June 2009 Story Contest

DON'T LOOK BACK by Hope

“Oh, my!” I said as I jumped out of bed, “I’ll be late for the horse show if I don’t hurry!”

When I got on my clothes, I ran downstairs, but I did not find my Mother there as she always was.

“Hmm…” I said. “Oh well, I’ll just get Annie ready for the show.”

I went out the door and took in a breath of fresh May air. I walked to Annie’s stall, but she was not there either!

“Maybe she’s in the field,” I thought to myself, but she was not there. I looked everywhere but could not find her. Then I saw mother by the house.

“Mother, I can’t find Annie! Where is she?”

“Emily… uh--she… Come into the house an—“

“Mother, where is Annie?”

“Oh, Emily!! She-she died this morning. She must have gotten sick in the night. Your father found her when he went to the barn.”

“No! No! Not Annie!” I said as I ran to the barn. I went to the tack room, grabbed Annie’s saddle blanket, and burst into tears.

“Oh, Annie! I love you--I love you, pretty brown Annie!! I will never hug again, never feed again, never brush, never ride again!”

Two Weeks Later.

“Isn’t she pretty?” my dad said, as a black mare with silver mane and tail stepped out of the trailer.

“Her name is Silver Light.” said my mother, trying to make it as interesting as she could.

“Here, Emily,” said Dad. “Take her to the barn.”

My heart was crying, “No, no!! I just want Annie! No!!”

But I did not want to hurt my parents’ feelings because I knew they must have spent a great deal of money on her-- so I took the rope and led the mare to the stable. Taking her to Annie’s stall would be hard!! But I put her in Annie’s stall, and hastily put corn and oats in her bucket and some hay in the rack. Then I began to cry. The mare looked at me and nudged me, but I ran out of the stable into the house.

For the next few weeks, I made up excuses so that I would not have to spend time with my new horse. Then one day my mother noticed it and asked my dad to talk to me.

When he came up to my room, he said “Emily, your mother and I have seen that you have not been spending time with the new horse we got you.”

“Well,…” I said.

“This is about Annie, isn’t it?” said Dad,

“Yes, Dad, I just loved Annie. I don’t want a new horse.”

“You just don’t look back.” said Dad.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, it’s time to look ahead now. If you don’t try your new horse, how do you know you don’t like her. Honey, Annie was getting old. She could not jump very well anymore. Even though you loved her, she could only do dressage, halter and a few other things. This new horse can do anything you want!” said Dad.

As I listened, I knew what he said was true.

“Here, let me tell you a story.” he said. “When I was a little boy, I had a dog and I loved her very much. But she was 13 years old. She could not run very well -- just good enough to chase other dogs out of our yard. She could not even play with me, but she was a good dog. Then one day she died and my father got me a new puppy that could run and play with me. So you see, Emily, you don’t look back. Look ahead.”

Then he left the room, and I was there to think about all my dad had said. A little bit later my parents, saw me come downstairs in my riding helmet and boots.

I smiled and said, “Don’t look back!”

Then I left the room, walked to Silver’s stall and went in. I picked up her curry comb and brushed her until her coat shone. I cleaned out her hooves, and then I saddled her up. Off we went!!

Oh--it was glorious to ride again! How smoothly gaited Silver was! We tried jumping—and oh how she could jump… and pole bend and barrel race!! She was the perfect horse!!

Dad was right!!

Don’t look back!!

This story is dedicated to all the “Pony Pals” who Have ever loved and lost a horse.