~'~
Madison and her horses trained like crazy for the next six months. Cisco suffered a small cut after slipping in the mud after heavy rains. He was fine but the cut took well over a week to heel. Madison had made sure that even with the lost time, that he was prepped and in his peek stage. It was the day before the Grand Prix. Madison and Cisco were headed to Lexington Kentucky for a week.
Quiz Bee was surprisingly being sent with them. John had asked Madison if she would be willing to show him in a small dressage show. Of course, Madison had been looking for a new horse or yearling so she gladly took the paying offer. John had told his horse's trainer that he would take the prize money and ribbon and that she would get five grand if Quiz Bee went along. The money was ridiculous but, John new how annoying and snippy Quiz could be.
Madison and Quiz Bee would be competing in a Level 1 show at Stone Place Farm. It was in Prospect, Kentucky, which was only about an hour and a half away from Lexington. They planned on leaving the Grand Prix the day after it was fully done then heading to Prospect, KY for two days.
~'~
I loaded the last of the tack into my trunk as Misty led Cisco into the trailer. It was 5:30 a.m on Saturday morning, the day Cisco, Quiz Bee, and I were scheduled to head to Lexington and Prospect.
Misty and I loaded everything into the trailer and truck before heading out. As we pulled around the circular drive and headed out towards to road Jill Bertual, my long time friend pulled up to us. I had asked her to take my trainees and horses out for hacks and lunging sessions, feed and water them, and groom all of the horses dailey. She agreed immediately and after giving instructions, I hugged her then, Misty and I drove off.
We drove for three hours or so before stopping for a pee and water brake. We checked the horses and walked them around for 10 minutes or so. Quiz Bee shot out of the trailer and nearly pulled me off my feet. I managed to stay standing a quickly circle him before he took off into the nearby forest. I circled him multiple times before removing his leg wraps and walking to a large, grassy area. There, I let him walk, trot, and canter circles on the lunge line. He was obviously happy to stretch his cramped up legs.
After 20 minutes or so, I let Quiz back into the truck. I filled waters and haynets. Once that was done, I hopped into the drives side while Misty climbed up in the passenger's side. The petite young woman struggled to get in the large rig. But, once she did, Misty, started laughing and joking about her petiteness. We laughed about it and drove for a few more hours before stopping again. Again, we let the horses walk, trot, and canter to get out their soon to become fiestyness.
Driving for another hour seemed like hours instead of just one. By the time Misty and I showed up at the show grounds, we had just as much pent up energy as the horses did. We ran large circles around the trailer once the horses were out.
Each time we passed Quizz and cico, they would whinny, as if asking us to let them run with us. Misty grabbed Quiz Bee and I got Cisco. We trotted them around and let both geldings stretch their cramped up legs. After finishing with that, Misty ran off to get cisco and I's number.
She came back 10 minutes later with my number and a brightly wrapped present. She handed both to me, looking confused and slightly astonished.
"Who's this from?" I asked Misty.
"Some tall guy with dark hair. He handed it to me and then ordered me like a slave to deliver it to you," She answered.
"Tall with dark hair," I mumbled.
Then finally it came to me. Joshua, or better know as Josh. He had tried to persuade me for years to date him. I hated to older man with a passion. He was a disgusting and rich guy who thought money and pretty girls were all that he need.
~'~
The warm summer days passed into shorter, colder days. The competition season was ending as the colder months set in. Madison and her horses had worked hard and deserved their winter break. By the time the snow came, Madison have won over 100 ribbons with Cisco, Quiz, Bue, and Champ. Her other horses had left her. Shana and Gizmo were back with their owners and their training was complete. Quiz Bee was leaving soon also. His temperament had leveled out and his relaxation was now impecable. John would start Beginner Novice Eventing and Level 1 dressage at the start of the next season. He told Madison that if the outstanding gelding had too much potential for John to handle, he would go back to Madison as a gift.
She was delighted to hear that the OTTB might be coming back to her barn later in the next season. She could finish his training a be sold for over $100,00. He could become a Grand Prix Dressage horse and compete in the Olympics with an international rider. Madison hoped that she could possibly keep him though. He was a special horse and they were developing a special bond. The horse was becoming as attached as Madison already was.
~'~
"Working with Quiz Bee is amazing, John! I love him and would be happy to take him into my possession," I told John over the phone one sunny afternoon in mid November. He had called to inquire me about taking Quiz Bee into my possession. I was ecstatic when the voice mail came through saying that he wanted to talk about the OTTB gelding.
I had called back immediately and he told me that if he could drop off the horse around noon three days later then I could have the gelding. Of course, I agreed and said I could pay. John told me not to worry, so then we made arrangements for the horses to be dropped off by one of his grooms.
