July Story Contest
The Black Stallion
By: Bramblelover
Age: 10
Galloping through the mid-west, powerfully thundering through the sandy fragments below, came the “Wild beast of the west” . Well, that was what the villagers called him, anyway. Then, the beast reared onto it’s hind legs, reinforcing it’s whole body. Suddenly it cantered away, leaving a dusty trail of hoof prints behind it. It was no beast, but a majestic graceful horse. Meanwhile, back at Summer Oak Stables, 13 year olds Samantha Archer and Felicity Maxerson were about to scramble into their saddles when Felicity noticed something.“Can you... hear hoof beats?” asked Felicity. “No, why’d you ask?” “Oh. No reason...” said Felicity. “Okay. Now I definitely heard something that time.” Samantha said. “Hey, me too!” cried Felicity. Suddenly, there was a loud rumble in the distance, before they could make out in the early morning sunlight the shape of a horse. But not just a horse, a very muscular, strong, un-broken, wild horse of the west. “Wow!
Would you look at him? Isn’t he beautiful?”Said Felicity, tying up her horse Jigsaw on the rails next to where they were. “Sure is. I wonder who he belongs to?” said Sam, tying up her horse Coco next to Jigsaw. “He might be wild. He doesn’t look like a normal school-horse. I think he is wild, and was happy to be that way. I wonder how he got here?” gasped Felicity. Just then, a tall lady stood at the door. There was something strange about the way this lady was standing. Her feet were together, he head held high, her arms neatly by her side. The stallion came to her, and nestled his head in her arms. “Hello, girls.” The figure called out. “Say hello to the newest member of Nettlewood Riding Farm!”
The girls walked casually over to the stallion, and stroked him gently. “Wow! What is he called? He sure is beautiful. Where did you find him?” Asked Samantha, giving him a pat. “Well. I didn’t exactly buy him. I just...found him. I was out with Hugo, and I seen this horse coming towards me. Just randomly coming at me.
I dismounted, and went over to him. We made friends, and I went up there to see him almost every day. After 3 or 4 weeks, I decided that...Well, just that I thought he would be better here. He can go whenever he wants; I am going to put him in the maternity stable, so he can do whatever he wants. He is very tame, but not broken. That is the next challenge.” The lady confirmed. This lady was called Lily Jones, and she owned the stable at which both girls rode. (Nettlewood riding farm.) The two girls continued to pat him and stroke him, feeding him the occasional treat, and just getting to know him. Then they let Lily lead him over to the maternity stable, and put him in there. “Alright you two, Coco and Jigsaw look like they need a good ride. So off you go, go and enjoy yourselves. One request, though. Stay away from the Greenwood Canyon. Please, it is not safe for the horses there. Stay away!” warned Lily, as Felicity and Samantha untied the horses and leapt on. They cantered away, up the hill and onto the green slopes of Greenwood. Whilst they were on their ride, Lily would sort out the barn.
“Wow, I sure missed this, girl!” called Samantha, galloping up a steep-ish hill. Felicity was cantering next to Samantha, as Jigsaw hated riding alone. As a cool down, Felicity thought they could do a small jumping session in the arena. They did their jumping, and as then decided to walk home. As they happily trotted down Three Acre Lane, they chatted happily to one another. “So... do you like the new horse?” Asked Samantha, slowing to a walk. “Yeah. He looks very pretty. I would love him even more if he was mine... Oh, I am jealous of Lily. She is such a wonderful rider; she deserves a horse like that. I wouldn’t.” Exclaimed Felicity. “But Hey.” she added, “Jiggy here is perfect for me. I was lucky I got her- she’s amazing in every way. Coco, too. They are amazing horses, and we love them to bits. “ Said Felicity, speeding up to a frisky canter. Samantha copied. Then, as the girls caught sight of the huge stables, Samantha stopped. “Hey, what is wrong Sam?” Asked Felicity, stopping and going over to Samantha. “Hmm. Coco... Well she dose not feel right. She feels different. I’m gonna go a shorter way, I don’t wanna slow you down... Sorry. Meet you there!”Sam called, pushing into a walk. “Hey. What is your problem exactly? Like I’d leave you here! I’m walking with you. All the way, remember?” Felicity remembered the vows they had taken in pre-school. She climbed aboard Jigsaw, and walked up to Samantha. “He he... Yes, how could I forget?!” Samantha called, chuckling. Both girls giggled, having fun, when all of a sudden Sam gasped out in pain. “Ouch! Ow! It’s my stomach. Right there!” Sam called, pointing to her sides. “Okay. Let’s get you to the barn, Lily will know what to do from there. You think you can ride?” “Yeah, I hope. Good girl Coco, good girl.” She praised. They ambled home, slowly. Eventually when they got to the barn, Samantha was very worried about her pony. “Good lad, Jigsaw.” Said Felicity. “Hey, how about we turn them out together?” she added. “Hey. Good Idea. I’m sure that a little time relaxing in the field with her best bud will help her. Let’s go.” Samantha said, taking off her bridle and saddle and putting on her neon pink head collar in replacement. Felicity did the same with a neon yellow one. They chose neon because it is safer for the horses and then the cars can see them at night. The girls led them to the field and let them go loose.
Coco followed Jigsaw into the centre and then broke off and went into the far corner. She then led down with her head resting against the floor and closed her eyes, and seeing as Samantha was worried about her, she rushed over. “COCO! COCO!” She screamed, whilst Felicity went and got Lily. “No Coco! Dont go! Coco!” You could hear Sam’s screams a mile away. Then, Lily and Felicity ran to Coco. Everyone was gathered round her, and Jigsaw, seeing as he also considered Coco as a great and loyal friend, came up to see what the fuss was about. He nickered, and led down bedside the bay mare. “No, Jig, get up. Go and enjoy your pasture!” Fliss tried to persuade him to get up. But Jigsaw did not budge. “Leave him, Fliss. He’ll be fine, they are best friends.” Said Samantha, lying down next to her horse. She started to stroke her and said “Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.” Then Lily got up and turned away. “It’s okay, Sam, she’ll make it. She is a strong horse, a good horse, she’ll pull through. Don’t worry, she will be fine!” Felicity reassured her, kneeling on the other side next to Jigsaw. “You can’t leave me. You just can’t! Don’t go, Coco, please don’t go!” Sam called, stroking her face lovingly. Both girls and Jigsaw were gathered around Coco, and they were being extra nice to her. “It’s okay, girls! Doctor Harley is coming, and he will put her right. Don’t worry; she’s going to be fine!” Lily called, rushing over to them. “Coco is a very healthy horse, and she will get through this fine.” Said Felicity getting up to calm Jigsaw who was now stamping impatiently. Suddenly there was the roaring sound of a speedy car down the motorway, and they guessed it was the equine vet. “Oh, thank goodness they are here!” Cried Samantha, rushing down to greet the vet. As Dr. Harley walked calmly into the hearty barn, two crazy girls rushed at him, screaming him name. “Doctor Harley! Doctor Harley! Come over here!” Fliss screamed, dragging him towards the field. “Ah. Okay then Felicity. Just calm down. Now, what are the symptoms?” Harley asked, calming things down. “There are no symptoms! She just led down in the middle of the field! You have to come quickly. She needs you, Doctor!” Samantha screamed, dragging his arm into the field. “There’s Coco, the bay mare lying down in the middle of the field. Go and cure her, Harley, make her better!”
The girls continued to drag him to Coco. “Alright then, girls. I know you’re upset, just please stop tugging me about otherwise you will rip my clothes. Calm down. Be quiet, shouting won’t help you know!” Harley raged, pulling his plain white clothes away from their arms. “Sorry, Doctor. We just are really worried about Coco. You have to save her!” Sam said, letting go of Harley. “That’s okay. Now let me have a word with Miss Lily, and I’ll see what I can do.” He replied, a little agitated. “Ah, Lily. What is the problem?” “Well, she was acting a little weirdly, and protective. Now she just collapsed, and she has put on loads of weight. I think she might be...” Lily said. “Yes... I think so. Well, if that’s what you think it is then she’ll have to back to the surgery for a scan...” Harley said, opening his medical case. “What, what is it? Tell me!” Sam said, standing up. “Yes, I’ll get the horse truck.” “Tell me please.” “We’ll have Coco back by.. tomorrow at the latest, I promise.” “You aren’t taking her away... I wont let you! You can’t!” Samantha suddenly called, being over-protective. “Me and Lily, we think she is pregnant. She is showing all the signs, lying down, weight gain, this sudden over-protectiveness, and having a male friend who she spends most of her time with... It can only mean one thing. Coco is pregnant.” They all gasped at Doctor Harley’s diagnosis.
“Huh? With my Jigsaw?” Fliss objected.
“Yep. We think. We can run a DNA test, if you’d like.”
“No, I don’t doubt it will be Jiggy’s foal.” Felicity said, hugging Jigsaw.
“How far is she?” Samantha said, stroking her.
“About... 11-12 months. Heavily pregnant, I think she will give birth any day now.” Doctor Harley informed.
“When you do the scan, can you see what the coat colour and gender is?”
"Yes. We can do that.” Doctor Harley said. “Well, what are we waiting for? Come on, we have to get her to the vet’s! I wanna get this over and done with. Now!” Samantha demanded, easing Coco off the floor. As she did, a cold wind blew. “Hey, is it okay if we just put a blanket on them? It’s getting cold out.” Fliss said, mounting bareback onto Jigsaw. “Yeah, sure. I mean, blankets would be a great idea, seeing as you had no idea she was pregnant. Unfortuantely, as this was an un-planned pregnancy, you will have to call your mother and she will have to come to the vets and do all that dreaded paperwork. There is another downfall though, the worst one.” Dr Harley said, sitting down as the girls blanketed up. “What is it, Mr. Harley?” Samantha asked, loosening the rug.“The foal may be hurt, deformed, or possibly deceased in side Coco. It wasn’t your fault, you did not know she was going to be pregnant, but if so then we will try and help her. From now on, Samantha, you and Coco are on strict instructions. Special feed, no riding, plenty of pasture. Take extra care when doing all activities. Keep her away from all horses except the dad, Jigsaw. You are not allowed to feed her treats, and she now requires your un-divided attention. Monitor her behaviour in pasture and when she is stabled. Be careful of her stomach when grooming, and remember my instructions. Do not panic when she goes into labour, as that will be very soon. Just call the vet and say “Emergency! Doctor Harley, Nettlewood Riding Farm!” and I’ll be over in under 2 minutes. If she does go into labour and I cannot make it request another vet immediately. If you do this then she will have a safe, happy labour and more of a chance of giving birth to a healthy foal.” Harley said, reaching into his medical box to pull out the veterinary surgery’s phone number. “Thank you, Doctor. Here, look, Coco is all ready to have this scan, and please look after her in there. Of course I will have to come, because she will not go into the machine without me. I know she won’t. Now, am I coming with you, or Lily and Fliss?”Samantha said, leading Coco towards the horse truck. “You’re coming with me.” He replied, walking over to Lily and Fliss.
“Now, Lily, Sam is going to come with me, to give her a chance of asking all these questions she has tucked up inside her head. I’ll need you down there, of course, so just follow my car. I presume you know the way though?” Doctor Harley asked, giving Lily another one of his vet cards. “Umm... Yeah. I know the way thanks, though I’ll probably follow you. Look after Sam, she gets a little protective when Coco’s concerned. The chances are she won’t let you touch Coco until you really have to. She will want to board her into the machine, so just stand back and let her. Samantha is a great Equestrian; she is very talented and trustworthy!” Lily exclaimed, getting into the car. Fliss boarded Jigsaw into the horse truck as well, and waved goodbye to Sam and she waved back. Doctor Harley and Fliss jumped into their cars and zoomed off to the vet’s surgery at high speed. “Come on, let’s go!”Fliss urged Lily, gripping her seat. “Hmm. If Jigsaw is the foals dad, then that means that Jigsaw isn’t castrated. But, when I bought Jigsaw for you, he was sold from a top rated seller as a gelding with great potential. So, either Jigsaw is a stallion and the top rated seller was wrong, or it isn’t Jigsaw’s foal and he is a gelding. The only problem with this is that if it isn’t Jigsaw’s foal then whose is it?” Lily reasoned. “Hello? I am still in this car. That gorgeous foal in front of us is Jigsaw’s foal. I don’t care what you think! The only stallion that Coco ever sees is Jigsaw. So therefore it has to be his foal. Your stupid “Top rated seller” was wrong. He got it mixed up! Okay? End of story.” Felicity replied, angry that Lily could ever doubt the daddy of the foal. Meanwhile in Doctor Harley’s car, Sam was asking all sorts of questions.
“What colour will the foal be? How many mares have you treated? What happens if she doesn’t give birth? What if she neglects her foal? What if Jigsaw doesn’t like her foal?” Sam questioned. “I don’t know, 12, she will, the foal will have to come back to the vet’s, he will. Anymore questions?” Harley sighed, pulling up at the vets. “Nope!” she cried, jumping out of the car immediately and unbolting the horse trailer. “Incoming!” she called, leading both horses out. “Ah...there we go! All set, eh, girl?” Sam bellowed. She was really excited. “Okay, Sam, round the back please. Take it slowly, ok?” Harley said, signalling Lily and Fliss into a reserved spot. They went into the space and then Fliss jumped out just like Samantha did, and rushed up to the horse trailer.”C’mon, Jig, out you get!” Fliss said, following Samantha into the spare boxes they had there. “Hey, girls, just wait!”Harley said, as Lily got out of her car. “Okay. Your boxes are 12 for Coco and 13 for Jigsaw. Please go to those boxes only. There’s food and water and fresh bedding ready for them. Thank you!” “Alright, Doctor Harley.” Sam said, leading her into 12. Jigsaw was led into 13, and the girls went in with their horses. “Ah! That smell of horses and hay... I love it. That’s something I’ll always remember!” Felicity said, leaving her stables after she’d checked Jigsaw over. Then she went into Coco’s stable. “I still cannot believe there’s a baby pony inside her!” Fliss said. “Yeah, you must be so proud of Jigsaw.” “Oh, shoots, that reminds me!” Fliss said, darting out of the stable and running to Doctor Harley just as it started raining. “Doctor Harley! Doctor Harley! Do you think you could test if Jigsaw is a stallion or a gelding?”
“Yes, Fliss, we can do that.” Harley said, going round to the stable block and entering Jigsaw’s stable. He looked under Jigsaw’s belly, and saw that he was a stallion. “Your horse is a stallion, Fliss. However else could he have Coco’s baby?” Doctor Harley smiled. “Thank you, Doctor!” Fliss cried, hugging Doctor Harley. “Fliss...what are you doing?” Sam giggled, as Fliss darted into Jiggy’s stable.”Alright, Sam, time Coco went in for her scan. Won’t be a second. Come on now” Harley said. Sam got Coco’s lead rope and followed Harley round to a room entitled Med. Ex. and Samantha led her into the room. It was very big and spacious, and looked very comfy and roomy. “Ah, what a nice room!” Sam said. “Oh, yes, but this isn’t the room. This is the waiting room!” Harley said, leading the way into another room. “Here we are.” Harley said, as Sam and Coco entered a scary-looking room filled with contraptions of all kinds. “Umm... What room is this?” Samantha said, leading a scared Coco into the Evil Room (as Samantha decided to rename it) who was trying to get back out of this scary thing. “It’s okay girl. It’ll be over very soon, I promise.” Samantha said, leading her up to the machine which she predicted was the Pregnant Horse Inborn Foal Examination (or also known as the PHIFE) machine. In the room, there was a huge computer screen with different types of bones on it, and a large circular tube which was where Coco was going, regardless to what she thought.
“Alright, then, she needs to go in here.” Doctor Harley said, pointing to the PHIFE. “Whoa now doctor. I know that you’re trying to do well and examine her, but she is not going in that thing. I won’t allow it!” Samantha said, turning her round and leading her out. “Hey wait Sam. I know it looks scary, but we need to take a few pictures and she’ll be out of there and done, and you’ll know that the foal will be healthy and cannot hurt her. Okay?”Harley said, turning it on. “Alright. But do it quickly, she won’t like it in there.” Sam said, leading her into the machine and tying her up in PHIFE. “Don’t worry, Coco. It will all be over soon!” Samantha reassured her, giving her a stroke. “When you’re ready.“Harley called from outside the machine. “Okay, I’m ready.” Sam said, getting out leaving her terrified horse in there alone. “Do it quickly.” Sam added, as the machine buzzed to life. Then there were a few flashes of white, a flash of green and pink, and then a flash of white again. It was over in under 2 minutes and Coco just stood there silently. Sam calmly walked in, and led her out of the PHIFE. “Okay... So I admit i was faffing about nothing. I-“ “Hey, you weren’t faffing about anything. It’s normal to be scared of the machines. If it were my horse in there, I would be doing the same.” Harley said, collecting some freshly printed pictures out of the machine. “Hey Sam, wait up! Wanna have a look at your new foal?” Harley added, holding out the pictures. “You see, there’s the head, the legs, look at its little face!” Harley said, pointing to the pictures. “That’s inside... my horse? Wow! That’s utterly butterly I can’t believe its not butterly amazing!” Samantha said.
“Well, you’ll have to wait a few weeks to see the real thing. But for now, as I said before back at the barn, lots of rest. Special feed, no riding, plenty of pasture. Take extra care when doing all activities. Keep her away from all horses except the dad, Jigsaw. You are not allowed to feed her treats, and she now requires your un-divided attention. Monitor her behaviour in pasture and when she is stabled. Be careful of her stomach when grooming, and remember my instructions. Do not panic when she goes into labour, as that will be very soon.It’s all going to be okay from now on, Samantha, Coco will make it through okay.” Harley said. “Now go and put her in her stable, she needs some rest. The bright flashes of the PHIFE make horses tired, so go on.” “Thank you, doctor. Thanks very much!” Sam said as she trotted Coco through to the stable block. She tied Coco to her stall, and ran back to Harley. “Doctor Harley? Is it okay if I borrow one of those scan pictures?” Sam said, scanning the photos in Doctor Harley’s hand. “Whoa, okay, but we’ll need them back pretty soon. Here you are, you can have the one of the foals face. Look after it!” “I will Doctor, don’t worry!” Sam said, running back to Coco’s stable.
“Look, girl, here’s your foal!” Sam said, holding it up to the mare’s face. She licked it, and Sam put it on the wall behind them. Fliss suddenly bounded in, at a skippy walk. “Hi Sam! How’d the scan go?” She asked as she was unbolting Jigsaw’s stable. “Hello, Jigsaw. How are you?” Fliss questioned her horse as she started to stroke him. “The scan went perfectly. Want to see some of the pictures?” “Sure do! And I bet he does to, seeing as he is a Daddy now...” Felicity said, leaning over to her stable. “Here, this is it’s head, and this is it’s legs, the body, and that’s the tail. Amazing, right?” Sam said, reaching down the photo and showing Fliss. “Wow! Look Jiggy! That’s a miniature you in there. Aw!” Fliss cooed, as Jigsaw licked the picture just like Coco did. “So then. Thought of any names?” Felicity asked, handing back the picture. “Nah, not yet. I think it should be a name which we both agree on, seeing as it’s half your and half mine.” Sam said, leaning over to talk to Fliss and Jigsaw as she started to groom him.
“Really? You’d let me half own him? Wow, you’re the best, Samantha Archer!” Fliss said, taking a break from grooming and jumping up and down. “Yeah, but you do know that means you have to pay for half it’s food, half it’s tack, half it’s board, half of everything. You’re okay with that, right?” “Yeah, so long as I can do half the breaking in and half the riding?” Fliss asked with a large grin across her face. “You sure can.” Sam replied as Coco pushed her head through to Jigsaw’s stable. Jigsaw raised his head and they wrapped their heads round each other.”Aw, look at those two, Sammy.” Fliss said, her eyes wide with awe. “That is MEGA cute!” Sam exclaimed, pushing a strand of her mousey hair behind her ear. Jigsaw let go, and Fliss went back to grooming. “I bet this foal is going to be as sweet as those two...” Fliss cried, just as a lady came into the stable block. “Samantha?”
The lady called. “Mum?” Sam said, popping her head round from her stable. “ Hi, honey. I heard.” Sam’s mum said, walking towards the girls. “Mum! Mum! You aren’t angry at me... are you?” Samantha asked, as she got down the scan picture. “No, no, sweetheart. I am not angry at you, it wasn’t your fault! I’m just a little worried about paying all those bills to the vet. Coco is enough already. Foals are expensive little things, honey.” Her mother said, stroking Coco.
“Yeah, I know! But Mum, me and Fliss came to an agreement. If she has half the responsibilities of the foal, she’ll pay half the price!” Samantha said, shoving the photo into her mothers hand. “Will you, Felicity?”Mrs. Archer said with doubt in her words. “Yes, Mrs. Archer, I don’t mind and I know my Mum will let me. She’s really kind, and thinks it will be a great educational experience for me and Sam. I think it will, too. You know, having your very own little baby horse to love and care for. To pay for, and to be there for. It would be saving you alot of money you know.” Fliss said.
When Samantha’s mum stared at the cute foal staring right at her, she could hardly say no. “Okay. But we are confirming this with your mother and father, Fliss. If not, we will have to wait till the foal is old enough and then give him a new home. If it is a him.” Samantha’s mother, handing back the picture.