.
"I think we did pretty well." I stand back and admire the stall. The once bare floor has a mound of shavings, the empty walls now have buckets, and the stall door now has no cobwebs.
"I think so too. I've gotta go but tomorrow if you wanna ride, just text me."
"Okay, great. I probably will. Bye!"
"Bye!"
I wave and then fish out a bale of hay to spread between the three horses. When I'm done, I go back into the house. I eat my dinner, then go to sleep. The day after tomorrow I get to see Rocky!