Hello,
My name is Jacqueline and I'd like to read you a story that I wrote.
I would love to hear your comments after you've listened to it.
Now if you're ready,
Make yourself comfortable and I will begin.
A horse named Blue Blue loved it when Fiona came to ride him.
He would see her coming up to the gate at the bottom of the field he lived in and he would whinny as loud as he could to greet her.
Fiona and Blue were best friends and every day they spent together was better than the day before.
Fiona's parents had brought Blue for her birthday a number of years ago.
Fiona had longed for a horse since she was three years old when she had seen one walking past her house one day.
Her dad would quite often take her to see the horses in a nearby field.
When people asked what she wanted for birthdays and Christmas she would always answer,
Anything to do with horses please.
Her bedroom was filled with toy horses and her wallpaper and bed covers had pictures of horses all over them.
To say that Fiona loved horses was an understatement.
She adored them with a passion.
On the morning of her 13th birthday her mum and dad took her out for a special treat.
They drove to a large farm out in the country which was home to many different animals.
Fiona thought this was wonderful because although she loved horses with all her heart she really enjoyed being around all animals.
Fiona and her parents got out of the car and a friendly lady greeted them at the gate,
Welcoming them to the farm.
She turned to Fiona and said,
Come with me,
And started walking up through the yard with Fiona and her parents following.
Eventually the lady stopped at a stable door and beckoned to Fiona.
Come and take a look inside,
She said kindly.
Go ahead,
My dear,
He won't hurt you.
Fiona moved to the stable door and looked inside.
There,
Standing facing her,
Was the most beautiful horse she had ever seen.
He was a gorgeous chestnut colour and had a big blue bow tied around his neck.
Hanging on the wall behind him was a large sign which read Happy Birthday Fiona.
Fiona gasped with surprise and suddenly burst into tears.
What's wrong,
Sweetheart?
Asked her mum as she held her daughter tight.
Don't you like him?
Fiona looked back at the horse and spluttered,
Mum,
I love him already.
I just never expected to have a real horse for my birthday.
Is he really mine,
Dad?
Yes he is,
Darling,
Replied her father,
Feeling quite emotional himself.
His name is Blue and I'm sure the two of you will be great friends.
Thank you,
Mum,
Thank you,
Dad,
Fiona said as she hugged both her parents.
Why don't you go in and say hello properly to Blue,
The lady suggested.
And that's how Blue came to be part of Fiona's life and from that day on they were almost inseparable.
Fiona would spend every spare minute she had with Blue and would bring him apples and carrots.
She spent hours every day grooming him and talking about all her secrets.
She even discussed her problems with him but they soon dissolved into thin air once she jumped on Blue's back and rode him out across the fields.
They would gallop for miles and miles and then catch their breath as they walked around the country lanes taking in the beauty.
Fiona would point out different things to Blue and he would occasionally nod in acknowledgement to her words.
Life was perfect for both of them.
Until one day it all changed.
Fiona stopped coming to see Blue and he didn't know why.
Instead Fiona's dad would arrive once a day just long enough to give Blue food and fresh water and then he would leave.
He never brought any special treats with him and didn't say much at all.
He just looked sad.
Sometimes he would rub Blue's nose and say,
Don't worry old boy,
It will be all right.
Blue spent the days walking round and round his field by himself wondering where Fiona was.
He missed her so much.
Winter arrived and there was still no sign of Fiona.
Her dad came and covered Blue in a warm rug.
He put some straw in a little wooden shack which was in the field where Blue could go for shelter and to rest.
But Fiona's dad didn't speak to him like Fiona used to.
Oh how he missed her.
He missed hearing her secrets and listening to her funny laugh.
He missed seeing her smile at him as she stroked his nose.
He missed being groomed and brushed.
Oh that always felt so good.
Now he had to rub his body up against a tree to get some relief from itchy dirt and bugs.
Blue missed everything about Fiona and the days dragged by without her being around.
Blue shivered in the cold winds but was thankful for the warm rug over his back.
On the bitter cold days he would go into his little wooden shack and lay down on the straw.
Sleep seemed to help him feel better.
In his dreams he was with Fiona galloping over the fields with her on his back and he felt happy.
His dreams gave him hope that one day he would see her again.
Soon spring arrived and the sun started shining.
Little rabbits joined Blue in his field and birds sang sweetly to him.
Today Fiona's dad came as usual with food and fresh water and seemed very cheerful.
Maybe it was because spring was here and the warmth of the sun helped everyone feel good.
He removed the rug from Blue's back and gave him a hearty slap on his rump as he shouted,
Go and run boy,
Life is good.
Blue galloped up the field as fast as he could.
It felt so refreshing to feel the air on his back now that the rug was gone.
As Blue reached the fence at the top of the field he heard a familiar sound.
He recognised the sound and stopped to listen.
There it was again.
Someone was whistling and there was only one person who whistled like that.
Slowly Blue turned around and looked in the direction the sound was coming from.
Standing on the gate and waving like crazy at him was Fiona.
Blue whinnied loudly as he galloped as fast as he could down to Fiona.
He only just managed to stop in time before he hit the gate and almost sent her flying.
Grabbing Blue's neck tightly as tears streamed down her face,
Fiona said,
Hello Blue,
Have you missed me?
Blue nuzzled Fiona as she looked at him.
I've missed you so much,
She whispered as they gazed into each other's eyes.
I'm so sorry I haven't been here for a while.
I hope my dad looked after you well.
Fiona saddled Blue up and took him for a walk around the lanes where she explained to him what had happened.
She had been out with some friends one cold autumn evening when they decided to take a short cut home.
Climbing over a fence,
Fiona got her foot caught and felt a sharp pain running up her leg.
Her friends carried her home and then her parents rushed her to hospital.
After having x-rays,
The doctor told her she had broken her foot and ankle very badly and would have to keep her weight off that leg for a while.
It seemed to be taking a long time to heal and after more x-rays the doctor decided the ankle needed to be reset as it wasn't healing correctly.
Fiona was worried that she would never be able to ride Blue again and tried to push thoughts of him from her mind.
I'm so sorry Blue,
She said,
But I felt so upset for myself.
Because of all the worry I became sick and couldn't eat or do anything and my parents were really concerned about me.
It was a terrible winter and I felt so lonely.
But my friends and family helped me through it.
They encouraged me to focus on the wonderful things life has to offer and eventually I stopped thinking about things in a negative way.
Now my foot and ankle have healed,
I have more strength in my body and my mind is clear and focused.
Blue whinnied,
Letting her know that he understood.
But I can't gallop for a while with you Blue,
She continued.
All you can do for now is walk with me and I will talk to you.
You'll have to do your galloping in your field while I watch you and cheer you on.
Blue and Fiona continued their walk around the lanes,
So happy to be together again.
As they arrived back at the field they realised that life really was perfect for them both.
I hope you enjoyed this story.
If you're still listening I'd like to ask you a question.
Have you ever ridden a horse?
