Come on, Say Hello *Open*

[<Amy>]

Taylor Stone && Fantasia

The spring air was moist, gloomy clouds overhead promising another evening thunderstorm. For right now though the air was humid and warm, trees swaying with the breeze blowing in the rain. Most of the stable was empty, horses snuffling in their stalls or grazing out in the pasture. A few kids had come in earlier to take their horses on trail rides only to find the trail rained out from the last storm. Normally older students like Taylor Stone would be disappointed at a turn of events like that but she had bigger fish to fry today.

Lightly tanned skin hidden in a light-weight navy blue t-shirt and wearing cut off faded jean shorts, Taylor walked purposefully toward the stable while bunching her long brown hair up, ponytail holder between her lips. Holding her hair with one hand, Ty grabbed the ponytail holder and snapped it around her hair, wrapping it a few times before pulling the ponytail tighter. A few thin bangle bracelets around her wrists jingled as she reached for the bolt on a large birthing stall, a smile appearing on her face at the sight of the mare in the stall with the frisky filly.

The mare was a handsome creature, seventeen hands of power and grace. Ty adored Lady because the mare was so unique. She was a natural mother and unlike most Gypsy Vanners, she only had black on the sides of her face rather than in big patches all over her body. Lady snuffled, stepping back as Taylor opened the stall door and slipped inside, snagging a lead rope from a hook next to the stall door. As the mare moved back, the filly named Fantasia, whinnied and came forward. Unlike her mother, Fantasia had patches of black mainly on her haunches and chest, a few streaks of black in her mane but was marginally white with a spunky personality and winning expressions.

"Hey baby girl," Taylor cooed, stroking Fantasia and grinning from ear to ear. The filly and her horses were the few highlights of Taylor's day. Usually she was stuck working or putting up with her drunk-off-his-ass dad.

Fantasia whinnied and butted her head against Taylor's hip, trying to dodge Taylor's attempts to snag her with a halter.

"Oh come on Fanny, if you want to get out of this stall I need to put this on," Taylor chided, hands on her hips.

Again the filly whinnied and tossed her head, mane still fluffy with youth. Taylor rolled her eyes and pulled a treat from the pocket of her jean shorts. Boy oh boy, Fanny knew how to get what she wanted when she wanted it. Fantasia stood still as Taylor slipped the halter on her, munching the treat happily as her mistress clipped on the lead rope as well. Leaving Lady to have a bit of peace, Taylor led Fantasia out of the barn toward one of the empty rings. The filly kept getting distracted by passing horses or humans, twitching her ears and pulling on the lead from time to time.

Taylor kept a firm hold on the lead, unbolting the gate for the ring and leading Fantasia inside. Using her hip to push the gate closed again, Taylor reached back to bolt it shut. The last thing she needed was Fanny getting loose like the other foal, Fleeing Sweetheart. Horse or not, Taylor doubted Lady would ever let he near Fantasia again if that happened.

Jogging in pace with Fantasia, Taylor and the filly set off around the ring. Fantasia had her head up, stride pretty good for a foal her age and looking as elegant as Lady had as a foal.

[britsue17]

Alexia Jacklynn && Full Of Tradition (Rocky)

Alexia, being lazy today, walked into the barn with orange and blue basketball shorts on and her navy blue cross country shirt on. She walked over to the tack room to find her big blue show box. After digging through all of her unpacked supplies she found what she was looking for: her hair accessories. She pulled out her mini-brush and two ponytail holders. She slowly started working through her hair wondering which horse she was going to work in the small amount of time that she had. She put her hair in very fast and messy braids and then grabbed Rocky's halter. She figured she needed to work with Rocky and his pleasure gaits today. As she was walking towards Rocky's stall she heard someone open one of the big birthing stall doors. That reminded her, when was Chic supposed to be in season again? She promised her little sister that she would get chick to have a baby again this year. She continued to Rocky's stall very quietly as not to disturb the person or their horses. As she got closer to her horses stall Rocky started pawing at the door. Rocky knock it off! She said softly. That was a nasty habit that she needed to break him of. He always had to show her what he was feeling but that was not the way to do it.

She imagined if Rocky was still a stallion. He would make very pretty babies with his semi-unusual color. Brown and white leopard spotted horse. Not something you see every day but not totally rare either. She knew how pretty Chic's babies usually turned out. Especially when being covered by another paint colored quarter horse. She loved watching Chic's babies grow up. Her day dream got interrupted by a text message. She opened it and expected some stupid forward, but surprisingly it wasn't.

From: Felicia
Message: Hey sis! Just wondering if dad could come up and get Rocky because I wanted to use him for a show comming up. Its a jump show and its for beginers only so I thought it'd be good experience for me to show. Why not use my horse, you ask? Well dad, being his usual drunk self, decided to get on her and make her jump his felled tree. She messed up her back left leg pretty good but don't worry, the vet said she'll recover just fine! Please text me back!
love,
-Lici

Alexia got very mad very fast. Her dad was so stupid at times! Felicia, her younger sister by two years, must not have been home or else she would've thrown a fit for him thinking about even getting on her horse drunk. Alexia knew she didn't get her good judgment from her dad. She was glad her mom was around. Now that she's older she sympathizes her mom for having to put up with it all for the sake of her and her two sisters. She pressed the reply button and said in a very short message: That's fine! But you ride up with him so he doesn't try anything stupid. Tell him I am not happy what-so-ever with his little stunt. I'll call you later to talk to you and to get the full story! love - Alexia(:

Alexia looked up to the sound of small hoof beats and saw a pretty girl leading a very beautiful little filly. Alexia smiled but didn't have time to say hi. It was time for a small warm-up just to make sure Rocky was well ready for going to her sister's and putting on a good show for her and the spectators. Alexia had not a single doubt in her mind that he wasn't but it was still nice and polite to check.

Alexia grabbed Rocky's bridle, the one thing that she did unpack, and slipped it on him. Alexia was surprised to see that Rocky didn't fight the bit being put in his mouth. He must really want to work today. She opened his stall door and made him walk at her pace towards the large ring. He was all excited to walk past all the new horses in the barn. She was very careful to keep in the middle of the isle as possible. No need for fights today. Alexia watched as the girl came around near the gate again with her beautiful little filly. Alexia tied Rocky first to the outside of the ring so that she could set up some small jumps before she led Rocky in. No use tying him inside the ring and disturbing the girl's path. Alexia smiled again as she passed and waited until she and the filly were a good distance away before she opened the gate and walked through.

After Alexia set up two small jumps, one after another, as far as possible from the rail as to give the girl enough room she untied Rocky and walked to the center of the ring It took her three tries of jumping onto Rocky's back before she actually got on. All the while she was thinking: I really need to grow!. She made him so some flexing exercises so that he could be nice, soft, and supple for her to work with. After that she made him walk, trot, and canter two horse lengths away from the rail to get him warmed up.