June Story Contest

Hidalgo’s Story: Of Adventure!
By oakwoodgal
Age: 12

I love it when the wind flows in my mane as I watch my herd run free. It wasn’t always like this though. My name is Hidalgo and this is my story. On July 1, 1995 I was born to my mother, Lacy, who was a gentle white mare. My father Jonah had passed away few days before. So when I grew bigger I would be the lead stallion. My mother took great care of me, even though I was always getting into some sort of trouble. I grew to be a strong, chestnut paint mustang, and at age 2, I was the lead stallion. There was always some stallion who was trying to attract my mares but I don’t tolerate such nonsense so, I fought him until he gave up.
Then one night as the mares grazed I went up to my favorite maple tree, gazed at the stars, and laid down. I took one last look at my herd to make sure they were ok and dozed off. Then in the middle of the night I awoke to the sound of my herd galloping away and I saw the horse wranglers coming . I got up and galloped away.
They were catching up, but then all of a sudden I tripped and crashed to the ground. I tried to get up and run away but it was too late they had got the rope around my neck. Not just one rope though, there were 5. I threw myself all over to break free but the ropes were too strong. They forced me to where they wanted to go but I reared up and pulled back. I fought as hard as I could but I couldn’t break free. So I just walked with them.
2 weeks later They brought me to a ranch with a lot of horses but they were not wild, they were quarter horses. They forced me into a round corral. But I refused to go in. I pulled and reared and kicked and bit but they had strong horses pulling me in. I gave up and walked in. thinking about a way to escape. I had to break out at night, when they were all sleeping. I can probably jump the fence. I know my way home, I will never forget it.
I spent the day running and bucking around the corral. Soon enough it was night time. I backed up to the end of the fence and ran. I leaped up to jump but it was to high I fell and cut my leg but I was ok. I kept trying but I could not get over it. It was almost morning when I decided to quit. The humans can out now. I didn’t know what to do to escape.
The pain and torture of being in this terrible place lasted for over 2 months. I spent every day running around the pen making myself stronger and faster.
One August night when everyone was asleep I decided to try again I ran and jumped. My body barely made it over but I was out! I galloped to the boarding gait and jumped that. I was so happy to be free again! I galloped as fast as I could to get away.
Over the next month I traveled to get home but I lost my strength and dropped to the dirt. My eyes went blurry but I saw a gray mare from a different herd come and everything went blank. When I woke up there was a group of mares surrounding me. They had recently lost their lead stallion so they asked me but I explained to them that I needed to get back to my herd and they all agreed that they would help me. The grey mare brought me to a river to get some water and then I grazed. I didn’t realize that I was so hungry. The grey mare told me her name was stormy. we talked and went for a walk. I stayed there to rest for a week and went back to finding my way home.
The days went by. Some were rainy and cloudy and some were sunny and hot. But I didn’t mind it, all I wanted was to be home with my herd. A year went by and I started to think that I wouldn’t make it. But I continued on with my journey.
Then on one beautiful sunny June afternoon I arrived at a familiar grass land with a lake and mountains, and I knew what it was……….it was MY grassland with a lake and mountains. My herd stood there grazing. I galloped up the hill and neighed! They all looked up and saw me! I ran down the hill and greeted them, we were all so happy to be back together. We all galloped with happiness around our homeland. And to this day I will remain here at my homeland with my herd.

That’s my story, the story of HIDALGO!