The life of Daisy

Canterwood Stables

       This book is Dedicated to: Nutmeg0820 for being a great friend and never leaving me no matter how crazy I can be.

It was a beautiful morning at Canter Wood stables. It was quiet except for the occasional snort or whiny. I poke my head out of the stall to see who is awake. I see Lucky, Vanilla, and Asia. We have about an hour or two before the stable hands and riders come in I hope they will just leave me in here. I look to my left at Lillian she is still asleep but I am bored so I gently neigh "Lillian wake up." she does "Huh OK I am up." she snorts back. "Any news about the schedule today." I ask her. She pauses trying to recall what she heard from yesterday "All I know is you ,Lucky, Max, Tawny, and I are going on a trail ride this afternoon." She looks annoyed "That's not too bad a trail ride sounds nice I really hope its not muddy though." Some of the barn hands arrive they give us feed and hay I munch on mine and get ready to be released into the pasture.

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The sun is warm on my back we have been out of the barn for a few hours I have trotted around with my friends and I may have rolled around in the dirt a little.....OK not a little my entire back is covered with mud. I'm sure Elizabeth is going to be thrilled. I love Elizabeth she is my owner she has had me my whole life since I was three. I have only left Canter wood the prestigious horse ranch a few times for shows and jumping but that's all. Then I see Elizabeth and a young girl next to her with....is that.....A HALTER AND LEAD ROPE!.....Oh man. My ears are perked as I look at them when they start coming towards the gate I whinny "SHOWTIME." to the other horses they all pick their heads up and Elizabeth knows I am on to her. They open the gate and start walking towards me a few others follow them in. The little girl gets closer and closer. I fool her by staying in one place and eating grass but then just before she can get the rope around me I take off. Only a few feet but enough to get her to work for it. I do this a few times until Elizabeth comes over and gets behind me while I'm next to the fence and the girl comes up beside me and loops the rope around my neck. Although I don't like to work I do like my halter I was excited when Elizabeth got me a new one its lavender with dark purple jewels. The girl slips it over my head it takes a while to get it latched and she poked my eye once or twice. I appreciate her perseverance though. I walk with her but get confused she is giving me mixed signals and Elizabeth is correcting her. I can tell she has not led a horse before. Once we finally get to the barn Lillian and max are already there. "Hey Lillian ,Hello Max." They both greet  me and max says he is excited about the ride.Elizabeth gets a bucket of brushes and a hoof pick. "Its time to get that dirt off Daisy's back alright Kayla." Kayla nods her head and Elizabeth hands her a curry comb and is taught how to use but she still does it wrong so Elizabeth helps her. Then they use the soft brush to clear away the rest of the dirt that was loosened up and to make me shiny. Elizabeth does my hooves. Then they both walk into the barn. Elizabeth comes back holding my saddle and the Kayla comes with my dark purple saddle pad. Kayla pushes it onto me "No Kayla the saddle pad goes up here." Elizabeth points to my withers. Kayla moves it up so it sits comfortably on my back. Elizabeth swings my western saddle on to me and puts the girth under my chest. Then Elizabeth adjusts the stirrups. Elizabeth tells Kayla to get my bridle from the tack room so she runs back into the barn to grab it. Elizabeth slides the bit into my mouth witch I hate because its so uncomfortable. Then she pulls the strap back and puts it over my ears then buckles the latch under my chin. Kayla gets the step stool and pulls it up beside me and Elizabeth pushes it a bit closer. "OK Kayla put your foot in the stirrup." Kayla looks up at her "I know how to do it." She gets up on me but something is not right oh she put the wrong foot in the stirrup and is now facing backwards  and giggling great job Kayla. Asia arrives and snickers at me when she sees I have a backwards 8 year old in the saddle. Elizabeth pulls Kayla down and shows her witch foot to use first. This time Kayla is successful. Elizabeth pulls back the reins and shows Kayla how to hold them properly. Elizabeth unties me from the post and I take the lead for the trail ride. Elizabeth has to lead me because Kayla is too young. Which I don't need I know these trails by heart.

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Its the end of the day I am a bit sore from the ride I kept stepping on rocks. The stable hands had cleaned my stall earlier and had just fed the horses their dinner. The sun sets and I watch it out my back window. I hear Elizabeth talking to someone so I turn around to see her and an important looking woman with papers. They were saying something about money and the occasional I'm sorry and I can't believe this. Elizabeth stayed in my stall and Asia's for a long time. Asia is also Elizabeth's horse and my best friend. Elizabeth stroked us and gave us treats, she whispered to us and loved on us until maybe 10:00 pm then she left. Me and Asia were worried about Elizabeth we knew something was wrong. I munched on hay until I drifted to sleep.

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The  next day we ate our breakfast when the stable hands got here and Elizabeth looked tired like she hadn't slept in a while. After an hour she looked normal her husband came to the barn today too his name is Johnathan Carter he is very nice but a strict rider. Johnathan takes me out of my stall and Elizabeth gets Asia. I whinny to Asia "I wonder where we are going." Asia replies "I hope its to that waterfall." I get excited about that idea and I'm pretty sure they are taking us there its so beautiful and its where John and Eliza got married I can't wait. John saddles me in his heavy western saddle he uses on his horse Austin ,he is a massive and strong Breton. My breed is Palomino and Asia's is a Buckskin Morgan. He puts my bridle on and Asia is already good to go. Johnathan is very tall which makes him heavy to carry. He puts his foot in the stirrup and swings himself over me. I stumble when he lands in my saddle he hits me hard. He does not gently sink into the saddle like most do, he just lands in it. Elizabeth hops on Asia and we start on the trail heading toward the stream just like me and Asia predicted. It is nice out here early in the morning. Asia and I neigh back and forth about the trees and the weather on a mid summer morning. We finally reach the falls. Elizabeth starts to say something to Johnathan "Hey john I have news......I am pregnant." Elizabeth hops down first and runs toward the water laughing and yelling with joy and a smile on her face. John follows her he jumps into the water. They splash each other and get soaking wet then they swim and go through the falls. Asia and I go to the stream for a drink. "Can you believe it Asia Eliza is going to have a foal." Asia giggles "Uh with humans you call it a baby and this is so awesome."

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We are back in the barn Johnathan left and Elizabeth has stayed late tonight. Its different to night though we saw that lady again today with some more papers and a strange guy. Asia picked up his name Ryder Evans. The guy came into our stalls and measured us and took some pictures.Now Elizabeth is crying she has been for the last few hours on and off ,it is unbearable to see her so sad. She has been back and forth to me and Asia's stalls and just hugging us and not letting go we just nuzzle her back and put our chins on her shoulder. Elizabeth will sit on the hay bales in our stalls and bawl her eyes out but we are there for and always will be. Although it is a bit uncomfortable I lay down and let Eliza lay with me. She whispers to me "I will see you again I promise." then she went and said the same to Asia and I have been pondering that sentence all night.