The Life of a Wild Horse

Chapter 7

Part 2

I had run for miles before I stopped for a break. I had been running on flat grass lands, and had just come across a water spring. I drank deeply, filling my dry throat with liquid. There was also fresh green grass, which I filled my empty belly. I decided to bed down, as sundown had started. I lay down a bit away from the spring, and fell into a very deep sleep.

I awoke to feel a slight weight on my neck. I felt it tighten, and looked up to see rodeo rangers. I stood up fast, and startled the horse that human was on. Once they saw I was awake we started to move. I struggled and kicked, but it was no use; I could not bite my rope, as my muzzle was tied, and every time I went to kick they would just tighten the rope around my neck.

We walked the grasslands for days, and they would only take the rope around my nose off for eating and drinking. When I had the rope off my nose, I would yell at the other horses, who listened to their rider's every call. They did not even think for themselves it seemed. They only followed orders, and one other tiny fact; they both had this strange burn on their left shoulders.

I could tell we were almost to our destination because we loped for half of the day, and soon I could smell a large group of horses up ahead. I looked up hopefully, hoping to see a herd to free me. But all I saw was a bunch of round corrals, with all but three filled. I realized that meant me, and my two companions. They lead me into a corral, and took off my neck, and nose ropes. If I stayed to the outside I could have a good run around, but that was all the room there was.

I reared up and struck the polished wood fences, barely leaving a chip. I worked for a long time, and got a hoof sized chunk out. I tried to jump over it, but all I got was some cuts on my front legs. I had finally gotten through the first round board when a human came up to me. "Easy boy, easy. Quiet down." He spoke softly to me, but doing what he said sounded very bad.

One of the cowboys who caught me came up alongside this older fellow. "You finally brought me a nice colt Ben." The older fellow told Ben. "We always try our hardest Wayne, it's just the easer colts to catch are not as good." Ben told him. "I would say this young colt is only a year, if I can't train him, I'll sell 'im to the rodeo, he'd make a good bronco." Wayne said, the smallest hint of pleaser in his voice.

"Ben, you have money problems right?" Wayne asked him. "Yes sir, but I am very grateful for this job." He said, going quicker at the end. "Then I want you to move into one of my cabins, no rent, but there is a catch." Wayne told him slyly. "What?" asked Ben. "I want a good colt every year. This year this colt is perfect, so next year I would leave it alone." Wayne said sternly, but not rudely. "I accept." Ben told him. They shook hands then walked away from my pen.

I was going at the fence again, only a quarter through this board when Ben came up to me. He directed this metal box, with something pushing it backwards towards where I got into this pen. It got lined up almost perfectly when Ben came in my corral, and opened the gate inward. He moved behind me, and a loud crack echoed through the valley. I shied away from the sound, and got closer to the metal box. Another two cracks and I was in the box.

I heard the strange thing they called a truck turn off, and they left me for the night in the metal box.