Out for a Ride

[Lexi Lu]

Roxi trotted through the park on a new mare. She was a quarter horse won in a raffle and Roxi wanted to be sure she was broken in and safe. She seemed so and was a nice smooth ride. The went slowly through the park and Roxi kept alert for any people and something that might spook the mare.

[mystic]

Jessie

Maybe I was crazy. Did I honestly think I could handle both horses at once? I led Turner and Sky though the park, riding the Arabian stallion, and holding Sky's lead tight against Turner's reins, should she try and run off. I had confidence in Sky, however, and I doubted she would freak, but she'd never been here before, and new surroundings tended to spook the white Arabian mare. Turner tossed his head and Sky flinched a little. "Sh, girl, it's alright," I whispered to her. She calmed a little and we continued at a quick walk through the park.

It was when we took a turn on the walking trail, and Sky saw the other horse and her rider, that she reared. Her ears went flat against her cranium and Turner snorted at her. "Whoa, whoa Sky!" I said, voice shaking, wishing David had come with me. I jumped off of Turner and quickly tied him to a bar, hands shaking. Sky was going to bolt if I didn't hurry. She reared twice more and turned on her heels to take off, but I grabbed her lead rope quickly. "Shush, now, Sky. It's alright." I stroked her face, watching her beautiful brown eyes dart side to side, and then lock onto the other horse.

I turned around to check on Turner, and then at the other horse. "Oh my, I am so sorry about that! Ya'll okay?" I asked the girl on top of the horse. I was picking up a definite southern accent by living here. "Sky...she's a little skittish in new surroundings. She just got frightened."