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Description
April

The Akhal-Tekes had just returned from the Akhal-Teke Breeders Show, both sporting second place ribbons, when the Arabians were shipped off to their breedshow in early April. We anxiously awaited the results of our three young stars and the next race of our sophomore racer, Queen. When the call came about the Arabians, we couldn’t have been happier. Sinner had taken first in his class, Witch second in hers, and Johara third. We couldn’t have asked for more.

Three days before they were due to return home, an unusually nasty storm made its way across the valley. But it brought no rain. Lightening streaked its way across the sky, winds ripped at power lines, cutting the electricity to the barn and house. It was on this dark, dangerous night that so many pieces would fall into place.

Stable hands took turns checking the horses every hour since the barn cameras were without power, just making sure everything was in order. Only a few horses were in; most of the mares were enjoying the spring air and we didn’t dare try to bring them in during the lightening storm. We figured it was a passing cell, moving over us and going to terrorize another part of the region.

It was between one of the routine checks that Star birthed quickly and easily, dropping a black bundle into the straw. The filly stood within minutes, strong and capable like her parents. The next half-hour was peaceful. But nothing can last forever.

A single bolt of lightening found its way to the barn, igniting the wood. The small fire had exploded into an all out blaze in a matter of seconds, engulfing the empty side of the barn. At the same instant, Highwayman managed to unlatch his new stall lock, nearly fleeing in terror, but stopping at the other stalls to unlock the doors. But he was too late for Star. Fire had worked its way down a support beam above her stall, charring the wood which, unable to support itself let alone the barn, collapsed, landing square on the gray mare’s back. She cried out in pain, her back, ribs, and legs all broken from the impact

The blue roan stallion unlatched her door and trotted off to try his luck with the others, the overwhelming instinct to protect his herd overpowering the instinct to flee the flames. As Cal wove her way through the now raging fire she stopped at the sound of a shrill whinny. The dark filly, confused by the sudden lack of her mother, whom the flames had dispatched in their cold, thoughtless manner, cried out in search of a herd. Cal nipped her rump and led her out with her own foal.

By now the barn staff was struggling to control the blaze and capture the loose horses. All of the adult Irish Sport Horses were gone along with the Akhal-Tekes, Lumequus, and countless others, taking flight across the creek and onto the three hundred acre farm. In the yearling pasture, on the other side of the barn, young horses darted about, terrified by the flames. Only one stood still, gazing at the destruction of the old barn. Ember watched with sad eyes, the eerie glow from the fire lighting up her red coat.

~~~

In the end, Star was the only one to not make it out of the flames.

We were lucky that all of the Thoroughbreds and horses arriving this year had been stabled at the new facility we’d been working on not far from the old one. Hands had called from it and asked about the orange glow they’d seen over the trees. But, by the grace of God, it hadn’t spread.

But now most of the horses were loose on over six hundred acres of land, the original property and the adjacent farm we’d purchased for the new facility. How we would catch them we had no idea. We’d managed to corral Bart, Cal and the foals, Dublin, Eclipse, Flyte, Hana, Inmoon, and Fi. The rest had vanished into the night.

When the Arabians arrived the were placed in stalls in the new facility, happy to be home, but confused about the lack of their companions and familiar surroundings.

~~~

Even with the tragic loss of out first racer and one of only a few broodmares, we had to continue on. Queen was the Arkansas Derby. Nine furlongs for a one million-dollar purse. We would need the money now.

All but four horses were scratched from the race card, leaving Queen with an easy romp. She ran her heart out, tail flagging as if in tribute to her fallen predecessor. She took the Derby with two lengths to spare and pulling away.

~~~

I really hate the RNGs sometimes. They wanted five others to die aswell(Hana, Liften, Flyte, Inmoon and Bart) but I refuse to kill them. They are far too special to me.

Star's life roll said she'd die at age ten, so I decided to let her go out with a bang.

We will be moving to the new stable a little earlier than expected, hopefully I'll have some new maps and digrams to show you soon. Anyway, I'm gonna go cry myself to sleep now that I've killed one of my favorite ponies...

By the way, there will be a weanling auction next season *hint**hint* so start collecting points from llama offers. I haven't decided if it will be a point auction or not, but I know you can get plenty of points between now and then!

Shown:
Embertine
Irish Sport Horse

All © Arielle Dolan( )
reference: [link]

Description
April

The Akhal-Tekes had just returned from the Akhal-Teke Breeders Show, both sporting second place ribbons, when the Arabians were shipped off to their breedshow in early April. We anxiously awaited the results of our three young stars and the next race of our sophomore racer, Queen. When the call came about the Arabians, we couldn’t have been happier. Sinner had taken first in his class, Witch second in hers, and Johara third. We couldn’t have asked for more.

Three days before they were due to return home, an unusually nasty storm made its way across the valley. But it brought no rain. Lightening streaked its way across the sky, winds ripped at power lines, cutting the electricity to the barn and house. It was on this dark, dangerous night that so many pieces would fall into place.

Stable hands took turns checking the horses every hour since the barn cameras were without power, just making sure everything was in order. Only a few horses were in; most of the mares were enjoying the spring air and we didn’t dare try to bring them in during the lightening storm. We figured it was a passing cell, moving over us and going to terrorize another part of the region.

It was between one of the routine checks that Star birthed quickly and easily, dropping a black bundle into the straw. The filly stood within minutes, strong and capable like her parents. The next half-hour was peaceful. But nothing can last forever.

A single bolt of lightening found its way to the barn, igniting the wood. The small fire had exploded into an all out blaze in a matter of seconds, engulfing the empty side of the barn. At the same instant, Highwayman managed to unlatch his new stall lock, nearly fleeing in terror, but stopping at the other stalls to unlock the doors. But he was too late for Star. Fire had worked its way down a support beam above her stall, charring the wood which, unable to support itself let alone the barn, collapsed, landing square on the gray mare’s back. She cried out in pain, her back, ribs, and legs all broken from the impact

The blue roan stallion unlatched her door and trotted off to try his luck with the others, the overwhelming instinct to protect his herd overpowering the instinct to flee the flames. As Cal wove her way through the now raging fire she stopped at the sound of a shrill whinny. The dark filly, confused by the sudden lack of her mother, whom the flames had dispatched in their cold, thoughtless manner, cried out in search of a herd. Cal nipped her rump and led her out with her own foal.

By now the barn staff was struggling to control the blaze and capture the loose horses. All of the adult Irish Sport Horses were gone along with the Akhal-Tekes, Lumequus, and countless others, taking flight across the creek and onto the three hundred acre farm. In the yearling pasture, on the other side of the barn, young horses darted about, terrified by the flames. Only one stood still, gazing at the destruction of the old barn. Ember watched with sad eyes, the eerie glow from the fire lighting up her red coat.

~~~

In the end, Star was the only one to not make it out of the flames.

We were lucky that all of the Thoroughbreds and horses arriving this year had been stabled at the new facility we’d been working on not far from the old one. Hands had called from it and asked about the orange glow they’d seen over the trees. But, by the grace of God, it hadn’t spread.

But now most of the horses were loose on over six hundred acres of land, the original property and the adjacent farm we’d purchased for the new facility. How we would catch them we had no idea. We’d managed to corral Bart, Cal and the foals, Dublin, Eclipse, Flyte, Hana, Inmoon, and Fi. The rest had vanished into the night.

When the Arabians arrived the were placed in stalls in the new facility, happy to be home, but confused about the lack of their companions and familiar surroundings.

~~~

Even with the tragic loss of out first racer and one of only a few broodmares, we had to continue on. Queen was the Arkansas Derby. Nine furlongs for a one million-dollar purse. We would need the money now.

All but four horses were scratched from the race card, leaving Queen with an easy romp. She ran her heart out, tail flagging as if in tribute to her fallen predecessor. She took the Derby with two lengths to spare and pulling away.

~~~

I really hate the RNGs sometimes. They wanted five others to die aswell(Hana, Liften, Flyte, Inmoon and Bart) but I refuse to kill them. They are far too special to me.

Star's life roll said she'd die at age ten, so I decided to let her go out with a bang.

We will be moving to the new stable a little earlier than expected, hopefully I'll have some new maps and digrams to show you soon. Anyway, I'm gonna go cry myself to sleep now that I've killed one of my favorite ponies...

By the way, there will be a weanling auction next season *hint**hint* so start collecting points from llama offers. I haven't decided if it will be a point auction or not, but I know you can get plenty of points between now and then!

Shown:
Embertine
Irish Sport Horse

All © Arielle Dolan( )
reference: [link]