Champion

Chapter 5

"Ivy! Quick come look, Dolly is having her foal!" Called my mom as I rubbed my eyes and rolled out of bed. Once I understood what my mom was actually saying, I jumped up and got dressed really quickly. I ran up the stairs to see my sister as well as my dad rushing outside. Buddy followed me as I ran towards the door. I raced him to the brood mare barn to see everyone inside the barn right by Dolly's stall. My dad, who's a vet, was inside the stall helping Dolly give birth. My mom was petting Dolly's head and telling her what a good girl she was. Lila and I stood outside the stall and watched. All of a sudden, a head popped out and in minutes, a cute little newborn foal layed on the ground. The foal had a circular star on his forehead and he looked to be a bay just like his mother.

"It's a colt!" Said my dad. My mom smiled and looked at my sister and I.

"Start thinking of barn names and show names" she exclaimed. My sister smiled. My dad and mom got out of the stall and we all watched the mare and her foal. The foal's sire is my moms lead sire Radical Days, and Dolly's show name is Zip Up My Vest, so I was already thinking of a couple cool show names, like Radical Zipper and The Best Day. Once the foal was nursing and standing up, I turned to look at my family and said, "I'd better go ride Lucy, any of you coming to ride?".

"Yeah, I'll come ride. I'm gonna work on ranch riding with Kit" said Lila. My mom and father stayed to watch the foal, Buddy as well. Lila and I walked towards the paddocks out in front of the Boarding barn. In the biggest paddock stood Lucy, Kit, and a couple other mares. I grabbed Lucy's purple halter and approached her. She looked at me and walked over.

"Hi beautiful!" I said as I gave her a peppermint I had in my pocket. I put on her halter and lead her to the indoor arena where all her stuff was. I had recently bought a second hand blue ribbon saddle and a black 1 inch thick saddle pad. I was still looking for a nice show bridle to match the saddle but I also had to save up money. I worked a couple times a week cleaning at my neighbour's house which I was able to save up the money from that to buy the saddle, but I still needed a couple hundred for the bridle. I didn't really want to ask my mom for anymore that she'd already given me so I was working on buying mostly everything else by myself.

"Are you going to be good today?" I asked Lucy in a baby voice. She just flung her head up and down almost like she was saying yes. I laughed and brushed her beautiful coat. I noticed a scratch on her leg. I looked at it and walked over to the tack room. I grabbed some blue kote and sprayed it on her cut. She picked up her leg as it probably stung a little.

"Sorry Lucy" I put the blue kote away and began to brush her once more. I tacked her up and saw my sister walking over with Kit through the open doors. She smiled at me.

"Are we riding in the indoor arena or outdoor arena?" Lila asked. She put Kit's bridle on and held the reins.

"Umm, probably inside because it's still pretty cold out" I replied as I put on a one ear piece leather bridle with a snaffle bit on Lucy. My sister nodded her head and opened up the gate that lead into the indoor arena. She left it open for me and Lucy. I put on my helmet that I left on the stall hook and lead Lucy into the Indoor arena. I then closed the gate behind us. My sister, already on Kit, jogged around bending and counter bending circles. I got up on Lucy using the step stool and began to walk around to warm her up. I started to jog her around. She is definitely on of the most comfiest horses I've ever ridden.

"Good girl" I said as I reached down and petted her neck. I did some side passing and whispered the song lyrics to 'Like A Rodeo' by Kane Brown that was playing on the radio. I moved her hip around in circles and did the same with her shoulders, making her more flexible.

"Love is like a rodeo, rodeo" I whispered under my breath. My sister noticed me singing and started singing out loud with me.

"RODEO, RODEO" Lila screamed as the song ended. I laughed and began to lope Lucy around. She let out a big buck, sending me forward in the saddle. I pulled her around in a tight circle, laughing. I worked her for another half hour and then got off. She was a little bit sweaty but nothing crazy. I untacked her and put a cooler on her. My sister already had Kit put away and was walking back to the house. I let Lucy cool off and then put her back outside and walked back inside the house with the rest of my family to pick out a name for Dolly's new foal!