by Violet Inkpen, age 13

“Jess! Come on!” Jess turned around. Her friend, Amy, called “Amz” by her friend, was slowly walked towards her, leading a tall, handsome horse. His coat was light bay with a white patch at his shoulder and four black stockings from his hooves to his knees. His black mane glowed with health. Amy was tall with black hair pulled into a pony tail. Her face was slightly round and her teeth were covered in pink and black braces. Jess tugged her red hair behind her ears and set her green eyes on the gelding’s unique color.

“I’ve never seen such a colorful horse,” she commented, patting the gelding’s white shoulder.

“He’s a mustang,” Amy said proudly, her eyes dancing.

“A mustang?” Jess tilted her head. She had been around horses all her life, riding at her friend Amy’s house where her parents owned a boarding and riding stable.

“They are wild horses. You’ve never seen one? We just adopted his guy last week while you were away on vacation. His name is Fox Hunter. He was rounded up two years ago and he’s four years old right now. You’ve seen a mustang before haven’t you?” she asked. Jess nodded.

“TONS. But I didn’t know they were called mustangs. I just called them wild horses.” She smiled.

“Come on, saddle Tino up. We are going on a trail ride into the heart of mustang country.” Jess, nodding with excitement, hurried to the barn to fetch Tino and his tack.

Mounted on the flea-bitten grey stallion, Jess felt like she was in control of the world. A finely bred Arabian, Tino, called Caspian’s King, (Tino was his barn name) glowed with health. The years and years of professional breeding showed in his temperament and his body structure. Despite being a stallion, he was calm and obedient, but sometimes he could be a challenge to ride. That was alright. Jess loved a challenge. He obeyed her order for a canter and they followed Amy, and Fox Hunter pulled ahead, both filled with excitement.

They cantered for about twenty minutes before Amy pulled Fox Hunter back to a trot. Jess struggled to get Tino to slow down. The stallion was too pumped up to obey, but after turning him in a few tight circles he was forced to slow his pace. Snorting in protest, he fell in beside Fox Hunter.

“What’s up Amz?” Jess asked, scanning the trail ahead. They were on a small dirt hill and the trail lead down. To their left were taller slopes that lead into a forest and to their right was an open valley.

“Just be quiet,” Amy hissed, her eyes fixed on the edge of the meadow where a few trees began another wooded area. Jess looked in that direction but saw only shadows. Picking up on Tino’s impatience, she was just about to kick him into a canter when suddenly the shadows moved. Amy pulled Fox Hunter to a stop and Jess did the same with Tino. Suddenly the stallion wheeled to look as a band of mustangs emerged from the woods.

Led by a rugged looking mare the color of a cherry, they spilled into the meadow and spread out, grazing. Jess watched in awe as young foals, a bit clumsy and playful, began chasing each other, rearing and play fighting. Then she gasped. A large stallion with a huge head, thick neck, and broad shoulders slowly moved to the front of the grazing group. His coat, blue roan, was bathed in darker patches of blue, almost like spots.

Tino looked towards the mares in interest and called out a challenge to the stallion. The blue stallion looked up and pinned his ears. Fox Hunter pulled at the bit, but he obediently stayed still. Amy glanced at Jess. “Keep the reins tight. We shouldn’t have brought a stallion.” She bit her lip. Jess fought Tino, keeping him from charging down hill to fight the stallion. Jess’s heart swelled with admiration as the stallion began trotting back and forth in front of his herd, eyeing the strangers and nickering throaty threats and challenges to Tino. Tino replied with stomping his hooves and prancing in place, fighting Jess all the time.

Fox Hunter watched Tino and seemed to pick up on his display. He called out to the herd, but in a friendly, non-threatening way. The stallion finally realized Tino wasn’t coming for him and he settled down almost smugly. It was more than Tino could bear; being ignored. Before Jess could stop him he charged down the slope, sending the girl fighting to keep her balance. Rearing at the massive blue stallion, he shoved his chest into the mustangs. The blue roan snorted in anger, his ears pinned against his skull, and shoved his nose towards Tinos’ neck, biting down.

Jess winced when she saw blood on the grey’s skin. Tino squealed in pain and came down on all fours, backing away quickly. The blue roan charged, shaking his head from side to side. Tino fled, but his zig-zag patterns and kicks every few seconds threw Jess off balance and it took one tiny stumble to send her flying. Jess forced herself to relax just before she hit the ground, then she curled up into a tight ball and held her breath as the blue roan leaped over her. Amy was shouting from on top of the hill and Fox Hunter, seeing Tino come charging towards him, turned and galloped away, fighting Amy’s commands.

Jess’s heart sank as she saw Tino gallop back home, following Fox Hunter. The blue Roan chased him to the top of the hill then turned and trotted back home, prancing like he was King of the World. Jess smiled despite her fear, and watched in awe as the stallion touched noses with all his mares, gloating that he was still in charge.

Then the stallion noticed her. Jess sat up slowly, and watched the mustang approach without fear. He seemed to realize she was at his mercy. His velvet nose gently touched her shoulders and he breathed in her scent, then moved down to her pockets and caught whiff of the carrot she had hidden there for Tino. Slowly Jess moved to grab it and offer it to the stallion, palms flat. The stallion snatched it greedily and trotted off, head held high, as he munched it. When it was gone he trotted back to Jess and nudged her, almost knocking her over. Jess smiled gently and slowly stroked his nose. The stallion shook his mane and trotted off, as if his pride was hurt.

Standing up, Jess began to walk up hill. The stallion charged and blocked her way, then herded her back to the meadow. Confused, Jess tried again, this time when the stallion charged at her she shouted and shook her arms, shooing him away, but he was not fazed and she was forced to retreat back towards the herd. What was this? It was as if the stallion was claiming her!

Tossing his head, nickering playfully, trotting circles around her, the stallion taunted her. Jess turned towards the woods and made a mad dash. The stallion overtook her, wheeled and herded her towards the herd. She turned and ran, but she didn’t stop when she reached the herd. She continued up the hill until she had made it. Before the stallion could come after her he slid to a stop and tilted his ears, nostrils flaring to test the air. Suddenly, he nickered and moved his herd towards the woods.

Seconds after they vanished, Jess heard a helicopter over head and saw another band of mustangs being herded away. Relieved that the roan was safe, she turned towards home and ran. She didn’t want to see this. She knew about the BLM and how they hurt mustangs. She felt sick to her stomach. Suddenly, Amy came riding toward her on Fox Hunter, Tino’s reins in her hands.

“JESS! YOU ARE ALRIGHT!”

Jess sighed and mounted Tino.

“Come on! We can’t let those horses be herded!”

Before Amy could protest, Jess kicked Tino into a gallop and raced down hill, towards the oncoming flood of bodies. Arriving just ahead of them she blocked the way. “AMY! TRY TO HERD THEM TOWARDS THE WOODS!” She screamed over the deafening roar of the helicopter blades. Amy swung Fox Hunter towards the mustangs and came at them, causing them to run away from her and towards the forest where they could vanish from the helicopter’s sight. Jess followed them, driving them on and on until she and Amy vanished into the woods.

“I hope we don’t get in trouble,” Amy said, frowning. Jess grinned.

“If we do, it is worth it! After seeing how amazing they are and intelligent, I am determined to save them. I’m the Voice of the Mustangs, hear me roar!” she screamed out above the helicopter’s noise.

“I’M GOING TO SAVE OUR MUSTANGS! WHO WILL HELP ME?” Amy smiled.

“I’ll help you! They deserve to be free!”