Summer couldn't sleep that night. Excitement rushed through her like a tidal wave.
"Summer?" A voice in the stable next to her made her snap back to her senses.
"Can't sleep?" The voice asked. It was Sherbert. The roan pony popped her head over the divide.
"No. I'm really excited about being a racehorse!" Summer replied.
"Slow down, we haven't even begun training yet!" Sherbert laughed.
Summer lowered her head to nibble some hay.
"I know, but I can't help being excited!" She answered.
"Well. Training starts tomorrow. Just do your best, like you did today on the track-and ignore your herd members. They're afraid to let you go! I should know…" Sherbert said. She suddenly looked downcast.
"You mean, you used to be wild too?" Summer asked quietly.
"Yes. My parents were too scared to let me jump. They thought I would get hurt, and it all ended up getting violent. So I ran away and now I'm a jumper!" Sherebert explained.
A bay stallion the other side of Summer's stable poked his head over the divide.
"Hello. You must be the new horse. I'm Chase, who are you?" He said.
Summer turned to face him.
"I'm Summer, and hi!" She replied, smiling.
The next morning, Summer awoke to the smell of food. She peered in to a bucket on the stable floor. It contained a handful of oats, some chaff, pony nuts, soaked sugar beet and a carrot.
Summer munched the food contentedly. It was much better than just grass and the ordinary Coarse mix that she was fed at the cavalry!
With every mouthful, the coloured mare savoured every precious mouthful, until, at last, it was all gone!
"Did you enjoy your food?" Sherbert asked, grinning.
"Yes thanks. It was gret!" Summer replied, lowering her head to gulp some water.
She heard a whicker from the stable the other side of her. It was Chase.
In the daylight, he looked more handsome to Summer.
She stared admiringly at him, and he stared admiringly at her.
She was in love-but what about Lightning?
'no, I'm finishing with Lightning. I need to move on if this stallion accepts me.' Summer thought to herself.
"Miss Summer, we're expected in the sand school in an hour and a half. May I speak to you in there. Just the two of us?" Chase whispered to Summer.
"Yeah…of course!" She replied quietly.
The ninety minutes passed quickly, and in no time at all, Summer and Chase were being ridden in the sand school.
"Miss Summer. May I ask you something?" Chase asked shyly.
'he's so polite and sweet. Much better than Lousy Lightning!' Summer thought.
"Yes." She answered.
"I wondered… I overheard Morgan talking to her sister, Laura last night. They were planning to breed us. I hope that will be okay, because I have only known you one night, and I already love you, and…" Before Chase could finish his sentence, Summer moved closer to him and kissed him.
After what seemed like an eternity, they broke apart, and Chase's eyes were wide, and he was grinning.
"I-I take that as a yes then?" He stammered.
Summer nodded. She turned away.
Summer felt really wobbly now, and she felt a new feeling. For the first time in her life, she was happy. Truly happy.