Unloading Aspen

[maddie]

Barn Name: Forest of Dreams
Color: Bright chestnut
Breed: Appendix Quarter Horse
Age: 5
Height: 15.2 hh
Gender: Mare
Markings: Wide white blaze and stocking on right hind.
Personality: Intelligent and spirited.
Dam: Dreamcloud
Sire: Gold Forest
How many years have you had him/her: 4 1/2
If he/her has any bad habits: Likes to get her own way, but she does listen to directions.

An ancient blue truck creaked up the driveway, lugging a bright white trailer behind, sleek and new in comparison. As the old machine shuddered to a standstill in the courtyard, a shrill whinny sounded from inside the trailer. Moments later the engine sound halted and a slim teenage girl stepped out, wiping her hands briskly on the pair of denim shorts she wore. Her sneakers carried her quietly across the gravel to the back of the trailer and she reached up, on tiptoe, to pull down the door of the trailer. She disappeared inside for a few moments, and when she returned a bright red chestnut mare followed. A stark white blaze ran between her eyes and a white stocking was on her right hind limb.

Devon Knight led the mare completely out of the trailer and held her lead rope loosely as she secured the trailer door. The mare stood stock still, resembling a statue made purely of fire. As Devon turned to face the mare she gently stroked her neck, "Aspen, calm down girl," she cooed and tugged the lead rope. Aspen complied and began pacing after Devon, her hooves clomping mutedly on the pavement.

Devon pulled a crinkled slip of paper out of her pocket and read the number on it aloud. "13... okay, stall number 13," she murmured to herself and led Aspen through the aisles of horses. Finally she reached the stall they were assigned and pushed open the doors to see an empty stall ahead of her. With a sigh of dismay she securely tethered Aspen to a hook nearby. "I'll be right back girl," she muttered and then ran down the halls. Soon she reached a tack/feed room and pushed into it, filling a wheelbarrow with clean straw. She wheeled it back to the stall and dumped it in on top of the rubber mats that had been set down. After one more load it was so cushy she wouldn't mind sleeping in it herself. Aspen had waited patiently and now Devon led her in, filling the water bucket, hay net, and filled the manger with feed. As Aspen got situated Devon let herself out of the stall and leaned against it with a contented sigh, and gently scratched the mare behind the ears. This was their new home.

[maddie]

Devon sighed and waited for a little while before remembering Aspen's tack was still in the trailer. She patted Aspen briefly before jogging back out to the truck. She unlocked her trailer and disappeared inside, reappearing moments later, her arms loaded down with tack. She carried two saddles, various bridles, halters, lead ropes, and a couple saddle pads. She returned to Aspen and piled them beside her stall, making another trip to the trailer and returning with a large trunk in tow and some more basic tack, such as leg wraps in her arms. She crouched down on the concrete floor of the aisle and lifted open the trunk. Carefully Devon began to stack her supplies into it, neatly arranging the saddle blankets next to the stack of saddles, and then filling in the space leftover with the medical kit and leg wraps. On second thought she pulled out a comfy western saddle and saddle pad, as well as leaving behind a bridle as she tugged the trunk into the tack room she had discovered earlier. She left the trunk there under some vacant hooks that she hung her halters and spare bridles on. Finally she returned to Aspen and led her out of the stall. They might as well go for a ride since there was nothing else to do.

After a quick grooming she tacked her up, flipping the reins over her graceful neck to lead her out of the stable. Aspen complied, eagerly pacing alongside Devon as they entered full sunshine. Devon swung onto Aspen's back with practiced ease, slipping her toes into the stirrups. With a light flick of the reins Aspen walked forward, her sleek, muscular form relaxing as she felt her hooves collide with the spring grass ahead. Devon stopped her briefly at a sign post and glanced at it. "Okay," she murmured mostly to herself, "Weeping Willow it is..." At that she turned Aspen in the correct direction and headed off at a steady jog.

[Angua]

Landon stopped Zorro tossed his long mane. He patted his neak and looked around. He saw Devon coming and turned Zorro to have a better look.

[maddie]

{{just to let you know, she is eating lunch on the weeping willows trail now}}