June 2009 Story Contest

Misty and I The first story by Lizzy1

About the characters Elizabeth: A girl that knows a lot about horses and ponies. She loves to ride. She loves to help her mom and dad train horses.

Dad and Mom: Own the ranch they live on. They both train horses. They sometimes have shows on their ranch.

Elizabeth’s big brother: He has graduated from high school and he wants to become a horse trainer his self.

Mr.Conners: Owns a tack shop just outside of Wiggins. He is a very nice old man.

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I was putting bedding in the spare stall in our barn. When I was done I stepped back and looked at the empty stall. I could almost see my new pony standing in the stall. I couldn't wait until tomorrow where my new pony would really standing in the stall.

At dinner I was asking mom and dad all these questions about my new pony.”What time will my pony be here?" I asked.

"Around noon" said dad.

" Tomorrow you get everything ready for your pony." said mom.

" I will!" I exclaimed."What's so great about a pony?" asked my older brother."Don't you want a horse?"He asked."No, I said horses are harder to mount than a pony." I snapped."OK." he said sounding annoyed.

The next morning I woke up and took a bath. Then set out for the barn. I walked past my 18 year old brother who was fixing the gate for the pasture. I walked up to the spare stall and looked at the bedding I had put down yesterday. It was still as clean as yesterday. I saw the empty water bucket in the stall. I knew it needed to be filled so, I got the hose and put it in the empty water bucket. Then I turned on the hose. Then a walked over to Cisco's stall I petted her and gave her a little hay. When I walked back to check on the water it was about to over flow! I ran and turned off the hose. I made it just in time! I took the hose out of the water bucket and out of the stall.

After I was done filling up the water bucket, I looked in the stall again something was missing. I knew what it was! It was the feed bucket! I ran to dad, who was talking to mom in the kitchen. I asked if we had a spare feed bucket.

"I thought there was one in the spare stall or your new pony's stall.“ He said smiling.

"It's not their!" I exclaimed.

Mom was fixing breakfast and over heard us talking and said “I think we gave it to Belle because she broke her other one.”

“Oh, I forgot sorry!”He said to me.

”We will drive to Mr. Conners’shop after breakfast and will see if his tack shop has some.”

“OK”I said.

”Oh, before you run outside to the barn tell your older brother breakfast is ready.” said mom.

“I will” I said. I ate my breakfast and had dad drive me in to town. When we got there I took out my money and walked inside while dad watched me from his truck. He knew Mr.Conners he let me go in his shop without him. I walked up to the check-out desk and asked Mr. Conners if he had feed buckets. He said”No, sorry ran out yesterday.”

“I think the tack shop in Wiggins has some.” He said.

“Thankyou”I said.

“You’re welcome” he said.

I got back in the truck and said that Mr.Conners ran out yesterday and said the tack shop in Wiggins might have some.

”OK” he said.”We live in Wiggins.” he said as we were driving down Main St. "Tomorrow if your pony is settled you can ride it on the trails."

When we arrived at the tack shop I picked out a black feed bucket because the color matched the water bucket. I wanted to buy so I took out my money and counted it. When I had the right amount counted out I bought it. I saw dad looking at pony bits.

”Dad, I’m ready.” I said holding my bucket that the clerk put in a bag.

”OK.”He said as he grabbed a hackamore as he was walking up to the clerk.

”What’s the hackamore for?”I asked.

”For your pony so you don’t have to have it wear a bit all the time when you ride it.”He said.”Go out to the truck and wait for Me.” he said.

”OK”I said.

As we were driving home dad stop to let three girls on their ponies cross the rode. Their was a white, a chestnut, and a bay. When we got home it was 30 minutes till noon! Got a hammer, a nail, and the feed bucket. As I was hammering the nail in the stall’s wall, almost every horse’s ears perked up with their head held high. As if to say “What’s going on?”

It is the middle of summer and I was sweating when I was done. As I was walking out of the barn I saw a man with a dirty shirt, blue jeans, and cowboy boots talking to dad. I ran to dad and gave him a big hug.

”The name of your new pony is Misty.” said the man who was talking to dad.

”It’s a mare.” said dad.””I want to unload her, Elizabeth.” said dad.

“OK.” I said. I opened up the trailer and there was my new pony standing in the trailer. I walked in and untied her and walked her out of the trailer. I walked her to the barn. I took her halter off and put the hackamore on her. I lead her to the mounting block and mounted on her bareback. I opened the gate to an empty pasture and let her graze.

”Welcome to your new home.” I said as I patted her shoulder.

The next day I woke up with excitement. I walked out to the barn and stopped a Misty’s stall. Their was a tag name on the door that said: MISTY. Below it said: OWNER: ELIZABETH. I also saw a note on the door that said:

Elizabeth, today you should take Misty on the trails to Wiggins. Make sure you feed, muck your ponies stall, and groom your pony first. Love, Mom and Dad. PS: We put $ 15 in your saddle bag for lunch.

Misty nudged me as if to say “Well, are you going to feed me or just stand their?”

I feed Misty and I ate a bowl of cereal. When Misty was done eating I clipped the lead rope to her halter and tied her to the stall. I mucked out her stall and groomed her carefully. After that was done, I got my western saddle, the saddle blanket, my saddle bag, and the hackamore. I showed Misty the saddle blanket and rubbed it on her and put it on her. I put the saddle on as gentle as possible and tighten the girth. I took her halter off and put her hackamore on. I put the saddle bags on. I put a hoof pick and some horse treats.

When I mounted Misty she bobbed her head as if to say “Let’s go! “ When we got on the trail it was nice and cool thanks to the trees. Their was an apple tree with a red apple on it. I pick it and put it in my saddle bag. Their were many low branches hang over the trail so I ducked to avoid getting hit in the head. One branch took my helmet off my head! I made my helmet a little bit tighter after that!

When we came to an open spot on the trail I dismounted and gave Misty the apple I picked for her. I mounted back up and squeezed my legs against her sides. She walked on. When we came to Badd Brook I stopped Misty and let her have a drink. When we trotted to the next open spot on the trail, I saw the three girls who riding a cross the road yesterday.

“Were you going?”I asked.

“To Off-Main Dinner.”Said the girl on the white pony.

“That’s were I’m heading to!” I said.

“You can ride with use if you want.” “My name is Pam Crandal.” Said the girl on the chestnut pony. “And this is lighting.” Pam said as she patted her pony.

“I’m Anna Harley.” Said the girl on the bay. “I’m riding Acorn.” Said Anna.

“I’m Lulu Sanders.” Said the girl on the white pony. “I’m riding Snow White.” Said Lulu.

“I’m Elizabeth.” I said. “This is Misty.” I said.

While we were going to Off-Main Dinner, something was wrong with my saddle. Then the saddle slid under Misty’s Stomach. I fell off. “Help!” I shouted.

Lulu, Pam, and Anna looked around. Misty was standing by me and stared at me as if to say what are you doing down their?

“Are you ok?” Lulu asked. “Yes, my saddle girth must have loosened while I was riding.” I said. I mounted Misty and gave her command to walk on.

When we finally got to the Dinner I was hungry. I dismount and tied Misty to the hitching post. I loosened Misty’s girth and we all walked inside. We all ordered grilled cheese.

“Elizabeth, would you like be our friend?” Pam asked.

“Yes” I said.

We all ate and mounted our ponies. I tightened Misty’s girth first. Anna and Lulu said they would ride home from the Off –Main Dinner. Pam and I had a little more time to ride with but, she had to turn off the trail to her house. When Misty and I got home I sprayed her off with the water hose. I put her in the pasture but, she didn’t run off in the pasture. She was standing right by me. When I was walking out of the pasture she was following me. When I stopped and look at her she put her head on my shoulder. As if to say you will always be my friend for ever and ever.

~ Misty and Elizabeth became best friends.

 

PS My next story will be shorter than this! I have around 1,600 words! It took a long time to type this! I really hope you like this story