As the days grew hot during summer, Assana spent the mornings trying to race train Cartridge. He needed skills if people were ever going to look past is skewed eyes.
Assana often took Smokefield with her to lend moral support to Cartridge as he didn't like to be alone. But Smokefield often got bored and would start jumping obstacles while Cartridge and Assana did laps.
Assana often took Smokefield with her to lend moral support to Cartridge as he didn't like to be alone. But Smokefield often got bored and would start jumping obstacles while Cartridge and Assana did laps.
While Assana was at the training grounds, young Riley came home from school and went straight to his room to work on his homework. After that he studied a logic book from the bookshelf.
The information he gained from the book had him intrigued about his robot toy. He pulled it out of his toybox and began examining it and playing with it.
The information he gained from the book had him intrigued about his robot toy. He pulled it out of his toybox and began examining it and playing with it.
Assana took Cartridge, Could Magic, Dancer and Smokefield down to the training grounds the next day to work on their jumping skills. Cartridge was a hesitant jumper but she hoped to build his confidence as well as his skills. Smokefield had no such hesitations and loved to jump. He soared over every jump Assana aimed him at.
Later that day she took Smokefield to the JRA center and put him up for stud. The people interested him didn't want him just for stud purposes though, they offered to buy him for $13,808. They seemed like good nice people and it was a fair price so Assana agreed to let them take him.
Assana came back to the JRA center with Cartridge. If she wanted to build his confidence in jumping she had to expose him to all sorts of situations. A show jumping competition seemed like a good idea. She entered him into the Nardone Horse show and hoped to spread his name around too, for prospective buyers to take an interest in this odd horse. They came first, and though there were whispers about his odd eyes they all knew Assana trained good horses.
The next day while Riley was eating breakfast Assana sat down at the table with him and talked to him. Nothing serious, just a friendly chat to learn his interests and a bit more about him. He was doing very well at school and was an extremely smart and logical kid. He liked to read, but he liked spending time with animals too. When asked about plants and gardening he had only a slight interest. They talked until his bus came to take him to school.
Dancer aged up and was ready to begin her training that morning. So as soon as Riley was on his bus she saddled her up and took her for a ride.
((Author's note: By far my fav mare so far. She's so beautiful!!))
((Author's note: By far my fav mare so far. She's so beautiful!!))
After the trail ride, a few log jumps and some fantastic galloping, Assana realizes that Dancer has it all, good looks, good temperament and great skills. She was already one of the best jumpers Assana had bred from Magic Cloud, and she was fast. Assana entered her into the advanced jumping competitions for that night and let everyone see the mare shine. They cam first in both the Hurtado Classic and the Strangetown Regional Horse show, and trotted home very full of themselves.
Assana took Dancer and Cartridge to the training grounds for another day fine tuning Dancer's skills and working on Cartridge's.
Dancer flew over the jumps with grace and ease. No hesitation, no bars knocked and no falls into the water.
Dancer flew over the jumps with grace and ease. No hesitation, no bars knocked and no falls into the water.
Cartridge on the other hand had improved but still refused to jump over the water.
After a long day training, Assana took Dancer over to the JRA center for the Grisby Hunt, a cross country event. Dancer exceeded the crowds expectations and flew over all jumps. Not once stumbling. She came in first with a very fast and flawless time.
The next morning Cloud Magic gave birth to Arashi. A sweet little filly that clung to her mothers side.
Riley was too sick to go to school so he stayed home and played Chess on Assana's laptop all day. He even managed to win a match.
While Riley was recuperating at home Assana went to the training grounds with Cartridge again, working on his speed and endurance.
After training Assana was approached by a family interested in purchasing the stallion. They offered $9,352 for him. Assana was happy to make the arrangements glad he would finally find a home with someone who would love him.
After training Assana was approached by a family interested in purchasing the stallion. They offered $9,352 for him. Assana was happy to make the arrangements glad he would finally find a home with someone who would love him.
Assana later entered the Hsu Regional Horse Show with Dancer. Another clear fast round brought them first place and another trophy.
The next morning Assana went to the Mano house to see the stallion they had for sale. He was a quiet guy with a stunning bay dapple coat. She paid for him and left, riding him home the long way along the trails.
When Assana brought him home he quickly became settled with her herd.
When Assana brought him home he quickly became settled with her herd.
It was Sunday, Leisure Day had arrived. Assana took the day off from training and took Riley to the beach for some fun. They went swimming and fishing and had a great time. Riley even ended up with a nice tan.
When they got home Assana finished off another panting while Riley did the dishes and got ready for bed.
The next day was spent at the training grounds. She tested out Cardo on the jumps. He was fast and didn't hesitate at all. But his jumping skills were lacking and he often made mistakes.
Dancer was flawless in her jumping again and wasn't far from being perfect.
Dancer was flawless in her jumping again and wasn't far from being perfect.
To finish off the night Assana took Cardo to the JRA center to enter into the International Races being held that night. Cardo was incredibly fast and managed to place 2nd in both the Eugenia cup and the Llama cup. She was approached after the last race by a racing stable wanting to buy him. They could see his potential and wanted to further his career in the racing industry. Assana and the stable representative settled on $12,409 and exchanged money for the horse. They also left Assana with a business card wanting to be the first on her list when she had other racers to sell, they promised her to beat what ever other price she was offered.
When they got back after the races Cloud Magic had given birth to another filly with some beautiful colouring. She was named Fey Cloud and she was quick to demonstrate her speed and independence.
Early the next morning Arashi aged up.
Assana spent a long time gaining the insecure mare's trust. She was very shy and it took most of the morning before Assana could put a saddle on her. But later that day saw them riding the trails for hours along the river.
Assana spent a long time gaining the insecure mare's trust. She was very shy and it took most of the morning before Assana could put a saddle on her. But later that day saw them riding the trails for hours along the river.
While Assana was out riding Arashi, Riley brought home his friend Scott. They worked on their homework together and talked about their classes. Scott really liked Art class and barely talked about anything else. He had a good appreciation for alot of Assana's work that was hung around the house.
While Assana was out with Arashi she rode past the shelter where a small beagle mix was being lead in by the dog catcher. Assana tied Arashi up outside and went in to esquire about the dog. The small dog was a stray and they were assessing her for adoption when Assana insisted that she take her.
She named the dog Luna and took her home. She hoped the dog would make a wonderful addition to the house and give Riley someone to play with when he was bored and lonely as he only seemed to have one friend at school.
Luna settled in fast and soon had the run of the house.
She named the dog Luna and took her home. She hoped the dog would make a wonderful addition to the house and give Riley someone to play with when he was bored and lonely as he only seemed to have one friend at school.
Luna settled in fast and soon had the run of the house.
Assana left Luna at home and then took Arashi and Dancer to the training grounds. Arashi was shy of the people there and though she didn't have Dancer's skills she was still a good jumper and almost as fast.
Dancer flew over the jumps perfectly. Not a single fault or flaw. A well known international eventer was also at the training grounds watching the horses and scouting for a new mount to take to the Olympics. He was very impressed with Dancer and thought she would be perfect. He approached Assana and introduced himself and then made an offer on Dancer. He thought she was the best horse he had ever seen and told Assana he was willing to pay $14,419 for her.
Assana sold the pretty mare to him and wished him all the best, and promised to watch for him in the Olympics.
Assana sold the pretty mare to him and wished him all the best, and promised to watch for him in the Olympics.
With Dancer gone, Assana felt a little bit sad, so when Arashi bumped her affectionately she gave her some carrots.
Before they went home they entered into the Chan Horse trials. Assana didn't expect to win, she just wanted to challenge the mare. But was surprised when they came 4th.
They went home tired but with high hopes.
They went home tired but with high hopes.