This is my first fanfic so be nice! lolz It's kinda fro REALLY horsy people but whatever...enjoy!

Hi. My name is Ariel Woods. I usually go by Ari. I've got jet black hair that ends just below my shoulder that I like to tie in a high ponytail, with my bangs framing my face; my eyes are an unusual sea green color. I have ADHD and I'm dyslexic, but it doesn't really matter since I'm home schooled by mom on our horse ranch, which just happened to be by the sea. I love it there, mostly because I'm a horse and ocean obsessed freak.

A freak because one day I discovered I could talk to the horses. The day I discovered I could talk to horses telepathically was terrifying! It started when I walked into the barn and all the horses started telling me all about their individual problems. I was pretty freaked at them saying stuff like Boss, can you help me this or Boss, can you get me that? You have absolutely no idea how scary it was! I thought for a little, then I got an idea.

I walked up to Moondance, the dapple-gray dressage stallion that we had, who was also my favorite horse. He was really big, with a really gentle nature. So anyways, I went and talked to him.

"So, are you ready for training today? I think we should work on our flying changes."

"Boss, you know I hate flying changes!"

"Ok, rewind, did you just call me Boss?!"

"Yup Boss!"

"Will you stop calling me that? I don't like it. If you have to call me anything, call me Ari!"

"Ok Boss!"

"What did I just tell you about calling me boss?"

"Uh…" I'm starting to see the resemblance between animals and people that all those animal rite activists are talking about.

"How about a deal? We work on you're flying changes today, and if you do well, you get extra oats or something. If you don't work up to expectations, you have to stop calling me Boss for a week."

"Hmm…let me think about it."

"Yes or no?" This time I was talking out loud. I figured Moondance could understand.

"Honey, are you talking to a horse?" Oh great. Dad caught me. My dad was somewhere in his forties, with dirty blond hair and blue eyes. He was pretty tall too. He always wore breeches, his riding boots and an oversized t-shirt around the barn. He was a very practical guy. He walked with a slight limp, as a horse had kicked him in the hip while he was shoeing it. It was pretty hard to believe he was my father, because I looked nothing like him whatsoever, and I didn't act like him either. Still, dad was dad.

"Uh…well…no, not really." Was my oh so intelligent sounding response.

"Are you sure?"

"Um…ya!" I tried to not sound like a completely terrified 12 year-old who just had a conversation with her horse. In my head I told the horses to shut up so I could concentrate on looking more intelligible. Then I turned to my dad. "So, you want me to help you out with feeding them breakfast?" I forgot to tell you, it was 6 in the morning. At the ranch we have to be early risers. But I have the feeling I'll be waking up a whole lot earlier now that I can talk to the horses. I was silently praying that talking to horses didn't mean I could talk to the other animals. Oh well, I'll test that later.

"Ari, go get me Tex's supplement, and while you're at it, get Sunshine's medicine. Then turn the horses out. (A/N means take them to the pasture)After that, I need to talk to you."

What did I do now? was what I wondered as I ran to the feed shed. I quickly got the supplement off the shelf then dug through the medicine cabinet to get the eye drops. I jogged back to the barn, where I handed him the two small vials.

Eventually I was done with what need be, and I went over to our club house place where we hang out. It was a deck with a roof, and in it there were an array of chairs and coffee tables, with a small kitchen in the corner with snacks and drinks. On the way there I was joined by our border collie, Millie. Good time to experiment I thought. I focused really hard on Millie and said "Hi" telepathically. No response. Thank gods!

I finally arrived at our clubhouse. I grabbed a 100 plus from the fridge then went to sit with dad. "What is it Paps?" I asked him.

"Well, it seems that Dressage Today (a very major horse magazines) want an interview with you. Apparently, you're the youngest person in America to ever be able to ride a full Grand Prix test."

It would be an understatement to say I was happy. "NO WAY!" I screamed. It was one of my secret personal goals to be featured in that magazine. When I had stopped bouncing around the clubhouse with glee, I sat back down. "When do they come?" I asked.

"Tomorrow. They want to see you riding so they can take pictures."

O-okay. I had one day to get Moondance to perform perfectly for me infront of an audience. I haven't riding him in a competition yet, so I was worried about how he would take to being watched so intently by a group of strangers. "I'm off to see mom for a second, then I'm going to the stables to ta - I mean prepare Moondance for tomorrow."

"You're enjoying this!" dad laughed then continued "your trainer will be here at 5 o'clock this evening. Be ready for her."

I nodded then dashed off to our farmhouse, that looked just like any old farmhouse. It was white with red clay roof, and sat at the crest of the small hill on the property, overlooking the stables and pastures.

"Mom! Mom! I need to talk to you ASAP!" I squeaked as I barged through the front door.

My mom was in the kitchen baking cookies. She was in her late thirties, with auburn hair and dark brown eyes. She always wore a pair of breeches, with ankle length riding boots and a tank top. She was a horse vet, so she always had to be ready to dive out of the house and into the truck in an emergency. I resembled her slightly in the fact that I had her facial features. If you didn't know, you would never have guessed we were related. Mom currently had an apron tied around her waist, and she looked at me, concerned. "Yes dear?"

"Mom, today, in the stables, when I went in to do my morning check on the horses, they started talking to me! And they were calling me Boss and telling me all their horsy problems. I think I'm going crazy!" I stopped for a breath after my short rant.

My mom's expression saddened. "I think it's time." She had a far away look in her eyes as she looked out the window and at the sea, which was directly behind the pastures. She took a deep breath, but just as she was about to say something, the phone rang. My mom picked it up. I heard mumbling escape the phone. My mom looked worried.

"Is it a deep cut?" my mom asked. More muttering from the receiver.

"Rinse the wound in cold water then poultice it" were my mom's instructions. Again, more mumbling, then "I'll be right over Mr. Cook" with that, my mom put down the phone, and turned to me. "We'll talk when I get back. Dad said something about Dressage Today coming to watch you ride tomorrow, yes? Go and talk to Moondance." With that, my mom left me standing in the kitchen, the smell of baking oatmeal cookies enveloping me. My mom really was taking this well.

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