Forum Discussion

12 years ago

Gilt Sparrows - a Fifty Foal Challenge

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Recently, several areas in the vicinity of Appaloosa Plains have been hit by outbreaks of a mysterious, lethal horse disease. To the dismay of horse owners all over the region, it was discovered that all the affected horses were infected with a new strain of trypanosomes, carried by tsetse flies. The flies were caught in survey traps, and the hunt is on for the source of the deadly disease, which (along with the flies) is native to Africa. While biologists look for the source, and vaccine companies try to pull together a vaccine, Katie Sparrow aims to try a genetic cure - breeding her platinum zebra stallion to as many mares as possible. As a zebra, he is naturally resistant to the disease, and his stripes tend to keep away biting flies of many species. Combined with his unusually friendly nature, Katie hopes to found a line of disease resistant, striped foals, to carry the resistant genes into the local horse populations.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/yWb486IFMH8ynD-w8q27U2w4375KvgH5ktOoWj-ABXjuploaq3oFx8z4Lb6iPjwuAN_h95OuA0Czg34-qDu3RyYcGX_-N-1wjvtZ51WC_CWSerHMgbQqUJ-jsWiRRQg5Rs8Me_E3ElrugijfKC_r2HzMJbdV9-g7erTqcMQU7hUKKoAyDN4dYmEn-qN8N7pq_8TEKx_O2evh8ubPPaQ5fko79C2jA3zHHiIk7AhlziRRCt4YzRxYfnpjF4gkMhWnaGCn37xX7Ps_D4bsGDrk5rChriGSzh4yE_7iDRLxPngar1ScLS_m5c76KGfOAzrMW3goFToCJ3_dicaM-ZC3wW9eChypbcrSMNXzaauG8SEp0l4zisqi89QrvOzzBIpmYy5pLlxWpGfH_kpBmCrqY-FrvGU95OelDndYP3Mpcg6gFVdlkl0CHIJOE0gZq7pWTieyRAAMx6n87oYXUe7rXjkzztU40sw422_VT1a4Zs-tRijZN4ucP2CPEHn5vu5oQy1ub4e-Ln-_DhDvtVGMxU6ClXh5tKT98oh8HQpYXr3t38GGTr-Ot7mydsZsCmAvXYViBcGzABEfllIbG9ZDrcpPaZxsMWBazfa7sA0datrdibfh1_GtmqrTsWL4hg0UAlP7XHvUUm6pZH1Bvt3yx0INNSY2m3nsPw=w857-h589-no

Arriving in Appaloosa Plains, Katie gets an immediate invitation to a Meet 'N Greet, where her pale stallion is greatly admired. "But, you're not likely to get many interested mare owners yet. With an untried stallion, you need to get his name out there in competitions, and probably start by adopting a mare or two so you can show off a few foals to prove he can pass on his traits."

Recognizing good advice, she returns to her apartment over the barn to start planning.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/QoFBh9x9vtqA_I8jwqOzSGlZu-PJwYOdHn47-pIns8vxBOt_XUGYXWPqm1gGpfkqtrCTBgvx7pSUJqSJmkbblrwm99xoqkESEcnxrucMZz5yEutcGcVblOKep33y-9Ds7bZMrmMIWPcTtQr9GrCCrJHgPlt3g2pniVpYvKCmBaqkCuiXo-PmC341k-qvfFO-mS9OcG058AYaPxACmY-mTz_LSV3FGRK8wdW15odhw0leIWb3p3xDxdhWOShsvEx1RZMhb4NRPQZFC_k1cJzyzUfmhE6A_qn-K07HOfPByS1dNrSMKbJENIVbxPwgkhhVglHMjNg2QyjufHmNBpgkDGVcSYGc6i-XvyDApH8pmfylWSy2kYXomSx1CDguoPn9rMwfP5p-zAvbSq30fk6EKmARdMAwwPvn0XhJrpoJvJJudhXi_3BpuiwgtJj-TI2ktIYqByd0tkXS4J3tA0czMZ1PY8tdwp1ZTtcm9c4v2M_1O6f9jC-EO_HiI-tSQ6K4z7pPkuT-7_CvbkdoTMKO5dWEx9GSiGeEyVpUaFYo0e4bcXRPyaEdyqod2yRKTahEjnV1TlIkWNIrCW_Seu4enhSeAhbLKFMIwJLWazViOek0k4SZb6yQyP_x62zWVMvzD0rhRAxq_LiuZ1uc8IwtQkn71LEAWKdcPbGAyn6rGrdT=w857-h535-no

A bit bare, but it covers the essentials. As soon as breakfast was done, she got in touch with the adoption agency - to discover that there were no adult mares available. "With the recent epidemic, we've had a run on rideable horses. However, we have a lot of orphaned foals for the same reason; can we interest you in one of those?"

Katie selected a pinto named Baconbits, and went down to train Electrum while she waited for the foal to arrive. . .

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/MQgBSGbNUUMhO-VK3pXdGK-W1I6CpHHlHDnXsDUpUkESNJo_vmf800VCXstrKqBa6vruChNXn-2ZUF-N6wrI9bfmvFysunOYcUFyoxsiCvBZzWxG1MxpbDBpdDmk89Yp6q6kC0EapNjsv6Ax2mb3z96DKuGVaErFSnMux4TM8ZKQKH2reU1mk0Ze0n34IieYi-OjyCiHC7YCSfzoOQbfnqx2PkAfKsbao6DakwYPzBfyJx3oUBJhMLrFbKdOCnNGoT3DJO48XQW2IF-rQpv-ZXGIwX8Jnt9gDZGJIFEivVPSqznXcV8a8yzdzK5J790y_pv_YLPQKUsnIgXBxG0fhYkvz5aZilr7CPkCB1JknILCyMSFYBgqgwKLTH4Hz0kKKa0yZmrlD1iX3E4QQpiSSBFfE_g2bBUefzhKlhEh1QT4D0GF8Dzs5WCnBDJFTCYPcDDqRPB7JaJ6toyogSwMWGTQvJWHYSmYE5flaMO83QVZ1VO9NIM6gDw4kjLs72CbhBHi9vqpuefAC5-RfvPpUQJ1FDhlOghWbm0tiJZVhPn4VWIIoAzT8FtStkfFNwXl-Gk5-xN-H7XHDyMW5M1GSONQ75T3QLPEkMBz4DgdQtGTy7nw-1dKRAJCQA5I_c5ZkTi7R9i9VQ7fQpKayo5PElgtlJMmqrfaUOnifTGRHqte=w816-h567-no

This isn't a foal! Baconbits arrived as an adult - and instantly aged into an elder!

Thrippa
12 years ago
Rather put-out by the gray-muzzled mare she'd received instead of the requested filly, Katie put the horses to bed and then went herself. The next morning she made another adoption request, and this time did, in fact, receive a filly.

Cognac wasn't as brightly colored as Baconbits, but she was young enough to grow into a broodmare. And Bacon was happy enough to play mama while Katie worked on training Electrum. Running was a delight to the stallion - after all, zebras on the savannahs depended on speed to escape lions and wild dogs, but the whole jumping over objects struck him as rather pointless. So Katie focused first on the running, and soon was bringing home trophies.

Along with trophies came prize money, and the apartment began to look more like a home than a campsite. And with Katie's persistent training, Electrum's jumping improved. Then one day it clicked, and the stallion discovered the true joy of flying over high-set poles without touching them! Jumping courses were added to the evening competitions, and a second collection of trophies was begun.

Baconbits was not forgotten. Katie trained her as well, discovering that she had a fair pop over jumps, even if her speed was failing. When Cognac grew up, Katie took the old lady for one last training session before handing her over to her new owner - a neighborhood girl who needed a tolerant horse to learn on. When she got home . . .

. . . she discovered that Electrum and Cognac had gotten to know each other much better. She was delighted to learn soon after that Cognac was expecting. She was less delighted to see mice fleeing from a hole chewed in the feedbag. Back to the Adoption Center.
Thrippa
12 years ago
Thanks! I've got sneak-peeks at two already, but I'm looking forward to see what the rest look like myself!

----------------------------

As soon as Katie got up the next morning, she put in a call to the adoption center. "Oh, yes, we have just the thing for you! Someone brought in a litter of barn-kittens this morning; their parents are wonderful hunters and they're already used to big animals. We'll bring one right over!" Soon after, Electrum discovered a strange creature outside his stall.

Which made a very loud noise!

Autumn Leaves, as advertised, was not in the least put out by her massive companions, and quickly showed them she could yell just as loud as they could. (Noisy and Hyper is an interesting combination. Just as well she can't climb the ladders to the loft apartment.) Within a few days, there was a new addition somewhat closer to her size:

Katie was a bit disappointed that Champagne didn't have a stripe on him, but he had his sire's pale coat and, oddly, one pink patch around his eye. He was infuriatingly camera shy, so when she went down to the Equestrian Center, she could only show side views or rumps disappearing out of frame. "I had a cat growing up that you couldn't take a picture of, but never a horse!" She hoped he'd outgrow it. But now that the foal was born, it was time to start some serious training of his dam, Cognac.

Unfortunately, the monsoon season arrived at the same time. Between working her two adult horses and maintaining the grounds, Katie wondered if she'd ever be dry again.
Thrippa
12 years ago
While Katie was getting drenched working with her horses, Autumn Leaves grew into a lovely cat, and began seriously practicing her hunting.

No ball of yarn is safe in THIS barn! More importantly, the mere presence of the cat was enough to persuade the mice that the haystack outside was more comfortable, even if damper. The construction probably helped.

With the steady income from Electrum's competition wins, Katie had two more stalls er, installed, and the bath area became a proper bathroom. Two sinks, one for each room, and an improved stove for cooking made it seem more like proper living quarters. In addition, the steady income elevated Katie herself up the ranks of Horsewomanship.

As usual, Katie was out competing with Electrum when Champagne grew up. At least his mother was there to cheer him on. He shows off the plump zebra body and tasseled tail. Mother Nature celebrated with a vicious thunderstorm, panicking even the placid zebra.

Even with Katie on his back, Electrum clearly feared for his life. Fortunately the next morning - the last day of fall, dawned bright and clear for a family portrait before Katie rode Cognac off to sell. (Notice Champagne is still turning away from the camera!)

Edited to put Champagne's adult pic back in - it disappeared when posted. I told you he was camera-shy! :roll: (Actually the problem was EA censoring the pic title. Sheesh.)
Thrippa
12 years ago
Having gotten a nice price for Cognac, Katie inspected the horses for sale at the Center. The several stallions were no use to her, nor a couple of gray-muzzled mares, but there was one bright-eyed beauty in the group - a lovely silver dapple Welsh cob mare. She was utterly untrained, and her purchase price was about a quarter of what Katie had received for Cognac, so she went to fill out the paperwork. As it turned out, the mare couldn't be taken quite yet, but Katie was assured she'd be ready to take home in the morning. So, Katie took a taxi home to pick up Electrum, who could use a bit more road work and rode downtown to the science lab, which shared space with the Appaloosa Plains General Hospital.

Shortly before Champagne grew up, the vet had pulled a blood sample and submitted it to the lab for testing. Although the white colt lacked the stripes that might discourage tsetse flies, Katie was hoping his blood included antibodies that would be resistant to the disease they carried. To her great delight, she now learned that this was the case. Her plan had that much merit, at least: her zebra stallion could sire foals that could resist trypanosomes. The next town over had recently had four horses die, so the threat was still very real. Winter was right around the corner, and everyone was praying that the winter would kill the flies. Without vectors the parasites could not be spread, and the other horses would be safe.

Winter really was right around the corner! The next morning Katie rode a rather skittish Electrum through knee-deep snow to the Equestrian Center to pick up the new mare. (He did NOT approve of the way the snow stung his belly at each step!) The ride home was easier, as he was more interested in the mare ponying alongside than the strange white stuff. It did seem to encourage his jumping, though, as if he wanted to keep his feet out of the snow as long as possible. Competitions at the Center became more erratic as the snow often prevented competitors from traveling in. Electrum made good use of the rest . . .

. . . having long discussions with Cameo about the joys of water sprinklers. :shock: Nor was Cameo the only new arrival. Howard Jansen, one of the scientists at the lab who was also a devoted horseman, was impressed with the zebra's racing skills and with the fact that at least one of his foals had some protection from the new disease. "I just don't trust that the flies will all be wiped out, like some people think. I've got a nice mare, and I'd like to breed her to your stallion. Unfortunately, I don't have room to raise a foal, so I'll pay you to board them both and train the foal when it's born." Katie was delighted. Not only was this proof that her name (or Electrum's) was getting around, it was a steadier source of income and one could never have too many horses, right?

Coincidentally, Blue Moon was also a silver Welsh cob, but a rare blue silver rather than the classic silver dapple. Katie was immediately in love, and knew that it was going to be very difficult to part with this mare when the time came. But she could certainly enjoy her for now!

But there were other chores to be done, so she reluctantly left the new arrival and fetched Champagne from his stall. While Cameo and Electrum continued their chat,

she brushed him down, picked out his hooves - both of which he'd been accustomed to since baby-hood - and then put a saddle on him for the first time.

For the first day she just led him around to get used to the feel, but soon enough she was on his back. Champagne had his sire's good nature, so while he found this human behavior strange he didn't object too much. And the treats in her pocket soon overcame any thought of bad behavior. And with the money that was coming in from boarding the new mare (plus the stud fee) she remodeled the barn completely.

The apartment now ran most of the length of one side, with doors at either end leading to the ladders. A walled off bathroom separated a reading area from the kitchen and bed. A railing prevented accidents, while permitting her to look over the edge into all four of the stalls now down below, and a couple of wash stalls were added at one end, while the tack and trophy 'rooms' were enhanced at the other. Autumn Leaves was queen of the tack room when she was in the barn, which wasn't often. She took her job as head huntress very seriously, viciously attacking empty chip bags, old snakeskins, and the occasional autumn leaf.
Thrippa
12 years ago
The next morning, Katie was wakened by much neighing in the training field. Somewhat bleary-eyed, she sat up - and noticed that at least two of her horses were downstairs in their stalls. "So why do I hear four voices? Wait - none of my horses have that deep a neigh!" She grabbed a coat and boots and scrambled down the ladder and out the barn door.

A herd of wild horses was cavorting about the lot. The deepest voice belonged to a grey stallion with an upright mane. A younger, reddish stallion was weaving around the jumps, while a black mare stood in deep conversation with Autumn Leaves. The fourth member of the group, a bay pinto mare, was 'talking' with Cameo, the only Sparrow horse currently outside. Gradually the others emerged from the barn, emboldened by Katie's presence. Finally the wild ones had had enough fun and headed out and away. Katie couldn't stop thinking about the two mares as she went about her grooming and cleaning chores. Then back to training Champagne.

The clever colt learned fast, and while he was still fairly green, Blue Moon's owner had spread the news about his trypanosome resistance. Several people competed to buy him, and he brought in $8000 with his sale. And Cameo showed a mare's usual perfect timing.

Katie came home to find this lovely baby lying next to her mother.

(Baby blue-eyes!) Lucy Locket, was very much her mother's daughter, except for a white leg and the blue eyes, but was much too cute for Katie to be disappointed by her not being striped either.
Thrippa
12 years ago
A few days after Locket was born, Katie got a call from the adoption agency. "We've picked up a neglect case, but our barns are full. Could you handle an extra mare? We've had her vetted and dewormed, and her hooves trimmed. She needs feeding up, mostly, and we'll provide you with instructions on how to do that safely. Could you take her?" Katie said yes, of course, and Smokedance was delivered.

The mare was appallingly thin, and a bit skittish. Katie spoke soothingly to her until the wild look cleared from her eyes. Then she caught sight of Cameo and Locket, and seemed reassured by the presence of other horses.

Cameo for her part made the blue roan welcome enough. She wasn't a possessive mother. Electrum, of course, was of the opinion that all mares were his by right, and this one had just had a delayed arrival to the herd. Katie, looking over the feeding instructions, was glad that Smokedance had arrived in winter. "Don't have to worry about you overeating on fresh grass," she told the mare, surveying the foot-deep snows. "I suppose you can stay out with the others while I set up a stall for you." She'd need to actually clean the extra stall down to bare mat, until she could be sure the mare wouldn't try to eat the shavings she usually bedded the horses with.

That night, while the horses dozed below (except for Smokedance, who alternately rattled her empty hayrack and attempted to reach through the stall bars to get at Electrum's hay) a Zenyatta came in from the bitter cold and curled up on the bathroom tiles.

The strange gnomes were a mystery to Katie; they appeared on her farm and seemed to migrate from place to place of their own accord. The science lab periodically announced they were buying them, and she'd round up a few and take them in. Since they averaged $1000 apiece, she figured they were well worth the effort.

That was the last really cold night though, and in a few days the snow was gone and the ground was greening. With the funds earned from Electrum's competitions and Champagne's sale, Katie hired a crew to come out an fence in her farm to prevent the horses straying.

Inside, the barn got a spring sprucing with whitewash and green paint,and a trophy case was installed.

Katie Sparrow's zorse-breeding program was ready to face a new year.
Thrippa
12 years ago
There was a rumor going around the Equestrian Center that the wild horses were sheltering from the spring rains near the water treatment plant, but every time someone went to look, they weren't there. Katie waited until a rainy evening when the horses would probably stay put until morning, then headed out that way. She had the cabbie let her out well clear of the plant, and hiked up the road as quietly as possible. And there they were!

It was the same herd of four that had come to visit during the heavy snows. An older stallion with two mares and a younger stallion that would probably be driven out fairly soon. (Although where he would go around Appaloosa Plains was a question. Katie hoped he wouldn't get into trouble trying to steal mares.) She spent a long, damp evening watching them before slipping away into the night.

And, of course, Lucy Locket grew up while she was out.

She was a pretty young mare, very similar to her dam except for mane and tail color. She had also inherited the zebra antibodies, although Katie hoped she wouldn't need them. Everyone in town who owned horses was waiting for word of a new case of trypanosomiasis and hoping the flies had all been killed by the cold, snowy winter. Katie saddled up Cameo and headed for the EC to sell her and pick up the most recent news. But first a quick family photo.

Electrum made use of his free time by paying court to Blue Moon. This was just as well, since the first report of a sick horse was whispered around the EC. By the time the newspaper reported the confirmed case of trypanosomiasis, three more horses were known to be ill with presumptive cases. Several people began discussing breeding their mares to Electrum, and negotiating stud fees.

Lucy Locket proved a more stubborn trainee than her half-brother, dancing away from the saddle and holding her head too high for bridling. Finally Katie caught her and had a long, whispered talk. After that the young mare was much more compliant, which was good because several people were already asking after her.

With Cameo sold and the steady income from not only Electrum's competitions but Blue Moon's boarding fees (plus the occasional stud fee to an outside mare), Katie decided it was time for a break, and went to the summer festival. (Amazing how time flies!)

First a drenching game of water balloons,

then zipping around the skating rink to dry out. She wasn't certain what to make of the two locals bounding around the rink, though.

Autumn Leaves went to the fair too, but found no other kitties to play with. Katie got home to see that Electrum had opened a gate and was cantering up the street. She jogged after him and finally caught up at a vacant property that wasn't vacant any longer. A truly gorgeous mare was all saddled up at the gate, and the older of the wild stallions had somehow gotten into the field and was trying to get out.

She opened the gate to let the wild horse out and rode Electrum home. Then she returned to find the mare now unsaddled, and went up to the house to introduce herself and ask about the blue dun mare.
Thrippa
12 years ago
To Katie's surprise, when she knocked once on the door, it swung open. "Hello?" she called.
"Don't mind that, the latch sticks," said the man emerging from one of the back rooms. "I was looking for something to knock it loose with. My name's Bill Pecos; I just moved here with my mare, Wolfe. Come on in out of the wet, I was just getting ready to make some dinner." Katie hid a smile at how he was chattering and came in, introducing herself. Bill rattled a screwdriver around the latch plate and closed the door again, then tugged the handle. It took a few tries, but finally the door stayed shut when he pulled. Then he bustled into the kitchen and started preparing a meal.

Katie settled on the couch and talked to him while her worked. (He'd refused assistance when she offered.) Bill was a horse lover too, and very proud of his silver Wolfe. He was well aware of the tsetse/trypanosome issue, and most interested in her description of her project. "And you say the first two foals are actually resistant to the disease? That's amazing!"
"Well, they're supposed to be, according to blood tests. I didn't actually infect them with the parasites to confirm it."
"Oh, no, of course not. And the next foal is due soon? May I come see your horses after it's born?"
"Sure, it's due any day now," Katie said,

unaware that the new colt was already there. After dinner, she thanked Bill and went home to discover her late-summer Harvest Moon.

Meanwhile Bill put on a tux and went out to ride in the rainy darkness. :shock:

Katie also discovered how famous she was locally - even the raccoons know her name!
She got home to find the new colt following Autumn Leaves around.

She gave the cat a hug, checked on all the horses, and went up to bed. In the bright morning light she got an excellent picture of Harvest with his mother, and of a Zenyatta race.

****************************************

And one more picture because I thought it was funny, although I had to enable testing cheats to teleport her back to solid ground:

Smoke(dance) on the water!
Thrippa
12 years ago
Now that there was a new foal on the ground and another soon to be on the way, Katie turned her attention toward training Locket for sale. However, even at her maxed-out riding skill, things did not always go smoothly.

Bill had invited her over again that night. She had accepted gladly, although was not impressed with his housekeeping when she arrived; the previous night's leftovers were moldering on the counter while he bustled about making a new meal.

He insisted he was interested in learning more cooking as they watched TV. Katie told him about the new foal, and he was eager to come see the herd. Since she lived almost across the street from the county fairgrounds, they arranged to meet at the fair, and then she'd walk him over to her barn and show off the horses. So, the next day, while one of the Zenyattas was at play, Katie went to the fair early, to play some games herself.

When Wolfe trotted through the fairgrounds, Katie realized Bill must have arrived, and went to look for him and escort him to the farm. He was most impressed with the current herd. Electrum maintained a suitably grave dignity as he was introduced as the herd stallion, then promptly ducked his head and waggled his ears to beg for a carrot. Lucy Locket didn't beg, but nuzzled the visitor cheerfully while Bill exclaimed over her blue eyes and the shading on her mane and tail. He tactfully kept a distance from Blue Moon and her newest colt, but was clearly impressed with them as well. Lastly, Katie brought out Smokedance, who had put on enough weight to be merely 'very thin'. "I don't think I've ever actually seen a horse with a Gulastra plume before," commented Bill. "That's really neat." Katie had never heard of a Gulastra plume, and said so. "You see how her tail is white, even though she's clearly a blue roan," he explained. "One of the sabino genes - not one of the ones there's a test for - seems to cause white tails on horses that should have black ones, often without any other markings. It's called a Gulastra plume because a famous Arabian by that name sired a lot of foals that had it. So it will be interesting to see if her foal inherits it." The two went up the ladder and Katie gave a tour of the loft and made dinner. Meanwhile an odd 'conversation' was going on down below.

(Harvest Moon doesn't like cats, and Autumn Leaves doesn't like autumn leaves. Or her own name?)
Thrippa
12 years ago
The first day of fall arrived, and the farm was busy. Autumn Leaves was on the prowl, protecting the horses from vicious cardinals. (Can't trust those bright red birds, you know!)

Meanwhile Katie steered Electrum to the top of his jumping skill, a fine feat for a stallion who originally objected to the very idea of jumping. No qualms about it now, though!

The pair then crossed from the ranch to the EC and won the Advanced jumping and cross-country trials. That evening Katie and Bill celebrated the landmark with a rousing pillow-fight.

The next morning Katie's new washer and dryer were delivered. With her first load of laundry she found a strange bear in the dryer, that she was quite sure wasn't hers. Perhaps it was a purchase gift?

That afternoon she went to the graveyard; she'd been hearing a lot about spooky adventures in the crypt and wanted to check them out. Unfortunately, she had stayed up too late pillow-fighting, and had to take a nap once she got there. When a rainstorm woke her, she finally entered the crypt.

The rain was excellent for the new plants in the front yard, though. Along with the washer and dryer, she'd applied Electrum's earnings to some landscaping and yard furniture.

Someone approved of the new table and was stargazing. (Later a Zenyatta took over the table and started a permanent nap. :lol: )

And, in the barn when Katie returned - a new, STRIPEY foal! Smokedance's filly was named Sundance for her bright color, and her cheerful disposition.

A stripey zorse at last! :D :D