Endurance

SIX

It was the next morning and I had decided that I was going to make the most of the weekend. I was going to have my third ride on Galaxy.

I woke up after a terrible sleep feeling wide awake, zooming around the house getting ready to ride. I chucked some bread into the toaster and put on some rough jeans and my favourite T-shirt which was aqua with a horse jumping on it.

I scoffed down the toast and walked over to the stables.

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"Steady boy" I tried to calm Galaxy down as we trotted through the forest. I loved doing this trek with Tango. As I thought of her a tear came to my eye. I shook my head getting the thought out of my mind. We trotted on through the forest happily, until a huge jet black horse galloped towards me. I slowed down Galaxy to a halt.

"Woah" I yelled to the rider of the black horse.

The rider slowed the humungous horse down to a walk and he walked up to Galaxy. Galaxy looked tiny compared to the other horse once the horse and rider had come right up to Galaxy and I.

I looked up to see the rider's face. It was a BOY!!! I inspected this boy and guessed that he was about my age. He had dark brown hair, gorgeous green eyes and tanned olive skin.

I quickly snapped back into reality.

"Hi, that horse is gorgeous" He exclaimed.

"Thanks, yours isn't so bad either" I replied. "Haha thanks, I guess" He laughed as he talked.

"Brook by the way" He leaned over to shake my hand. I shook it back replying "Maddie". "Nice to meet you Maddie, I'm new to the area so I'm just checking it out, I'm sure I'll see you around sometime" He smiled and with that Brook gathered up his reins and trotted off towards the way I had just came.

I gathered my own reins up "Well Galaxy that's not something that happens everyday. Going on a beautiful trek through the forest with you and meeting a boy and his gorgeous horse" I patted Galaxy and squeezed him into a calm walk.

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It was late that afternoon and we were visiting mum at the hospital. This was the part of day I loved most, apart from being with Galaxy of course. Well it's equal, but only because I don't like seeing my mum in pain.

The conversations we had with mum and dad at the hospital were lovely and the time spent with them were so great that time flew by and before I knew it mum was allowed back home the next day.

It was Friday evening and my grandparents, Renee and I were rushing around the house, cleaning up every speck of dust possible. I was buzzing with excitement, having mum at home would make life feel whole again, apart from mum being paralysed obviously.

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The next day came quickly and so did the arrival of mum and dad. There were hugs and kisses galore and certainly a lot of sleep being caught up for dad, as he had to stay the whole week at the hospital with mum sleeping on a not extremely comfortable bed.

3 months later
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Life had become more or less back to normal after mum's accident and I had become good at riding again. I was now jumping logs with Galaxy and attending the local pony club. After school most days Galaxy and I would go trekking or do some flatwork in the round pen. He was becoming very muscly and fit.

Mum came out and watched me work Galaxy in the round pen most days. She would sit in her wheelchair and give me tips.

Today was an ordinary day and I was working Galaxy. Round and round the pen we would canter. Today Galaxy was being hot and fast so mum recommended cantering around the pen till he was tired. Then I could continue exercising him.

We had been cantering around the pen for around 10 to 15 minutes now and Galaxy wasn't showing many signs of being tired. "He's got great stamina Maddie, he'd be great for endurance racing" mum commented on Galaxy impressed. I cringed at the sound of Endurance Racing. That stupid sport was what had caused me to lose my best friend.

After putting Galaxy away I walked slowly back to the house with mum at my side wheeling along. "Honey" mum's voice broke in, I stopped before entering the house and turned to mum "what?" "Please tell me you'll think about what I said before, you know about the endurance racing". I stopped to think for a bit before replying " I will".

Hey guys, sorry this chapter is extra short but thought this is a good place to stop the chapter.

Can't wait till this weekend, I am competing with Willow my pony at a show hunter series, so excited!!! Training lots so haven't had much time to write lately.

Hope you are enjoying the story, thanks soooooooo much for reading!!!!!!!

Steph😀