Post by ruby on Jan 27, 2013 18:11:06 GMT -8
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Mini Goal: Settle King into his new stall
Ruby tapped her foot impatiently on the gravel, checking her iPhone for what seemed like the hundredth time. No missed calls, no texts, no nothing. It wasn't like her mother to be late. She sighed again, breath misting in winter air. It was cold, especially for Texas, but Ruby didn't mind as much as she'd used to. She'd grown accustomed to frigid winters during her college years in Pennsylvania. Although Addison was starting to resemble the Penn State campus, with the sky a deep iron grey that warned of snow. "She better get here quickly," Ruby muttered, glancing at the ominous sky. Transporting horses in the snow just didn't seem like a wise idea. Ruby shifted her weight, her mind drifting to the horse her mother was bringing.
King's Ransom was her mother's (well renowned horse trainer Isabelle Wensten) Andalusian dressage horse. He was a handsome gelding, with a lot of talent. Ruby hadn't ridden him, but she'd seen her mother's students show him when he was younger, and he looked like a dream. Lately though, her mother had said, none of her students had the skill level to help him reach his potential, so she was sending him to Crossfire. Ruby had been in Addison all of a week, and had just finally settled her mare Bella into life at the new barn. The brunette was excited to start showing again, since it had been a while since she'd competed. And with powerhouses like Bella and King, she'd be unstoppable.
Finally the crunch of gravel under wheels shook Ruby from her reverie. Her parent's siver pick up truck pulled into view, towing a two horse trailer. Ruby waved her mother closer, until the truck was a few feet from the barn's open door. After the engine shut off, her mother jumped out of the driver's side, and hugged her daughter. "Sorry I'm late, honey" Isabelle grimaced. "Snickers got out again and the barn hands had already gone home, so I had to catch him before I loaded King." Ruby nodded in understanding, a small smile pulling at her lips. Snickers was the family's mischievous Appaloosa. "We should have named him Houdini," Ruby said, chuckling.
As Ruby had predicted earlier, snow began to fall in little flurries. She shivered, zipping up her black north face jacket all the way. Isabelle had gone into the back to grab King's tack, extra blanket, and supplements. Once everything was out of the truck and out of the way, the two unloaded King. The Andalusian backed out calmly, his ears flicking as he took in his new surroundings. Ruby took the lead rope from her mother, and guided him into the barn, towards his new stall. She spoke quietly to the gelding, making sure he was still calm. Her other horse, Bella, heard her coming and let out her signature piercing neigh. King tossed his head eagerly as they passed her chestnut mare, snorting as a greeting. Ruby smiled at the gelding's apparent friendliness, knowing it wasn't likely to be returned by Bella, who was notoriously bratty.
Once King was safely in his stall with the door shut behind the pair, Ruby checked his blanket to make sure it wasn't twisted, and undid his halter, slipping it off of his handsome face. She slipped out of the stall, securing the latch before she went to find her mother in the tack room. "I'd better head home before the snow gets any worse," Her mother put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer honey, but we'll catch up soon." Isabelle hurried down the aisle. "Call me if you have any trouble with King! He's used to being lazy now, so really make him bend in those corners!" And with that, Ruby was alone again.
Since her shift at Vintage didn't start for another three hours, Ruby decided she'd get to know King, since she'd be competing him soon anyway. Grabbing her tack box from her locker, she set out, determined to win the handsome gelding's good favor with peppermints and a good grooming. Once he was secured on crossties, she let herself get lost in the repetitive task of grooming. It felt nice to relax again.
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