December Story Contest

Horses Leave Hoofprints on Your Heart
By: Microphone
Age: 13

My sorrel stallion chomped at his bit and tugged at the reins. Foam dribbled from his mouth. It fell through the air to the ground. He tossed his head and
“Woah Vixen! Woah boy!” I sat quietly and calmly as I sat on his back. He pranced around nervously, picking his legs up high and setting them down with loud thumps.
“Looks like Vixen’s been stung by a bunch of bees!” Tory Clapton laughed as I sat calmly on Vixen’s back, guiding him gently back to the wall.
“Well, at least he doesn’t look like he’s just been attacked by 600 rabbits. Do you ever groom Prince?” I snapped back. Vixen tossed his head and snorted. “Woah boy. It’s okay.”
Eventually I managed to get Vixen back to the wall. All the while my instructor was watching. Watching my technique and calmness.

“Well done Maddie! Great job! You handled him perfectly.”
I blushed bright red. I had known that Ms. Terrell had only given Vixen to me to train because she knew I was the only one, apart from her, who could do it.
But still, as frustrated as I was at Vixen for being a pain in the rear, I loved him very much. After my lessons, either private or group, I would untack and groom Vixen till he shone. In his stall no one would know that he was wild and crazy in the arena.

“Alright, we’re gonna try going through the cones. Maddie, you go first.” I jerked back to reality and signaled for Vixen to walk. He tossed his head, but I slowly stroked his neck and he calmed.
“Today, Madison!” Tory complained. “You don’t have to do that. Training a horse is easy! You don’t have to calm them, just punish them.”
“Oh, is that why Prince cringes away from you every time you go near him?”
“Girls! Madison, please continue.” Ms. Terrell interrupted. I urged Vixen forward to a trot. We started out pretty good, but then a loud noise behind us startled him.
“Woah! Vixen! WOAH!” I screamed as he broke into a canter that quickly turned into a gallop! I pulled back on the reins, trying to stop him. I sat deep in the saddle and pulled hard to the side. As he turned he reared into the air, his front hooves flying and let out an ear-splitting, terrified whinny!

I remember flying through the air, screaming in terror, then mostly blackness.
I was not completely unconscious. I heard screaming, and a command to call 9-1-1. My eyes were half open. I saw Ms. Terrell and my friend Megan running towards me. Julie was on the phone. My left arm felt numb, and my left leg hurt a lot. It was twisted and mangled-looking. I groaned softly, and the blackness that swam at the edges of my mind swallowed me and sent me into a long, painless sleep.

The next thing I remember is waking up at the hospital. My head hurt, and it felt rather larger than usual. I couldn’t move my left arm. I blinked and my vision cleared a bit. I could hear people talking. Their voices were muffled. I reached up slowly and touched my head. It was wrapped in bandages.
Suddenly the voices stopped.

“Madison? Are you awake?” It was my Mom. Her voice sounded like it came from miles away. I turned my head towards the noise. My mother looked down at me, worry etched onto every available surface.
“What. Happened?” I asked slowly.
“Vixen spooked honey. You were bucked off.” She stroked my cheek.
I groaned. “Is Vixen okay? When can I go home?”
“Not for a while, Madison, I’m afraid.”
I turned my head. Dr. Rogers stood there with a clipboard.
“You have a broken leg, arm and a serious head injury. Also, some bruised ribs. You have to stay here for about four weeks.”
“No!” I said, trying to sit up. My head spun. “I’ve got to take care of Vixen! I’ve got to ride him!”
“Madison, you can’t. Not for a while. Ms. Terrell called. Vixen’s fine. She said she’ll look after Vixen and train him while you get better.”
I sighed. I wanted Vixen.

For the next few days people visited me. I learned from Megan that I had been unconscious for four days. She came to visit me the day after I woke up.

“Maddie! Please just stay here. You can’t walk anyway!” Megan pleaded. I was sitting up and trying to get out of the bed I was in.
“Ms. Green, you cannot leave yet. You have not been discharged yet.” A nurse bustled over to my bed and pushed me back down. “I’ll bring you some food.
I didn’t believe her, but I stayed put.

Two weeks later I was still lying there, utterly bored out of my mind.
“Madison? Can I come in?”
“Yeah…” I said.
“Hello Madison. How are you?”
“Bored. I just want to get out of this dump! I want to ride Vixen! How is he?”
“Fine. I brought some pictures.” Ms. Terrell opened her purse and withdrew three photos.
“He’s more beautiful than I remember.” I said unhappily. “I wish I could see him.”
        
So I whiled away the long days. Megan visited and brought news about the stable. Apparently my second favorite horse, a white mare named Snow Bell, was in-foal. Vixen was restless, but Megan said that Ms. Terrell had been letting him into the pasture and that was helping. Tommy, the old dapple grey gelding, was retired to the pasture, and Jello was being trained.

“Who’s training her?” I asked, a bit suspicious about the fact that Megan hadn’t said.
She grinned happily. “I am.”
“Awesome! I’m happy for you!” I gave her a high-five with my right arm. “Jello is the cutest little pony!”         
She was. She had a wonky blaze that ran from her ears to her muzzle. Her dished brown head was intelligent and mischievous. Her forelock was always draped to one side and her black mane was shiny and long. Her white legs moved quickly and steadily and she held her long tail high and proud!
“She’s not a pony, she’s an Arabian, and she’s a lot bigger now. She’s grown a lot in the three weeks you’ve been here.”
“Bring a picture.” I said.

* * * * *

“Well Madison, your leg is healed and your arm is almost finished so you can go home. In a couple days we’ll take the cast off your arm.” Dr. Rogers stood there, happily telling me I could go home.
“No riding until the cast is off.” He warned. I was almost out the door as he said this, even though I still limped a bit because I didn’t want to hurt my leg.

 

When I entered the stable four days later I was in for a shock. Balloons were scattered everywhere, and a big banner said: WELCOME BACK MADISON! I limped in and everybody jumped out and shouted; “Welcome back!” I grinned happily, a little shocked, but extremely happy.
“Welcome back Madison,” Ms. Terrell said, leading me over to Vixen’s stall. “I think he’ll want to say it too.” She smiled. I opened the door and gazed at the sorrel stallion. He turned towards me and his eyes lit up. He whinnied and lunged towards me. He nuzzled my shoulder and blew in my face.
“Hi Vixen! I missed you!” I threw my arms around his warm neck and kissed him.

Later everybody was in the arena. Megan was sitting proudly on Jello and Tory was on Prince. Clare was looking very smug on top of Duke. Julie was on Patch, the black mare with a white circle around a blue eye. Sam was on Hazelnut, the chestnut gelding.
“Alright, I think we’ll start by trotting around the ring twice. Then we’ll try the cones. Alright, start.”
“Trotting around the ring?” Tory complained. “That’s beginner’s stuff? Just because Miss Limps-a-lot is here shouldn’t mean we go back to the basics!”
I went red with shame and looked down at my hands. Vixen shifted underneath me.
“What did you call her Tory?” Ms. Terrell sounded furious.
“It’s okay, Ms. Terrell.” I said. “You shouldn’t have to keep these guys back because of me.” I fought back tears as I turned Vixen away and left the arena.
“Maddie! Wait! WAIT!” Megan called.

Once I left the ring I urged Vixen into a canter, tears streaming down my cheeks. I heard hoof beats behind me and made Vixen go faster. We were heading into the woods now, and I knew exactly where to go. I steered Vixen around corners and headed towards the pond. There I dismounted and pulled Vixen over to a tree, where I tied him to a low branch.
I heard the horse that was following me. It was coming closer. I spotted the delicate brown bay of Jello and knew that Megan had followed me.
“What?” I said before Megan could even open her mouth.
“Look, Ms. Terrell wasn’t doing the ring thing because of you. Not exactly. She was doing it because of Jello and Vixen. They need to be calmed and warmed up properly before doing the cones.”
“Whatever.” I said.
“Everybody except Tory and Katie love you. We all wanted you back healthy and happy. Don’t listen to Tory.”
“Well it’s kind of hard with the voice she’s got.” I smiled unwillingly.
Megan grinned. “Come on, they’re waited for you and Vixen.”
I looked at my sorrel stallion. He was looking at me curiously and intelligently. His eyes seemed to say, “Let’s go back. Why are we here? I love the arena, as long as you’re the one riding me.”
“Oh Vixen, I love you so much! If anything happened to you, I’d kill myself! I’m sorry. Let’s go back.” And I hugged him tight, the last of my tears running into his soft, warm neck. He nickered quietly and contentedly.

 

Hey, look for part 2 coming soon! Thanks for reading. Please vote!
microphone