Part I

              I was born out in the western US, by my parents Kira and Damon. Damon and Kira were somewhat young when they got together and had me. Anyway, Kira had gone into labor on a cold December morning. Damon stuck by her side as she pushed and panted for hours. Finally, I came into the world.

            She licked me, and tried to keep me warm as best as she could. Damon nuzzled her, then layed next to me. I got up, and drank my mother's sweet milk. I lfinished and looked at my father. He smiled and nickered, licking my face. Kira nibbled at my mane and held me close to her. "Chelsea" was all I remember from that moment.

            I grew to a strong and wild yearling filly. I would go with my father everywhere, and watched as my mother grazed happily. We didn't have a herd, but we liked just being a family. These were some of the best days of my life. I inherited my father's muscular Quarter Horse build, and my mother's mustang personality. I was a well-built filly.

          I became more agile and fast everyday that passed. I became taller than my parents at only 2 years old. I loved the tall grass swaying at my legs as we grazed together everyday. I'd hope to never leave this place. I could stay here forever, lost in the wild western wilderness. But, my dreams crashed one day in the early summer months.

             We lifted our heads in suprise as we heard a strange noise. I looked over to see men on horses. My eyes widened and I froze. Kira and Damon knew what men are like, as they were riding horses a few years back when they first met. I couldn't move and then I shook my head as Kira squeled for Damon to not go towards them, as they were never going to let him go. I stepped back and watched them rope Damon. Kira was roped as well as she tried to run away. Still frozen, I felt the rope around my neck.

                   It tightened and I shook my head. Looking down at the rope, I reared and bucked, scared. I heard my parents telling me to calm down, but I just couldn't. I whinnied and the wranglers pulled me down. I fought and got up, just to be pulled down again. I everntually quit, as my energy was drained from fighting. We were led away from our homeland, and walked miles across an unknown land. We were realesed into a pen, where there were a bunch of other horses we never knew existed. i snorted and held my head above the crowd.

                    We saw more two-leggeds and were scared. All the horses were. I looked around, and soon regretted it. I lost sight of my parents with all these horses around. I whinnnied, but I didn't get a reply. They probably couldn't hear me. Whats seemed like hours later, I saw my father and mother together, but were being led onto a trailer. I was scared. What were they doing? Where were they going? I whinnied in panic and was then roped. I was dragged out into the open, seeing a bunch of two-leggeds everywhere around me. My next actions became a blur as I was led onto a different trailer.

                  I don't know what happened as I was asleep on  the ride. The woman who took me put a light blue halter on me and led me into a stall in a barn. I went with it, tired still.I was fed hay and grain. I ate both, but they didn't compare to the sweet irresistable grass of the plain of my homeland. I looked outside, it was late in the afternoon. I wasn't out west anymore. I snorted and put my head down. There were no other horses around, making me feel insecure.

     The barn was warm and i layed down in the sawdust, about to go to sleep. As I close my eyes, I am interrupted by a girl opening my stall. I pinned my ears and got up slowly. She haltered me and led me to these cross ties. I tossed my head and kicked, not liking this at all. She brushed me anyway. I started to relax, but my eyes were still wide in fear. She brushed out my thick black mane, and cut some of it. I swung my head over nipping at her elbow. She nudged me in the neck and I flattened my ears, stopping. She polished the rest of my balck coat and whitened my white appaloosa blanket and star. She looked into my cobalt eyes "You sure are a wild mare"

               She left then came back with an old saddle and bridle. She put a blanket on my back and then the saddle. I jumped and tossed my head, scared. She tightened the cinch, and I bit her. She hit my neck and I stopped. It was tight. She held the bridle to my head and I threw my head up and avoided the bit. She took my mouth and shoved the bit in. I tossed my head up and down, hating the bit. She swung the reins over my head and led me outside into a round pen. She stood on my left side, putting her foot in the stirrup. I puffed out and as soon as she sat down and grabbed the reins, I took off bucking.

                            I reared and whinnied, then bucked a few times. She came off easy. I stood and looked at her, the saddle under my belly. I smirked. No one will ever ride me. She le dme back into the barn and un-tacked me. I was led back into my stall, my tail held high. I was pretty proud of myself. She gave me a slab of hay and a little bit of grain. I heard her hauling tack trunks out to her trailer. I didn't know why, though, I was her only horse.

                     I was her only horse. That's exactly why I'm here. On the trailer. I rolled my eyes as we were out going somewhere else. Another place I don't know. I ate some hay and relaxed myself. I kept quiet too. It's going to be a long trip.

                 We came to a stop and I could smell other horses around. Her father unloaded all of her trunks and brought them into the stable. She clipped my lead to my halter and led me into the stable as well. I saw many many horses around. I was getting excited. She held my head down to try to keep control. I could see that there was a huge indoor arena and a bigger outdoor arena. There's also a racetrack from what I hear. I was led into a stall and she wrote down my info on the whiteboard infront of my stall.

                    I looked to find a chestnut mare across from me named May. Next to me was a flea-bitten grey stallion, Mike. He looks cute to me. May whinnied to me and I pricked my ears, neighing back to her. "Hey Chelsea! You seem nice. I'm May, this is my second year here." I nodded "This is my first. What is this place?" I asked her. "This is the academy!!" I widended my eyes. "Academy?" She nodded "Riders bring their horses here fro trainig and sports. It's like a school all about horses." I see now. I may be able to get used to this.

                   I settled in and May was nice to me. We talked and became really good friends in less than a day. I was also next to Taylor, a chestnut tobiano Tennesse Walker mare. She was a prissy mare. I didn't like her too much. I started to really like Mike, though. I thought he was cute. We talked now and then. We got along good. I also found out that Taylor was kind of his mate. More like a girlfriend. I rolled my eyes. Nice...

                       We got grained the next morning and were led to the cross ties. I stayed relaxed, not wanting to look bad infront of Mike. My rider groomed me with caution. I looked back at her, swishing my tail a couple of times, scaring her. I rolled my eyes and decided that I won't throw a fit getting tacked up. We were led to the indoor arena and were getting mounted. She mounted me really slowly, making me impatient. She was making a fool of herself, yet I didn't blame her. I saw Mike from the corner of my eye. I let her get on my back, but flattened my ears. I saw Mike back up. She clucked, but didn't kick me. She wore spurs today, but didn't use them, afraid I'd react.

                   Me, May and Mike rode together as we were the western horses in the arena. May and Mike talked about last year. I tried to get in as much info as possible, hoping to learn something. I became broed overtime and nickered to May and Mike, telling them to watch out. I held my head up and stopped dead. I stomped my hoof then tucked my head under me, bucking my rider off. I watched her fly off of my back then smirked as May and Mike bacame amusd. Their riders got off to help her. I reared and started loping off towrards the other