February Story Contest

Foal and Beauty Brag!
By: Fidget
Age: 12

“Beauty, move forward!” shouted Jessie Gordon. It was the first time Black Beauty; Jessie’s four-year-old colt had been driven. Black Beauty had his feet dug in the ground and refused. He didn’t like the harness on his back or the heavy cart he was pulling. Beauty was part Arabian and part Thoroughbred. Mr Gordon had sold Jessie’s colt. They wanted him to be a cart horse, but Jessie rode a lot. Also she had mares and foals to look after. Mr Reese, who bought Beauty, was picking him up in two weeks. Jessie climbed out of the cart and led Beauty back. Mr Gordon looked up from Fairytale and her foal, Velvet.
“Jessica I thought I told you to drive him, not lead him!” Jessie cringed at her real name Jessica. She didn’t like the name Jessica.
“Molly is out riding Merrylegs,” said Mr Gordon. Jessie grinned. Merrylegs was the naughty white pony they shared. But now Jessie had Beauty to train. Molly was her twin sister and her older brother, Alfred, always tossed them from Merrylegs and he rode him. But Merrylegs reared and tossed him.
“Where is Alfred?” asked Jessie.
“He’s putting a harness on Ginger,” replied her father. “Move Beauty over.” Alfred came out of Ginger’s stall, leading the chestnut mare. Soon Mr Gordon and Alfred drove Ginger and Beauty away. They were taking him over to Mr Resse’s. Mr Reese wanted to see his colt every week, driven by a cart. But Beauty never behaved. Mr Reese trained him for two hours then Alfred and Mr Gordon took him back. Molly cantered out on Merrylegs.
“Hey Jess, where’s Beauty?” Molly asked.
“Alfred and Dad took him over to see Mr Reese,” Jessie replied. “And Dad called me Jessica again, because I was leading Beauty.”
“You know, Jessica is a nice name, but Jessie suits you more than Jessica,” Molly said.
“Tell Dad that,” snapped Jessie. “Can I have ride Merry?”
“Sure.” Molly dismounted and Jessie mounted him.
“Come on Merry,” said Jessie.
She kicked his belly and Merrylegs plunged into a canter. They cantered to the paddock that held the mares and foals. Gidget with her twins Little Squish and Giggle. Beautiful and Ella. Mischief and Fanta. Shifty and Comet. Fizz and Jester. Beech Bonanza and Baby Bright. Belle and Shadow. Ferrari and Spider. Jessie noticed Spud, the stallion of burnt buckskin, by himself.
“Spud, come here!” called Jessie. Spud kicked up his heels and galloped to Merrylegs and Jessie.
“Hey Spud, you’re a good stallion. Anyway, I’ve got to go back. I promise, when we wean the foals and you breed to them again, I’ll be there.” Spud turned and trotted away. Tomorrow was weaning day. Jessie rode Merrylegs back. Molly cooled him down and put him in his stall. When Beauty came back, Jessie groomed him.
“Jessica, there’s been a change of plans,” Mr Gordon said. “Mr Reese wants Beauty next week on Tuesday. Make him pro. Sort out halters and lead ropes. I’ve decided to let Alfred, you and Molly do the weaning this year.” Jessie put Beauty in his stall and met Molly in the tack room. For another hour they sorted halters and lead ropes. Alfred was leading the mares away and Jessie and Molly were taking the foals. Jessie was doing. Giggle, Velvet, Squish, Fanta and Ella.  Molly was doing Spider, Comet, Jester and Baby Bright.

The next morning when weaning was over. Molly rode Merrylegs and Jessie trained Beauty. When they got to the woods, Jessie led Beauty. She wasn’t training the horse at all. She was undoing the training Mr Reese did. Soon she drove Beauty back. Beauty reared when they approached Mr Gordon.
“Jessica Gordon!” shouted Mr Gordon.
“You cannot train Black Beauty anymore. Alfred help drive him over to Mr Reese. Jessica, Beauty is going to Mike Reese now!”
“No Dad,” cried Jessie. “Please don’t call me Jessica. I hate it! Bye Beauty, see you soon.” Jessie ran off toward the mare and foal pasture.
“Jessie!” called Mr Gordon. “Jessie, I didn’t know.” Jessie reached Spud and threw her arms around the stallion. She heard hooves. Her Dad was driving Beauty. Alfred was with him.
“Dumb sister,” Alfred scowled. “You ruined him.”
“Alfred, no,” Mr Gordon said. “Jessie doesn’t want to be called Jessica.”
“Jessica, Jessica, Jessica,” repeated Alfred.
“Alfred stop it!” cried Jessie. “Dad please, keep Beauty.”
“I called Mike Reese, he said he didn’t need Beauty anymore, someone gave him a black mare with a white blaze and a white patch on her belly,” explained Mr Gordon. “He likes this mare, Alice, better than Black Beauty. Alice also has four stockings. Beauty only has a star.”