July Story Contest

Dare To Be A Legend
By: DizzyDaizy
Age: 13

“Look at him, Pa,” I sighed dreamily. The colt stood firmly on his long jet black legs. He whinnied loudly. A future champion he’d be, that I knew.
Pa whistled.
“He got fine blood alright,” he chuckled feeling the colt’s muscles. “Strong long legs…muscles…” he muttered to himself.
I stood back to admire the colt. He was completely ash black. Not a single gray hair. I glanced at the colt’s mother, Dare to Dazzle. Not less than ten minutes ago, Dazzle had given birth. Her first and last foal. And the best part was—the colt was mine. Pa promised me. I remember my Ma telling me how Dazzle’s Grandpa Dare was a weak scrap of bones and then grew up to be one the finest show jumping horses around. Everyone underestimated Dare when he was foal, and Dare showed them all. He jumped a seven foot wall with my grandma Daphne on his back who had only been fourteen back then the same age as me now. She had begged her father not to auction off Dare and promised him he’d do something extraordinary when he was older. And he did—he became the best show jumper. When Dare had had his first foal, a colt, Dare to Dance, taking the name after his father, Dancer showed off his mighty muscles just like Dare. Then Dancer had a foal, a filly, named Dare to Dazzle. Dazzle became a cross country horse unlike Dare and Dancer who were show jumpers. She was shorter then both of them, but had more stamina, endurance and strength. Dazzle although was now retired. The vet said that she could only have one foal. And that was the colt that was suckling right now. I just realized how lucky I was to be the owner of a priceless colt. It was a shame though that Dazzle didn’t have a brother or sister, or an aunt of uncle—or even a great-aunt or great-uncle.
“What should we name him?” Pa interrupted my thoughts. I shook my head coming back into reality. I thought for a few seconds.
“Something flashy?” I suggested. Pa wondered.
“Flash maybe?” he offered. I took a moment to admire the colt.
“Dare to Flash!” I said the name aloud. The colt turned toward me, milk dripping off his whiskers. He looked at me with his big brown liquid eyes. It didn’t go together. Maybe if he had had a white blaze. But all I knew was that Flash didn’t go with this massive colt.
“Nah!” Pa and I said at the same time and burst into laughter.
After pouring out our laughs we calmed down and Pa cleared his throat. The colt sighed and collapsed beside Dazzle.
“Then what should we name him?” he asked. Great. I forgot we were stuck on level one. Names.
“Well, let’s see, He is her only foal,” Pa said.
“Just like Dancer was Dare’s and Dazzle was Dancer’s,” I said a matter of factly.
“True,” Pa agree. “But then what? He has no name for now?”
I shrugged.
“Guess so. Until we see what he does—well—it will just come to us. Like lightning,” I said producing a lame simile.
“So he’ll just be, the colt for now,” Pa mumbled.
I nodded. We went back to our thoughts and watched the colt doze off until Ma came rushing in.
“The vet is on his way. He had a cow which was birthing triplets and it was an emergency. I was on hold constantly!” she panted. Then she looked up at Dazzle.
“What the…? She looks so calm!”
Oops. I forgot. Ma didn’t know, Dazzle had given birth.
“Um, Ma? She gave birth! It’s a boy,” I pointed to the colt. Ma gasped and jumped back.
“My goodness! He’s beautiful! Guess we won’t need the vet!” she smiled walking in the stall.
“Well it’s best the vet checks him over,” Pa said. Ma and I nodded.
“What’s his name?” Ma asked.
“No name,” I told her. Ma gave me a puzzled look.
“What kind of name is that?” Pa and I burst into another fit of laughter.
“No she means, he has no name. Were waiting for the perfect name to come along,” Pa explained. Ma simply nodded letting the information sink in.
“Oh ok. Well, Elsa, I think its time for bed. It’s two in the morning. The vet will be here soon and you can come see the colt in the morning.”
“But Ma! I want to be her till the vet comes!” I complained. Ma shook her head firmly.
“No buts young lady. You’ll have circles around your eyes if you don’t get in that bed right now!” she said firmly.
I stifled a yawn. I was too tired to argue anymore. And I sure didn’t want heavy looking circles or lines or whatever they were around my eyes.
“Ok, I’ll go. Night, colt. Night Ma, night Pa!” I called heading out of the stall.
“Night Elsa!” they called out. And I swore I could hear the colt let out a little whicker.

 Chapter Two

Two months passed by since the colt was born and day by day he grew taller, stronger and faster just as predicted but still he had no name. But one day, as I woke up, just like I had said two months ago, the name hit me like lightning. I pulled on my worn out jodhpurs, a blue tee, and mud caked boots. I brushed my frizzy hair, put it into a sloppy pony tail and went down stairs for breakfast.
“The colt will make a fine jumper!” I heard Pa say proudly.
I shook my head. What if the colt could do something else other than jumping, jumping and jumping? All I ever did was jump. The colt had speed, maybe he could be a barrel racer! Oh but—I rode English my whole life. Maybe—just maybe—a racer. I sure did love to gallop round and round. I rushed in the kitchen.
“A racer!” I shouted.
My parents swirled around to me.
“What?” they asked at the same time.
“The colt—he could be a racer! When I’m sixteen we can go into races! He’ll be at least two years old!” Pa gave me a mad fool look.
“Your talking nonsense. And whatever happened to, ‘Morning!?’”
I ignored half his sentence.
“But Pa! You can see he loves to run! And all we ever do is jump, jump, and jump! I’m sick of it!” Pa gave me a hurt look.
“I know you like it Pa, but can’t we do something difference for once with our horses? Other than jump them?”
“She has a point Eric,” Ma said. Pa thought for a bit. Ma sat down and sipped her hazelnut scented coffee and I sat down and digged in to my bacon and eggs. We then both turned to look at Pa.
“Well?” we asked. Pa sighed.
“I guess the colt IS fast…but…I want to see him jump first to make sure!”
I hid a smile.
“Ok.”
After breakfast I rushed to the paddock and walked to the colt. He trotted toward me and nipped my hands playfully.
“Hey! Stop!” I laughed. The colt whinnied and half reared. Then he galloped off with Dazzle at his heels. He sped up going faster and faster with every heartbeat. He rushed past me and a gust of wind hit my face. The colt slowed down threw his head around and trotted back toward me. Dazzle neighed and the colt responded with a tiny whinny as if Dazzle was saying, “Be safe!” and the colt responded with, “I will!” then Dazzle grazed away.
I scratched the colt under his chin and the colt flapped his lower lip up and down. I giggled.
“Such a goofy boy,” I whispered and stared in his dark eyes. “You’ll make a great race horse one day, and I’ll be your jockey,” I mumbled. That’s when it hit me. “Hey colt!” I whispered. He opened his sleepy eyes. I smiled.
“Dare to be a Legend?”

Chapter Three

“Happy birthdaaayy…dear Elsa! Happy birthday to you! YAYY!” sang my parents, family and best friend Amber Kazers. I stared at my cake and the big 16 shaped candle. This was it. Today I sixteen.
“Make a wish sweetie!” Ma told me. Pa began to record on the video recorder.
“Elsa Wintall’s sweet sixteen. My baby girl is all grown up!” Pa smiled.
I closed my eyes.
I wish for a great future for Legend and I, I blew out the candle.
Then the party began. Smiles, laughter’s, jokes—today was a perfect day.
“I’ll be right back,” I told Ma after finishing up my slice of cake. Ma nodded. “Don’t be long! You have to open up presents soon!” I nodded and headed out towards the barn—towards Legend the colt.
I had named Legend; Dare to be a Legend or Legend for short because I knew that one day Legend would become legendary.
I took a carrot and fed it to Legend who munched on it eagerly.
“Hey, we have time for one little gallop Legend!” I said grabbing the tack. Legend stared at me his ears pricked. I grinned. “Let’s go!”
***
“And they’re off!” shouted the announcer. I felt like I was flying. Five months after my birthday I never imagined that I Elsa Wintall would be sixteen, riding a three year old in a race full of galloping Thoroughbreds. I was lucky that Legend was a thoroughbred. He had the speed of one.
“And its On Fire in the lead followed by Princess Me right at its tail! Shadow Blast is gaining speed with Dare to be a Legend right behind! While DeeJay trails behind in last!” yelled the announcer in the microphone. But all I could hear was the sound of pounding hooves in my ears.
“C’mon Legend!” I encouraged the colt. Legend heaved. He was tired but he kept pushing. Spits of dirt splashed on my goggles.
“I can’t see!” I screamed as the horse in front of me sent a massive pile of dirt on my goggles. I felt my self lose balance.
I was slipping.
I desperately tried to grab mane but it was no use. I couldn’t see and I was falling off. We were losing speed.
“No no! Keep going Legend!” I shouted in despair. Legend was worried though. He slowed his gallop. Oh my, we were nearly cantering! This couldn’t be happening. Below me I could hear the pounding and thrashing of hooves. If I fell I was a goner. But I continued to slip. I was on his left side and I lost my stirrups. It was over. I pulled Legend away from the galloping horses.
“And On Fire keeps leading with Ice Cold Man behind in second and look at this! Dare to be a Legend slows down!”
I could hear the gasps of the audience. Suddenly I felt Legend gain speed. He bolted into a thundering gallop.
“Whoa!” I shouted. I quickly regained my balance and hung on for life on his mane. Legend went faster and faster! We zoomed past several horses and I felt like I was floating in air. We were just a blur. Then it happened so fast it felt like slow motion. We flashed by On Fire and were now strides away in first. I saw the finish line. Legend galloped past it. I barely breathed. We had done it. We had won the race. I threw me hands in the air and screamed in delight. My eyes were blurry with tears of joy. My first race and I won it. We walked to the winners circle and a blanket of flowers was placed on Legend. I threw him a hug.
“Thank you Legend. Thank you for not giving up. You truly are a legend.”

Legend and Elsa raced until Legend’s retirement. They lost only once. He never had any foals. But the power and legacy of the stallion was never forgotten. He had truly been a real legend.