Assana and Riley ate breakfast together everyday. They discussed, school and work respectively and about the chores Riley should be doing. Assana understood that he had school work to do and parties to attend, but she wanted him to put a bit more effort into the horses too. Such as, refilling the water troughs and forking out fresh hay, and grooming the horses.
When they were done with breakfast they went their separate ways for the day. Riley would go to school and Assana would train the young horses. Assana spent alot of time with Dancing Cloud as she saw the potential for the mare to become an international show jumping champion. But the mare was too slow on her timed rounds even though her jumps were flawless. So Assana spent alot of time working on the mare's speed and endurance.
When they were done with breakfast they went their separate ways for the day. Riley would go to school and Assana would train the young horses. Assana spent alot of time with Dancing Cloud as she saw the potential for the mare to become an international show jumping champion. But the mare was too slow on her timed rounds even though her jumps were flawless. So Assana spent alot of time working on the mare's speed and endurance.
On her way home from picking up some groceries one night, Assana remembered the small property with the stallions for sale. She went back there, curious to see if the man selling them had any left.
He had two left. Assana spent some time with the Flea Bitten grey called Baxter. He had a friendly and sweet nature about him and she quickly fell in love with the gentle stallion.
He had two left. Assana spent some time with the Flea Bitten grey called Baxter. He had a friendly and sweet nature about him and she quickly fell in love with the gentle stallion.
Assana paid for the stallion and was happy to find that Baxter's tack was included in the price too. She saddled him up and rode him home. She'd pick up her car later.
As she rode him she noticed how fast and agile he was. She wondered what his jumping ability would be like, but knew her own horses would have to come first before she started training Baxter at all.
As she rode him she noticed how fast and agile he was. She wondered what his jumping ability would be like, but knew her own horses would have to come first before she started training Baxter at all.
After Assana had brought Baxter home, Troic aged up into a beautiful dapple grey stallion. His coat was a smidgen darker then Troy's had been but Assana knew it would lighten as the stallion aged. He had the same white mane and tail as his mother albeit somewhat shorter.
Riley fell in love with Baxter the moment he was brought home. He brushed him, he fed him special treats and he begged Assana to let him ride the stallion. Assana agreed thinking it would be a good step for the boy.
Riley's confidence grew as he rode Baxter. His posture and his seat improved, as did his balance. Baxter was exactly the horse he had needed to improve as a rider.
Riley took every opportunity to ride the stallion, before school, after school and even on weekends.
Riley's confidence grew as he rode Baxter. His posture and his seat improved, as did his balance. Baxter was exactly the horse he had needed to improve as a rider.
Riley took every opportunity to ride the stallion, before school, after school and even on weekends.
While Riley was infatuated with Baxter, Assana took the opportunity to train Troic the basics. He was a quick learner and it wasn't long before Assana had a saddle on him and was riding him up and down the streets.
Fearless and fast, Assana was positive he would become an excellent entrant into the racing competitions after he was properly trained.
Fearless and fast, Assana was positive he would become an excellent entrant into the racing competitions after he was properly trained.
During the week, Assana entered Dancing cloud into another International competition, this one cross country. The Copur Horse Trials. Boots and Cannon were also there, and while it was nice to see them, Dancing Cloud left them in the dust and placed 2nd. Unable to beat Ripley and his rider Lawrence.
A few days later Assana tried again with Dancing Cloud and entered her into the Pleasantview Derby, an international race.
Blossom was in the competition with her new owners but couldn't keep up with the black dancing mare. Only Brandy ridden by Chanel could beat Assana and Dancing Cloud, and even then only by a nose.
After the competition, Assana was approached by Louis, the now owner of her other mare Blossom. He congratulated Assana on 2nd place and told her how impressed he was with the black mare. He asked her if she was for sale. Assana told him that for the owner of her pretty Blossom, could have this international competing mare for the price of $13,806. She had seen the top condition Blossom was in and was confident they would care for Dancing Cloud equally as well. Louis agreed to the price and paid her in cash then and there.
Blossom was in the competition with her new owners but couldn't keep up with the black dancing mare. Only Brandy ridden by Chanel could beat Assana and Dancing Cloud, and even then only by a nose.
After the competition, Assana was approached by Louis, the now owner of her other mare Blossom. He congratulated Assana on 2nd place and told her how impressed he was with the black mare. He asked her if she was for sale. Assana told him that for the owner of her pretty Blossom, could have this international competing mare for the price of $13,806. She had seen the top condition Blossom was in and was confident they would care for Dancing Cloud equally as well. Louis agreed to the price and paid her in cash then and there.
During the rest of the week, Assana put Troic to the test. He was fast, but he lacked agility on the turns and jumps.
Assana worked on these weaknesses until he was jumping the wall like it was nothing.
Assana worked on these weaknesses until he was jumping the wall like it was nothing.
Riley was diligent with his chores. He helped Assana with grooming and feeding all the horses every morning wither it was a clear day or snowing.
While Riley was at school, Assana came across a chestnut stallion named Dune, who was for stud.
He was a sweet, gentle but smart horse. He was fully trained for racing and had some ability for jumping.
Assana asked to loan him for stud, without the intention of riding him often or competing with him. Once she had a foal sired from him she would return him to the owners.
He was a sweet, gentle but smart horse. He was fully trained for racing and had some ability for jumping.
Assana asked to loan him for stud, without the intention of riding him often or competing with him. Once she had a foal sired from him she would return him to the owners.
When Riley got home from school he took an instant liking to the chestnut stallion. Dune was the fastest horse he had ever ridden, and galloped him all the way to the beach.
Once at the shore, Riley gave Dune a rest and fished while the horse napped in the shade.
Once at the shore, Riley gave Dune a rest and fished while the horse napped in the shade.
Riley wasn't very successful with his fishing endeavors at the beach, but somehow, he managed to catch a very large goldfish. When he brought it home he pulled out one of Assana's flower bowls/vase and put the goldfish in there. He named him Gino, and diligently fed the fish every day.
Assana spent alot of time with Troic, Baxter and Snow Magic. Grooming, training, riding, feeding and de-sensitizing them to the noisy scary world.
She knew she wasn't supposed to have favourites but she was becoming very fond of Troic. She fed him extra treats and spent more time grooming him then she did the others.
She knew she wasn't supposed to have favourites but she was becoming very fond of Troic. She fed him extra treats and spent more time grooming him then she did the others.
Late that night Cloud Magic gave birth to a pretty little filly who was quickly named Blizzard.
Assana took Snow Magic and Baxter to the training grounds for a grueling work out. While they were there one of the spectators that had come to watch approached her with an offer to buy both horses.
Assana accepted the offer of $14,201. $3,763 for Baxter and $10,438 for Snow Magic.
Assana accepted the offer of $14,201. $3,763 for Baxter and $10,438 for Snow Magic.
Before school finished for Riley, Assana would take Troic up to the school and leave him tied to the cross ties so that Riley could ride him home, have some fun and get some training in for himself and the young stallion. Assana did this every day during the week.
On her way home from dropping Troic off at the school for Riley, she came across a silver dapple for sale at a nearby ranch.
((Authors note: Silver dapple is really pretty (google for some stunning photos), this horse looks nicer in the sun and without a winter coat. apologies for looking so dull in these pictures.))
((Authors note: Silver dapple is really pretty (google for some stunning photos), this horse looks nicer in the sun and without a winter coat. apologies for looking so dull in these pictures.))
She spent some time with the pretty stallion, feeding him some carrots and petting him before she decided to buy him.
Eldorado had a sweet disposition, very friendly but very quiet. His tack wasn't included in his sale, but they weren't far from home so she put him on lead and led him home on foot.
Eldorado had a sweet disposition, very friendly but very quiet. His tack wasn't included in his sale, but they weren't far from home so she put him on lead and led him home on foot.
Assana spent alot of time with Blizzard while Riley was at school. She fed the little filly frequently as she was worried about Cloud Magic losing condition in the harsh weather they had been having. The mare was still insisting on sleeping out in the snow with her foal and Assana was a bit worried about them.
She made sure all the horses had access to the good fresh hay she bought, and made sure to fork out more then enough daily so that they could eat the calories they were burning.
She made sure all the horses had access to the good fresh hay she bought, and made sure to fork out more then enough daily so that they could eat the calories they were burning.
As Blizzard was getting older and developing more, Assana started on her lead training. She took to it fairly easily though was hesitant at first. Cloud Magic stayed close by her foal throughout Assana's exercises but never interfered.
On the weekend Assana took Troic for a nice long ride. She wanted to desensitize him to some more things and test him. But it seemed that his trips into town with Riley and hanging around the school had done a fantastic job at making him bomb proof. Which was just as well as there was a buyer all ready lined up to purchase him for their teenage daughter who was looking for her first competition horse.
While Assana was riding and testing Troic, Riley took Dune for a ride to the beach for a fishing trip. He caught a bucket full of snapper and minnow and brought them home for Assana to cook during the week.
During that week, Assana was spending alot of time with Troic getting him ready for his new home and making sure he was a suitable childrens mount.
Riley spent alot of time riding Dune everywhere, into town, along the hills, along the river, to the beach and where ever else he wanted to go.
The stallion was very obliging and obedient and never seemed to put a foot wrong, even when wading through the deep drifts.
Riley spent alot of time riding Dune everywhere, into town, along the hills, along the river, to the beach and where ever else he wanted to go.
The stallion was very obliging and obedient and never seemed to put a foot wrong, even when wading through the deep drifts.
During that week, Blizzard aged up and became a stunning mare.
Assana spent time with her, grooming her and touching her and getting her used standing still. Blizzard already knew what to do though, as Assana had already gone through this when she had been a foal. Assana just wanted to reestablish the ground rules though before trying to saddle her.
Assana spent time with her, grooming her and touching her and getting her used standing still. Blizzard already knew what to do though, as Assana had already gone through this when she had been a foal. Assana just wanted to reestablish the ground rules though before trying to saddle her.
Over the weekend Assana and Riley went out riding together with Blizzard and Troic. The two horses were perfectly matched for stride.
They took the horses to the training grounds where Riley jumped over the course for the first time. It was exhilarating and had his adrenaline pumping and his heart racing with the thrill.
Assana was almost equally excited about running Blizzard around the track. The mare was exceptionally fast and seemed to revel in the speed.
They took the horses to the training grounds where Riley jumped over the course for the first time. It was exhilarating and had his adrenaline pumping and his heart racing with the thrill.
Assana was almost equally excited about running Blizzard around the track. The mare was exceptionally fast and seemed to revel in the speed.
At the beginning of the week, Cloud Magic gave birth to another foal. Leto, a pretty Chestnut with high stockings and white mane and tail. He was a rather piggy, greedy little foal, constantly seeking out his mother for more and more milk.
((Pronounced Lee-toe))
((Pronounced Lee-toe))
Now that Leto was born, sired from Dune, she took the loaned stallion back to his owners.
When she got home, she tacked up Blizzard and took the mare for a long gallop along the country roads, getting her used to the traffic gradually.
When she got home, she tacked up Blizzard and took the mare for a long gallop along the country roads, getting her used to the traffic gradually.
It's Christmas time!
Karla and Rocky invited Assana and Riley over for a family Christmas dinner. Gifts were exchanged and Assana got to spend some precious time with her adopted daughter and her granddaughter, Brooke.
Karla and Rocky invited Assana and Riley over for a family Christmas dinner. Gifts were exchanged and Assana got to spend some precious time with her adopted daughter and her granddaughter, Brooke.
Over the next few days Assana spent alot of time feeding and tending to Leto to take the pressure off of Cloud Magic.
The little colt was happy to follow Assana anywhere so long as there was a bottle of milk in it for him. Assana took advantage of this and designed some small games to draw his attention away from his mother so she could have some time to eat and sleep without being harassed.
The little colt was happy to follow Assana anywhere so long as there was a bottle of milk in it for him. Assana took advantage of this and designed some small games to draw his attention away from his mother so she could have some time to eat and sleep without being harassed.
But despite all the time she spent with him, Leto would always go right back to his mother for attention and feed. Cloud Magic took it extremely well and never pushed him away.
When Assana wasn't distracting the colt, she was riding Blizzard. The mare was coming along very nicely and she was hoping to sell Troic and Blizzard as a pair to the couple that wanted Troic for their daughter.
Both horses were trained and were well behaved around Riley. She saw no reason why they would not make perfect mounts for children.
Both horses were trained and were well behaved around Riley. She saw no reason why they would not make perfect mounts for children.
At the end of the week, after causing much stress to his mother and to Assana, Leto matured into a fine, strong Stallion.