Forum Discussion

12 years ago

Gilt Sparrows - a Fifty Foal Challenge

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/k5H9EwemPUAcDyhOhjQyJN4NpmBi5UytUalqcVGTevCBmCIn8djFZrsYzcKQEJEestRsQo4T1_iBL6ADlVzVtHYtIKKu8WC9FkylAkw_k7TeKj0_h5A82GHoNRUFovW0HK9qbNCg8bmvd031CDf2GU1b8rmh3-TucnI4vwWfdLdnNz--2HGUM9hH49Jyf8ZZBDL0JIEOd7ZwI4QIubo0kc70RthczCs_6t6bQ7l0luLVEs-ii4NdfsCBHQwpRE9KjANieIXdb6VrPT4UAb8nmyiM3VpAsybWPyjsvMOiLRKfx5_cvVpH-ejYldHMW0nuw600hCtNGw_OkGLFeZycgQfXUVF2o7_qQILdWkiehPlsa0k4m3SRPXeaSkgLltUu31COoiKFhhydSctLDaCxrvd2whcYY9ppINTw5PaYfkYoLqGqeN2ooh6rqNz0OrPEgx4mNOsTr-7yyhPPEmV5MxHFODpFETZ9c6j0w6YOzItgZi0WBuJ70HEBr5V1jvzpfWvctytwxUK7xG0jFmuRS0mjq9DxxcXsw5ttXXq5oqJwiBNFwokV1VLN0cQMnel4LrtuO4q_nQa4yyx4R6YbSUfxm5gp6Zk8ErA237xcTUrG02YSZI2XWNXBcZL-OQpLMVsXqkkqEC4k1JzREXM5pAS6i9GywZWc5wFeojA9QHXt=w782-h602-no

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.

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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.

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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. . .

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

229 Replies

Thrippa
8 years ago
Honeybee, young as she was had a sting, but she could play nicely with her half-brother when she wanted to.

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Morning had all the horses cheerfully enjoying the sunlight. Binky decided to check out the casino, now that he was old enough. He actually won some money at the slots. Wren, meantime, was working on her work outfits. She wasn't thrilled with the one sent by the City Council when she registered as a magician. She had a perfectly good heritage based outfit, after all.

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Mielle, wandering around the grounds, seemed a bit restless, but that may have been from keeping an eye on her spirited filly. Electrum was pleased with both the foals, as long as Honeybee remembered her manners.

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Sailor tended to stay nearer to his mother, except when directly inspired to boldness by Bee. He was also afraid of ghosts. Occasionally one would drift through the fences to visit the ghost gnome, and he would run for momma.

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https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_MfiDYIJ1XR6_duNgcXEiYXIg4iIohOgIwBboYaca6DPbSTi25IdcAmxnbf32t0hcJxwACmoRNEln7ILJ1gHt3e8vRCGB7pWhN7nWf6zDpPpfUJ70RtgEQlOEqCT8WGJNhEY3ANRa6jpZo-JJxe8725Ppy86ofaDc8Ht_IIhqR1UIsIsSuJWqKvaLMxftD24KAjQwzhf6y0bljsnPEvQjrSb-dtj3o1enFC3isv6u32WdDm8Aly2J7v7BswON8KMqyl5LlVAmVEHx1iQCNeqj_rqJhVQNuIr3eZqzZKU8dt_Lqf8h-ubT8wmi6bhgJUlHH2JZaQCp262BDZafpuJjKCejWTINRuBz69tXFt2mu1FWaM9bqjFNvNSgOjVVzYylhoPaw3rgfUq6QZ_W5u4UfQM5srL0Y_Eq56ly0TQOpdMIBzkT_28E8nukCoTUw58spDwZCYZMKYljnJlhOhLHYK0bCKZHUZXWh8e8c7YvwlQkH6ZZ5DCZwgSklxzKeAwYbCRB_cWh05NzTUjUHzB9k0ks8smO04aHA4Dopj7zxENbtG8Im-H7g5XeM8sCNc2wE0J89duLCqPvm1I2kJXrxP6uG_qpebG-MiwJk2u7tO_CIANh0jDcPviprH7BSB5fEgR0HIOB1rU_MUqsXDVDIigrzAewBmLnvs=w857-h622-no

Wren had her first big performance at the local coffeehouse. She opted for the formal outfit, although she'd been practicing her 'magic' for tips in genie costume. It was strange to think that her real magic was not what was wanted at a magic show. The sword act was new; she'd only been doing sleight of hand around town.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/w9wXUSbjafZdQyRfrfXFU8yuEm2tOsGedwfhQsJQ1sdzptnAjTlYSjikp4ycasPN5L4axWILhscabw0GVajGd2q_44Vnmw5mFGEd7W0TI-TI20vJSFlX2wC1eq-9bMEm_oCkKYBMkzTwjuopsCfBdqCQl4JVz3KbuyVxwastyAJYEpEJBthVg4HCZYVdOE8hl7n8dQXpB2j0RgLU8dagSwmMGeJi48_yq8FlU5MG_J5nulSOKIb3WCJ4umMw31stmKhxyY63sZDWVLnGSkVE8KzNn98IS4LhdL4WNbAGq1LQjsDcpETKtW4v3HvZzRL3C_Z8dc-swl8RCKECp4G-JtNKq_qRdsEGvfr6F1iAEejQYGxivaTjPvpBtD0pq8ia1OZSdAL4UssVAwCilZwFWt2kkABxjy57yhRcW0dVJSu97lJ30niqJfDiz3_6JrRJgnd-l3NfTlSjgnEuwtduF8xsrWzV3kDjeLmbUj_uUBwYoBsNizrCSlWNxRZhEo6fIVf16-64nQP-HE8YdNdlmgLhaTBk-Pifo_vVUFZaA4_QHuK3CIPk5MzjJfQVEf7vlO5eiF8STl3C79tQOzWBkVE9c9xruWvkbnrYk4308Ztbzmi6uIyyqbWM5_9peQwMJ0DNi0MOV4wZhh1uZwZNtGTNylYEMjuaoJI=w857-h572-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/lWKR0jHk6-apxhBBmZ-J18QWhVJ1Xo9XWGoTpkWmzgpWgL8edYzhyc1ID3fS5JIio7xPcdBu2IXaSTuRCM0SFglSe-1S53PpXMZjL9Fu1xqvDL7Zh2ZW9AFqPRqiyi5Q4Yq1UShmui_2dHta03ET6wCLZ5xCib0EDZY3_X606JEzHbuioF4UzDpSQqRuBSxzIf5MFOLVIVvUazDt61UPfr_tcxfTQywmBgk92kAbtOf7VIKJ8p1kRAk8nVe1f7JbXSMARyK83dVd1LU-3YrQBnUPB1ddnLSqtj-YTX3iuR0Sxc1LrdvjjxOuDbcsWxgbpRnQxPTOwujHT-luERqSlaE_sXK2XyQzOMjgJq4ktlMoVmn4VropJ7iahHN2YkmWxrHp2AUkuOn3pIueuFHGkcY2DCRrScBCH0Hd5E7qkcKs9hWek9C0_5HQbhyT-_V1dhtAAEG9NEUSuNEnuKF-YgFrfMrROeRasG_D5Qy3EsW09-IaxkxiciEbwgMXyKrh45JRkDplU8JQ33dYGlMOpuffvit1XCW-P9ERHRj_pmNJsn0lFh55zo-ie-8gd6ao1DduGtz7bc3DDlKbkB82fQxsdxCJ6eeAs-phl6CGXtbneqPFRLWIq2Nxlh1uyMzbeBE56QRR3QIrgVydqqqWjav1X0gTZ16RVBE=w857-h518-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/KAODyCFbkhsHMezw6tZVXFIrZwgt-buEN2p6GR1kv3_mopSsBSzystaVAjWwUifWQSrC9eXD7BGVPAIx5-0V3ipG4UQpR0kfojcmgNBW3KnoJl6DyGbPfyt89PwCvAf_fK1Vi0A75kMUCv9CmLWt-BaiTBD1FBLbxnky7iWdoHGW5qR3g8e5yoG_pvMK0Frvydh7dYd3V6rJ8AgfBrmqoaRdzO_n98k2DTXAmuaZ9FxpXT0iGcUrC_yHoG9Kj7-eozhI1qq8Aj4tswWNOe_NXP2o9jKj5HJ-wyfZZCuzix1D37PIWDt2aWqwGeT3fO8NxkMgds5LEdgjOd8JGP6Tod0hAudlkaUjB5fB7TSb3D4wM9FMAVwQsDRgI1Xko_0l0BUf1LAnLY_I3aO9sIKA06I9nqD2EMCD9IE7FcJQdhYxcojrwQ__WoT0uxTzMaBI2Nsghx13Hid8RmeNS3XTnofHQdS1lrlThze7JNS8kJEgjfWHFVQbDpxNfAP2aH5WY-bAI3ZFh1OJ5gQJ6K9Il8tai05-DwxKIlyf06XWJSJfrqllWnS1Cvoniuhwp6rjp2QbjDOqpzFYGt-2LgEMvsbBrV1EtdiYxHa4hxNG95SZJFGjzebMz8ibWjhyee2aCPC1f490MYrM2QLJIFbXMGgLdYFytT2VmP4=w857-h622-no

And a final flourish . . . and she wasn't asked back. Well, she'd keep practicing. If necessary, she'd just outlive the guy in charge.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/vPqzQECh-BsBmhefK78AS26ZpA1M47vhEGlXNau6a5MypfOkGeO--zuKVNmjovjEOYOI_PYQ2dLxZU2hWxnXlywrp0mA5QteoGUhXxffxnZVZP4ErivpHbbTx9WXwunJNWFz-jUQA6n1hqXhPBqUhTMbvZvQ77xnL8U60lJQaJtR_H3Ysya153fxRlXqepleY0VLQIvYTO_L2p9s9BbVjEdpGkHohYbg014g8s2sGOv6km7M4ACeBGCDdK9w9QfiXQxydR5hcwnxNfa48BdzraiJDXLmsi5AR2yzxNAm03b88-f9bVseMJUvaCNqWiD74-zYK8a9Rj2C8HnG7B04F6klSO9k_EEtpX23hscfBu4ScGKezR9KcMQoEZXNt2jQgHUF5jPXKyzzX_slMk6mqupb2ONN9C2rofACg77OGq2Uhg2vMv01FfcalTbRoG5X7IZCQMiNAGRECHfqMfjjhiA9dGK9vKr3rV03oOl5jQjWxDPPpYzw9huVNOxiGZq_PZiE9ExckFbzl6qEhnu7eEBtJzwzkFX_4Vf0arlOTgVO-y1K49bgI3u09AAoOO3ULaAzBZq5owqYBMadFwh72pyt-FdXbWuEQZVfoc8Qvxim8KuejjQpDU9oyB8UMJ7VFx1Dr3oX0loEdTBaAH9DDp7Ufcnm03IZDkc=w857-h638-no
ElijahsBabyGurl
8 years ago
Whoo awesome post! I absolutely love Sailor <3 I can hardly wait for him to grow up. He is beautiful! May I use him in my challenge? He'd make an excellent stud for my Paint mare Tamarinde. I have also restarted my 50 Foals challenge using my Wyseheart family. You can find my thread. Check it out if you like. I'm looking forward to more!
Thrippa
8 years ago
You are welcome to use him, or any of the others. Once he's grown and trained, I'll put him up on the first page list.

I'll look out for your challenge.
AvalonJewell
8 years ago
Trippa great update i can't believe i missed it!!
Skipper is a gorgeous mare, i chuckled at her up not wanting to go outside and leaving a puddle lol.

Love how Blinky is a magician great job, can't wait for the next update :)

I love your striped series stunning horses and foals <3 And Zipper well he has my heart ;)
Thrippa
2 years ago
.

The future looked bright, but disaster loomed. Mielle's restlessness proved to be the first sign, and while it faded by nightfall, the palomino mare woke in distress.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AJFCJaXyGQtynzwDpusotp6TFGPWp9bO3COhQbHdnA4qlJVTvbvZWqN_SzFYsWjs09g05oOV7glF4hrMz1QZ3fbQc2jOgWxq1RySWSCRuLlkqdr_u7YB2_86t8ZohUWojDa_6dCAMEgZrYJOMHOtS9IbhYIC=w1205-h889-s-no?authuser=0

When Wren came home, flushed with the success of her show, she heard the mare calling from the stable. Released into the yard, the mare walked stiffly, pawing the ground. Wren ran for her mother.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AJFCJaVLquuD5OuljPCJcPcLpor8jxGS4DL9nXBTx5B1yCOIya4a3xbNRaeyhoRps1LxvIfDo-D1jU8KPVbK_8O_fwoXMYdF4D30Lg-qOOioiXM1JJda_zHsQuVOCpleuRoOVlLSGAsIVOV2M4ye6IepmzKS=w897-h693-s-no?authuser=0

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AJFCJaUjESr7O4QIiDOoN-3AfPNSBAzEL7RP-IXTiY-iqERZwC7i9QfFTToCuwqu9LXgDfKg4UwIqUuylM2IagUL9Ne_NgLUimSL7s-97kHeC2Lv13QM0jDF6wnzCNccWzh8l4b1FAelt-nTrNWEuqvao5HG=w1121-h763-s-no?authuser=0

They ran out to see Mielle go down, rolling in distress. Katie sent Wren to call the vet NOW! and ran to haul the mare to her feet. Mielle did NOT want to walk!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AJFCJaW-UWnZ8VfBDA5_MLkkfXDDmzdfIw_pLjRCSDaVSpFcQspfS3W2RFNWlIM6l7-bJW2FJWG_IQT5EQ7BFXGq4h6JUUrJt0Feu_Mkv-NZxXUaRFJWHql_qmMZ1Z_8M3msnVKh7Zn_hPFf0GdDeq-8tGZB=w995-h809-s-no?authuser=0

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AJFCJaWB6fL25Hp8VG10xYy07SDS4Yd-6kEwh5AX27AZ5IyZ-71uWcfBydinWpXF9oPsVi-LyUUhB-HFGy5o9LX3d-f58VhT_8kxRFcS3LxyixtM6K50axUm0LkIIhIqAR9ttQJjbtYdbKrLF6g4w_7jXqhW=w1023-h729-s-no?authuser=0

Katie insisted, and Mielle walked . . . and walked. Every time she dropped her head, Katie hauled it up. Binky and Everett brought her umbrella and stood in the rain for moral support, but she wouldn't relinquish the mare to anyone else.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AJFCJaUU8cz1fx3xwl04wFxrfnEp00xKpR45zCPLpie5o7JzU_lt8VF_Q4vOateMaI2N7Q0jvgiaa2c_T0BUNagqmyomy3oO3pzrVeLGksX8Fde75CmhnnpSKCg5dQXvHPqos6cn0yNBHTBZK37N32L_rDTt=w1069-h639-s-no?authuser=0

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AJFCJaUf7UjiSrpLt_fhzZGWVjKnC6OskGmZ8kDDtGcrO-6WErgMZnSI6p5uaxRq9ZQX5m2_FZMS8Px9G4lywADkxPd8MWp7L0pqZKXOSJIyTCc488MyFnuaQw1xnUj0t-c1YbhGmT4l2VMQgyJMF_qtVOZo=w953-h613-s-no?authuser=0

Ages later, the vet arrived, took one look at the mare and looked grim. After a brief examination, he administered pain medication and loaded her into his horse van. Surgery was discussed, "grave prognosis", and Wren went to the barn to check on Honeybee. Mielle was taken off to the veterinary school, which was fortunately in the next town. Katie and Everett followed the vet in a taxi.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AJFCJaXtee8TFHYda4JQ4zc_abAuZsBlcQ3bwjjv8410udShlH7nG7OXSS2APlJtYbHQ2qZL62xyKWyfP5mZUlB9tDdpLjw46J74h7Sgq23JW8ndFaphj9i91bOwqrhAjgOqAbA5PSs3dwnSpmOfZ_aOe5UI=w1089-h617-s-no?authuser=0

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

That's almost the last of the pictures I had. Unfortunately, I failed to look closely enough at the saves on my USB drive before I wiped the drive on my old computer - they were a year older than the last save ON the computer. I've nearly reconstructed things - Marcie has a new finish, and Binky had to be turned into a real boy again three times before he looked right. But we will be resuming the story with the last two pictures, and some new ones.
texansky
Seasoned Ace
2 years ago

@Thrippa
I guess I'm not the only one to resurrect an old challenge. :smiley: When I get time, I'll read your story from the beginning.
Thrippa
2 years ago
I wasn't sure anyone would notice this! I hope you enjoy it when you have time.
Thrippa
2 years ago
Mielle was rushed into surgery. Katie and Everett alternately paced the waiting room and rebuked the other for pacing the waiting room. Wren and Binky made arrangements to board Honeybee and the adults at the Equestrian Center - Bee needed someone to feed her, needed at least one familiar horse with her for company, and it was easier to just deliver the whole quartet, just in case an extended stay was in the cards. (Little did anyone guess what was in the cards).

By the time the younger Sparrows arrived, the parents knew that Mielle's prognosis was not good - GI rupture of as-yet-undetermined cause, and resultant peritonitis. After a sleepless night, they learned that she had not survived the surgery. With great sorrow they went home to a completely unexpected shock:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AJFCJaXdg-msmZfF8uYgp2hVRqvJe73jYlOqgzbxiiVOuquB4AN5QI69rGTaiU4sSjkrY3OI31RAb4gyoAWJPyP4DNFXl1u7xJE_GjNKV4EpY2DMldavvYdwAR6rTpncDJNNbv9qk8L1msTT2N7yH0_9DBaC=w1331-h749-s-no?authuser=0

A space ship had crashed onto their property! The stable was flattened - thank goodness ALL the horses had gone to the EC! - the house was mostly gone, the pool and fields were buried. The Space Force arrived just a few moments after the Sparrows did and took control of the site.
Fortunately, another property was available, already walled and Katie spared no expense in getting a new stable built while the family stayed in a hotel. The horses were soon returned to their own - if a new - property.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AJFCJaUTnp2KiyQFwj47Jz0SnCPL-Brwt3WiG1PZHkZDnjRAPrgKYow8nlgyy1frBkqXo_OHN6Wb_pyZT-JAM6Vszuf35QlPd9Z3GCiAZz-HbjwiWv5Ys5VYjRM3NcsZKa4Xdbr0qKx-3qXzqvehOgRxtCnf=w1331-h749-s-no?authuser=0

Electrum took over the role of mother for his somewhat difficult daughter.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AJFCJaVV1o740JpM6A7Q-BuKNxIfinZJxkceVobZOONl_c1JWu0eJhb81Y21Bx4o7DsWV3XQo58LfraGD5Yz1qYlTfDX2scGd2pQoLDD4M-2e5OnKY6L1Rh1t3MwU68uof9JJU0XtU4Wjiy5VOdmzD6zza3o=w1331-h749-s-no?authuser=0

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AJFCJaUx70WSnmUCPAbVR2CurotvWsICg6ldGhO28BZ5tzOplEyyyfM-VKT3hlIyib3DNTyt8n7bR2mOHdAXCz2kLYS0Ovzfz1N531CCyshPD_LpmJCem1Gr3CY37pVcPX4-tMkshuXoEUniuJY_SSes5gDS=w1331-h749-s-no?authuser=0

Skipper had her own foal and little interest in being Bee's mother. And of course Katie and her family still had to feed the filly.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AJFCJaX84QAzI3xh9qByitZtxs1jOPmXOFb2cyLNPql7__PDtgNBZfR6cBwuUICkprMyrJCsW3JYhof1bfvHX6Sg2VcNPJk5beY0i64hdF8uUPMZPMa2_P6GeAi3Kn4hSlBNSSk139RO_T8XgLWwkcDOXY2P=w1331-h749-s-no?authuser=0

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AJFCJaWbWJ8gj6Klm3XVmoxSSyzPGcv61xzL1kuA-2hIn1w2_4f-uSoqfa5Irzcfg4p5EdupNNpRXjm1KE_jrO1K4dOmr-EWl6dkxbu5Nkl6L1ngfE_YUX72vzsd5r9evReIh5Z63_RX9K0P-nM_DWJ15UvU=w1331-h749-s-no?authuser=0
Jadeleine
Rising Ace
2 years ago
This challenge was so much fun. Still following, have this bookmarked.