A Horse of Jordan's Own

By Stephanie Brown

Young adult story about a girl who becomes an equestrian champion

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gio Marron
• Release date: Jan 25, 2013
• ISBN: 9781310415852

Book preview

A Horse of Jordan's Own

Stephanie Brown

Copyright 2013 by Stephanie Brown

Smashwords Edition

Chapter 1

Near a small town in Georgia, there was a girl named Jordan. She was a thin girl, around five feet, with long brown hair and brown eyes. She and her parents just moved onto a big farm that already had cows, pigs, and chickens. Jordan’s dream in life was to work with horses as a vet, trainer, breeder, or in one of the many other equine careers. She was always asking her parents for a horse. They always told her that she couldn't keep a horse in the back yard. But now that they lived on a farm they told her that they didn't have the money to buy her one. This really upset Jordan. It made her sad to think that she would never get to do what she wanted in life. One day, after getting the same answer as always Jordan went for a walk down the gravel road in front of her house and discovered that the farm down the road raised horses. She went over to the white board fence and stood on the bottom rail so she could see. She just wanted to look at the mares and foals grazing in the field.

The owner of the farm, a tall lady with short black hair and brown eyes, came out to the road. She said Hello, I'm Mrs. Spear. My husband and I own this farm. What's your name?

My name is Jordan Jacobs. I just moved in next door. I hope you don't mind that I came over to look at your beautiful horses. She said.

Mind? No, I don't mind. Mrs. Spear laughed. So you like horses?

Oh, yes! Jordan said smiling, and then frowning she said, I wish I could have one of my own, but my parents said we don't have enough money to buy one.

I just might be able to help you. said Mrs. Spear.

Jordan smiled. You can, how?

If it's alright with your mom and dad and you are willing to work really hard helping me around here, in trade you can have a foal. I have a bay mare that is going to have a baby in about two months. The problem is she got out of this field and into that one over there. Mrs. Spear said as she pointed the two fields out to Jordan That field is about 100 acres. She doesn't come when I call. I just don't have time, with my other horses, to go out and look for her. If you can find her and help take care of her and the other horses you can have her baby. Mrs. Spear told her.

Jordan was so happy that she began to cry. I'll work real hard! I know I can find her! When can I start? she asked.

Mrs. Spear said. You go and ask your parents. If it's alright with them you can start tomorrow. If they have any questions they can call me around 8 tonight. My number is 555-4231.

Jordan ran home as fast as she could. When she finally got there she told them all that had hap-pened.

Her mother said. That's great!

Her father said. That is great. Let's have supper then we will call her to make sure you got the whole story right. And I'll ask her some questions about what all you will have to do.

Jordan jumped for joy.

After supper Jordan's father called Mrs. Spear. Mrs. Spear? This is Jack Jacobs, Jordan's father.

Oh, yes. Mr. Jacobs. I suppose Jordan told you everything? asked Mrs. Spear.

Yes, she did. I have a couple of questions. The first one is, what all will she be doing?

Well, she will be cleaning stalls, feeding, grooming, and learning to ride so she can exercise the horses, and helping with cleaning tack. replied Mrs. Spear.

Ok. My second question is. How is she going to find the horse without getting lost?

asked Mr. Jacobs.

She can't get lost in the field. It's a square field and she can follow the fence back. The only trees are one acre worth right in the middle. You can see right through to the other side. Mrs. Spear said.

And my last question. Are you going to teach her about horses and help her train this foal? Mr. Jacobs asked.

I'm going to teach her everything I can. As long as she is still working here when the time comes for training; I'll help her with that too.

As long as you think she can handle it all, then it's fine by me. said Mr. Jacobs.

Well then, I guess that's it. I'm sure she can handle it. She can start at 7 in the morning.

All right, she'll be there at 7. Thank you so very much. Good-bye, Mrs. Spear. said Mr. Jacobs.

Good-bye Mr. Jacobs. said Mrs. Spear.

Jordan, could you come here please? yelled Mr. Jacobs.

I’ll be right there, dad. answered Jordan excitedly as she ran from the kitchen. Well, dad, what did she say?

She said you're to start tomorrow morning at 7. Mr. Jacobs said.

Really, do you mean it? She asked.

Yes, dear, I mean it. Now go to bed so you’ll be wide awake in the morning. Mr. Jacobs told her.

Jordan said, Good night. and ran off to bed.

The next morning, Jordan got to Mrs. Spear’s at 6:50 ready to start. Mrs. Spear taught her how to lead a horse and let her help lead the mares and foals out of the stalls to the pasture. That way she would know how to lead the bay mare when she found her. After they finished with the mares, Mrs. Spear sent her out, with a lead line, to find the bay mare.

Jordan entered the field and closed the gate behind her. She walked down the fence along the driveway until she was about half way down the fence line. She then turned into the field deciding to cut straight through. I might have a better chance of finding her this way. Jordan said to herself.

As she walked and looked around she started to daydream. She thought about what the bay mare looked like. Was she tall or short? Was she a dark brown or light brown? Does she have a lot of white on her face or none at all? Does she have any white on her legs and if so which ones? I’ll bet she's short, light brown in color, lots of white on her face, and both back legs white. She said out loud.

Before she realized it, she was to the woods in the middle of the field. She looked around and saw that the horse had been there many times. She couldn’t follow where she had gone because tracks led in and out of the woods all over the place.

Jordan walked a short distance into the woods and found a small stream running through it. She decided the mare came there for water. She looked at her watch and noticed it was noon. She sat down on a big rock beside the stream to eat the lunch she had brought along in a small backpack. Her mother had packed her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, some oatmeal cookies, and an apple. To drink she had a thermos of orange juice. She ate very quickly while listening for some sound of the mare, but heard noth-ing. She picked up her mess and continued on her way.

As she came out of the woods she began to daydream about the foal. Was it going to be a boy or a girl? What color was it going to be? What would she name it? But most important, was it going to be healthy? She thought about what colors it could be, black, bay, brown, chestnut, dun, palomino, gray, or white, possibly a combination of more than one of those. It could be a black and white paint. It could be a gray with a black mane and tail. There are so many. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.

When she reached the far fence she still hadn’t seen any sign of the mare. She turned left and walked to the corner, then cut down diagonally to the far corner by the driveway, away from the barn. The more times I go through the woods the better chance I have of finding her at the stream. She said to a bird sitting on a fence post nearby.

As she walked she picked a flower she found and put it in her hair above her right ear. She also picked a piece of grass every now and then, to chew on or to tear apart little by little. She also found a small rock to kick along as she went about her search.

She came to the woods and still didn’t find the horse there. She continued along as before until she came to the corner of the fence. She looked to her right towards the barn, the horse wasn’t there like she had hoped.

She turned left and once again went about half way to the end. She tried to decide whether to go straight or cut through the middle so she could check the stream again. I’ll cut through. She has to get a drink sometime. She said to a rabbit she had scared out of some tall grass.

Off she went towards the woods again. Along the way she had seen a lot of birds, a few rabbits, and no horse, at the stream or anywhere else she had been.

Once again at the fence she turned left towards the barn. Maybe, Mrs. Spear found her or at least has seen her and knows which way she went. She said hopefully.

As she came near the barn Mrs. Spear saw her and came over to the gate. Any luck? She asked when Jordan got there.

No. Jordan answered. I was hoping you might have found her or at least seen which way to go.

The answer is no to both. Mrs. Spear said.

Ok, I haven’t checked the far corner yet. On my way I’ll check the stream in the woods again. Jordan said.

You do that. I just hope she didn’t get hurt or something. said Mrs. Spear.

Let’s hope not. said Jordan. I’ll see you in a little while. Bye.

Bye and good luck. yelled Mrs. Spear to Jordan’s back as she took off towards the last corner.

Jordan began daydreaming again. This time she dreamed about training her foal and riding it through the field at a run with the wind in her face. She thought about showing it to all her friends and riding it in horse shows. She thought about what she read about horse shows, the different classes and the reason for each class.

She didn’t think long because she was at the stream. Darn! She still isn’t here. She said to no one and continued on.

She went back to thinking about shows. You have pleasure classes, where the skills of the horses and riders as a team are judged. There are speed events, like barrel racing, to see who has the fastest horse. And there are events, like the egg and spoon race, that test the riders’ skill, balance, and control of their horses. But the best is the drunken