by Violet Inkpen, age 12

A golden colored mare narrowed her eyes at the testy young filly and nipped her flanks. “I told you not to go near the older mares,” she scolded.

“But Dunlin, I only wanted to see if they really were grey around the eyes!” The foal protested.

“I said NO!” Dunlin snorted. The foal sighed. “And I also told you to stay away from Bracken; that colt’s cruisin’ for a bruisin’. I’m suprised Alpha hasn’t kicked him out of the herd yet,” she said, raising her head to stare at the dark bay colt who was walking around looking at the mares. Dulin knew he was planning to steal a few to start his own herd, and sooner or later the leader of her herd would rid himself of his pesty little son.

“But he’s so smart!” The eight month fillly said adoringly.

“He’s no good. And just because you think he is smart doesn’t mean you should hang around with him. He’s dangerous to any mare right now that wants to stay in the herd.” She lowered her head to stare into the filly’s eyes. “Just because you and your mom aren’t originally from our herd doesn’t mean you should be all googly over Alpha’s oldest son. All males are kicked out of the herd when they are older, to protect the mares.” Dunlin explained.

The filly rolled her eyes. “Can I go now?” she groaned. “Fine, but if I catch you bothering anyone one more time….” She trailed off and raised her head.

Alpha, a dark grey stallion with a flowing black mane, was running towards her at full gallop. “Move the herd out Dunlin! NOW!” he shouted. The grazing mares lifted their heads and nickered to their foals.

Dunlin was the lead mare and it was her job to keep the herd safe when Alpha was looking for food or new watering grounds or fighting danger. Dunlin galloped around the herd, gathering them all together, and began moving them away from the river. Bracken chose his moment. While the chaos was going on, he broke away from the band of ten mares and four foals to steal away a young chestnut filly who was around his age. Alpha had taken her from a neighboring herd a few months ago.

Dunlin wheeled away from the herd and charged Bracken. Alpha was still making his way towards them. Dunlin squealed in rage and bit Bracken’s neck, tearing flesh off , then she herded the filly away from him. They rejoined the herd, but when Bracken tried to pretend it didn’t happen and join the mares again, Alpha had caught up and stayed to fight him off. Dunlin stopped the herd and watched the two stallions rear, biting and kicking. It only took three minutes for Bracken to learn his lesson and slink away. But just as he vanished, a whole bunch of humans riding horses and jeeps came towards the wild horse herd.

Dunlin gasped and Alpha turned his head towards them. “RUN DUNLIN, TAKE THE HERD!” he shouted, galloping towards her. Dunlin turned the mares around and started away.

“Dunlin, what’s going on?” a ginger-colored mare called as she ran.

“Just keep moving!” She could hear the fearful cries of foals.

Dunlin saw Alpha pull ahead of the herd and take the lead. She went to the back to make sure everyone got there safely. She could hear the pounding of hooves behind her and the yell of humans. She looked back and saw a rope flying towards her. It tightened around her neck. She was jerked to a stop and began rearing and thrashing. She bucked and bit, trying to free herself of the rope, but more came around her neck.

* * * * * * * * * *

Dunlin soon found herself in a small corral with tons of other horses around in other corrals. She never stopped her bucking and rearing, galloping and screaming. She wheeled, wild eyes, and glared at the humans. She charged the fence and refused to eat. Anyone who tried to get near her soon found themselves running for their lives.

Many cowboys attempted to ‘break’ her, but Dulin was a lead mare and no one would ever make her listen. Dulin shook her mane and pawed the ground.

The little blond girl was staring at her. Her blue eyes peered into Dunlin’s brown ones and she gently mumbled something. “Back off little foal!” Dunlin snorted, snapping her teeth at the child. The girl didn’t flinch.

“Hi there little pretty!” the girl cooed.

“Hello LITTLE thing yourself,” Dunlin growled. The girl couldn’t understand of course, but Dunlin felt better.

“You interested in that old nag?” A deep male voice asked. Dunlin threw up her head and screamed in rage, then galloped circles around her area. She hated that man. He took her freedom.

“She’s pretty,” the girl breathed. “She’s what we’d call a disastrous maiden. She’s a lead mare we think; the hardest to break.” He shook his head.

“Break?” the girl squeaked in horror.

“You’re telling me!” Dunlin snorted. She slowed to a trot and eyed the man.

“Yeah, nothing else would be fast enough. We got to sell her,” the man said, shaking his head.

“I thought the BLM cared about mustangs…” the girl said in disgust. “How much for the mare?” she asked.

Dunlin narrowed her eyes and reared. She came back to the ground and stomped her hoof in rage. She screamed and snorted and shouted at the top of her lungs. The man walked away with some papers and the girl’s parents. Dunlin stopped and studied the girl. She seemed, well, pleased. Dunlin tossed her mane. She didn’t care what this human was happy about.

Dunlin screamed. “NO!” she shouted. She was being backed into a small metal thing by five men. “NO!” she shouted trying to rear, but she couldn’t.

“BACK! BACK!” The men urged, trying to push her in the trailer. Dunlin tried her hardest to resist, but soon her energy ran out and she gave in.

The ride in the trailer was awful. Dunlin could smell her own fear. She felt the rocking and swaying of the trailer and she wanted out really bad.

When Dunlin got to the family’s ranch, she was as wild and crazy as ever. But the girl was patient, and through hard work she was finally was able to feed Dunlin out of her hand and stroke her neck.

It took a long time for trust to build, but in the end Dunlin became happy with her new life. She still missed her old life, but her new friend was her new herd and they became really close.

Dunlin was even given a new name; Sunset Dreamer.