Hoovesfirst’s Weblog

THIS IS AMAZINGLY IMPORTANT AND YOU MMMUUUUSSSSSSTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! READ THIS! IF you love horses.ME and my best friend have started a club called the HLSS!!!! Horse Lovers Secret Society (well not secret) our focus is just to help horses and bring horse lovers together all over. We will be starting projects to focus on sertain cherities and personal needs. We will start having fud raisers here and hope you will too. WE are considering different cherities at the moment and hope to give to many. There are some general rules that are not hard to abide by most aply to being pleasant and all.
1.You must be totaly absolutely insanely horse crazy!
2.No unpleasant attitudes or conversations umunge club members.(this rule is just for club members who meet in their area. Or talk alot)
3.Please no lies or talking behind others backs if you feel like doing this please leave the club.

charities so far:
1.hsus (humne socitey of the u.s.
2.rbst (rare breed survival trust)
3.habitat for horses!
4.equine spirit sanctuary:D
Please e-mail to joiin and give sugestions for fund raisers and cherities. My hope is that memebers will be able to get together and make a difference in our world! Please read this and join
E-mail Emma J. @:handoverhooves@yahoo.com!
leave your name and last name anichial+your city state +E-mail! info will not be given out unless you alow it i just need to add you to the member list and e-mail you with a news letter!;D

Wisper page1
Chapter one
Sage Brush Stables

Emma Henderson sat deap in her saddle as the gelding pranced nearvously up the trail. “Woah boy, easy,” soothed Emma to Prince, the dark horse she was trying to exersize. He belonged to her best friend Alex. Who rarely got permision to ride the spirited gelding, she had named Prince. The late gelded horse often acted like a stallion would not let Emma ride him very long; he only had eyes for his owner thought Emma . They had a bond that could never be broken. Alex loved her horse to death, and rode him with ease on the rare ocasions her grandmother aloud her to. Once a week, if she was lucky. After Alex’s parents died in an acident, Alex had been cared for by her grandmother. Alex loathed the old bitter woman for keeping her from her horse, but Emma suspected Rose just couldn’t bear to loose Alex after her daughter had left them. Even so, Prince was all Alex had left of her parents, and Emma thought it was cruel to keep her away. The only time Alex came for her beloved horse was on their moonlit rides through the night. Emma sighed. Clearly, Prince would not put up with her attempts to let him stretch his legs. He side stepped violently into the dried sage brush that lined the trail. Prince wanted his breakfast. Emma glanced at her watch quickly, not wanting to draw her attention away from the horse who was threatening to let out a few disaproving bucks. “Oh, grandma’s going to kill me! You always make us late,” muttered Emma. She turned the protesting gelding towards home, and he happily obliged to walk home, ready for his breakfast. Emma hurried Prince along, only stoping near the top of the long drive over looking Sage Brush Stables, her home. Emma couldn’t help but stop and admire the purple sky turning red as the sun rose over the endless string of purple rockies as far as her eyes could see. She sighed. She couldn’t imagine a more beautiful sight than a New Mexico sun rise. She was at home here on top of a horse’s back. Emma snapped out of thought, remebering her own grandmother might not be so nice either if she was late with the feeds again. Emma nudged the restless gelding toward the track that led to the front barn.
* * *
Emma tiptoed past the tack room, hoping Sam Heart, her grandmother, was not in there as she usualy was, fixing herbs for the horses. “Emma! Late again! If you keep this up, I’m going to have to stop these morning jogs with Prince,” said a brisk vioce from behind the door. Emma winced, stopping in midstep. “But Grandma, he need the exercise, and you know I don’t have time during the day. I too busy with the others,” said Emma in weak protest. She knew she sounded like a whining little girl. Sam would win this one, so Emma shut her mouth and stared stubbornly at her grandmother, who slid out the door, hands on her hips. Sam was a small woman, about five feet tall, with fair skin and long silver hair that hung in a long briad down her back. She wore black jods and padock boots along with her battered black sweater spotted with horse hair of all colors. She was a woman who always meant buisness. Now was no exeption. “Dear, I know, but

Wisper page 2

I’m not as young as I used to be. I need your help.” Sam was right. The old woman looked frail to Emma, with a slight limp when she walked from years in the saddle. Emma often worried it was time for her to retire. “Okay, I’ll see what I can do. Maybe join-up would help him bond with me.” Emma sighed. She knew Alex wouldn’t like it one bit. Prince was special to her; she didn’t want him to bond with anyone else. Emma could understand. She loved being Cherry Blossom’s one and only. “Oh, and Emma, try a different bit. He doesn’t like the trainig bit; it’s too harsh.” Emma nodded as she walked off. How could she know that? wondered Emma. The old woman was always strange. Emma was by now used to it, and didn’t give it much thought as she scooped grain into buckets for the morning feed. she was more concerned about the empty stalls she passed on the way to Candy’s.There where 15 stalls, but Emma only had three buckets to fill.She shook her head. Things had been too quite lately. Emma missed the rescue horses that used to fill the barn with the sweet nickers that echoed through the stalls demanding their breakfast. Emma suspected that Sam didn’t have the energy to take rescues on anymore. But Emma couldn’t quite believe it grandmas whole life had been here and so had her own sage brush stables was a rescue center for abused horses.Sam hadn’t taken the old trailer to the auction house in years it seemed. Emma pushed the thought out of her mind which tended to wander all over the place when she wasn’t keeping it in check. She picked up the buckets and headed for the front barn. besides she thought candy is still here gandma still treats rescues Emma desperately hoped that reasureing voice in her head was right.
Emma was surprised when a welcome nicker came from the front stall and a creamy head peaked out at the sound of her footsteps on the old wooden floor of the aisle. Candy was rescued from a meat sale near Mexico where her truck had been rescheduled to go . After the law was passed to end horse slaghter in America. The man who was driving accepted a handsome amount for her and the others on the horrible cattle trailer with no food or water. Emma shiverd at the memory. That was the last time sage brush stables had helped horses in need. Out of the 20 amaciated abused horses only 13 had lived to be helped and shown a better way of life , and out of those fifteen Candy was the only one who had n’t been rehomed yet. “you’re the tuff one haw?” Emma said as she gave the mare a gentle pat ruffling her creamy forlock. “I guess you wouldn’t be alive other wise” Emma said out loud but not meaning to. Emma scolded herself silently it’s like a desiese she thought everything she thought just came out. “why can’t I just stop talking so much?” Emma knew the mare wouldn’t answer but it was the first time she had shown true afection towards people in a long time. When she had first come she had been trampled by the other horses in the over cramped trailer. She had the scars to prove it. Young and mentaly destraught even Sam had a hard time getting through to Candy but now she was on her way to being free of her mental scars.
* * *
“ Cherry we’ll go out soon” said Emma as she led the bright red chestnut from her stall. The old mare pricked her ears and prances in excitment. “stop it”

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said Emma as the mare playfuly nibbled her hair with her delicate arabian lips. “ I know it’s been a while but you must calm down” babbled Emma as she usually did with the horses. “Besides willow crest is just a few weeks away you can’t go around like that when we’re in our test!” Emma exclaimed as she sliped on a cushoined pad to support her swaying back under the dressage saddle. “I just know we can win”wispered before swinging into the saddle.
“whoa!” Emma giggled as cherry blossom galloped through the open field. Emma sat low .The mare gave a disaproveing buck being asked to stop. Emma closed her eyes feeling the power benieth her. She smelled freshly cleaned leather and sweet hay scented breath. Emma sighed nothing was better to her then this. Nothing. When cherry slowed to a rythmic canter Emma sent her into a smooth lead change and skillfuly asked her to desend into a graceful colected trot. Emma patted Cherry “we are so ready for willow crest!” Emma wispered and for once she meant it. This year they were ready for Tammy. Emma kept rideing with confidence.
* * *
“easy” Emma soothed as best she could. She was baffled as Cherry leaned back on her halter and gave a high strung blow through her widened nostrils. Emma took a step back and walked the pranceing mare in a circle attempting to calm the red mare. “what is wrong with you” wispered Emma in a soothing tone Emma started to work her fingers in small clockwise circles down her warm neck. Cherry growned in delight stretching her neck. Emma gave a short laugh as the mare let her lip droop down and hang in relaxation. “you love T-touch that much huh” said Emma.
After while Emma stoped confident Cherry was completely relaxed. Still as soon as Emma reached the stalls entrance the mare swiveled her eyes wildley in fear and sat back on her haunches pulling at the lead rope. Some one else might have slaped the mare from behind to make her move but at Sage Brush Stables no horse was struck on acount of fear. Emma stood back to examine the mare what had she done wrong? Emma could almost hear sams words “its always the riders fault horses don’t play tricks. horses never lie” but still Emma had no answer as to why the mare was so terrified of her stall.
Just then Sam came rounding the corner carrying a stack of hay nets. “well child what do we have here” said Sam watching what Emma asumed must have looked silly Emma stood leaning back almost being lifted in the air by Cherry’s defient head while balenceing a grain bucket on her other hand begging the mare to take just one step toward the stall. Sam chuckled then went over to the mare and gave her a gentle pat before standing quietly for a momment with her eyes closed. Emma stood feeling guilty for not thinking of what was wrong she so wanted to be as great with horses as she was. Emma knew Sam would speak in a momment with a perfectly rashional answer to why Cherry was so fearful of her stall. Sam spoke a long momment later “please Emma do trie to keep the baleing wire out of the stalls.” Sam patted the mare and headed into the stall where Sam pulled out a long piece of menaceing wire from the thick straw in the stalls doorway. Emma kicked herself silently why had she been so stupid Cherry could have been seriously injured because of her carelessness. Sam took a momments pause as she coiled the wire in her hands and stepped out of the stall “always trust your horses

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instincts they are prey animals if there is a possibility of danger they will trie their best to let us know” she must have seen the discomfort in Emma’s face because before she picked up the hay nets stacked on the floor she added “it takes time to learn every thing no ones perfect” then she continued toward the tack room. Emma lead the mare into her stall with no further defience. And out of guilt checked each stall for loose wire.
When Emma was done and satisfied the horses were safe she stood contemplateing what to do next. Sundays had been so quiet lately Cherry was eating and prince too munched happily on his hay net. Candy had been turned out in the field to be worked with Sam. Emma growned the only thing left to do was her home work.

Chapter 2 page 5
“The call!”

Emma skipped in the fresh fall brease everyone agreed this was the most beautiful time of year in New Mexico. Emma looked up at the sky as she headed towards her strang house. Its huge windows that went all the way across the front shone in the mornig sun. Emma was heading toward the side door and did not look at the mound of dirt that made up the front of her house. Instead she headed inside enjoying the clean earthy smell of the sun filled front. She headed down stairs avoiding the stone slab floors grooves as she went. Instead she grabbed the flower hose and started to water the herb garden. Which filled the long front of the house just behind the windows in two long planters. The sun warmed them through the cold winter and made them grow all year long. When she was little she thought how funny the kind of house she lived in was called an Earth Ship. The funny looking house was built of tires filled with dirt and plastered with mud it was so isulated with the recicled tires and sun that it did not need a heater in the winter. The house had huge tanks on top to collect rain water to be filtered and used. Then the house could empty the drained water into the bathroom and after that to the planters to keep Sam’s precious plants alive. Emma went into the kitchen to grab a glass of orange jiuce before heading up stairs again to her room. Emma buckled down for her leased favorite part of weekends.
* * *
An hour later Emma slamed her text books closed and shot from her lounge chair. Where she had settled down to write. She bounced through the house wondering where her parents were. She expected her mom to sleep in a while on a Sunday , but it was noon by now. Emma’s nose confirmed she wasn’t still sleeping. She found her mom coocking lunch in the light filled kitchen . Emma headed strait for the fridge her mom greeted her with a slight nod as she passed. Emma sniffed the air mom wasn’t the greatest cook but today seemed like one of her speacial lunches. “Pizza?” incuires Emma as she peared through the oven her stoghmach growling in protest. “Yes ,finaly found my cook books under his stuff” Emma watched her moms short hair shake as the tall woman rolled her eyes. Emma knew she was talking about her dad. The kitchen was still plaiged by his piles of instruments and tools. The house was a mess since he had moved his things out so Emma could finaly have er own room. Her brother had share a room with her forever it seemed. But twelve was the limit for her to stay in the same room as her brother.“where is he anyway?” asked Emma as she gulped the orange juice she had poured herself. “how would I know he runs of randomly he promised he’d do those dishes” snapped her mom shakeing her head in anger. Emma ignored her and headed out the door. Dad was a musician he probobley having a practice. Saturdays were always busy for him but she hoped he would be home before mom blew a gaskit. “they always fight” wispered Emma to her dog moose she scooped him up into her arms and giggled as he nipped at her hair. The little chihuahua was the cutest thing Emma had ever seen. When she had first spoted him at a pet shop a year ago. His little brown coat and sweet disposition had supprised Emma she had heard horror stories of how mean they could be.
Emma took Moose with her to the willow tree that bordered the big pasture. Her favorite spot on the ranch. She could wathch candy be worked. Emma settled down to watch the magic unfold. Strokeing Moose as she waited. “I wonder where she is
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anyway” Emma said out loud scolding herself out loud. She enveyed horseman with a gentle quiet way at this rate she would never be one of them. Emma waitedfor some time before Sam quiely entered the pasture and swaggered to Candies side. Emma watched her carefully obsorbing each movement and breath Sam took. No matter how hard she watched she would never exactley know how Sam had such a connection with each horse she helped (or so she thought). After a few minutes of standing quietly with Candy Sam started to feel across her back making adjustments Emma guest. Sam had always been a gentle horseman with a healers touch. Sam had always said she was making “adjustments” whatever that ment. What ever it was it always seemed to help. Soon Sam opened her eyes and gave Candy some silent cue.
Emma’s eyes widened her mouth droped open in amazment. Candy nelt to the ground in calm submission. Sam’s old legs could not vault onto sleek horse hide anymore. Instead Sam calmly mounted and with an efortless seat kept the horse balanced as she rose. Then after a few soft circles Emma watched her grandma let Candy gallop through the not so green fall grass. Emma grinned felling her heart fill with joy. How lucky was she to have such a grandmother.
* * *
Emma was just about to leap from her hideing spot to congradulate Sam. When her cell phone beeped to life making her jump. Emma wrenched the small phone from her pocket and answered franticley. “hello?” said Emma out of breath “Emma! This is Carole something terrible has happened you must get Sam right away” Emma felt a jolt of exitement and fear. Carole the director of the local animal shelter had been handing over horse cases to sage brush for years. The normaly hard profesional had seen it all and was always calm. But this Carole was histaricle Emma couldn’t imagine what could be so horrible. “ok um where should we meet you?” Emma asked unsure what else to say “a tre piadrase near the main road there’s a junk yard. Please come as fast as possible he doesn’t have much time!” Emma felt a sharp prickle down her spine. She scrambled out of the tree and yelled for her grandmother. Candy shied slightly at this but for once Emma didn’t care. This sounded like an urgent case. “what is it child” said Sam looking slightly anoyed as she slipped from the blue eyed quarter horse. “Carole called I’ve never heard her like this before” Sam’s face turned hard with calm control as always in a hard situasion. The old woman took charge “Emma grab my box from the feed room while I start the car” Emma quikly obeyed brakeing into a clumsy run. She felt clumsey with urgency running through her. Emma grabed the old wooden box and bounded for the old red truck.
When Emma arived the engine had already reved to life so Emma jumped inside. As they pulled out the drive Emma was too nervouse to talk or turn on the radio. Instead she sat stareing out the long windows of the pasenger side door. Emma couldn’t help but enjoy the wonderful day. The weather was perfect and beautiful. The bright newmexico sun shone brightly down on the flat sage covered grass lands she called her home. With the mountains surounding it. Emma loved the forest that covered the trails at sage brush as much as she loved the rolling pastures the horses grased on. She loved the small town closeness and the pueblo that stood nearby. Emma loved New Mexico with all her heart. It occurred to Emma some time later that she had not yt mentioned where

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they were to meet Carole but Sam had already turned up the main road towards the three peaked rock formation. They had passed the huge old race track that boardered Alexes house and lumberd over the huge bridge that over looked the rio grande goerge. They were almost there twelve minutes later when Sam finaly asked exactly Carole had asked them to meet her. “uh…a junk yard down the main dirt road. Sam nodded and turned leaveing Emma to contemplate how Sam had contemplated where to go this long. Emma decided it was more interesting to search the road for sighns of Caroles meeting place.
* * *
Five minutes later Emma jumped out of the truck before it had even finished slideing to a stop. Emma did not take much time to look around she was busy searching for Carole’s old white subaru. The only car suetible for New Mexico in Emma’s opinion. Still Emma couldn’t help feel the old junk yard was plaiged with ghosts. Emma picked her way passed the rows of stacked cars and metal scrap. Come

Well I have lots of news I am going to california may 31st and will be there till august 1st ish.