Considering the Contest

A considerate contestant emailed me the other day and suggested maybe I hold two separate contests, one for the Real Horses and the other for the Model Horses. 

She was worried that the Real Horse Photos would have an advantage to win; just like I was. I am so glad she spoke up. I'd hate to have some people feel bad. 

I wish I had thought of this earlier, but it will make no difference in the voting or contest, except that there will be two winners, one in the Real Horse Photos and one in the Model Horse Photos. 

Thank you for being patient with me! 

Chapter Three of A Christmas Blizzard! Sorry, it's kind of short. :) 

Prince was just as eager to go on a ride as his owner was. Kate saddled him and bridled him, then grabbed the reins and led him outside. She had taken her time tacking her young bay stallion up, so her other siblings were already on top of their mounts: Jane on a chestnut mare named Ember, Henry on a black-and-white gelding named Thunder, Caddy on a gray mare named Snowflake, and Mary on a dirty-brown mare named Gypsy.

Prince touched noses with Thunder, then flirted with the mares awhile before Kate brought his head low. “Stop,” she laughed.

Prince yanked his head up and wildly sniffed the air. Kate mounted and gathered the reins, slipping her other foot into the metal stirrup. “Where shall we go?” she asked her siblings.

Henry shrugged and fought a dancing Thunder. The skittish piebald whinnied, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes, one brown, one blue. Then the gelding jumped forward, Henry sticking to his saddle like glue. “Sorry, Kate. May I ride by myself? Thunder desperately wants to run.”

Kate nodded. “Sure, but stay close to the ranch.”

Henry and his tovero were off quicker than a Thoroughbred at the Kentucky Derby.

Kate turned to her sisters. Jane was fiddling with her sidesaddle. Her well-mannered “lady’s” horse patiently waited until the young woman had finished getting settled. Kate sighed. “Why ride side saddle when you can ride astride?”

Jane shrugged. “I think it rather fun.”

Kate’s mouth dropped open, just when a cheerful “Yoohoo!” cut her off. Ember’s ears pricked forward, announcing an arrival she knew. Kate turned and spotted Jane’s beau, Lucas Gaither, galloping his dark bay gelding down the lane.

“Howdy, Lucas!” Kate waved excitedly. “We were just going to ride; want to join us?”

Lucas reined his steed in. “I’m glad you guys are safe,” he greeted. “The town is buried under this wet stuff.” He looked at the snowy ground in disgust before glancing back at Kate. “If it’s alright with you, I’d like to just take Jane on a little jaunt before a storm comes back.”

Jane squealed happily and kicked Ember up beside Lucas. They laughed and she giggled and then they trotted away. Kate wearily turned to her youngest sisters. “Any of you want to desert me?”

Caddy simply shrugged while Mary grew itchier to be off. “Depends,” Caddy announced.

“Fine.” Kate pressed Prince into a fast lope. Gypsy and Snowflake cantered to catch up. Caddy shouted, “Why did you take off so fast, Kate?”

“Because,” Kate shouted behind her shoulder, “if you want to ride by yourself, so be it!” Prince dashed into a harder gallop and soon left Caddy and Mary far, far behind. In her anger, Kate forgot about her father’s warning of staying with each other and close to the ranch. She turned her colt onto the dirt trail leading into the pine forest. Kate hunched over Prince’s neck to avoid the branches flashing over her head. She watched the scenery flash by: ferns, foxes, bushes, and trees, all buried under snow, except for the foxes, of course.

Kate breathed deep. Ah, winter! Christmas Eve! She felt alive with it all.

Suddenly, a bunny darted under Prince’s churning legs. Prince spooked. He snorted and skidded to a stop, then his hind legs flew up in a sharp buck. Kate neck snapped, her teeth cracking together. Pain radiated down her back and through her jaw. She pressed down in the saddle to ride it out, but Prince had stopped and now took off into the pine forest, off the trail.

“Whoa, Prince!” screamed Kate. “Stop!” She hauled on the reins. How easily people could get lost in the forest hadn’t crossed her mind when coming in; now the thought was crossing her mind’s eye like a rewind train going back and forth on the track.

Confused, Kate tried to turn Prince around. The blood bay just took the bit in his mouth and stretched his neck out even more. His stride lengthened and he started to plunge down the gully. He met the river and water sprayed out around them. Kate got a faceful. She sputtered. “Whoa, buddy! Slow down!”

Paying no need, Prince kept up his headlong run. Finally Kate dug her left foot deep into Prince’s ribs. She picked her right foot up off of the colt’s side at the same moment and wrenched hard on the reins to the left.

Prince spun around and stopped dead mid-turn, sides heaving, legs splayed, head low and nostrils flaring. The way he had stopped sent Kate flying through the air and landing against the log laying beside the river, under a spreading willow tree. Crunch! Mud sprayed everywhere, coating Kate, but she didn't notice. Why?

She didn't notice anything; she heard no more. Everything went black as the knock to her head slipped her into unconsciousness.
Push HERE to read Chapter Four

***

We have 3 Real Horse contestants, and 5, perhaps 6, Model Horse Contestants! Thank you all! I am getting very excited!!

Voting starts on December 30th, and that day I will post the pictures as two different contests.

The winner of the Real Horse will get a prize, and the winner of the Model Horse will also get a prize, don't worry :)

Happy New Year!

~Izzy West