Assana left the herd alone to eat for longer than usual that rainy morning. Today the JRA Equestrian center was hosting a horse Auction to raise money for the "Riding for the Disabled" charity. Assana had volunteered to put Magic Charlie into the auction ring knowing he would bring in alot of money. She was sad to see him go and sorry that she hadn't competed much with him, but with the competitions he had been in, and won, he had made a name for himself and for her stable and there were a few people coming to the auction just to have the opportunity to purchase such a fine horse from her.
Assana rode him to the Equestrian Center and got him ready. She personally lead him around the Auction Ring and was astounded at how quickly the bids climbed. The final bid was $12,459 simoleons and he was sold. All the proceeds went to the wonderful charity that the JRA Center helped and they raised alot of money that day.
Assana spent the rest of her day with Bounty at the training grounds. They practiced her jumping until she was getting perfect jumps each time, and there was no more room for improvement.
Assana knew that because of the auction earlier that morning, there was still a big crowd at the Equestrian Center. She hoped they would stay for the cross country events in the evening so she could show off Bounty who would be up for sale when her training was complete.
Assana knew that because of the auction earlier that morning, there was still a big crowd at the Equestrian Center. She hoped they would stay for the cross country events in the evening so she could show off Bounty who would be up for sale when her training was complete.
Assana Entered Bounty first into the Advanced Cross country, the Duke Horse Trials.
Ariel ridden by Jennie Larson gave them some stiff competition but they won by a few secs.
Ariel ridden by Jennie Larson gave them some stiff competition but they won by a few secs.
The last even Assana entered in for the night was the international Cross country event, the Hayapalan Horse Trials. A very prestigious event that attracted the best horses with only the best of riders.
Some of the stiff competition included Whitney Mayfield with her Blossom and Santos Merchant with his stallion Fortune. Assana and Bounty managed to beat Santos and Fortune but they were just a fraction too slow on some of their jumps to beat the Champion Whitney and Blossom. Never the less Assana was happy they placed second.
Some of the stiff competition included Whitney Mayfield with her Blossom and Santos Merchant with his stallion Fortune. Assana and Bounty managed to beat Santos and Fortune but they were just a fraction too slow on some of their jumps to beat the Champion Whitney and Blossom. Never the less Assana was happy they placed second.
Dragon Cloud matured and so began his training. He was very willing and eager to please. He was very smart and learnt quickly. But he seemed to have an obsession with treats that was becoming a fixation with the garden they grew in. At first Assana didn't think much of it. There was a fence around her garden so the horses couldn't indulge themselves and they were often curious about it and the smell of apples and carrots. Assana put it from her mind and focused on training him as well as honing Ash's skills.
Assana entered Bounty in more and more cross country competitions including the Duke Horse Trials and the Riddle Horse Trials. She seemed to be at her best in these advanced competitions and always came first, no matter who the competition was. Bounty brought home alot of trophies and alot of prize money and had become pretty valuable herself in the process. People always wanted to buy a proven winner. But Assana wasn't ready to sell her just yet.
It was how ever, time to sell Eclipse. He had come a very long way. He had started off being a very aggressive and ornery horse. But with trust and discipline he had become a reliable riding companion and had become very attached to the herd. Cloud Magic was heavily pregnant with his foal and it was time for him to move on to a more permanent family that would give him the love and understanding he needed.
It wasn't difficult to find a new home for him. The manager at the JRA Equestrian Center had a few people in mind who would be able to handle him if he got difficult again. Assana left him at the JRA Center until his new family came to pick him up. The simoleons were wired to Assana's account ($7,443).
It wasn't difficult to find a new home for him. The manager at the JRA Equestrian Center had a few people in mind who would be able to handle him if he got difficult again. Assana left him at the JRA Center until his new family came to pick him up. The simoleons were wired to Assana's account ($7,443).
The day after Eclipse left was very cold and frost had covered the ground. This spring had been a very cold one and it was damaging Assana's garden. One day the plants would be fine and growing strongly and the next day the frost would come and send them back into dormancy interrupting their cycle and making it impossible to harvest them. To take her mind off of it she took Dragon to the training grounds. The ice was crunchy under his hoof beats but he didn't slip as he raced around the track.
There wasn't much to do that day, so she decided to take her anxious energy out on some sculpting. She made a clay pedestal and put it in her room with a plant a friend had given her. It fit in perfectly and she was very proud of what she had made.
She was still frustrated about her garden and she missed Eclipse a little so she started working on another sculpture. Metal this time. She worked with some scraps she had lying around.
She was still frustrated about her garden and she missed Eclipse a little so she started working on another sculpture. Metal this time. She worked with some scraps she had lying around.
Before she had really begun her new sculpture, Assana remembered there was an international Cross country event that night.
She rushed outside and got Bounty ready and then rode her to the JRA Center. The Royal Kamel Hunt was the first one and Star ridden by Bryce Jordon and Misty ridden by Alonzo Hammer placed above them.
She rushed outside and got Bounty ready and then rode her to the JRA Center. The Royal Kamel Hunt was the first one and Star ridden by Bryce Jordon and Misty ridden by Alonzo Hammer placed above them.
They didn't do much better in the Jennifer international either. Placing 4th, below Arlene Rider with Alia, Meloni Barber with Cinnamon and Tori Meyers on Arashi.
Assana was a little disappointed with their overall scores but the other riders had been better. She congratulated them while silently scolding herself for her poor performance.
While she was congratulating the other riders the manager approached with two people. One was obviously a rider by the way she was dressed and the other looked like her father. They looked like nice but wealthy people. They were here to buy Bounty. They had come all the way from Starlight Shores and had seen Bounty in other competitions and they were impressed. Assana agreed to sell Bounty but the father wasn't happy with the price she was asking. He haggled. They finally came to the agreed price of $14,566 simoleons and they both left with Bounty in tow.
Assana was a little disappointed with their overall scores but the other riders had been better. She congratulated them while silently scolding herself for her poor performance.
While she was congratulating the other riders the manager approached with two people. One was obviously a rider by the way she was dressed and the other looked like her father. They looked like nice but wealthy people. They were here to buy Bounty. They had come all the way from Starlight Shores and had seen Bounty in other competitions and they were impressed. Assana agreed to sell Bounty but the father wasn't happy with the price she was asking. He haggled. They finally came to the agreed price of $14,566 simoleons and they both left with Bounty in tow.
The next morning Cloud Magic gave birth to Eclipse's foal. He was named Bramble Magic and with Assana and her herd he would be raised without the cruelty that his father had experienced.
He was a very quiet foal, with a sedate, calm curiosity. He often strayed from his mother's side to investigate something but would often return quickly for reassurance.
He was a very quiet foal, with a sedate, calm curiosity. He often strayed from his mother's side to investigate something but would often return quickly for reassurance.
That day while Assana was training Dragon Cloud at the training grounds, a real estate agent put up a for sale sign at the entrance. Assana was mortified. She couldn't let the place be sold for redevelopment and loose such a wonderful place. That night after training she raced Dragon up to the city hall and played for the Training grounds in full. Now the grounds would remain in her care and she would do her best to improve it and make it the best place for people to bring their horses and hang out.
Over the next few days Assana took Ash and Dragon to her newly acquired training grounds. Nothing had changed as she had bought all the equipment and everything that was already there had been paid for.
She rode Ash and practiced his jumps. He flew over the jumps and needed only minor corrections and improvements.
She rode Ash and practiced his jumps. He flew over the jumps and needed only minor corrections and improvements.
Dragon on the other hand was having great difficulty coming to terms with the water jump even though he had no difficulty with the other jumps such as the wall.
Assana kept at it and did the jump course over and over again with him, but the water jump seemed like a no go for the time being. For such a smart horse he just didn't seem to be getting it.
Assana kept at it and did the jump course over and over again with him, but the water jump seemed like a no go for the time being. For such a smart horse he just didn't seem to be getting it.
To de-stress herself from the difficult Dragon and his stubbornness with the water jump, she took Ash for a nice ride. Ash was exactly what she needed to calm down and center herself. He was very obedient and didn't push to go faster or challenge her, and was just a general pleasure to ride.
She took Ash all the way to the Equestrian Center and entered him into the Advanced Classes. They blitzed the Manegold Classic show jumping and came first without any mistakes.
Assana also entered him into the Aldrich Million Race and was surprised when they came first as they had done little race training and she didn't consider him very fast.
She took Ash all the way to the Equestrian Center and entered him into the Advanced Classes. They blitzed the Manegold Classic show jumping and came first without any mistakes.
Assana also entered him into the Aldrich Million Race and was surprised when they came first as they had done little race training and she didn't consider him very fast.
When they arrived back home after the competitions and burdened with yet more trophies, Assana realized that Bramble had matured and was now ready for training.
Before she went to bed however, she decided to put her prize money to good use and ordered some renovations for the training grounds.
Before she went to bed however, she decided to put her prize money to good use and ordered some renovations for the training grounds.
In the second story of the barn at the training grounds Assana had toilets installed as well as a staircase to the second floor. She also bought some furniture and a bar to create a lounge area for the people that weren't riding or came with friends. in total it costed her less then she had expected and the workers were quick, taking only a day to finish the work.
The next morning Assana received a phone call from the manager at the JRA Equestrian Center. The stables were full and they had a gypsy cob rescue case that needed a place to stay. Assana agreed to take him on if she could use him as a stud. The manager had no problems with this and arranged for him to be dropped off immediately. His name was Champ, he was a quiet and shy guy.
While Champ was settling in and getting to know Cloud, Assana took the time to train Bramble. He was very willful at first and refused a saddle outright. She had to slowly gain his trust just to lead him. But once she got the reins on him and started to lead him around he calmed down and started to accept it.
Assana was worried that he had a little more of Eclipse in him then she had expected. He continually refused the saddle time and time again. So Assana decided to take a different approach and treat him like she had treated his father.
Assana was worried that he had a little more of Eclipse in him then she had expected. He continually refused the saddle time and time again. So Assana decided to take a different approach and treat him like she had treated his father.
She spent the better part of the day with him. She talked to him, patted him, gave him treats, lead him around, brushed him and picked out his feet.
She spent so much time focused on him she didn't notice Dragon practicing his obsession with the garden. Nor did she know he stood there for a few hours staring at the apple tree.
She spent so much time focused on him she didn't notice Dragon practicing his obsession with the garden. Nor did she know he stood there for a few hours staring at the apple tree.
But all her hard work paid off, because come evening he trusted her enough to accept the saddle. She took him out for a big long ride around town they called home.
While they were out and about they saw a herd of wild horses that spooked at the sight of them. They saw a raccoon tip a garbage can and a deer almost get hit by a car. All in all it was a successful ride and they went home tired.
While they were out and about they saw a herd of wild horses that spooked at the sight of them. They saw a raccoon tip a garbage can and a deer almost get hit by a car. All in all it was a successful ride and they went home tired.
Assana was so tired form the day with the intense training with Bramble that she barely had the energy to cook dinner. In the end she just made a quick salad and ate it before going to bed.
The next morning Assana spread out more hay for her horses and groomed them as they finished eating. Assana noticed that as soon as Dragon had finished eating he went straight to her garden and began staring at her plants... again. She groomed the new horse Champ as she contemplated what to do with this fixation on her plants.
The plants were having a rough time this spring and hadn't had much chance to go to fruit as every time they became harvestable the frost would knock them back into dormancy. Assana wondered if Dragon was smelling that there was something wrong with them. Or was he just confused as to why they weren't growing tasty apples for him to eat. What ever it was he was thinking he was starting to do it more often.
The plants were having a rough time this spring and hadn't had much chance to go to fruit as every time they became harvestable the frost would knock them back into dormancy. Assana wondered if Dragon was smelling that there was something wrong with them. Or was he just confused as to why they weren't growing tasty apples for him to eat. What ever it was he was thinking he was starting to do it more often.
Assana took Bramble, Champ and Dragon down to the training grounds. She tested Bramble on the jumps and found he was a natural. He positively flew over the jumps without any hesitation, including the water jump.
Seeing Bramble jump effortlessly and fearlessly gave Dragon the confidence he needed and soon without too much hesitation he too was flying over the water jump.
To finish off such a successful day, Assana took Ash to the Vaughan Region Horse Show Jumping Competition. There was no competition for them as they were the only ones to have a clear round. Assana rode Ash home with another Trophy to add to the growing collection.
When Assana got home she saw that Dragon was still standing at her garden gate as if he were waiting to be let in. He was just staring at the apple tree. She had thought that the training session with him earlier would have tired him out to make this obsession with her garden a little less intense. But it didn't seem to have any effect.
((Author's note: I would like to add that this was something I caught him doing nearly every sim day. My garden was bugged in 'harvestable' due to the frequent weather fluctuations. It was only ever Dragon that would do this until Fortune came along and started doing it too. If anyone knows what causes the horse to become fixated on the bugged plants i would love to know. Please write in the comment sections or send me a message through the 'contact me' section of the website.))
((Author's note: I would like to add that this was something I caught him doing nearly every sim day. My garden was bugged in 'harvestable' due to the frequent weather fluctuations. It was only ever Dragon that would do this until Fortune came along and started doing it too. If anyone knows what causes the horse to become fixated on the bugged plants i would love to know. Please write in the comment sections or send me a message through the 'contact me' section of the website.))
The next day brought a light drizzle of rain, but Assana decided to take the whole herd down to the training grounds anyway for a fun family day out. She spent some time training Bramble around the race track but mostly she let them do their own thing while she talked to other horse owners about the problems they were having.
Around lunchtime the DeBateau Championship was being held at the JRA Center. Assana entered Ash and they jumped like they'd never jumped before. Competing against the French's best horse people put them to an all new level. The fact that they won will bring Assana one step closer to world recognition and fame.
The rest of the day was spent training Ash and working on his speed.
While Assana was at the training grounds with her herd, many people came and interacted with them. Many were impressed with how docile and obedient they were. There was even a family that fell in love with big gentle giant Champ. They bought him right there and then for $3,335. He was to be a family horse and teach the kids how to ride and treat a horse. And he was the perfect horse for the job.
While Assana was at the training grounds with her herd, many people came and interacted with them. Many were impressed with how docile and obedient they were. There was even a family that fell in love with big gentle giant Champ. They bought him right there and then for $3,335. He was to be a family horse and teach the kids how to ride and treat a horse. And he was the perfect horse for the job.
With Champ gone and the JRA Center's stables still full, a rescue organisation asked Assana to take in another stallion. A fast but gentle lusitano called Lucky.
He fit in quickly and made friends with the herd very quickly. He was a very stunning stallion and Assana hoped to spend some time with him before he was found a home.
He fit in quickly and made friends with the herd very quickly. He was a very stunning stallion and Assana hoped to spend some time with him before he was found a home.
The next day was spent in the garden. Assana was tired of Dragon's obsession with the garden so she pulled out all the plants and then replanted with new seeds.
It took her half the day to plant them all and then fertilize and water them. And she hoped this would fix Dragon's obsession. And for that day it seemed to work.
It took her half the day to plant them all and then fertilize and water them. And she hoped this would fix Dragon's obsession. And for that day it seemed to work.
Champs foal was born late in the night. Assana was greatly dismayed to find the foal blind in one eye. The others didn't seem to notice the foal's handicap and neither did the foal. Assana decided to name the brave filly, Fortune.
Fortune was a brave but very quiet filly. Assana thought the quietness came from her blindness but it didn't seem to stop her from running around like a made thing with her older brothers.
Because of her blindness Assana spent more time with her then she had with the other foals. Even though Fortune struggled with nothing, Assana still worried for her.
That worry intensified when she found Fortune staring at her garden just like Dragon did. When she had replanted her garden, Dragon had lost interest in it. But now that the plants had started to grow he could be found staring at them and now he had taught Fortune to do it too.
Because of her blindness Assana spent more time with her then she had with the other foals. Even though Fortune struggled with nothing, Assana still worried for her.
That worry intensified when she found Fortune staring at her garden just like Dragon did. When she had replanted her garden, Dragon had lost interest in it. But now that the plants had started to grow he could be found staring at them and now he had taught Fortune to do it too.
Assana spent the next few days training Ash and Dragon to their fullest potential. Ash perfected his jumping and his racing were as Dragon just perfected his racing and improved his jumping. Assana had come to terms that Dragon just wasn't a jumper, he could do it and do it well, but his true calling was the race track.
Assana made some phone calls and set up some meetings. There was a long list of people that wanted her horses already. All she had to do was pick a name. She sent Ash to a stable in Twinbrook where he would continue his show jumping career. Assana was paid $ 13,355 for him. Dragon was sent to a racing stable just out of town where he would be away from a vegetable garden and not so distracted. She was paid $11,017 for him.
Assana made some phone calls and set up some meetings. There was a long list of people that wanted her horses already. All she had to do was pick a name. She sent Ash to a stable in Twinbrook where he would continue his show jumping career. Assana was paid $ 13,355 for him. Dragon was sent to a racing stable just out of town where he would be away from a vegetable garden and not so distracted. She was paid $11,017 for him.
With her brothers suddenly vanishing Fortune matured quickly.
Now the real challenge would begin. Assana wasn't sure what to do with a half blind horse. She wouldn't be able to compete in the competitions and three would not be many people wanting to buy a blind horse.
All Assana could do is train her and hope a loving family would one day step forward and take her and tell her every day, "Ya gotta wob'ere! Ya gotta wob'ere!" ((Don't give up! keep trying! - as referenced from the simlish dictionary))
Now the real challenge would begin. Assana wasn't sure what to do with a half blind horse. She wouldn't be able to compete in the competitions and three would not be many people wanting to buy a blind horse.
All Assana could do is train her and hope a loving family would one day step forward and take her and tell her every day, "Ya gotta wob'ere! Ya gotta wob'ere!" ((Don't give up! keep trying! - as referenced from the simlish dictionary))