You Are What You Are

"You are What You Are "
By. Victoria Cherolis

"Twenty five seconds! " Exclaimed Samantha Coleman, or Sam, the owner and instructor
at Red Rose Stables. "Wow! That's the best Applejack and I have done in weeks! "
said Angie Matthews, the most experienced rider at Red Rose Stables. Angie boarded her
Appaloosa gelding, Applejack, at Red Rose Stables. Angie and Applejack were on their
way to the Barrel Racing Championship Finals. Between rodeos, Angie took lessons from
Sam. Sam was a former barrel racer herself, a national champion.
" I think all this practicing has worn Applejack out! I'll untack him now. " said Angie as
she patted AppleJack's neck and dismounted. Sam, Angie, and Applejack walked to the
barn. "Now Angie, be sure to tell your parents I'm not teaching lessons this winter.
Because of the remodeling of the indoor arena. You can ride but I wouldn't
advise it. The stablehands and grooms will still take care of AppleJack. " Sam informed
Angie. " Ok! " Angie said over her shoulder while taking off Applejack's saddle.
"I have to go to the office. Instead of bringing a check here for the board and
Lessons send me a check. Ok? “Sam informed Angie.
But, as Sam knew well, Angie has all of her mind hooked on AppleJack.
" I sure hope she don't get to like makeup more than a hoofpick. "
Angie said as she left.
" Well, Pretty Boy, did you enjoy that ride? " Angie asked AppleJack
as he nodded his head in responce. Angie giggled as AppleJack
showed his teeth, which looked like he was laughing. " Ok! I'm headed
for the sweetfeed! "
Angie walked into the feedroom and got a scoop of the sweetfeed Applejack
loved so much. She poured the scoop into AppleJack's manger. He started on it right
away. " I gotta go home boy. Bye. " Angie gave him a quick kiss on the nose before
she left.
About four months later, the riding school closed for the winter.
Angie went to school at Hillberry Middle School. She was in 6th grade.
Angie sat at a desk to the left of the most popular girl in 6th grade, Nellie
Freedom. Nellie had a group of " followers ". They were Jill Sanchez,
Sondrea Lynn, And Heather Shirley. They had a secret club. It HAD
to be secret. The school didn't allow clubs anymore. On account of some
little kid wasn't in a certain club, so her mother called the school and complained.
But Nellie's club was called " The Chicks ". All members of " The Chicks "
were friends. They went to every party, sleepover, and dance together.
Angie didn't have one friend. All she wanted was one, to be a champion horseback
rider and two, to be part of " The Chicks ".
" PSST! Angie! " Nellie whispered. She threw a note in Angie's desk.
" Class, " said Mr. Anderson, "I'll be back in five minutes.Think you can handle
yourselves ? " The class nodded. And Mr. Anderson left.
While boys jumped on desks and girls gossiped, Angie opened her note...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To: Angie Matthews
From: " The Chicks "

Angie, you have been accepted in " The Chicks " club.
Please go to my house Saturday night at 6:00 pm.
For a Chicks sleepover.
- Nellie Freeman
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Angie gasped. She turned to Nellie and asked " Really? " Nellie nodded.
Angie couldn't believe it! SHE was a Chick!
Saturday night, nellie's party was awesome!
Nellie, was of cause rich, and had a WHOLE floor of the house that she owned!
It had a bedroom, gameroom, beauty parlor, 2 bathrooms, a lounge room, and kitchen.
There was also a sleepover room. Which had 6 sets of bunk beds, a bathroom,
a computer, a BIG screen TV, stereo, and a king size bed which was Nellie's.
" I call top bunk!!! " yelled Sondrea. " Same!!! " cried Heather. " I want under
Sondrea!!! " said Jill.
" I guess I'll sleep under Heather. " said Angie who didn't want the extra bed alone.
" Let's do makeup! " yelled Nellie as she raced for the beauty parlor, followed
by squealing girls.
"You really need a look Angie. " said Jill, " No offence ."
" None taken. But what do you suggest? " asked Angie.
" Well, hair down, wavy, mascara, lipstick, BIG hoop earrings. " answered
Heather. " Down and wavy would look wonderful with your blonde hair, Ange.
Mind if I call you Ange? " said Nellie.
" No, I don't. But how will we do my hair? "
" No sweat Ange! I have everything right in this room. " said Nellie.
" I'll do your hair, Sondrea will do your nails, Jill will do makeup,
and Heather, find some jewelry. "
All night they worked. Saying stuff like, “beautiful! "
and " Your gorgeous! "
Finally, Angie was done.
Angie looked in the mirror. She hardly recognized herself! “ I… I … I LOVE IT! “ exclaimed Angie. There, in the mirror, stared a beautiful blonde. Hair down, wavy, and beautiful. “ You look better than Brittney Spears! “Squealed Sondrea. “Better than Jessica Simpson! “ said Jill.
At school Monday, Angie was who everybody was talking about. Seven boys or more had asked her to a movie. She refused. Twelve asked her to the
End – of – the – Year dance. She still refused.
Even Allen Murry, the cutest guy in school, asked her to a movie. She still refused.
“ The Chicks “ were astonished with what was happening. “ We could go into business with this stuff! “ Said Jill. “ NEVER! “ Nellie hissed at her.
“Chicks only! If other girls looked half as good as Angie, we would never have a date again! “ Nellie’s eyes had flames in them.
On Valentine’s Day, The riding school opened backup. Angie invited “ The Chicks “ to come and see her ride Applejack. Everyone accepted and agreed to be at Red Rose Stables at 5:00 pm.


Angie came at 4:00 pm to groom Applejack and give him a good workout.
As Angie entered the barn, she heard Applejack neighing frequently to her. Angie ran straight to him. “ Oh, Applejack! I missed you SO much! “ She gave him a kiss on the nose. Then, Applejack started nipping at her clothes! “ What’s wrong Baby? Why are you biting me?!?! “ Suddenly, Angie remembered she was wearing a perfume that’s scent was apples! No wonder. Angie grabbed a brush and got right down to business, Grooming.
As Angie picked up AppleJack’s hoof, he stamped his hoof down and stepped on her sandals! “OWWWW!!!!!!!” Angie howled like a wolf baying at the moon. About 9 minutes later her foot was rapped in a bandage, with an ice pack. “ You think it’s funny, don’t you boy? “ Applejack showed his teeth and nodded in a laugh act. “ Alright, I, The Great Groomer, WILL groom you Applejack! “ Angie laughed at her joke and so did Applejack.
As Angie stood up, Applejack swished his tail and shook to get a fly off his rear. And, with Angie’s wonderful luck, mud was on her $45.99 shirt!
When Applejack swished his tail AGAIN,

It caught her hoop earring! “ OUCH!!! “ Angie yelled.
Angie had HAD it! She stormed into the dressing room for girls, took off the earrings, new clothes, sandals, and designer pants. She threw that stuff in the garbage. Then she wiped her face to rid the makeup. Angie grabbed her chaps, helmet, extra horse shirt, jeans and a hair twisty. Last but not least, she put her hair in a braid like before she was a snobby “ Chick “. She walked to AppleJack’s stall. Applejack didn’t nip, step on her, or shake.
He acted beautifully. Like an old friend was back.

At 5:30 pm, The “ Chicks “ FINALLY showed up,
To find a new friend with an old look! “WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU??? “ yelled Heather. “ ARE YOU INSANE ???” yelled Sondrea. “ All my BEAUTIFUL work! Gone! “ wailed Jill. Nellie’s face was boiling red and she had flames in her eyes.
“ How dare you! How dare you Angie Matthews! To turn around and do that to us! Your life will be miserable! You just wait! And your stupid, dumb, ignorant horse will suffer too!!! “ Screamed Nellie while walking towards Angie and Applejack, who were to shocked to move.

“ WHAT did you call my horse?!?!? “ asked Angie.
“ I SAID… He’s a stupid , dump, ignorant, pile of CRAP!!! Got that? “ Nellie screamed at Angie and Applejack. Applejack could sense that Nellie was talking about Angie and HIM. Nellie sure got it.
Applejack snorted, pawed the ground, and galloped to Nellie at full speed! Applejack screamed at her and bared his teeth. By now, Nellie was running for dear life. Nellie was trapped at the gate. With Applejack after her, she had no chance. She shook with fear. Applejack reared up in front of her and screamed. Lucky Nellie moved out of his hoof’s reach and rolled under the fence. He bared his teeth at her. His eyes were burning red. His breath was hot, and his intention was t hurt her. But Nellie and “ The Chicks “ hopped on their bikes and pedaled away, never to be seen at Red Rose Stables again.
Angie and Applejack were standing in his stall later that day. The whole thing seemed like it never happened. Angie leaned on AppleJack’s shoulder. “ Thanks Boy. Thanks for saving me. “

Buddy's Wings

Buddy’s Wings


I was born under an oak tree,
My mother was there,
And so were you,
As a young boy.

We were friends forever,
Since the day I was born,
You, a knight in shining armor,
I, your noble steed.

Or, you were Robin Hood,
Taking from the rich and giving to the poor,
And I was your “MerriHorse, “
Rescuing you from greedy Prince John.

You said you loved me,
You said I was beautiful,
You said I was worth the world.

Until you grew up,
Until that day,
When everything went wrong.

The day I lost the race,
But 2nd place isn’t so bad,
You thought 2nd was horrible.

I wasn’t worth as much,
My stud fees were cheaper,
And I’m sorry I lost the race.

I thought we could forget about it,
I thought we were still friends,
I thought wrong.

You ignored me,
You never gave me treats,
I was a thing in the past to you.

I no longer ran races,
I no longer sired foals,
Because you took those things away from me,
And I was still young!

Instead you left me in a pasture,
With three older horses,
I waited and waited for you,
But you never came.

Then your niece came,
She liked me,
And decided to ride me.

She saddled me up,
Then mounted,
You forgot,
I didn’t remember how to let you ride.

I walked into a field,
With her on my back,
I was so nervous.

Something was under my blanket,
It itched and it hurt,
It was a thorn.

I kicked,
And I bucked,
Then, your niece fell off!

You didn’t like that,
So you loaded me into a trailer,
And drove me away.

It was storming,
We drove for a long time,
Then we arrived at a dark and gloomy place,
You lead me inside.

I trustingly followed you,
I didn’t like that place,
The horses and ponies looked hungry and tired.

You had sold me,
My best friend,
You got $500 from a heavyset mean looking man.

Then you came to my new stall,
A tear rolled down your cheek,
As you sadly said,
“I’m sorry, Buddy “

I nickered to you as you left,
You looked at me sadly,
And left.


My new owners were mean,
They beat me and starved me,
I found out from a pony,
I was at an illegal Slaughter House.

When I was 14 years old,
The slaughter was discovered,
And every horse or pony that survived,
Was happily adopted.

A teenage girl adopted me,
And trained me for jumping,
I love to jump!

We competed all over the world,
We lost some,
But she didn’t care.

She said I looked like her father’s old horse,
But that horse was sold,
And I wondered,
Was that us?

Her father came to visit,
A man who was crippled from a riding accident,
IT WAS YOU!!!
I neighed and galloped to you.

Tears streamed down your face,
Onto my mane,
We were together again!

You never left me again,
We were always together,
And I was happy.


But happiness couldn’t last forever,
And I got colic,
At my old age,
I didn’t have much of a chance.

You cared for me day and night,
But you knew I had to go,
So you said a prayer,

“Ok God. You can have your boy.
But make sure he gets his wings.
So he can fly with you on his back.”
You sobbed and fell asleep crying on my shoulder.

That night I died,
You cried for hours,
I did make it to heaven,
And I miss you.

You buried me under the oak tree,
Where I was born,
That wonderful day.

The next morning,
I laid one of my feathers on my grave,
So you would know,
I got my wings.

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This poem is not a real story. BUT it is close enough to the real thing. Not all Horses or ponies are as lucky as Buddy. Some never live past slaughter. Some were born in a Slaughter house, or put in one soon after birth. Mustangs and wild burros are caught and SOMETIMES sent to slaughter. Slaughter is horrible and mean to horses, ponies, donkeys, and burros. They are sent there and ground up into meat, or turned into… GLUE!!!
Save the seals? I’d sooner save a pony! There are billions of boys and girls all around USA Who love horses. Why not adopt a mustang. They can be trained! I bought a mustang before he went to the glue/meathouse. He is older and can’t be trained. But he’s the calmest and sweetest horse on earth! He is pure mustang! Caught in Nevada! His name is Bojack. And he’s nine years old, Living at home, with my 3 other trained horses.
You can adopt a mustang cheaply. Cheap for the average USA citizen. ( $200- $2000 ) I SAVED A MUSTANG, AND I’M PROUD!!!


SAVEING HORSES, SAVEING LIVES!!!!
STOP THE SLAUGHTER,
END THE ABUSE!!!

Victoria
Age 11