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Post by hotspot on Jan 8, 2009 19:15:34 GMT -5
Milton: I didn't sleep the night before the ball. I really meant to, of course, but there are some things that just take priority over slumber. Like taming and finally riding your wild mustang stallion, for instance. I had been working nonstop with the grulla for two days. Literally. Meaning, forty-eight hours, give or tak a few, had been spent eating, sleeping, and working in the pipe corral and pasture. I had earned his trust, helped him become accustomed to the saddle, and, eventually, got on and rode. My stallion, needless to say, tried to buck me off the moent i landed in the Western Saddle. But he wasn't fully wild, having lived in captivity for a few years, and I had the suspicion that Frank the toothless cowboy had, at one time or another, tried to break him. At any rate, he was soon calmed down and actually knew that a squeeze from the rider's legs meant "forward." We flew by then, progressing in leaps and bounds. By two in the morning, the grulls responded to the commands for walk, trot, stop, turn, and slow down. we were still working on backing up, but, then again, i had known quite a few bred-in-captivity-as-had-their-forefathers-been-since-the-godolphin-arabian thoroughbred colts act the same. Now, i was just waking up in the rising sun, my head pillowed on my saddle like the proverbial cowpoke. I had been too tired, or too fascinated by the fact that I, Milton Archibald Bartholomew Medici Berryhill IV, had trained a wild mustang, to make it up to the house. I heard someone coming, but it hardly registered in my half-awake conciousness...
Owen: "Milton?" I gaped in disbelief. But, on closer inspection, i was proven right; my aristocratic riding instructor was snoozing away in the fine sand of the arena. It wasn't raked, as he usually demanded; his grulla stallion was lipping at a salt lick inside. He was restng his head on a hevaily tooled yet very dusty western saddle. Now, this was a story I nedded to hear. I tentatively shook his shoulder, and Milton almost hit the sky in his surprise. "Sorry to have startled you, sir, but aren't you forgetting what day it is?" i asked, sheepishly.
Milton: "Mr. Lahey!" I exclaimed, slightly embarassed, leaping up from the ground and dusting off my jeans. "I know perfectly well what day it is of course." I grinned smugly. "Today's the day that i get to prove to a certain rival stable owner that i can very well tame a wild mustang, and ride him in a tuxedo to boot." I strode across the pen to give my horse a hearty pat. He slung his head over my shoulder, regarding Owen with curiosity.
Owen: "Whoa, sweetness!" i exclaimed, running a nad down the stallion's neck. "That's awesome! I can't believe you did it in just two days!" Despite Milton's snobbery sometimes, he was a good guy and a real horseman. if i had been wearing ahat, i would have taken it off to him. "So, what's his name?"
Milton: "That, i haven't thought of..."
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Post by Miastar on Jan 8, 2009 22:32:05 GMT -5
OOC: LOL on the last line Spot!
Mike: Today was a big day. In many ways I was looking forward to it. In many ways I was dreading it. I was relieved that it was to be a Mask ball, maybe I wouldn't face to face Sydney again. I arrived at Berryhill on my usual early schedule and saw Milton, Owen and Milton's new mustang together in a group. I walked over casually, "Mornin'!" I said.
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Post by hotspot on Jan 11, 2009 0:07:43 GMT -5
Milton: "Mr. Vaughn!" i exclaimed happily, brushing arena silt out of my touseled hair. "i'm sure you're excited for the ball today? Ms. Pickman has decided on an elaborate entrance for the competitiors, which we will rehearse this evening."
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Post by phantomstallion94 on Jan 11, 2009 16:15:58 GMT -5
Justin:
as my brother drove the truck to Berryhill i relaxed in my seat. once we had pulled in and parked, i lazily opened the truck door and jumped out. i closed the door and walked over to Mr. Berryhill, who was with his new horse. i leaned against the pasture fence and stared out at the remaining horses. i saw Crown Jewel, Miley's firey sorrel mare, and several others as well. "Mr. Berryhill, would you mind if i worked with Crown Jewel today, i want her ready for Miley." i said to the owner of the stable. Caden had walked over and was staring in disbelief at Crown Jewel.
Caden:
"you found her." i said to my brother Justin. "where was she?" i asked. Crown Jewel was one of the most beautiful horses in the Brawling's Breeding Program and when she had gotten loose we had searched day and night to find the sorrel mare. but i looked back at Jewel. the mare walked over to the fence hearing her name. as she walked she swayed a little and she looked rather large in the middle. "Mr. Berryhill, do you think Crown Jewel is in foal?"
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Post by Miastar on Jan 12, 2009 10:52:58 GMT -5
Mike: "Very much so Mr. Berryhill. I'm going to go give Taz a decent work this morning. Nothing too much, I'm saving him for the race." I paused for a moment thinking about the entrance Milton had mentioned. "Could I perhaps borrow a horse for our entrance tonight? I wouldn't want anything to happen to Taz this close to the race." I explained.
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Post by bluwings on Jan 12, 2009 17:54:25 GMT -5
Theo: I slouched into the arena to see what the comuppance was about. I saw several surprisimg sights: 1) Milto was not impeccably groomed. 2)Crown Jewel, Miley's fancy mare, was looking a little chubby. Just yesterday, she had been sleek and adjusting back to life with Miley. Then, I heard a piece of conversation floating on a breeze. ""...think Crown Jewel is in foal?" asked Caden buck, Justin's brother. "Looks logical to me. She was missing yesterday, we don't know what could have happened... or do you think she was in foal before then?" I asked, trying to figure out the timing puzzle. "So, who's everyone riding in the parade tonight? Now that Jewel is out, probably, and some of us want to save our competition mounts for the big day!"
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Post by hotspot on Jan 13, 2009 0:38:27 GMT -5
Milton: I glanced at Caden's mare, rubbing sleep from my eyes. "That seems illogical..." i said, trying to remeber the events of yesterday and the day before. "I'm not sure. you think we would have noticed it before now, but there was a lot going on when we first brought Crown in. I'll have the vet examine her thoroughly later today. He's coming to check up on all our competition mounts anyway. And, speaking of, i suggest that all of you do ride another horse for your entrance- while it's nothing tricky, rest is good for any competitive horse. Mike, you can choose any horse in the stable, as long as he isn't already spoken for." I myself was planning to ride my grulla in. Ha!
Owen: I looked across the pastures, into the rising sun. today was going to be a big day, i could tell that for sure... "I might ride Ballerina, since she's so calm to begin with, but i'll have to take a look around. there are tons of great horses here."
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Post by phantomstallion94 on Jan 13, 2009 19:29:39 GMT -5
Justin:
"when i first saw her in that corral at the sale, she looked rather large. but i just thought it was for feeding to make her fat for any meat salespeople. but i have been watching her she has been nipping and staring at her sides for the past day." i said to everyone. "oh and i think im gonna ride Genuine Risk. she needs the workout." i said to Milton.
Caden:
"who would be the father then. could it be your stallion Mr. Berryhill." i said looking at Mr. Berryhill. "i'll ride Dragonfly." then i heard hooves hit concrete and looked down through the barn and into the islways, it was Miley on her stallion, Dare to Dream. he walked lazily into the barn. "do you want Miley to see Jewel?" i asked Justin in a whisper. he shook his head no. "ok." i looked back at Miley she was pointing at Justin and then pointing at his horses. "Jut i think someone wants to take a ride with you." i said and pushed him down the isle to Eagle Spirit. "have fun." i said and jogged back to the others.
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Post by hotspot on Jan 16, 2009 1:47:22 GMT -5
Milton: I panicked. "Owen, run inside and call the vet to come over NOW." Miley's horse's symptoms sounded more like colic to me than they did like a foal. the nipping at her sides... the sudden occurence... and colic was formed from an inner blockage of the horse's gastronomical functions, which could easily cause swelling of the abdomen. A twisted intestine had killed my favorite horse as a boy; i couldn't let the same thing happen to this mare. "Caden, can you attach a lead to Jewel's halter andwalk her around her pen until the vet gets here?" i asked, trying to stay calm. i didn't want anyone else to worry...
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Post by Miastar on Jan 16, 2009 23:01:15 GMT -5
Mike: Though I was still trying to decide which horse to ride in the grand entrance I was still listening to the conversation around me. When Milton asked Owen to get the vet over immediately & Caden to start walking her it hit me. Miley's horse wasn't showing the signs of a mare in foal, these were the signs of colic & I knew how dangerous that could be. "Milton," I whispered, "do we have any banamine in stock? My father gave it to a colicky horse once on the recommendation of a vet. It eased the pain and the horse survived..." my voice trailed off. I knew all to well how many horses had been lost to colic. The battle wasn't easily won...
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Post by hotspot on Jan 17, 2009 1:59:12 GMT -5
Milton: "Check the tack room, mirrored cabinet on the left," i directed Mike, trying not to sound too cryptic. "Caden, make sure you keep her walking as fast as you can without causing her pain. that's been known to help, as long as we've caught it in time."
Owen: i ran back from the office. "the vet is on his way!"
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Post by Miastar on Jan 17, 2009 22:53:41 GMT -5
Mike: I nodded to Milton and took off at a full speed run. I nearly missed the tack room door but flew in and reached for the cabinet. My eyes swept across the shelves as I searched for banamine until they found it in the bottom right corner. I grabbed the bottle and a syringe and darted out of the tack room. I stopped in front of Milton and asked, "What do you suppose she weighs?" breathlessly.
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Post by phantomstallion94 on Jan 18, 2009 15:34:38 GMT -5
Caden:
"she could be any weight. she has been on the range for at least a year." i said over my shoulder as i ran down the isleway to Dragonfly. i slipped on the gelding's bridle and then grabbed a creamy halter. i jumped onto the appaloosa's back and then i cantered him to the paddock. i stopped in front of the gate. i fumbled with the lock and then i dropped the lead rope. i looked down the isleway again to see that Miley was staring at us, seeing what was wrong. then she heard the word colic. she looked at Jut and then before he could stop her Miley was galloping her stallion down the isle and towards us. she slid the stallion to a stop in front of the fence. she gazed out over the paddock and then laid her eyes on Crown Jewel. she sucked in a breath and then moved her hand to her chest. she mouthed the word Jewel and then began to back up Dare to Dream. Dream was one of the most amazing jumping horses i had ever seen. then Miley jabbed her heels to the stallions side and then flew off toward the fence and then jumped over it. Dream was galloping towards Jewel. Miley was crying and then without even doing anything Dream slid to a stop near Jewel. Miley jumped off the stallion's back and then ran to the mare. "CROWN JEWEL!!" she yelled and sprinted toward the mare. Crown Jewel lifted her muzzle to the air and sniffed it in Miley's direction. the mare let out a whinny and a nicker and then trotted to meet the girl. Miley swung her arms around Jewel and was crying into the mare's creamy white mane. then the mare squealed and backed away and looked at her side. she nipped it and then stared back at Miley and then squealed again and fell to the ground. "SHES DOWN!!" i yelled and finally opened the gate. i quickly grabbed the lead rope and then galloped Dragonfly into the paddock to Crown Jewel.
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Post by hotspot on Jan 18, 2009 18:45:08 GMT -5
Milton: Oh, shoot. This was bad. "Mike, she's medium height, but pretty muscular. I'd say around the 950-1000 range." I told Mike, while simultaneously vaulting the fence and rushing to the mare's side. "Caden, it might hurt her, but you must try and make her stand up and walk until the vet arrives." I knelt at the red mare's head, stroked her cheek- the poor girl was frightened by all the screaming and her pain- and took hold of her halter. "If we can't convince her to stand by ourselves, we'll have to try something else." I couldn't believe it- how could something go so wrong on the biggest day of the equestrian year? Well, the one important thing now was to save Jewel.
Owen: "If worst comes to worst, there's that sling in the attic." i eyed the beam of the barn high above the mare. it could work, if the banamine and walking failed.
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Post by libertysgirl on Jan 18, 2009 19:21:32 GMT -5
Kale: I heard yelling as I came up the barn from my ride and led my horse back his stall un-tacking him quickly. I then ran to where I the noise coming from and saw Miley with her horse on the ground. "What happened? Do I need to call a vet?" I asked as I moved then stopped deciding that the mare wouldn't like be crowded by a bunch of people. Jack came up behind me and gasp his face showing immense concern. "Miley? How can I help?" He asked moving forward.
Jack: I wanted to reach out to comfort her but I didn't know if she'd like that, so instead I sat close. "Have any of you called the vet?" I asked without taking my eyes off of Miley and her mare my concern growing. "I will." Kale said and pulled out his phone dialing on it. "I'll help get her up if she'll let me." I said and stood slowly.
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