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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: The Family Pet (05/15/08)
Diary excerpts:

Bobby is my dream-come-true. I totally LOVE riding horses, but he's such a handful. He is soooooo tall and his mane is the same color as my blond hair. Too cool! I love how he looks almost red in the sun. He’s kinda klutzy with those long legs, but sheesh… so am I! Everyone thinks I'm just a horse-crazy teenage girl... they'll see!

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My so called dream-come-true ran away with me again today! He spooks at deer, blowing papers, at my cough! I love him but I'm scared of him. I can’t control him. It’s been a month but we aren’t friends at all.

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We played today. It was like, totally weird. I turned him out in the arena to give him some exercise. I chased him and he chased me! I stopped and he trotted right up to me. He hooked his head over my shoulder and hugged me. I spend hours at the stable now.

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My best friend bought an expensive horse for the shows… but at the first one of the season… I won! Bobby even beat her horse! HA! Bobby’s best class is trail. Nothing spooks him. Everyone keeps saying that two-year-olds are never so calm. Bobby showed them!

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Bobby just turned three. We went to a nearby show and brought home most of the championships. A girl offered me a lot of money for him. I mean… like… a lot! She ruined her horse’s mouth. Bobby’s is so sensitive; I barely need to touch the reins for him to obey me.

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I hate showing. Everyone's so snotty to each other and the horses are just a tool to make money and be better than someone else. I started using Bobby as a trail guide horse. He loves it but my trainer thinks it's a waste of a good horse. Whatever.

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Bobby went straight up a cliff today! It was so cool! I meant to take a path but we were going too fast for him to turn. Instead of stopping or refusing me, he just went straight up the side of the gravel pit! It was amazing!!! He had to paw at the top to get a grip on the edge. Even my boss was in total awe of him. I love Bobby! He's an amazing horse! He'll go anywhere and has no fear. We trust each other, heart and soul. Who needs boyfriends?!?

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Stable manager for two months now! That means I do all the work for fifteen horses, even exercising. I wasn’t sure I could handle it but I just ride Bobby when I need a break. He senses my thoughts and responds before I signal him. People comment on how hard it is to tell where I end and he begins.

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I'm finally a certified clinic instructor. I teach people to teach riding lessons. Not bad for a twenty-three year-old! My students were riding Bobby and thought he was a lazy old plug. They didn’t realize that he was just doing what they were telling him. I got on him to demonstrate a turn-back maneuver, then I rode him with no reins at a canter and did circles and sliding stops. When I put an English saddle on him, collected and extended his trot, and put him over some fences… jaws dropped. The best reaction was to the intricate dressage movements. I'll remember this day forever! So funny!

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I had to leave Bobby today. I am newly married and we're moving to the city. I don’t know when I'll see him again. It hurts too much to write about.

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I put our kids on Bobby today for the first time. I think Kelly (four) has a knack for it. She moves right along with him while my boys jiggle and jostle. I put Ben (seven) on Bobby and tried to get him to trot. Bobby actually turned and glared at me as if I was crazy to even consider it. He slowly and carefully walked my son around the pasture. The kids love it when he snuffles their hair. He took Kelly’s hair in his lips and snuffled it… just like he used to do to me. We return to the city tomorrow. Still hurts. Please God.

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I am watching out my kitchen window but tears blur my view. The kids are in our own pasture brushing and playing with twenty-three-year-old Bobby. Thank you, God, for my dream-come-true.
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This article has been read 1185 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Laury Hubrich 
05/22/08
I can tell you are a true horse lover. Very creative take on the topic this week:)
Laury
Debi Derrick
05/23/08
What an interesting and creative way to present the year's-long story - through diary entries. Very well done.
Joshua Janoski
05/24/08
I liked the format of the story. It made it very easy to follow since events were broken down into small chunks. Bobby sounds like a great horse. I have always wnted to ride a horse, and your story makes me want to ride even more now. Thank you for sharing. :)
Marilyn Schnepp 
05/24/08
With tears in my eyes, I type you a "thank you". Your story was filled with love, kindness, patience and years of blessings that derived from a "Dream-Come-True. You gave me an enjoyable read, beautifully written, and brightened my day. (*.*)! Thank You!
Verna Cole Mitchell 
05/24/08
Your story of a very special horse was very specially written. Excellent job.
Chely Roach
05/26/08
This was so lovely. I adored the progression from a hesitant girl and horse, to a career women, and then to her own children on his back. Beautiful.
Betty Castleberry
05/26/08
This is tender and full of honest feeling. I don't know anything about horses, but you made me want to learn. Well done.
Joanne Sher 
05/26/08
This is lovely. I was completely engaged, and felt like I got to know the MC and this horse intimately. Praying for the last entry, dear :)
Debbie Wistrom
05/27/08
The progression is the story, well done. I can feel your love for this creature.
Lynda Lee Schab 
05/27/08
I, like, loved it! Loved the voice and how it completely evolves from "girl" to "woman." Well done!
Beckie Stewart
05/27/08
This was sweet. Not a horse lover myself, but think they are gorgeous creations indeed. Like this piece.
Nana Bunch
05/28/08
Excellent story - loved the use of a diary format, as I was drawn into the events over time. A heart warmer for sure - and of course, I love happy endings :)
LauraLee Shaw
05/28/08
This warmed my heart to read it. So glad you submitted it. Can't tell you how much I LOVE a dream come true! ;)
Sara Harricharan
05/28/08
As a horse-crazy girl myself one time, I can totally relate to this! I never did get my 'dream come true' but I loved this story of Bobby and I'm glad that he lived so long, this was wonderful! ^_^
Lyn Churchyard
05/29/08
I love the progression of the relationship between girl and horse in this story. I loved where you write "Bobby actually turned and glared at me as if I was crazy to even consider it" That is so 'horse'. Good story, well written and very moving. Well done.
LaNaye Perkins
05/29/08
You are a writer after my own heart. I love your charactorization of Bobby. He is the perfect picture of a wonderful horse. I've been blessed to have owned a few like him in my lifetime. I especially love the last paragraph. Grea writing my friend.
Betsy Markman
05/29/08
Wonderful. Thanks for sharing! It brings back some memories, especially when you said, "he was only doing what they told him." My sister once owned a well-trained Tennessee Walker. The only time my mother ever sat on him, the poor horse kept walking sideways and backwards and stopping and starting in response to all of the accidental signals she kept sending. Finally that poor horse planted all four hooves, craned his neck around and looked my mother right in the face. I swear that horse said, "Would you make up your mind?!"

Thanks for the memories!
Joshua Janoski
05/30/08
Congratulations on taking 15th place in your level with this piece, Shirley!
Helen Dowd
06/04/08
Very good, progressive story. I liked the way you grew with the horse! From a teen ager, to a young adult, to a married lady, to a mother, all the while keeping Bobbie the centre of your story.Very well developed, and a unique style....Helen
Loren T. Lowery
06/04/08
You've captured what lies in the heart of many horse lovers. Your diary is a true testament to the growth we experience by the grace of having them in our lives.
Great job! Loren