Hi! Welcome to Peg Tales. A wonderful idea for a story was sent to me by one my readers. She asked me to write about an Appaloosa horse named "Spotlight" and a little girl at the State Fair.

Appaloosa horses are terrific animals, bred long ago by the Nez Perce Indians of northwest Oregon. They are tough horses, very agile and intelligent. They have strong hooves and short, straggly manes and tails. Appaloosas are recognized by the unusual spotted markings that cover their hind quarters.

So, horse lovers, hope you enjoy:

"SPOTLIGHT"

Helen's dad was a veterinarian. In case you don't know, that is a doctor who treats animals. Helen's dad, Dr. Jim Carrigan, specialized in the care of large animals, such as horses, cows, pigs, goats and sheep.

The Carrigans lived in a little town in a farming community. There were lots of large animals for Dr. Jim to look after.

Helen was nine years old, and she loved horses. Sometimes Dr. Jim would take Helen with him when he went to a farm to treat a sick or injured animal.

When it came time for the County Fair, Dr. Jim always volunteered to look after any animals who came to the fair that might suddenly be injured or become sick.

Early one morning, Dr. Jim, Helen, and Helen's mother, Kate, set out for the County Fair. They were going to watch the animals being judged, go on the amusement rides, and visit the farm produce exhibitions.

When they arrived at the fair, Dr. Jim had to check into the emergency and first aid tent. He wanted to make sure he could be called on his beeper, or over the loudspeakers, if there was an animal emergency.

That afternoon, Dr. Jim, Kate, and Helen were sitting in the grandstand watching the Western horses being judged. It had been a quiet day for Dr. Jim, with only one emergency, a goat had gotten its head stuck in the fence around its pen.

An old friend of Dr. Jim's appeared, Jack Danforth, and greeted the Carrigans. He sat down beside Dr. Jim and they talked for a bit. Then Jack said to Dr. Jim, "Doc, there's a horse I'd like to have you check out. It's in a horse trailer out in the parking field. There's a young kid with it, and he has a sign on the trailer, "Horse For Sale". I looked at this horse, and I think it's pretty sick. Skin and bones. Think you could walk out that way?"

"Sure," Dr. Jim said. "If I can help the horse, I'd be glad to. Just tell me where to look for it."

Helen said, "Dad, let me go with you."

Kate spoke up and said, "We'll all go. I'm tired of sitting. Let's all go."

Jack Danforth led them through many horse trailers, trucks, and vans. At the very end of a row of trailers, was a two horse van. A young boy, about fourteen, sat on the ground by the van. He was not very tall for his age, and he was skinny with long hair that stuck out from under a grubby, old baseball cap. He looked up as Dr. Jim approached.

"Hey, young fella'," Dr. Jim called out. "Hear you have a horse for sale."

The boy stood up, yanked his baseball cap down, and looked up from under the brim. "Yeah, sir," he said. "I got a great horse here I'm trying to sell. She's an Appaloosa. I'll get her out of the van so you can see her."

He hustled around to the rear of the van and led the horse out. Dr. Jim drew in his breath and shook his head.

He had never before seen such beautiful markings on an Appaloosa. Her black coat had large, silver spots that covered her hind quarters and across her one shoulder. However, the bone thin body of the horse was sad. Every rib showed and her hip bones stuck out. Her eyes were sunken, and her head hung down as if she had no strength with which to hold it up.

Dr. Jim did a quick examination. Checked out her teeth and hooves, and ran his experienced hands over her body.

"How do you expect to sell a horse that's this skinny, son?" Dr. Jim asked. "I can see you've kept her well groomed, but she's badly in need of good food. What have you been feeding her?"

"Not much, sir," the boy said. "You see, my dad has a farm about fifty miles from here. He's been real sick for a year now, and he's not getting any better. He can't farm anymore. My mom works, but she's not making near enough money to pay form my dad's medicine. I can't buy feed for my horse. I have to sell her." He looked away from Dr. Jim and rubbed his hand over the horse's head.

"What's your name, son?" Dr. Jim asked.

"Frank Gaveston, sir," he said. "The lady who lives the next farm over from ours, let me share a ride in her van. She's showing her horse in the Western class. She's been letting me have food for my horse, but I have to sell her. I named her Spotlight cause her markings glow like spotlights. She's a great ride. Your little girl, there, would have fun riding her. She's real gentle. Loves people."

Helen and Kate were petting Spotlight and scratching her ears. Spotlight nuzzled Helen's cheek and nickered in a soft, loving way.

"See," Frank said. "She's already taken to your daughter, sir. She'd be a nice horse for her."

Dr. Jim told Frank that he was a veterinarian, and asked to listen to Spotlight's heart and lungs. Frank agreed. Dr. Jim listened with his stethoscope, long and hard.

"She seems okay, Frank, but I'd like to do some blood studies."

"Would that take long?" Frank asked. "I have to sell her today."

"How much do you want for her?" Dr. Jim asked.

Frank switched his cap around on his head and shoved his hands into his pockets. "Well, sir, my mom and dad said not to come home with less than five hundred dollars. Those were my orders."

Dr. Jim looked at Kate and Helen. "Let me talk to my family for a second, Frank." Dr. Jim said.

Helen, Kate and Dr. Jim walked to the front of the van. Dr. Jim said softly, "This is a fine mare. She's badly in need of some nourishment, plus a blacksmith could do wonders for her hooves. If properly bred, with her outstanding markings, she could have really exceptional foals. I have some money in savings and she's a real bargain. She's be a great horse for you, Helen."

"Do it, Jim," Kate said. "Buy her. She's beautiful."

"Buy her, please, Dad," begged Helen. "I'll take good care of her. I promise."

Dr. Jim smiled. "Okay, it's a deal. We'll have room for her in our little barn. I'm glad we three agree."

Dr. Jim told Frank he would buy the horse. They arranged for Frank to get his money. That very day Spotlight was loaded into another trailer. that belonged to a friend of Dr. Jim, and taken to her new home.

"The saddest part of the day was watching Frank say goodbye to Spotlight. Frank might have made money, but he lost his best friend.

Dr. Jim promised Frank he would keep in touch, and let him know how Spotlight was getting along.

In the year that followed, Spotlight became a beautiful horse. She gained weight and strength, and she and Helen grew to be real buddies.

Helen began riding her in small, local horse shows. The crowds loved this stunning horse with her unusual spotted coat. She was a real show horse and Helen was becoming a gifted rider.

At first, Dr. Jim kept in touch with Frank. Then, they learned Frank's father had died, and he and his mother had sold their farm and moved away.

Two years had passed and no word from Frank.

Helen was now twelve. She and Spotlight began winning lots of ribbons and trophies in the Western classes they entered. Helen's greatest ambition was to ride in a Western class at the State Fair.

One summer, Helen and Spotlight had earned enough points riding in county fair shows to enter the State Fair Western Classes. The whole family was excited.

Helen's western costume was carefully chosen, and Spotlight was groomed to perfection. When the two of them flashed into the ring at any show, all eyes in the stands were on them. Spotlight's silvery spots glowed against her gleaming black coat, and Helen's black and white western costume made them a perfect picture. They moved together, horse and rider, through all the gaits with great style.

State Fair show time arrived. Helen looked at the other horses that were entered. They were the best horses and riders in the state. Helen was very scared and nervous. This was her toughest show and she would have to work hard to win or even get a third place. Dr. Jim warned Helen before they entered, that winning would be difficult, but the experience would be unforgettable.

Helen was very lucky. She and Spotlight won their first two classes. If she won one more class, then she would compete in the Western Championship Finals.

Helen and Spotlight were perfection. They stood out like true winners. They lined up with the other riders for the final judging.

The judge passed back and forth among them, studying and thinking. Helen's heart raced and she held her breath when the judge came to look at her and Spotlight.

Suddenly, Spotlight's head went up, and she began prancing on one hoof and then the other. She whinnied and lunged forward causing the judge to jump out of her way. Helen pulled on the reins but was unable to control her. She did not know what was wrong with Spotlight.

In the stands Kate and Dr. Jim stood up in alarm. They could see something was seriously wrong. Spotlight had never before behaved like this. They were worried about Helen.

Despite everything Helen tried to do to stop Spotlight, nothing worked. The horse bolted out of the center line-up of riders and sped to the edge of the ring. She stopped and whinnied a great, loud whinny, then stretched her neck over the rail and into the stands.

A young man rushed down the steps from his seat in the stands to the edge of the ring and put his arms around Spotlight's head. It was Frank. Spotlight recognized Frank. From somewhere deep in her memory she sensed her dear friend was in the stands and nothing would keep her from him.

Helen and Spotlight were disqualified from the class. They lost their last and most important class at the State Fair. But there was next year, and they would try again.

The reunion of Frank, Dr. Jim, Kate, Helen and Spotlight made up a thousand times over for not winning at the State Fair.

That's Spotlight's story, dedicated to all the brave kids who have suffered defeat in any sporting event. Hope you liked it. I love getting your letters and story ideas. I try to e-mail an answer to all of you. Maybe your story idea will be next on Peg Tales. Share a story with a friend...it's a gift!

See 'ya...bye,

Peg

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