Horses In My Heart

Off We Go!

"Bring, bring, bring!" my alarm clock sounded, I looked at it's face 7:10. Oh my god school starts at 11:00! I thought excitedly and rushed out of bed and into the bathroom. I had showered the night before so I simply combed, then french braided my long blonde hair. I then grabbed my suitcases out of my room and lugged them to the door where I left them, my parents had been up for a bit already tending to the race horses and my mom had left me a banana and muffin on the counter. I hurriedly ate, then ran back to my room and got dressed in a light peach pink polo shirt that would match Teagan's saddle pad and cream jhodpurs, I put my tall boots by the door. When I was ready I glanced at the clock 8:30. I texted my mom and dad letting them know it was time to go, then I slipped on my boots and pulled my suitcases across the yard, putting them in the trunk of our truck. After that I ran into the stable and grabbed Teagan's lead and clipped it to her halter "hey girl, time for a trip!" I said quietly. I passed my parents on the way out. "Could you help me load her mum?" I asked.

"Sure" sai dmy mom and ran agead to open the trailer door, my dad walked beside me and hopped in the drivers seat of the truck ready to leave once Tee was loaded.

I lead her up the ramp, going over her normal loading routine of her bucking or rearing or pawing the ground, then me telling her to relax and then FINALLY getting her into the trailer with the gate up.

I hopped in the back seat and my mom into the front. My dad backed out the driveway and soon we were driving away, the countryside rolling by. "How long is it gonna take to get there?" I asked impatiently.

"Relax honey, we've been driving for ten minutes it'll take at least 2 hours to get to Bluefront" My dad said and smiled looking at me through the rear view mirror. "Why don't you just take a nap, I'll wake you up when we arrive" he added gently.

"Okay" I said and leaned back, the gentle rocking motion of the car, and the sound of Teagan snorting and my parents quiet talking soon put me to sleep.

"Arrie! Arianna! We're only a couple minutes away!" I awoke to the sound of my mom calling me. I yawned sleepily, then snapped my head up and looked out the window. Acres upon acres of rolling hills filled with pastures full of grazing horses passed us by. Suddenly, a big welcoming light blue old-fashioned looking school house came up with a sign out front that said 'Bluefront Equestrian Academy Boarding School'. "We're here!" I yelped excitedly. Behind the house were a huge stables with pastures and paddocks surrounding them. Also there were 6 building to the right and left of the blue house which I assumed were the dorms.

"We sure are!" my mom said as my dad turned to truck and trailer into the parking lot already filled with trailers, trucks horses and people. I thought I spotted Del and Crayola moving among the fray, but I couldn't be sure. "Eeeeek! We're finally here!!!" I thought in my head. I was going to go crazy if I couldn't get out of this car soon and go see Teagan and the school. My dad found a spot and we parked. I hopped out and ran to the back of the trailer. I unlatched it and pulled down the ramp. Tee whinnied a "hello everyone, I'm here!" and I stroked her nose and led her out of the trailer.

A girl about two years older than me apeared in fornt of me " Hey, I'm Tess! I'll be your guide and mentor for the first week. I'm a grade 12!" said Tess.

"Hi. I'm Arianna, but call me Arrie and this is Teagan" I said smiling.

"Hello Teagan" said Tess and gave Tee a pat. "Why don't you grab Teagans tack and I'll bring you two down so that you can put her away then we can go up for orientation, whcih starts in..." Tess said and glanced at her watch "one hour" she said.

"Sounds great!" I said and grinned. "Mum, dad could you grab Tee's tack and follow us please?" I asked.

"Sure hun, we'll be right behind you" my parents chorused.

Tess lead us down to the stables and once we were inside she showed us where Teagans stall would be and the mini tack room beside it that would be mine. It was only the size of a closet but it was perfect for each student to have, I thought and walked Teagan in unclipping her lead rope and giving her one last pat before closing the stall door.

"Does Teagan gave any allergies?" Tess asked. She was filling out the paper description that would be hung on Teagan's stall door.

"Nope, she's very healthy" I said and smiled.

"Okay, and what's her show name?" Tess asked positioning her pen to write it in.

"Touch Of Class" I said.

"I like it" said Tess as she clipped up the paper to Tee's stall door. Teagan inside was sniffing around and munching on a flake of hey that had been inside her stall, as she explored her new surroundings. My parents had already put my tack in the tack room.

"Unfortuantly, you're parents are going o have to go now. Orientation is a students only kinda thing" said Tess apologetically. You can give Arrie her suitcases and I'll help her get settled in from there" said Tess.

"Okay" said my dad reluctantly. He squeezed me hard "see you on Thanksgiving break" he said lovingly and gave me a kiss. My mom did likewsie and I waved good-bye as they left the barn and drove away.

"Okay, orientation time!" said Tess and led me away from the barn and up to the school house. I threw one last look behind me and saw Teagan, head hung happily over her stall looking around alertly. I could get used to this, I thought as I sprinted ahead to where Tess was waiting for me, and together we walked in the doors into a huge assembly hall decorated with welcome signs.