Post by <Amy> on Mar 31, 2009 15:51:49 GMT -6
Taylor Stone && Lady in White && Fantasia
The barn had been closed up for a while but Taylor had gotten special permission from Amy to hang around. She'd been doing it a lot recently, or at least for the past few days. Lady, her dressage Gypsy Vanner, was so close to foaling that Ty knew it wouldn't be long before she'd have a foal to baby and someday train. That was why Taylor was still hanging around the stable even though it was nearly eight thirty at night and even Amy had headed home for the night. Of course Ty knew Amy would be back to check up on her really early in the morning but she had an understanding with the stable owner as to why she'd rather sleep in a horse stall or in the lounge rather than head home and leave Lady totally alone so close to her foaling.
So, Ty sat with her back against Lady's stall door. It had happened about half an hour ago that Lady had started to pace. Even now Ty could hear her hooves shuffling the deep sawdust bedding in the large stall as she paced. Occasionally Lady would snort or squeal though Ty couldn't tell if it was from restlessness or pain. Tonight was the night and Taylor felt wired, as if she'd just drank ten Red Bulls. Her knees were drawn up, arms resting on her knees and her hands flexing as she waited impatiently.
A few weeks ago she had played this same waiting game with Amaris and Forgotten Dream, the Warlander mare that had carried Invisible Ink's first foal. Even now Ty could hear the big bay mare in her stall with the still rather small light bay colt that had yet to be named. Still Taylor didn't get up and go baby the colt or visit Dream. Lady needed her now and Ty would be there. Pushing herself up, Taylor stood up straight and looked into the stall. Her mare, seventeen point two hands tall, was nearly solid white except for the black on the sides of her face. Beyond the swollen belly Taylor could still see the strong, fluid legs that could dance around a dressage ring. Soon enough the mare wouldn't have that swollen belly.
"Come on Lady, you can do it" Taylor murmured to the mare.
Lady snorted loudly and whinnied, going to the corner of her big stall and laying down. Five minutes later the mare was up again, pacing three times around the stall before once again laying down. A fine sheen of sweat was beginning to appear of the white coat and Ty bit her lip, leaning on the stall door and waiting. Lady snorted and tossed her head around before letting out her loudest whinny yet.