November Story Contest

My Horse Bronze
By: Apples24
Age: 10

     It all started at the Horse Fair... That first time I saw her is a day I will never forget. It was hot outside, humid. Hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk... I begged my mom to take me to the horse show. I've wanted to go since two years ago. My mom said we could get a horse for me, we just couldn’t find a good price we could afford. So she took me. I was happy she did. My father came along too, but my 15 year-old brother, Elliot, stayed home. He wasn’t much of a horse person. So we were driving and I asked my mom
"If we find a horse I like and we can afford it, can  get a horse?" I was hoping she would say yes.
"Mmmm... I don't know. Horses are a lot of work. They take up a lot of time and effort. I hope you realize that you will have to get up at 6:00 every morning, rain or shine, snow or sleet, to feed it?" she said.
"OK mom! You know I can do that! I'll do anything for a horse!" I replied. after we got to the Horse Fair, we walked around a little. We say, Black Horses, Bay Horses, White Horses, Dappled Horses, Grey Horses, and Cream Horses. I don’t think there was a single color coat that didn’t match up with one of the horse’s colors here! I fell in love with a Paint horse, and we bid on him. We got outbid by far. It was after the auctioning of the horse did we find out her was a retired famous Show Jumper. We walked around a little more when Dad found a White Horse, But the starting bid was too much. After about an hour, we found a skinny bay horse, you could see her hip bones! Poor thing! Almost all of her bones were showing! The only part of her body that wasn't showing bones through the skin was her head. The price was so cheap I could buy her with my money in my jar at home!
"Mom! MOM! Look at the POOR thing! We need to get her!" I told her.
"Why would you want a skinny, old, broken-down horse?" asked Dad.
"I want her so we can SAVE her dad! These horses in this pen are weak and you can see all their bones! We NEED to save her!" I yelled.
"Allright. Hey Sir! How much for the Bay here?" He yelled to the man standing at the pen.
"Oh! That Horse is worthless! Wouldn’t you want this White Horse for your daughter?" He asked dad, then he looked at me. They were a little bit of price apart. The white was in perfect condition. I felt I should save the Bay.
"Dad, I want the Bay! Please! Think of what kind of horse she is! She’s so sweet! We need her! She'll be turned to glue if we don’t help her! Along with the rest of these horses!" I pointed to the pen of weak, old, broken down horses. "Dad, Please," I said. I looked into his eyes. "Mom, What do you think?" I turned to mom. There was an awkward silence. The only sounds came from the announcer and the horses and all the cars pulling away out of the grass. "Allright. Well take the Bay! We don't any other ones." Mom said.
"Allright!" said the guy manning the pen. He took one of the rope halters off the hook near the pen and opened the gate and slipped the halter on. He led the little bay mare out and he gave her to me. I was so happy!
"We need tack also!" I said. We walked around to one of the tack tents and Dad held the horse while me and mom went in to get a saddle, bridle, etc. I chose a Light brown jumping saddle and a black regular saddle. I looked at a nylon halter. It was yellow with polka dots on it. There was also the option of getting a name printed on the halter. I got one that said "Bronze" on the side. That was my new horses name. I picked out a green saddle blanket and a Light brown jumping bridle to go along with the saddle. I also got a black regular bridle to match my regular saddle. We needed stirrups, a reg. girth, a jumping girth, a spare bit, and a lead rope that matched the halter. The grand total was $825.85. Now I had everything we needed for Bronze.

We purchased 15 bales of hay. $1,500. We would get more at our local feed store. We got 3 bags of oats.$104.97. We got 5 bags of Bran Mash Mix. $74.95. Bedding, 2 bags. $49.98. And some boxes of sugar. $9.09. 2 Bags of oversized carrots. $7.98. Molasses, 2 jars. $11.98. Hoof oil. 2 jars. $17.89. Grooming kit, includes a hoof pick, soft brush, hard brush, curry comb, fly spray, fly mask, a rock to remove fly eggs, mane comb, and a booklet that shows you how to braid your horses mane and tail. It all comes in a box in your choice o color. I got a black one. It was 49.99 to buy everything separately, and the kit was 24.99. You saved $25.00. We rented a trailer for $249.99, and that brought the grand total up to $7877.68.

I removed the old cruddy rope from Bronze's head, and we put on her new halter. It was yellow with polka dots and had the name "Bronze" printed in gold letters on the side. I clipped on the yellow polka dotted lead rope to the halter, and she seemed much happier with a real halter on. Dad opened the trailer door and I lead Bronze in without a problem. I tied him to the ring on the wall and put some water in the trough and some hay in the hay net. Bronze went right for the hay, and I put some of the floor, so to be sure she has enough. I closed the door to the trailer and there was a kind of tack room at the front. I opened the door and there were some saddle racks, a few shelves, and some pegs on the walls. I put the saddles on the racks, the bridles on the pegs, and the pad on top of the saddle. I put the grooming kit on the shelf, and the hay bales and feed supplies on the floor. I put everything where it was supposed to go. I closed the door behind me and I made sure it was latched tightly. After I got everything strapped and closed and latched, I ran to the car and hopped in.
        

After a little while of driving, we arrived back at the house. I got out and opened the barn door. I ran to the first stall and I remembered we needed a few things! I lead Bronze to his new stall, and I washed out the trough because it probably hasn’t been used for the last 10 I’ve lived here. I got a sponge from the house and washed everything in the barn. I put fresh cool water in the trough for Bronze and gave him hay, Some oats from my hand, and I fetched a bucket from dads tool shed and put 2 scoops of oats into the bucket. It was starting to get chilly the is evening, so I ran into the garage and got a old blanket. I would get a horse blanket from the tack shop when we go later on tomorrow to get me breeches, a helmet, gloves because its starting to get really cold, boots, and a safety jacket. I would get a blanket for Bronze, but for now, a old blanket would do. I took off her halter and left her to eat her dinner. I went inside. Elliot was watching TV, and mom was making dinner, and dad was reading at the dining room table. I went to go change and when I came back down, mom told me dinner was ready. Dad went into the living room and turned off the TV and Elliot came and sat at his place next to me. it was dad at one end, Elliot at the other end, me to the right of dad and the left of Elliot, and mom across from me. We all bowed our heads.
"God please bless this meal, Please be watching over this family even when things get hard, help us through though times, and please watch over our new member of our family." Mom said. "Amen" She said.
"Amen" all of us repeated. We had pork chops with corn and mashed potatoes. I dug in. It was my favorite food!

After dinner, I went back outside tot he barn and I slipped Bronze's halter on after she has finished and I took off the blanket. I set it on the ground a little ways away. I got the grooming kit and got the curry comb out. I curried her all around and I found out she wasn't bay! She was a chestnut! A dark chestnut! I couldn’t believe it! The coat looked bay, when it was actually chestnut! It was amazing! I continued with the hard brush, then the soft brush, then I picked her hooves, and then I brushed her mane and tail. She was looking better already! I spent all day picking out the burrs from her mane. Mom came it at around 10:00PM and she said I had to come in for bed. I had school the next morning.  So I ran over and picked up the blanket and put it over her.  I lead Bronze into her stall, and gave her a scoop of oats and a carrot. And I kissed her goodnight. She’s still too thin to ride.

Over the next few days Bronze improved a great deal! She was even looking fat enough to ride! So I fed her, and I groomed her, and I left for school. I came back and I fed her again. She was getting more and more fatter! I couldn’t wait! I cross-tied and groomed Bronze, and I got the regular Saddle, The regular bridle, and I remembered I needed breeches, boots, etc! So I put her back and ran into the house, got my bike and my money and biked to the tack shop! I entered the tack shop and I went over to the pants section and got some tan breeches, long black boots, a helmet, same riding gloves, a safety vest, and a horse blanket.  It was a total of $224.94. I earned that money by working a part time job at a hamburger restaurant. It was hard to earn, but I spent it on things I really need. I spent more that $50.00 so I got a free pair of breeches, I spent over $100.00 so I got a free helmet, I spent over $150.00 so I got a free pair of boots, and I spent over $200.00 so I got a free mucking out kit. It comes with a pitch fork, a broom, a bag of straw, and a lovely carrying case for them. I put everything I got in a shopping bag with my money, and biked back to my house. I showed mom my purchases and she was impressed on how much money I had spent. I put on my new boots, breeches, helmet, and gloves and went to get Bronze. I mucked out the stall for the first time and it looked much prettier now!

I slipped on Bronzes halter and I groomed her and got my saddle. I placed my saddle blanket on her back, and placed my saddle on top. It was my black saddle. I tightened the girth, and I strapped on the stirrups. I got my bridle and I put it on her. She reached for it! I couldn’t believe it! I have a horse that reaches for its bit! I was happy! I took off the cross ties and I lead her outside. Mom and Dad were on the porch watching me. I stood on the old tree stump to use as a mounting block. I put my left foot into the stirrup, and pushed, and before I know it, I was on top of her. I put my right foot into the right stirrup, and I tapped Bronze with my heels and I clicked my tongue and he walked on wonderfully. I patted him.
"Good Boy!" I said. I ride my classmates leased horse all the time. She’s a Show Jumper and she is a wonderful listener! I learned on her. And now I have my own horse! Kelsey, she owns the black Trekaner. Me and him are good friends! He gives me kisses by nudging me with his nose! I turned Bronze towards the yard and I pushed her into a trot. He had such a smooth trot. I posted right with her. I had a few iron poles around here so I dismounted and got my jumping saddle on her and I set up the poles to a small height. I mounted back up and I went towards them. They were up to her knees. I cantered her towards it and just when we were supposed to jump it, she shied. She shied sideways so I went over the jump and she went the other way. I landed on my bottom but I got up and chased Bronze. I caught her and I lowered them to where they were just laying on the ground. I let her sniff them. She got boarded after about 5 minutes of sniffing. I walked her towards the metal bars and she walked over them without any problem. We did this a couple of times until I was sure she knew exactly what we were doing. Then I dismounted and I raised it one. She stepped over that too. She did perfectly until I raised it to five holes up. That was where it was last time. I couldn’t do it! She shied and I was thrown! I dismounted and brought Bronze into the barn and untacked her and groomed her and fed her. I left her with her new rug on and I went inside, and called Kelsey.

"Hello?" she said.
"Hey Kelsey! I wanted to tell you I got a horse!" I said.
"OMG you WHAT?" she asked.
"I got a HORSE! her name is Bronze and she is a Thoroughbred Quarter Horse Mix! She won't jump though!" I said to Kelsey.
"Well, do you know any of her past? Did she have an injury while jumping and is afraid of jumping?" She asked me.
"No, we got her at the horse fair." I said.
"Well, what kind of condition is she in? That may be the problem, or, she might've never been jumped before and she doesn't know what to do." That’s what was wrong with Blitz." She told me.
"Maybe... I don’t really know. What trainers do you recommend?" I asked her. "Ummm... There is David Sizefuzes, He was in the paper. He's really good with horses. Give him a call! This is his number! 555-5462. You could ask him to train Bronze to jump!" she told me.
"OK! I'll give him a call!" I said. "OK! hope it helps! Bye!" she said "OK! Bye!"  I hung up. I closed my cell phone and added his number to my contacts. I typed the number. 5-5-5-5-4-6-2.
*RING RING RING RING RING* I heard it go. Then a recording came up. It was in a mans voice. David Sizefuzes's voice I guess.  It said
"This is Sizefuzes's training! I'm probably with a horse now, or at the store or at the feed store! Thanks for calling! Call my cell phone. Its 555-8529! Thanks! Bye!" It said to call his cell phone, so I added his cell phone number to my contacts and deleted his home number. I typed in 5-5-5-8-5-2-9.
*RING RING RING.......* "hello? Sizefuzes's Training! How can I help you?" he said.
"Hello! I'm Madison! I just got a horse at the horse fair and she threw me when we were jumping. Do you think you could get her to jump?" I said
"Oh dear! Are you ok?" he asked, concerned.
"Yeah! I’m fine! I landed on my bottom!" I said.
"OK! good! I think I can help with Bronze! Just bring her to 5562 Maple Tree Road around 7:00 tonight! I’m having a horse leave tonight and ill move your horse into that stall!" He told me. "Great! I'll meet you there at 7:00! and my horse is named Bronze!" I told him.
"OK! I'll see you soon!" he told me.
"OK! bye!" I bid him goodbye
"OK! bye!” he told me.
Then hung up. I closed my cell phone and put it in my pocket. I ran into the barn and got Bronze tacked up to take her to training. I got her out, cross-tied her, and tacked her up with the Jumping saddle, Jumping bridle, and a few sugar cubes in the saddle bag if she does good. I brought her out and I tied her to the pole outside and I ran into the house to get my change purse to pay David.

I mounted up and headed for 5562 Maple Tree Road. I was riding for a little while when a car came up behind me and slowed to the speed of my trotting. They opened the window.
"Hey, Your not allowed to ride on this road." Said the man in the car.
"Why?" I asked. I slowed Bronze to a walk, then stopped.
"Because, this is an extension to the main road. No horses aloud here!" The man said to me. "I’m sorry, but I just need to get up to the next turn then I'll be outa here! Out of anyones way!" I said.
"I’m sorry, You can't go any farther." Said the man.
"I’m sorry! I just need to get up there to that turn!" I pointed to the turn onto Maple Tree Road.
"Get off now or I'm calling the cops!" The man yelled.
"NO! I’m sorry! I can’t stop!" I yelled back. "YA!" I yelled, and I kicked Bronzes sides and she went into full blast. I leaned into Two-Pointer-Position. The man in the car didn't expect it so now he was a ways behind he.
"HEY! STOP!" he yelled. He pushed the car and he was right beside me and that spooked Bronze and She stopped all of a sudden and I was thrown forward, I hit the ground, and then, Nothing.
          

I woke up in a white room. When I sat up, a horrible pain shot through my back and legs. My head hurt. I didn't know where I was. I remembered what happened. I was riding Bronze to training, a car stopped me, I ran away from it on Bronze, Bronze got scared from the car and stopped and ran away, I fell and was knocked out. I heard the clicking of shoes and a lady came in.
"Oh, your awake!" She said to nobody in particular.
"What happened? Where am I?" Then another horrifying thought hit my head. Bronze. "Where's Bronze? Where's my horse?" She asked.
"You are in the hospital. You were found on the side of Maple Tree Road. We don't know what happened to you. We don't know where your horse is, I'm sorry" The nurse said.
"What time is it?" I asked. 
"9:23 AM. It’s September 18th. You were in a coma for about 3 days. You woke up briefly yesterday. Do you remember?" The nurse replied.
"No I don't. What's wrong with me? Where are my parents?" I asked.
"Well, we don't know anything about you at all. What's your name, Hon?" The nurse asked. "I'm Madison McHailison." I replied
"Well Madison, You should get some rest! You broke your ankle and your knee and your wrist!" The nurse said. Only then did I realize the cast covering my hand and arm. I looked down and there was a cast covering my whole leg. it came up to my thigh. It was hard like cement. This might mean I can never ride again. The nurse left and I spent hours thinking what will happen to Bronze if she gets hurt out there all alone.  She might die! Then she remembered! Her cell phone! She reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone. She dialed her home number.
*RING RING RING RING RING.......* "Hello?" Mom answered. I could hear the sadness in her voice.
"Mom! Mom it’s me!" I said.
"Madison! Where are you? Are you ok? Where have you been the last 5 days? Dad and Elliot found Bronze on the side of the road. She got hit by a car! Oh honey! Where are you?"
Mom was in shreds without her children safe and sound.
"I don't know! I’m in a hospital! That’s all I know!" I said. I was in tears.
"OK Hon! ask the nurse what hospital you are in! Are you ok? Any injuries?" She asked, obviously concerned. I asked the nurse what hospital I'm in.
"I’m in Saint Joe's Hospital, I broke my wrist, my knee, and my ankle." I told mom.
"OK! were coming to get you and bring you home! OK?" she asked me.
"OK! but mom," I said
"What Hon?" she asked
"What about Bronze? WHERE IS SHE?!?" I asked.
"Oh, honey. Not now. You’re going through a lot of stress now. I'll tell you later, OK?" Mom said.
"WHERE IS BRONZE???" I yelled. I was too late. She hung up already.

The nurse came in a few minutes later and put me in a wheelchair. I didn't like the feeling. She wheeled me to mom waiting in the waiting room with Dad and Elliot. When I saw their faces, it looked like they just rubbed their eyes with onions. Their eyes were red and teary.
"Lets get her to the car." Mom said. Elliot came and picked me up and put me in the car.  He sat in the back with me. When we arrived home, Elliot took me into the house, but I tried to convince them to take me to see Bronze.
"Bronze is gone. You can't see her. I'm sorry" said Elliot.
"What? NO NO NO NOOOOO!!!!!! BRONZE is GONE?"

I felt like shattering into pieces after he said that. All that time with her. All the love I gave her. All the love she gave me. I will never live the same way again. I will never look at a horse the same way again. Now I know that horses are something unlike a toy. You make one little mistake, and you can lose what you love most.