It was an almost perfect Saturday morning. It was warm enough to wear a short sleeved shirt, but cool enough that it wasn't uncomfortable to wear my thin cotton riding pants. As usual, my long hair is up in its low ponytail, and my muck boots are making their strange squelching sound that sometimes annoys me.
But overall, it was pleasant, to say the very least. As my mother's car rolls to a gentle stop, I hop out of the car, grabbing my shorter boots and grooming kit, and walk inside, boots squelching with each step I take.
When I get inside, I'm surprised to see I'm the first one there, Laura and Kiki haven't arrived yet, even though it's a few minutes past 9:30. I tuck my boots under a bench and head into the aisle to check for my assigned horse (or, more likely in my case, pony). I find my instructor's name, and find my ride time, 10:00, and check next to my name. There's just a quick scribble that says "See me". I frown in confusion. Typically Maria is teaching and doesn't want to talk for long periods of time, but if she put that on the board, then it must be important.
I squelch my way back to the arena, watching Maria teach for a minute or two before she notices me. "Hi Danielle! How's it going?" Maria asks, supervising her students as her horse tentatively trots over a ground pole "Good!" I reply. "Danielle, we got a new pony last night. And we're not sure where it came from, so-" I cut off Maria. "You want me to ride it." I finish, sighing in my head and trying to keep the annoyance and disappointment out of my tone. Maria nods. "She's in the empty stall right next to Silver." I fake a smile and nod, going into the tack room.
I don't know which bridle to use, so I grab Google's old bride and hope for the best with fitting it. I grab my usual saddle, pads, and the girth, and head out with my grooming bag. Carefully, I place my tack on one of the saddle racks we have throughout the barn, and open up the previously empty stall, bracing myself to see how bad this pony's habits are.
Inside, there stands a purple pony.
