Equine Academy

Chapter 2: Arion and I

The barn was like a mansion. It had a clean aisle and perfect stalls. I walked down the aisle, marveling at the cleanliness of it. Finally, there Arion was. I opened the stall door and hugged him. He nickered at me softly. "I missed you so much, Arion!" I exclaimed. He nickered once more. I remembered back to the day I first met him.

It was a cold, rainy, Sunday. One of the barn's mares was going into labor. She was a gorgeous mare, dapple grey but much lighter than Arion was. My barn friends and I all watched as little tiny Arion was born. "He would not live," my trainer had said. But much later, he was a full size horse, living life happily. He was going to be sold. But I begged and begged my parents to buy him. Finally, they caved in. Arion was mine! My first ever horse. I cared for him and rode him every day. He didn't like the other people at the barn, but he trusted me. We had a special bond that couldn't be broken.

I smile, remembering the day. He whinnied as I pat him then said goodbye and went back to my parents who were trying to figure out electronics. "Come on!" I said. "Let's go to my dorm!" They looked up and nodded. We walked to the gorgeous building next to the barn. A lady who was behind the desk looked up at us as our feet click-clacked on the marble floors. "Hello! And you are..?" She asked. "This is Emily, she's here on a scholarship," my mom replied. "Ahh okay, welcome Emily!" The lady exclaimed with a smile. "You can follow me to your dorm with your bags," she said. I hugged my parents tightly. "I'll miss you so much!" I exclaimed, not letting go. "We will miss you too, Emily. But don't focus on us, focus on having fun with new friends and riding Arion!" They said. "We will see you at spring break!" They added, walking to the car. "Are you ready?" The nice lady asked. I nodded and we walked up a grand staircase to my dorm.