A/N 1 - Hey guys! Sorry it's been a while since I last posted - had a lot going on, but things seem to be calming down.
A/N 2 - Happy New Year! Other than The One At Theater Camp (the next chapter is coming - just writer's block) and The One At Horse Camp, I don't really have any other stories in mind. I might do a Wicked story or another Supernatural story, who knows? Might even try my hand at a Doctor Who story.
A/N 3 - Horse term. I only have one today, my brain doesn't wanna work, lol.
Gymkhana: an equestrian event consisting of speed patterns, usually done under Western style of riding. It's designed for beginning riders or riders at a lower level.
Fun fact - I did Gymkhana - it was pretty fun.
CHAPTER SIX
(Chapter title - Marshall and Irish Whiskey)
FLASHBACK:
Marshall looked at the pen full of wild mustangs, all whinnying and running around. His eyes had gone to a gray mustang mare with the number 77 glued to her side.
"Her - I want her" Marshall told his father, pointing to the mustang mare.
"Marshall, are you sure? She's awfully skinny and looks scared" Marshall's dad said.
"I'm sure. She's the one I want. I'll work really hard with working her" Marshall said.
Marshall's dad sighed and called over a ranch hand, telling him which mustang Marshall had wanted.
The ranch hand nodded and went to get the mare, "what are you naming her?"
"Thunder" Marshall said.
Thunder had been Marshall's first mustang. She was as wild as her name and never seemed to calm down, unless Marshall was with her.
Unfortunately, Thunder and most of the horses that Marshall's father trained got an equine virus and all passed away within a month.
With all the money they lost, Marshall and his dad moved to upstate New York so Marshall's dad could train with another horse trainer.
Marshall was an exercise rider and would ride however many horses the trainer wanted him to ride - it was just walk, trot & canter only.
It was then that Marshall rode Molly, who was one of the meanest horses this trainer had. Molly would do everything in her power to get Marshall off her back - she would rear, buck and run.
Marshall got hurt riding Molly, so the trainer got rid of her.
Over the summer, Marshall went to spend the summer with his mom, who lived in a tiny town in Montana. About an hour from Marshall's mom's house was a mustang rescue.
It was there that Marshall met Irish Whiskey, who would eventually become his horse.
Irish Whiskey - or Iris as she had been called - was a little bit of a thing, who had a foal by her side. Iris would become nasty to anyone who came near her or her baby.
Once her foal was weaned, Iris seemed to trust people. Marshall changed her name to Irish Whiskey, since it was the only name she would respond to.
Marshall worked an entire summer with Irish Whiskey, getting her used to him, along with a Western saddle & saddle pad, Western bridle, along with an English saddle, saddle pad & English bridle.
Once Irish Whiskey was used to Marshall on her back, she seemed to relax and trust him with each passing day.
PRESENT DAY:
Marshall and Irish Whiskey were in the beginning walk/trot class, currently at a walk.
There were two students in the class - Marshall and a young girl named Anne and her horse Cleopatra.
The instructor - a middle-eastern woman named Jasmine - watched the two of them, "when you're ready, gently ask your ladies for the trot."
Marshall nodded and shortened the reins, gently squeezing Irish Whiskey's sides, "trot girl."
Irish Whiskey snorted, flicked her tail and went into the trot. She tossed her head as she and Marshall trotted around the arena.
"Okay, now change directions at the trot" Jasmine told the two riders.
Marshall carefully turned Irish Whiskey at the trot, smiling.
"Now, Anne you trot and Marshall, you can walk" Jasmine said, watching the two of them, "then after a while, we'll switch so Anne's walking and Marshall's trotting."
The two students nodded and got their horses into the correct gait - Anne at a trot and Marshall at a walk.
After an hour, classes ended.
"Your horse is really pretty. What kind is she?" Anne asked Marshall.
"She's a Mustang. What about Cleopatra?" Marshall asked.
"She's a Thoroughbred / Morgan cross" Anne said, heading to her barn, "have a good rest of your day, Marshall."
"You as well, Anne" Marshall said, patting Irish Whiskey's shoulder, "since it's pretty hot, I think you should have a bath."
Irish Whiskey snorted and flicked her ears back and forth - baths were not her favorite thing.
After Marshall took off Irish Whiskey's saddle and bridle, he grabbed her bathing supplies and headed down to the bathing rack, smiling as he saw James, Barney, Ted and Robin with their horses.
"Hey guys and Robin" Marshall greeted as he secured Irish Whiskey's lead rope to a rail and turned on the water.
"Hey Marshall" his friends greeted him back.
Irish Whiskey went to sniff noses with Two To Tango. The mares sniffed each other before Tango let out a squeal and threw her head up.
"Did something happen?" Marshall asked, starting to bathe Irish Whiskey.
"Tango is just being stupid" James said, "is Irish Whiskey all right?"
Marshall looked at Irish Whiskey's muzzle and neck, "I don't see any bite marks. She's fine" he patted Irish Whiskey's shoulder. He looked at his mare as she shook violently after he shampooed her, "seriously?"
Irish Whiskey whinnied happily as if she was laughing.
"Yeah, yeah" Marshall said, continuing to bathe his beloved mare.
His human friends let out snorts of laughter, which Marshall rolled his eyes at.
Once everyone got their horses bathed, they headed up to the stable.
Sara smiled at them as they came over, "there's no classes today and I can handle barn duty, so you guys are free to go to the midway."
They all looked at each other, then headed to their cabins to change into some clean clothes before joining the others.
"Let's ride every ride" Ted said.
"Agreed" everyone said as they headed to the midway.
"Is it okay if David joins us?" Barney asked.
Everyone nodded.
"Abby might meet us" Joey said.
"Micky is coming" James said, smiling at a tall Asian boy joining the friends.
Once introductions were made, everyone headed to the midway, ready to have some fun.