Grooming Harley {OPEN}

[calliefan234]

I lead Harley, my 6 year old Appaloosa Gelding, out of his roomy stall. I Hitch him to the crossties and start grooming him. His spotted coat gleams and his buzzed mane is conditioned. Harley reaches and nuzzles me. I laugh. "Hey boy." I laugh and hug his nec. His warm breath feels good on my neck, and I bury closer. "I love you boy." I continue grooming him, when I hear a voice behind me. I turn, It is -

[benny]

I lead Spongebob down the aisle I wheel myself slowly down the aisle as Spongebob walks ahead of me I laugh and said, "Hey! wait for me you know I can't go to fast in here or i'll crash oy!" I push Spongebob over as he starts to walk into me I laugh, "Move over you great lump before you squash me"

[calliefan234]

I turn and see Ben and smile. "Hey." I laugh at Spongebob. I put my black curry comb down and walk over to ben. "How's it going?" I say, scratching Spongebob's nose.

[benny]

I smiled and said, "Hey and it's going pretty good how about you everything ok?"

[calliefan234]

I nod. "For the most part." I sit down on my tack trunk, leaning against Harley's stall. "Ya know, still living in a school that has more drama then Juliard." I rest my chin on my knees.

[benny]

I smiled and said, "Yeah this place can get pretty hectic"

[calliefan234]

I laugh. "That my friend, is what we call an understatement. I don't know how people without Horses do it. If Harley weren't here... I would go crazy." I glance at Harley again.

[benny]

I smiled and said, "Same. I get to use Spongebob as my own live diary I tell him everything... I'll never forget how we met it's a pretty dark story but in end it must have been fate that brought me to Spongebob..."

[calliefan234]

I raise an eyebrow, curious. "Well, If you will do me the pleasure of telling me how you got Spongebob, I will tell you the story behind Harley." I smiled wryly. I suddenly stopped breathing. Idiot! I had set myself up for this one. What If he asked why I came to Canterwood?! I tried to keep a straight face, but my heart was beating out of my chest.

[benny]

I looked at my feet and said, "well..5 years ago I was in the car with my dad we were driving to hoe from school the road was wet and slippery we went the corner and the was horse in the middle of road the rider had fallen off my dad...he tried to swerve to avoid the horse we the car went to fast and when he swerved the car went into a death roll down the hill. I...remember see flashes of bright light and horrible sound of metal being crushed throughout the fall i blacked out a bit.. and when I came to my dad was dragging me from the car he dripping with blood and... I remember trying stand and realizing that I couldn't feel my legs...after that I don't remember what happened.. A few weeks later my parents wanted to try riding a horse and the first horse I rode was a mare named Crystal I was a natural a days later on my birthday my parents led me to the stables for therapy lesson and Spongebob was standing there with a big red bow around his neck I met his previous owner it was the girl who'd fallen off her horse at the accident and..well you could say Spongebob is part of the reason why I can't walk anymore I almost died making sure we didn't run him over" I looked at Spongebob and patted his neck.

[calliefan234]

I nod. I know most people would cringe or ask Ben why he even got the horse who paralyzed him, but I got it. Harley was my everything. "I got Harley at a slaughter auction. We were driving past it, and Harley, who was just 2, escaped from his pen. He galloped in front of us, and we had to slam on the breaks. Harley was a mess when I got him. His mane was long and matted with blood, He had severe rain rot and fungal infections. He wouldn't let anyone near him and It took me a year just to gain his trust alone, another year to let me ride him. In the past year we've grown so much. Then; the accident happened." I close my eyes,letting the memory flow. "We were at the essex fall show. Harley had gotten out of his stall, and was scared to death, trying to find me. A cruel trainer found him first. He tried to beat Harley into submission with a lunge whip. Harley had been abused with a lunge whip. Harley reared, and, the man got hit in the head with Harley's hoof. He died." I was surprised by the harshness of my words. "Harley had to leave Maryland to be allowed to live. Only Canterwood would take him." I look at Ben, allowing my vivid green eyes to meet his.

[benny]

I blinked and said, "Harley doesn't look or act like he came from slaughter he acts kinda like Spongebob real calm with a few panic attacks"