THE SHATTERED HORSE

Coming Home

            I was sitting in my room as the trailer pulled up. It rumbled around the roundabout and halted next to the barn. A man and my father stepped out and slammed the doors behind them.. I didn't understand. I wasn't expecting a horse. Especially not the whinnying , pounding thing I could here in the trailer.
             My phone buzzed beside me. I looked at the text that had appeared on the screen. 'Come outside.' Dad has said. I set my phone down, took one last look out of the window and walked out.

I zipped up my jacket and flung myself into the cold autumn air. Wind blew in my face as I approached dad and the man that drove the truck.
"Inside the trailer is Tony." Dad explained. "He'll be a new rescue."

"But Dad, I wasn't expecting any rescues. I'm still working on selling Reigh, and Callie could still use some work." I said. "I won't have time to work with him."

"Make time. He's your project." Dad said, opening the trailer door he waved me inside.
I stepped inside the dark trailer to find a dirty, skinny, grey horse. His green and Black halter clung to his head tossed it up. He kicked the side of the trailer with his foreleg and turned to look at me. I unbuckled the latch and let the door open wide as I clipped a lunge line to him.

I gripped my hand on the clasp and let the horse out. He was sore, had wounds all over, and a clear starvation coat. He kicked his leg out behind him as he stumbled out of the trailer.

Tony looked about, poised to run. I began to walk towards the rescue pasture when he reared. It was a weak rear, but a rear's a rear.
I was afraid if I snapped him down his muzzle might fall off. I could see the sores under the nylon halter and couldn't wait to get the horrible thing off of him.
He landed and walked hurriedly around me. I pulled him in an began walking again. I reached in my pocket and took out a crumbled treat. I fed it to the horse and began walking again. I let the line loose, a good ten feet or so between us. He walked behind me and I slowly took steps toward the rehabilitation paddock. I couldn't wait for his to enjoy the lush grass and apples strewn about. I opened the gate and walked inside. Tony stopped and smelled about. I whistled at him and he snapped his head back up. I tugged on the lead line and he walked inside.

I closed the gate and got to work on his halter. I undid the grooming snap And slowly peeled the halter off of his ears and muzzle, revealing gory marks where he halter had been. I gulped and took a look. It was infected covered in pus and blood. He nickered and trotted away, ears pinned.
     What a job this horse will be.