[s w i m m i n g]

[[r e a g a n] Sawyer]

<sub>I sit bareback on Manny's crimson back. I am barefoot, with my jeans rolled up. He is wearing his normal bridle with double reins. The sun is setting. He snorts as the wind blows. This is about a mile long beach, along the Atlantic ocean, that's owned by the academy. It cue him into a canter along the beach. His hooves splash gracefully in the water, splashing my bare feet. We go a bit deeper in, he throws his head and slows down

Good boy Manny

I coo to the stallion, he is just getting used to water again, we have been traveling so much, we haven't had time to go for a swim. We're up to his shoulders in water. We're walking now, he lifts his hooves as high as he can. The water is calm tonight, not much action. The waves aren't to large.

I suppose we should get back

I say as I glance at the west. It's getting dark. I tap his sides and he shoots out of the water, he knows this trail. I lean forward, letting him get faster and faster, once we finally arrive at the cobblestone drive I slow him to a trot. It is dark, but there are landscape lights on either side of the drive. About an acre and a half up, I can see the groom taking in the last of the mares. The white vinyl fence goes long each side of the drive. Ruby cantering up to the front, with Katrina following. Kai I suppose, was the first one up. i slow him to a walk, his thick Saddlebred shoes echo on the cobblestone, letting everyone know we're back. He shies as we pass one of the two shelters in the mare paddock

You're fine

I say and wiggle my toes, they're getting cold. I pull my lime green hood up. On the back it reads ASHA "American Saddlebred Horse Association" I stop him, and he immediately parks out. We still have a ways to go up to the barn. he legs and chest are pretty dry now. I roll down my jeans and cue him to walk on again.</sub>

[.:H.a.l.l.y:.]

I cantered Ruby closer to the barn, I was new here and was having a great time with my new horse. She was beautiful, to me at least. I look back when I hear the heavy footsteps of a Saddlebred coming up the drive. I brush my short, black hair behind my ear as I see the young girl. I had on my soft, light coat my orphaned mother gave to me before dieing. I rubbed Ruby on the nose and waited for the girl to come up to where we were so we could introduce each other. I had just got here last night, extremely late. I tugged my small jacket so it could cover my cold belly. I straightened Ruby's blanket I had put on her before setting her loose. I look back at the girl, she seemed closer now, I was on my way to the barn also. Maybe we could walk together there, if she was going there.

[[r e a g a n] Sawyer]

I see a new girl ahead. They said, since Grace was moved from my dorm, I would be getting a new roommate, this was probably her. I put pressure on Manny's barrel and he picks up a canter. I slow him to a trot, then I walk as I ride him into the large aisle. I dismount and take his mahogany leather halter from the rack on his stall. I slide out his bit and put his halter on, hooking him to the cross ties outside his stall. I hang his bridle outside his stall. On the rack where his halter normally sits. I open the top of the Oak Tack Trunk and pull out his royal blue sleezy, sheet, and then a light winter blanket, which is sky blue. It's going to be a colder night. I stroke his neck, and grab a brush from the tack trunk, brushing of the extra hair, that he has shed from our bareback gallop. Once he is cleaned off, I pull his halter off, before putting his sleezy on. Once it's on, I slip his halter back on and put on the sheet, strapping the straps. I walk out of the barn, at the end of the aisle. As she nears I say

Hi, I'm Reagan Sawyer.

I smile and pull my hood down, revealing my wavy beach blonde hair, which is thrown up in a messy pony. I wait for her to introduce herself.

[.:H.a.l.l.y:.]

<sup>I follow the girl and brush out any knots or flowers out of Ruby's hair. I kept her halter on, which was a dark blue halter. I took off her pasture blanket and put on her wool, winter blanket, which was a deep red for her name. I put on socks for her legs, some had told me her legs got quite cold so I couldn't take any chances of her getting cold. I follow the girl to the end of the aisle and she says her name, I greeted with a smile,

Hello Reagan, my name is Hally Alain. Nice to meet you.

I pull off my own jacket and tie it around my waist, I didn't mind the cold, except my belly that was covered with the jackets knot. I smile one more, while my hand was around Ruby's neck.</sup>

[/sup]

[[r e a g a n] Sawyer]

<sub>I smile, glancing back at Manny, making sure he wasn't causing a fuss.

I see you took Ruby. She's nice. That's Manny, my Saddlebred stallion.Be right back

I walk back down to Manny and and throw on his winter blanket. Strapping it over his sheet. Before putting him in his stall, I throw an extra flake of hay in his stall. I finally unhook the cross ties and turn him, letting him walk in his stall. I push the door closed and go back to Hally.

Sorry about that, I had to get him back in his stall. I had him out during feeding, I don't want him to off his schedule. We have a show in four days.

I say, glancing back down the barn aisle, a few horses have their heads out of their stalls, probably already finished.</sub>

[if you want a better visual aid for the barn, go to The Stables, then the [t o u r]

[/\/Grace/\/Nitro/\/]

<sub>I heard people walking around and talking. I let out a yawn and get up.

"D@mn."

I mummble as I get up. I had fallen asleep in Nitro's stall again. I limp out of the door and see the new girl. I must look like a mess. I had sawdust all over and my baseball cap was lopsided. I straightened it and brushed off some of the sawdust.

"Hello."

I say to her. I put the barrier up, so Nitro can put his head out. I watch as he walks over and lets out a soft nicker to Ruby. I give him a cookie I have left over in my pocket. I grab my brush I left on the ground and limp back into his stall. I start to groom him off. Since we have an upcoming show.</sub>

[.:H.a.l.l.y:.]

<sup>Hi.

I heard of a couple of other girls here, but I never saw them. Ruby nickered back over to the other horse and I walked her into her stall. I take off her halter and hung it up on a rung. I patted her and gave her a small sugar cube. I walk back out of the stall and joined back with Reagan.</sup>

[/sup]

[/\/Grace/\/Nitro/\/]

<sub>"I see you got Ruby. She's a nice mare. This is Nitro, my Andalusian stallion."

I gave Nitro another pat and this time closed the door.

"I'm Grace by the way."

I said. I looked down at my hands.

"Crap."

I said aloud. My hands had started to bleed again.</sub>

[.:H.a.l.l.y:.]

<sup>I look over at the girl and her horse, Nitro,

Nice to meet you Grace, I'm Hally.

I looked at Grace's hands,

Yeouch.

I whisteled,

That must not feel all to good.</sup>

[/sup]

[/\/Grace/\/Nitro/\/]

<sub>I look up at her and shake my head.

"No it didn't."

I look at Reagan and then back to Hally.

"Well, I better get going."

I start to limp out of the barn.</sub>

[.:H.a.l.l.y:.]

<sup>I shook my head,

Ok....

I look at Reagan when Grace had left the barn,

Umm, is there something I am missing here?</sup>

[/sup]

[[r e a g a n] Sawyer]

I'm almost sure I'll be down here all night. Nothing better to do up in the dorms. I'll probably just excercise the other horses. The Sawyer's bought them all for the academy anyway. I shrug.

Well, it was nice to meet you Hally, night Grace.Um, she got thrown, that's why she's hurt. Out in the meadow, it hasn't been cleared yet.

I say and walk to Kanta's stall, adding,

If anyone wants to stay down here and help excercise the other horses they can, the trails can be lit up, my dad installed landscape lighting. I'm going out to the beach maybe.

The beach is lit up too. My dad insisted on installing lights. I lead Kanta out of the stall and hook him to the cross ties, taking off his sheets.

[/\/Grace/\/Nitro/\/]

<sub>I stop just before I exit. I look back and watch Nitro run back and forth from his turn-out and back inside. I limp back to him and grab his bridle hanging on his door.

"I'm taking Nitro out to the beach."

I said. More to my-self then anyone else. I slip the bridle on and just make it on as I jump up. I grab the vet wrap hanging on his stall. I put the reins on his neck and feel him dancing beneath me. I rewrap my hands in vet wrap.

I soon push Nitro into a canter. Swooshing the nosey horses away from him. I turn him down the drive. His hooves smacking along the cobblestone drive. We soon hit dirt and I give him another kiss. I feel him go faster and faster. I see the beach over head. The lights ruin the beautiful moonlight. I let out a sigh. I turn over thinking I'd see Jackie.

I close my eyes and rest my head on Nitro's neck. I had become anti-social and mean since the accident. Careless and non-hopful. I let out a heavy sigh. I held so many things in. I wanted to be left alone, all the time. But, no dad has to send me to another school.

I sit upon Nitro. Looking out into the still sea. I soon shift my gaze and look up at the stars. Lost in my own thoughts and memories.</sub>

[.:H.a.l.l.y:.]

<sup>I shrugged, I guess not...

I'll go with you Reagan. I want to explore this place, it will be so cool at night I bet!

I joged down to Ruby's stall, I whispered into her ear,

Hey girl, want to go out ridiing with me and Reagan?

I saw her ears perk and I laughed silently,

Alright.

I took off her wool blanket and put on her riding blanket. I put on her bridle and slipped the bit into her mouth. I swung her saddle over her back and quickly buckled the girth and strap. I adjusted the stirrups to my leg size and stuck my head out of Ruby's stall,

Reagan, I will be right back, I need to go get my heavy jacket, I can already feel the cold!

I jumped over the stall door with great strength and quickly ran to my dorm, grabbed my jacket, and snuck out the window, I leaped and landed on the ground with a large thump, I kept running. I got back to ruby's stall, took a quick sip of water and gave Ruby a carrot. I swung onto her back and tapped her softly on her belly. This made her go. I closed the stall door behind me, heart still pounding. I pulled my short hair into a small ponytail, I loked at Reagan,

Ready when you are, Reagan.

I smiled.</sup>

[/sup]

[[r e a g a n] Sawyer]

<sub>I guess it will be better to take Manny. I slip Kanta back into his stall. Manny's blankets will be easy to take off. I pull them off and slip his bridle on. I pull my shoes and socks off and roll up my jeans, we're going to swim. I swing up on the large stallion aand put pressure on his barrel, sending him into a canter out of his stall, and then out of the barn. We pass Ruby and Hally

Ready!

I yell back and feel him speed up as we hit the cobblestone. I stop him and he immediately parks out. I rest my hand on his rump and glance back. He swiishes his tail. It is put up in vet wrap, it drags on the ground and we want to keep it clean for the show.

C'mon!

I yell, smiling.</sub>