Healing A Horse

Do keep in mind I wrote this piece in the 4th grade...so, yeah, expect some immature writer attributes. Things are not as detailed, and if you read this on the spot you'd think my favorite words were ‘asked', ‘replied', and ‘said'. Not much creativity packed in here. But please, as always, leave me a review and I shall be a happy authoress! (Remember as my policy follows: No flames, and only warm and constructive criticism in allowed.)

P.S. Funny too, cuz I won a metal on this thing for best story in all of my class...woot...

Aryon O Huine Child

Tuesday afternoon, Anna rushed home from school. "Hi Mom," She said.

"Hi, how's it going today?" asked Mom.

"Great. Hey Mom, where's Puddles?" asked Anna suddenly.

"Well, he's out in the last stall of the barn...why?"

"I was going to ride with Renee today after homework, if it's ok with you."

"Yeah, that's fine with me, but I do have one small question: Why do you always now ride with her instead of Jessica?"

"I don't know...she's be a real snob lately, and all she does is brag about her new horse, and I'm tired of it."

"Ok then. Just remember to stop by me before you leave with Renee."

"Ok." Anna replied.

After Anna had brushed and saddled Puddles, she gave her Paint a treat. As she was riding past the house, and getting ready to stop, her Mom came out the side door and told her, "Anna, I'll be leaving Thursday to Houston, Texas for an important horse show, so, you will have to take care of the animals." Their ranch boarded other people's horses, and Anna was wondering about any new arrivals to come and asked her Mom about the matter. She said that she wasn't expecting anything, and that they would talk tonight of the essentials after her ride with Renee.

Later, they discussed the details of when to feed and when to exercize each individual horse. Anna was told to feed each morning at six forty-five and each evening at six o'clock. She was to exercise two different horses each day also. Anna said it would be no problem, but was still worried about any new arrivals. Her Mom assured no one was coming for another two weeks with horses, and to stop all the worrying.

Soon enough, it was Thursday morning, and Anna's Mom was getting set for her trip to the horse show. She went to wake up Anna and say goodbye, hoping to win some ribbons with the beautiful stallions she had already loaded in the trailer.

After Anna's Mom left, she got up, put some clothes on, and went to the barn to feed everyone a flake of alfalfa hay, and as she was, she said, "If you guys are really good, I'll give you all an extra special treat: sweet-feed!" The horses all snickered in response.

Saturday came mighty fast. Anna couldn't believe she had been taking care of the animals for three days already! As she was filling the water buckets, she noticed a big and muddy red Chevy truck with a horse trailer attached pulling into the yard, past the open gate. She cocked her eyebrows, and thought to herself, "Mom said she wasn't expecting any new arrivals. Who could this be?" Just then a man with graying hair and a mustache, about forty-five, came to Anna, while she stepped back, cautiously.

"Hello. My name is Jake Randall, and I have a very abused horse in my trailer. I was recommended here, and to see a Beth Peterson, and she could help me."

"Well," Anna began, "I'm her daughter, Anna Peterson, but she's not here. She's at a horse show in Houston. I don't think you can leave that horse here without my Mom's permission."

"But he's about to die. Someone, anyone, has to help this animal. I don't know what to do." Mr. Randall pleaded.

Anna didn't know what to do likewise. On one hand, she wanted to aid the horse, and help this man, but on the other she didn't quite know how! She heard herself say, "All right...I'll take him, but you need to come back tomorrow and check up on the horse." Mr. Randall said he'd be there bright and early.

As they both unloaded the horse, Anna noticed he had many cuts, scrapes, and whip marks all over his body. "How did this happen?" She asked Mr. Randall.

Mr. Randall had no decent conclusion; he had just gone to an auction and purchased as he was, and felt sorry for the depressed looking horse. He knew they would just take him to be slaughtered like so many others who had no hope of living. Anna understood that completely. She would of bought every animal if she could.

After Mr. Randall left, Anna got her Mom's herbal medicine books down and tried to figure out what to do for the poor thing. Her Mom had taught her the basics, and after she brushed up on several of them she was ready to give it a try. She went to the barn and applied a poultice to the worst of the cuts and washed the scrapes out with warm soapy water. She also fed and watered the horse, and talked to him, and comforted him. Anna decided to stay in the stable for longer than she usually did, to keep the horse company. Anna didn't know it, but that's what the horse needed. Someone to watch over it, and to comfort it. She soon fell asleep in the barn and didn't wake up till early morning.

What a surprise! When Anna opened her brown eyes the next morning, the horse was standing up and was looking so much better, that when Mr. Randall arrived, he was so pleased with Anna's work, he offered her money for all she had done.

"No Mr. Randall, I couldn't take the money. I don't need any money." Anna said. But, Mr. Randall insisted gave her fifty dollars and from then on, made her his official veterinarian! They both seemed to think that the horse was in a good enough shape to take home right then and there. So, Anna and Mr. Randall loaded him up and he left with his horse.

A shower and some breakfast later, Anna realized it was Sunday and her Mom would be home soon. She was so happy for Mr. Randall's horse, and what a story she would have to tell her Mom! She knew her Mom would be amazed.

THE END

Honestly, was it THAT bad??