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February Story & Poem Entries Note: Winning stories and poems will be published in Pony Pals Magazine. All entries must be original, meaning that the member who enters them must have written the text. To be eligible the story or poem must have a horse or pony in it someplace. Stories should be suitable for all ages, including younger members. All entries published in the Magazine will earn 500 Wiggins Bucks, the best stories and poems will earn 3000 Wiggins bucks and trophy for the writer.

LOVE By jjpals Mammy child, a 7 year old horse crazy girl had found a scraggly, ill-used Shetland pony by the side of a country road when she was riding the school bus home, the bus driver let her hold the pony by a rope around its neck inside the bus and when Mammy was dropped off she took the pony inside the old work out barn behind her house. Mammy hurried into the house for lunch and then went up to her bedroom to get changed and put away her back pack. She rushed back downstairs, and while she rushed outside she quickly told her mother that she was going out to the barn to play. But the little girl was not going to play in the barn, she was going to work. She had found an old brush in her room from when she had gone to a horse camp last year, she knew a little bit about taking care of horses but had never done it. She brushed the pony down, picked out its hoofs with her finger and brushing them out, then she used her own comb and combed the pony’s tangled mane and tail. When the little girl was finally done, she looked at her work and found it good, but the pony needed feed and water. Mammy found a dog feed dish in the barn and filled it with water, next she found a bale of hay that her father had bought for daisy bell, his prize cow and gave the pony some to munch on, then she threw together some bedding in an old stall and led the cute pony into it for right now, she would need to think of some way of getting some pony feed…….. A WEEK LATER……… Mammy had told her parents about the pony she had found , she had also named the mare cocoa, and by now was using her own allowance to buy feed and hay, plus a brand new pink halter and a full blanket for when it got cold. Now Mammy’s mother and father were wondering what Mammy was going to use the pony for as they had inquired around the neighborhood and found that no one was missing a Shetland pony. Mammy knew that she wanted to ride Cocoa, but a saddle and bridle for the mare was going to be expensive Mammy asked her parents for suggestions and they gave her the regular: work for us! Idea, but the little girl wanted to make money herself instead of trying to have her parents help, so she held her own bake sale for two days in a row, she also had been growing her own garden since last year and was now selling off her vegetables and fruits to her neighbors and her friend’s parents. By now she had about one hundred and thirty three dollars. Since she was getting close to being able to buy tack for Cocoa, Mammy was keeping a close eye on tack for Shetland ponies. All summer she worked on weeding gardens for her neighbors, selling more vegetables and flowers, and even for two days she walked a dog for a good friend of hers who was going on vacation for a few days and her parents wanted someone to walk the dog every day. Mammy was also keeping Cocoa exercised by using her halter and going on long walks around her parent’s huge land, and occasionally Mammy would tie the loose end of the lead rope on Cocoa’s halter to form reins and she would ride the sweet mare around too. But since Mammy did now really know how to ride bareback so she stayed safe and did not ride Cocoa a lot. It was a fine Saturday and Mammy was running llike crazy towards her house from where she had finished up walked the neighbor’s dog for the last time as the neighbor would be coming home late evening this very day. “Mom, MOM!!!!!” Mammy shrieked. “What dear, what is wrong?” her mother replied anxiously looking up from where she was cooking dinner. “the Philips are coming home tonight and that means they will pay me tomorrow for walking Zany for them!!!!! And of course that means I can buy a saddle, bridle, and saddle pad for Cocoa!!!” Mammy finished her sentence with long breaths as her run from the Philip’s house to her own was quite some distance. “goodness!” her mother cried, “well I guess after they pay you, you and your father may go down to the tack shop on Monday and buy what you need.” Mammy’s mother went back to cooking dinner and Mammy ran out to Cocoa who was in the pasture with Daisy bell grazing, Mammy grabbed the pink halter, slipped it on Cocoa’s head and walked the mare around while talking about the new saddle and bridle the mare would be getting in the next few days. On Monday Mammy had gotten her pay for taking care of the Philip’s dog and after school she and her father rode to the tack shop where she bought a set that came with a saddle, saddle pad, bridle, stirrups, girth, and a pair of wraps. When Mammy got home after spending $234.20 of her 300.25, on tack for Cocoa, she took everything out to the barn and brushed Cocoa down, picked out her hoofs, laid down the saddle pad gently sliding it back in place, when Mammy placed the saddle down on Cocoa’s back she snorted excitedly, she had not been ridden with a saddle in a long time! Mammy giggled then proceeded to tighten the girth, then slip the bridle on Cocoa’s delicate head, when everything was in place, Mammy got her helmet that she had bought and mounted up, she was thrilled, it had been a while since she herself had ridden with a saddle and bridle. Mammy nudged Cocoa’s sides gently and the mare moved forward at a brisk excited walk, “whoa cocoa” Mammy said firmly as the mare pushed against the reins roughly. That day passed by quickly and soon a whole month had passed, Mammy and Cocoa were an awesome team and now Mammy was paying for riding lessons with her own money. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A whole year had passed, Mammy was now 8 years old and Cocoa had turned 12 in the past week, both girls were now jumping over some low logs for cross-country, they were jumping over 18” show jumps and going through hard dressage tests as well as playing horseback games and trail riding. They were still working on cantering and stride counting for jumping when Mammy came home with a poster she had taken from the schools bulletin board, Mom, look what is coming soon this summer!!!!” Mammy ran into the kitchen and showed her mother the flyer. Her mother asked Mammy, “what did your instructor say? does she know about this?” Mammy nodded her head excitedly, “she said Cocoa and I me are definitely ready for a simple small schooling show!!” Her mother said yes to Mammy going to the show and later that evening Mammy’s father agreed with her mother. In the next couple weeks Mammy was taking extra lessons with her instructor, shining Cocoa up, practicing braiding cocoa’s mane and tail for fun, cleaning tack, working around the barn cleaning out Cocoa’s stall and keeping it clean. Pretty soon Mammy was in bed sleeping peacefully on the night before the show! The next morning she was up early and having already eaten breakfast, Mammy was outside feeding Cocoa, cleaning out her stall, helping her instructor pack up the trailer, and when everything was in place, Mammy got dressed in a navy show coat, light pink show shirt, tan breeches, black paddock boots, pink gloves, and a black helmet. The group of four, Mammy, her instructor, her mother, and her father were all driving to the show, when they arrived Mammy hopped out and waited for Cocoa to come down the trailer’s ramp with the instructor leading the cute mare. As soon as Cocoa was tied to the trailer, Mammy and her mother worked on braiding the mares mane and tail, Mammy’s father and the instructor went to the signing up booth, paid for the three classes, and got Mammy’s number, 15. Cocoa was smartly tacked up, braided, and ready, Mammy clipped on her helmet and mounted Cocoa, the two walked to the warm up arena with their instructor. After warming up for 20 minutes Mammy and Cocoa waited for their classes to start. Their first class, a simple dressage test for beginners, would be happening in 5 minutes. The dressage test went smoothly, creating a second place for Mammy and her little mare, the ground poles class brought a first place and the 18” cross-rails class brought a third place! With the day over Mammy got Cocoa all put away back at home, she groomed the mare down, put a blanket over her, fed Cocoa her delicious feed, threw down some fresh hay and gave cocoa some water too. The next day was a rest day for both pony and rider, Mammy focused on homework and school. Within the third day of “resting” from the show, Mammy brought Cocoa out of the pasture, groomed her down, and rode the happy mare around the property. Mammy and Cocoa had a lesson the next day with the instructor. Cocoa was cantering smoothly, but as she came up and over the low cross-rail she stumbled and fell down, Mammy was thrown down to the ground but she picked herself up quickly and ran to where Cocoa was breathing heavily. “oh no! is she ok?” Mammy asked her instructor as the skillful teacher, trainer, and rider bent down over the pony, checking for broken bones or any signs of something that hurt Cocoa. With her fathers help, Mammy and her instructor got Cocoa in her stall, the vet had been called and Mammy was taken into the house when he arrived. The instructor talked with the vet for a bit while he looked over Cocoa, then she said goodbye and come into the kitchen to tell Mammy the news. “well, the vet said to give Cocoa three weeks rest. Her legs had a lot of pressure on them from the excitement of the show and a lot of cantering and jumps today. So no riding or lessons for three weeks, the vet will look on Cocoa every week or every four-five days.” Mammy bravely thanked her instructor and walked quickly out to Cocoa, the mare was resting in her stall, she was licking out the last off her feed from her feed bin and was now resting her head down on the stall floor like a dog. Mammy laughed, thankful that Cocoa was not in any cast or something big and scary like that. Three dull, horrible weeks past for Mammy, her three weeks were filled with school, keeping her grades up, and making sure Cocoa was comfortable. The mare’s week was filled with tender love from her owner, resting, and peacefulness. On the fourth day into the fourth week, the vet came and declared Cocoa well, she was to only be lunged or taken out for walks, but no riding was to be done. Mammy was quite thankful, she flung her arms around Cocoa’s neck happily, almost crying with tears of happiness! Mammy’s instructor came over once she heard the news, she and Mammy worked on lunging Cocoa, the mare was so happy to be walking and trotting around in the arena, she held her head up high proudly and stepped lightly. By the time 6 weeks had passed, Cocoa and Mammy were already cantering and jumping, but with more carefulness than last time. “come on girl, we can do this!” the 9 year old girl cried to her sweet mare who was cantering around the arena, towards a cross-rail, over it and around a jump and over a low Oxer. They were quite a pair! They halted near the judged, bowed and left the arena. The two, Cocoa and Mammy, were at their second show, this time it was not a schooling show but a more refined show. When they were asked back into the arena, Mammy gratefully excepted the first place for the jumping class that they entered! 5 years later……………………………………. Mammy was now 14 years old, she was now boarding a horse at an actual horse farm, her horse, Sammy, was a chestnut thoroughbred gelding. Mammy and Sammy had already been showing in “A” rated shows and winning trophies. Little Cocoa, the pony, was not forgotten, Mammy boarded her at the same horse farm and now Cocoa was proudly bearing all sorts of little kids through their first lesson, first jumping lesson, first show, and many other activities that she and Mammy had shared when they were both younger. They both are happily following their happiness and dreams. The plot of this story was that a little pony, Cocoa, who was not taken care of well, could be turned into a nice show pony. And that a little horse crazy girl, Mammy, could change that little pony’s life by using all of her allowances to pay for a pony and keep that pony by feeding, exercising, and just overall providing a new home for a desolate mare. So please, if you ever want to get your first horse or pony, please think of all those abused ponies and horses who desperately need a new home with a loving owner. The end	jjpals & Dynamo
2015-02-27 16:09:06
a fun horse to train by jjpals hi all! my name is Jessie, you can call me jj. I own two horses, Pepsi a 8 year old anglo arab, she is a bay beauty and very sweet. my other horse, Milky, is a 5 year old fleabitten grey gelding who can be grumpy and mischievous or naughty. but he can be sweet:) I also work with or train a mare who I do not own, but her owner is very busy and does not always have time for training or working with her mare, Go Gal. Go Gal, is a sweet mare who is a chestnut beauty who is 4 years old. since I got Milky when he was around 3 I am used to a young horse. I am training Go Gal to be used to showing, jumping and cross-country. last year I was able to enter Gal in a dressage test and a 18" cross-rails class in my family's annual show. we placed first in dressage and third place in jumping! last year in September we were able to make some progress on cross-country, just working on trail riding and small logs. right now, since it is quite cold outside we have just been riding indoor our outside but with no jumping. indoor work has proven fruitful, we have now successfully been jumping higher with no faults or any mishaps of any kind!!! whoo hoo!!! Go Gal's owner is very grateful and she, in her spare time, has been jumping Gal and trailing riding to help with what I am training Go Gal to do! for this next upcoming summer I plan to do more trail riding and outdoor jumping. Go Gal sends her love and sweetness your way and says she cannot wait for warmer weather and summer!!!!!! me either:P love, jj, Milky, Pepsi, and Go Gal:D	jjpals & Dynamo
2015-02-27 16:09:06
We enter the ring, kicking up dust as we walk. The announcer calls out our names and we begin. We go for a working trot, then a canter. I keep my eyes on the jumps as we turn onto the diagonal line. Feeling the motion of her canter, I go into two point with a mane release. She lands perfectly and we head to the oxar. She picks up her feet as she flys over the jump and lands ending with a beautiful flying lead change. I continue and finish the course with amazing equitation. Once finished, I leave the ring to be met by my coach and congratulated and assured that I'd win. Once everyone else has competed I enter the ring again following the first competitor. Now that we are all on the centre line, the ribbons are begging to be handed out. I lastly receive a first place ribbon. "Congratulations to Dancing Willow and her rider, Naomi." A huge smile rises upon my face as I lean over pat Willow on the neck.	Madison9752 & Arctic Winds
2015-02-27 17:10:10
We enter the ring, kicking up dust as we walk. The announcer calls out our names and we begin. We go for a working trot, then a canter. I keep my eyes on the jumps as we turn onto the diagonal line. Feeling the motion of her canter, I go into two point with a mane release. She lands perfectly and we head to the oxar. She picks up her feet as she flys over the jump and lands ending with a beautiful flying lead change. I continue and finish the course with amazing equitation. Once finished, I leave the ring to be met by my coach and congratulated and assured that I'd win.	Madison9752 & Arctic Winds
2015-02-27 17:12:04
Mine? Chapter 2 By flutteshy bu.. buu.. but its two days before my birth day why? kate asked looking at her new horse. well kates mother said softly. I... I.. oh you tell her. kates mother began to cry. kate asked what is the matter. her mother turned and walked in the house crying. kate watched her mother walk away. kates father began. well you know when we get older we soon will... die. kates eyes widened and started to tear up. who is going to die kate said in a trembling way. her father said sadly you mother. kate started crying and ran away. she didn't care how far she ran. then stood still. then thought her mother was going to die on her birthday. and started to cry agin. and then fell fast asleep. then awoke to see she was in her room agin. she heard a loud ney. she walked around the coroner and down the stairs. she put her boots on and and went outside to see a pony there waiting for her. kate had already known how to care and saddle a horse. so she grabbed the bridal and saddle. and held the bridal so she could fit the bit in the ponys mouth. the pony let kate put the bridal on it. then kate put the saddle on the strong ponys back. then she fixed the girth onto the ponys belly. then with a weaze. she was in the saddle. she patted lightning. and clicked with her mouth. and they began walking she clicked agin. and lightning started a smooth trot. they turned around the mail box and they went on there vary first trail. about an hour later they where back home. she pulled her right leg over the saddle and slid down she patted lightning on her head. and un strapped the girth. pulled the saddle off and put it on the rack. lightning lowered her head. and kate took off the bridal. then put the ponys halter on. then picked up the curry comb. and began brushing in circles. then the main brush. she brushed lightnings main. then the tail brush. she brushed lightnings tail and got out a knot. then the face brush. she softly brushed lightnings face. then wiped a drip of sweat that was rolling down her face. then the hoof pick. she picked out all fore hooves. she cleaned out the ponys stall. then added the first straw that ever touched the ponys stall. then put a good amount of oats in the ponys food net. she kissed her pony good bye and walked out towards the house and a gust of wind blew her hair she turned towards the ponys stall. and put the ponys blanket on. then kate kissed her pony good bye agin. she turned to the house and opened the door. her father said so that's were you have been. kate says yes. her father asked do you like her. kate said yes. her father said she was a lot of money you know. kate says I know I will take good care of her. kates father says good night. kate hugs her father and says thank you so much. then she says good night. and ran up stairs in her room and jumps on her bed and falls fast asleep.	flutteshy & Checkers
2015-02-28 00:41:42
The sixth pony pal chapter three: The bake sale by: Ashleigh67 Next morning after breakfast my parents drop me off at pam's for a sleepover. When I got to pam's I asked pam if I could meet her dad. pam said yes" when we got to the barn Dr Crandal was doing a check up on a horse. dad do you have a minute?" yes darling I do what is it? well pam said I would like you to meet Ashleigh she rented a holiday house here Dr Crandal welcome to Wiggins thank you Dr Crandal I said Pam who's coming for the sleepover? well pam said Anna, Lulu and Rae when Rae Anna Lulu arrived I asked Rae how could I save enough money to buy the pony that I wanted? what about a bake sale great idea I said let's do it tomorrow. note: I will post chapter four in next month magazine	Ashleigh67 & Snow light
2015-02-28 00:41:42
Ponies By flutteshy ponys they bring such joy way more funner than any toy small but cute like a flute. nice sound while munching the ground.	flutteshy & Checkers
2015-02-28 00:41:42
okay! i will!	Pam Crandall & Cameo
2015-02-28 21:07:34