October Story Contest

Wintergreen Farms part 1: Born to Ride
By: Khyler
Age: 11

Characters:

Khyler O’Brian-A volunteer junior riding instructor at Wintergreen
           
Skylark-Khyler’s bay Connemara-cross gelding, also known as Sky
           
Pep-Khyler’s eight-month-old Australian Shepherd puppy 
           
Malloree Carl-Khyler’s best friend
           
Rubix- Malloree’s white Connemara-cross Stallion
           
Sabrina Smith- A friend of Khyler’s
           
Sprite- Sabrina’s chestnut mare

Khyler O’Brian led 30 kids to the cafeteria. Her best friend Malloree Carl was at the back helping a girl on crutches. Khyler’s face glowed. Her mom, Teresa O’Brian, had formed Wintergreen Farms (along with friends from collage).

Wintergreen Farms was a boarding school where disabled girls could learn to care for horses. Khyler and 2 other friends had volunteered to be riding instructors for beginning riders.
                  “Okay,” Khyler announced. “Ms. O’Brian should be here any min. . .” Khyler trailed of as Ms. O’Brian, Mrs. Clarke, Mrs. Sander, and Ms. Scott entered.
                  “Thanks Khyler,” Ms. O’Brian said. “Welcome to Wintergreen Farms. I’m Ms. O’Brian the principal.”
                  “I’m Mrs. Clarke, the vice-principal.” Mrs. Clarke spoke clearly.
                  “I’m Mrs. Sander, the secretary.” Mrs. Sander smiled sweetly.
                  “I’m Miss Scott, the head riding instructor,” Miss Scott said. “And now our junior instructors will introduce themselves.”
                  “Hi, I’m Khyler O’Brian. My mom is the principal. My favorite color is pink and I LOVE eventing. My gelding, Skylark is a bay Connemara-Cross. I also have an Australian Shepherd puppy named Pep.” Khyler introduced herself.
                  “I’m Malloree Carl. I like eventing and Rubix, my horse, is also a Connemara-Cross, but he’s white.” Malloree explained.
                  “I’m Sabrina Smith. My favorite color is orange. My horses name is Sprite and I also enjoy eventing.” Sabrina said.
                  “All right,” said Ms. O’Brian. “If you are in cabin 1 go with Sabrina, if you’re in cabin 2 go with Malloree, cabin 3 goes with Khyler.”  Ms. O’Brian instructed.
                  Khyler led 3 girls to cabin 3, Stacy McMinn, Jenna Hall and Marie Randal.
                  “O.K. guys,” Khyler said. I’m going to take Stacy to meet her pony then I’ll come back for Jenna and then Marie. After you all have a pony we’ll have a lesson. While you are waiting to meet your pony unpack and get settled in okay?”
                  “Okay,” Came 3 replies in unison.
                  Khyler smiled and led Stacy out the door. Pep, who had been resting on the front porch of cabin 3 jumped up and barked softly.
                  “Want to come to?” Khyler asked the puppy. “Come on,”
                  Stacy walked as fast as she could to the barn on her crutches, leaves crunching under her feet.
                  As the 2 girls entered the barn they were hit by the smell of sweat, horse and leather. As Stacy looked around she spotted a black and white paint pony.
                  “Oh!” She exclaimed and hobbled over to the pony’s stall. “Miracle,” She read. “Oh Khyler could she be my pony PLEASE?”
                  “I think Miracle is perfect for you.” Khyler said. “Do you want to look at some others or keep Miracle?”
                  “Keep Miracle,”
                  “O.K. I’ll go pick up Jenna and let her pick a pony and then Marie while you get to know Miracle.” Khyler said.
                  “O.K.” Stacy agreed.

                  “I want you to ride your horses in a circle.” Khyler in instructed. “Keep at a walk Marie . . . Sit up straight Stacy . . . You can’t ride unless your looking where you want to go, Jenna, don’t look down.”
                  “This is FUN!” Cried Marie.
                  “Don’t yell around horses,” Khyler said sternly. “NEVER”
                  “Okay,”
                  “Our lesson time is up,” Khyler called. “I want you dismount and lead your horse to the barn.”
                  “Aww” The girls complained.
                  “Malloree and her group need to have their lesson. Besides you need to learn how to groom your ponies.” Khyler said as she helped Stacy and Jenna get off their mounts. “Come on,” She led Miracle while Stacy limped along side.                   When the girls entered the barn Khyler helped the girls cross-tie their ponies. Then she showed them how to brush the ponies. Khyler then picked out the ponies’ hooves.

                  “If you’ll all take showers after dinner we can watch a movie tonight.” Khyler announced to her cabin.
                  Then Cabin 3 went to the lunch room for dinner and every one was excited because it was spaghetti.
Khyler sat with Malloree and Sabrina. They talked about the upcoming eventing competition in Blackwood City.
“Are you going to enter?” Sabrina asked.
“Yep,” Khyler said. “Mom’s thinking of bringing all the kids so they can watch. Are you entering?”
“Uh-huh,” Sabrina answered.
I’m going to enter the competition too.” Malloree added.
Soon dinner was over and everyone was getting ready for bed. All of cabin 3 had taken showers and were in their PJs and they were now voting on which movie to watch.
Marie wanted Gilligan’s Island.
Jenna wanted Journey to Witch Mountain. In the end Gilligan’s Island was chosen because so few kids had seen it. They watched the 1st episode of Season 1 when the 7 castaways become marooned on the desert isle. Cabin 3 agreed the funny antics of Gilligan were unforgettable.

Khyler led the way down the trail with Malloree and Rubix riding next to her.  It was the first trail ride since school had started. They were on their way back to the barn because the clouds looked like they would burst open any moment. Pep was running on ahead. The girls entered the barn on foot, leading their ponies, just as the rain came. They spent the afternoon cleaning tack.
“It’s pretty cool your Mom hired teachers just for us.” Malloree said.
“Yeah,” Khyler agreed. “I guess it’s pretty cool.”

One Month Later

Khyler mounted Sky and rode into the arena. All the parents of the disabled girls were there. The riding instructors had organized a sow for the younger kids while the disabled girls organized a show for the riding instructors. It was Khyler’s turn to ride. Sky soared over the first jump. The breeze ruffled Skylark’s tail and the tips of Khyler’s hair that poked out from under her helmet.
Khyler received a blue ribbon, Malloree: a red, and Sabrina the white ribbon.
After the show the parents bid farewell to their children and started the drive home. Meanwhile 2 friends sat on the ridge above Wintergreen Farms. Smiling they wrapped their arms around one another and gazed at the sun as it slowly sank behind the hills.

 

I hope you enjoyed Wintergreen Farms Book 1. Book 2 will hopefully be finished in time to enter into the December 2010 Story Contest. Book 2 will be written by Malloree though. Thanks,
Khyler & Skylark