As the lights turn on Kathryn opens her eyes. The light was blinding. Rise and shine!

Up and at em! her mom shouts, Come on, dont make yell at you, Kathryn reluctantly got out of bed. She was so tired. As she changed from her pajamas to her clothes she wondered how much her mom would freak if she decided to skip school and take a nap somewhere. She moved from her room to the bathroom and started to wash her face. No matter how hard she scrubbed those stupid blackheads on her nose wouldnt go away. She put in her contact, brushed her hair, and brushed her teeth. Morning, said Jessica her sister with an exhausted expression. Morning, Breakfast! shouted their Dad. Jessica and Kathryn made their way downstairs. This mornings meal; cereal. Like always. She ate her breakfast quietly and prepared her backpack for school. Mom remember, I have horseback riding after school today, Kathryn said. Yes dont worry I remember, Outside they heard a car honk. It was her carpool. Time for another awkward ride to school. Kathryn got in the backseat of the car and buckled in. Morning, said Melinda Hi, Kathryn replied. Kathryn looked down the street for any sign of the wild mustangs. She missed them being here. If only B.L.M wasnt rounding them up and selling them. The ride to school was silent. When they got there she said thank you and exited the car. She made her way to find Dafne. It was so cold that morning. The school only let them inside if it were below 20 degrees, snowing, or pouring rain. She hated winter mornings. Once the bell rung, Kathryn went inside to her advisory and watched CNN Student News. 1st period; art. Kathryn loved art. She loved drawing, painting, sculpting, basically anything to do with art. When that was over, yearbook. She had so many things to do today. Her section still had to put the templates on their spreads, make interview questions, take pictures of different classes, and they still had to meet with Mrs. Pratt. The yearbook teacher. Jeez, this class was stressful. Afterwards, she had math for 3rd period with Mrs. Tolotti. Kathryn wasnt very good at math, but she still liked the class. Today they were working on function tables. It was really boring. For fourth period Kathryn had wellness with Mrs. Kerr. That was pretty boring too. Luckily, after that was lunch. Kathryn was so hungry. 3 and a half ours of all work and no play really makes a person hungry.

As the day moved on Kathryn got more and more excited about horseback riding after school. It was the most favorite thing in the world for her. But, time the longer she would stare at the clock, the slower time would go. It didnt make sense. As Mr. Williams went over the homework for the weekend, the hands on the clock finally reached 2:00. Yes! School was out and so was she. Kathryn went to her locker and got her things and left. She was out of there in no time. She found her moms car down the street. How was school, asked her mom. Boring, she replied. That was her answer every day. Even if something exciting had happened. Why do you always say that? asked her mom. Because its the truth, she said. Ugh, her mom replied. Kathryn was tired of talking and turned on the radio. Luke Bryan. Her favorite country music artist. They listened to it all the way to the stables. When they got there, Kathryn went into the Bathroom and changed into her winter riding breeches. The barn was freezing this time of year. Hey Deborah, she said, Can I go get Dee? Hey Kathryn of course you can, Deborah replied. Kathryn walked down the barn isle and put on Dees halter. Hey buddy, hows it going? She greeted him, Look, if your good for me today, Ill put you out in the pasture, if not, back in the stall. Her and Dee walked down the barn isle and she put him in the ready bay. Kathryn got his brushes and started grooming him. The she put on his tack. When she got his bridle on they walked out into the arena and Kathryn put on her spurs. She tightened his girth and adjusted the stirrups and mounted. They stared off at a walk. Once everyone was warmed up the proceeded to a trot. Kathryn squeezed her legs and tapped Dee with the spurs to make him bend. They were getting a lot better at this than when she fist started riding him. Very nice Kathryn, Deborah complimented her, Go ahead and lope. Kathryn kicked Big Dee with her right leg and kissed. Once they started to lope, she felt something wrong. Wrong lead. Wup, Dee slowed back down to a trot. Again, Kathryn kicked him with her right leg and kissed. But, yet again, wrong lead. Kathryn tried again but failed. Dee put his nose in the air in protest. It wasnt her it was him. Stupid horse.

Dee! Kathryn yelled, Hey! She took her feet out of the stirrups and barrel kicked him. Now he would listen. Kathryn tried to lope again. She kicked him with her leg and kissed. This time it was right. Finally. Dee had good days, and bad days, and ok days. This was an ok kind of day. Thats just the kind of horse he was. Kathryn finished the lesson with a pattern. Lope incorrect lead down the rail, trot a circle, do three round offs, lope a 3-loop serpentine with the correct lead, and the trot down the rail and do a roll back. This would be interesting. She started to lope the incorrect lead, trotted a circle, moved the reins and tapped him with her left spur to do the round offs. Then Kathryn loped her 3-loop serpentine and made sure to switch leads in between, clicked her tongue to trot down the rail, leaned back and said whoa, to do the roll back. She messed up on the roll back and some of her leads on the serpentine, but other wise, it was a good pattern. Kathryn checked Dees chest to see how warm he was. Yea, we need to walk a few laps. She practiced on her bending with him. She looked I the window and saw their reflection. Dang, if this was a show wed for sure win, she said to Dee. When he was cool she dismounted and took him to the ready bay. She took off his tack and put it way. He was so hot she could just sponge him down and pick his feet. Hey Deborah, since he was good today, could I put him in the pasture to go and graze? she asked. Sure, I think pasture 2 is open, Deborah replied. She put on Dees halter and took him outside. He was so happy she had to run to keep up with his fats pace trot. His tail was up, his head was high, he could be a halter horse if he kept looking like that! Kathryn set him out and went back inside. She cleaned up the bay and packed up her stuff. Bye Deborah thanks. See you next week, she said. Bye Deborah said. This was a long day.