Going to the stables

Going To The Stables

Zion W. Watt

Copyright Š 2010 The Sagata Group All rights reserved.

ISBN-13: 978-1460938867

DEDICATION This book is dedicated to my parents, Joy and Hamet, to my grandparents, Brenda and Pape, to my uncle Tij, to aunt Ali, to my friends, and to my cousins in Texas, in Louisiana, in Alabama, in Georgia, and in Senegal.

CONTENTS Acknowledgments

i

Preface

3

I

To The Capital

5

II

To The Stables

33

III

Looking For Happy Horse

59

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Our first acknowledgment go to Pape who took Zion to visit Washington DC and suburban Maryland. Pape took the pictures, wrote the text and arranged for the publication of the book.

Zion and Pape want also to thank Mrs. L. Loken who contributed her time to edit the book. They are also grateful to Zion’s parents Joy and Hamet, to Mrs. K. Kane, and to Pape’s friends at the Coffield Community Center, for making useful comments and for helping in correcting the mistakes. Zion and Pape thank the staff, the trainers and the instructors of Meadowbrook Stables. And thank you, the reader for sharing our pleasurable adventure.

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PREFACE Zion lives in Los Angeles, California with his father and his mother. His grandfather lives in another state far away, in Maryland. He calls his Grandfather, Pape. Two years ago, when Zion was three years old, Pape went to Los Angeles for his birthday, and gave him as a birthday gift a book about “Happy Horse”. The book was written by one of Pape’s neighbors. Happy Horse is a real horse that lives in stables near Pape‘s house in Maryland. Each time Pape travels to Los Angeles, Zion asks him to read the book about “Happy Horse”, before going to bed.

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In May 2010, Zion took an airplane and traveled with his parents to visit his grandfather who lives in Maryland, near Washington, DC. This book is about Zion exciting and special visit in Maryland.

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Going To The Stables

I: To

The Capital

In the morning, after breakfast, Zion said: “Pape, I want to go see Happy Horse today.” Pape said: “Yes, of Course! If you want, we can ride the bus and the metro rail before going to see Happy Horse.”

And off they went.

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It was a rainy day and they had to wait for the bus for several minutes.

Zion held the umbrella to protect them from the rain.

Zion was very patient and ready to take the bus and the Metro.

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Going To The Stables

After a while, the bus came and they took their first bus to the Metro Station. The driver said that Zion could ride the bus for free.

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They will take metro to the Union Station in Washington DC. They bought tickets at the ticket stand.

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Going To The Stables

While they waited for their train, Zion had fun watching other trains change lanes.

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There were many people waiting to go down town.

Here comes the Metro!

All aboard!

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Going To The Stables

They boarded the Redline Metro going to the Union Station in Washington, DC.

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There were many rails coming from all directions!

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Going To The Stables

Shuuuu, Creeeeek, Shuuuu, Creeeeek, Shuuuu, Creeeeek…

The trains were noisy but fun to ride.

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They saw many trains. Some trains were long, other trains were short.

Some trains carried passengers, other trains carried merchandise, and other trains carried cars.

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Going To The Stables

Chug, Chug, Chug, Chug ……!

Kreeeek, Kreeeek, Kreeeek…!

Puush, Puush, Puush….!

Some trains were going slowly.

Other trains went very fast.

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There were many more trains as they approached the Union Station.

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Going To The Stables

Soon, they reached the great Union Station and got off. The Union Station is a large and beautiful building. It was built a long time ago. They saw many people. Zion said: “Pape, this looks like an airport”. “That’s right!” Pape Said.

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They went outside of the Union Station. It was still raining. Zion was very brave. He did not complain about the rain. There were many cars, taxis and buses.

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Going To The Stables

The outside of Union Station was also beautiful. They saw monuments and statues of famous people. In front of Union Station, passengers were waiting for their rides. “Can you see the birds above the middle arch of the building?� asked Pape.

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Zion is standing next to a Special Bell called Liberty Bell. The Liberty Bell is a symbol of American Freedom.

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Going To The Stables

Here is another monument with four eagles. The monument is at the base of a flag pole. The eagle is the American national bird. It symbolizes strength, courage and freedom.

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There were many special buses for tourists. Like Zion, tourists came from out of town to visit the capital city of Washington, DC.

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Going To The Stables

This is an old fashion trolley. The trolley takes tourists to visit important places in the city.

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This vehicle is called Capital Duck because it can drive on the road, and on the water. It also takes tourists around the city.

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Going To The Stables

This is a big double decker tour bus which drives people around special places in the City.

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It rained for a long time. After a while, they decided to take the train for the second time and to go see Happy Horse.

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Going To The Stables

Next, they waited patiently to take the Union Station Metro which goes towards Maryland. The platform was full of people waiting also to take the metro. After a few minutes, a six cars long metro came.

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The train runs underground for a few minutes and then it runs above ground for several more minutes.

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Going To The Stables

Pape and Zion sat upfront, in the first car of the Metro. They could see the Metro Engineer operating the metro. The engineer looked outside his window cabin, to make sure that everyone was inside the Metro before moving.

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It was fun to see the Metro coming up from underground to above ground. They rode the metro above ground from the Union Station in Washington, DC, back to Maryland.

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Going To The Stables

After they got out of the Metro, they waited at the bus stop.

Who is the cool guy waiting at the bus stop?

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When it arrived, they rode their second bus of the day. The bus took them to Meadowbrook Lane.

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Going To The Stables

II: To

The Stables

They followed the signs to the stables Zion wanted to see.

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Meadowbrook Lane leads to the Meadowbrook Stables where Happy Horse lives.

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Going To The Stables

The Meadowbrook Stables is in the Rock Creek Park, Maryland.

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The Meadowbrook has a large barn.

There are four large outdoor arenas.

There are three grass paddocks for grazing and exercising.

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Going To The Stables

This is the utility building where machines and tools are kept.

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These trucks are used for towing horse trailers.

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Going To The Stables

At the Meadowbrook Stables, instructors teach equitation and horsemanship. Children can learn proper equitation, how to walk, halt, steer, and trot. All children who attend the Meadowbrook Stables have great fun.

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Pape and Zion opened the gate and entered the stables.

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Going To The Stables

There were many children and their families at the stables.

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A few of the children were taking classes. Here is an instructor giving lessons to two students.

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Going To The Stables

Some students were already good riders. They could make the horse trot and gallop.

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After watching the horsemanship lessons, they went to the big barn.

They saw horses at their windows.

Each horse had its own stall and its name written by the window.

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Going To The Stables

Their names were: Dunny, Bobby, Jack, Doodle Bug, Snip, Snoopy, Tess, Alli, Chance and many others.

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This is Chance.

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Going To The Stables

This is Snip.

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This is Tess.

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Going To The Stables

Visitors are not allowed to give food to the horses.

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There were horses outside the barn in the arenas.

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Going To The Stables

This horse was in another arena.

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This horse stopped eating to take a picture with Zion.

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Going To The Stables

Here is Frankie the famous pony!

Frankie lives in a farrier shed. A farrier fixes a horse’s hoof, and puts shoes on the horse’s feet.

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This horse is having his shoe fixed and cleaned by a horse trainer.

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Going To The Stables

They saw a trainer saddling a horse and taking it for exercise.

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After they looked at all the areas outside, Zion said: “Pape, let’s go inside the barn!” “Are you sure we can do that?” asked Pape. “Well, let’s ask one of the trainers” Zion said. When Pape asked, the trainer said, “Sure you can go, there are more horses inside!”

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Going To The Stables

On the left side of the barn, they saw many saddles. They were in many colors and neatly arranged.

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The harnesses were hanging by the wall in an orderly way.

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Going To The Stables

Inside the barn, there were pictures of all kinds of beautiful horses.

Zion and Pape looked at the pictures.

They read about the different kind of horses that are in the world.

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III: Looking

For Happy Horse

After a while, Zion said, “Pape let’s go to the other side of the Barn were the horses are. I still want to see Happy Horse.”

Pape said, “Sure, let’s go and try to find Happy Horse!”

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Going To The Stables

Inside the barn, there were also many horses in their stalls. Each stall had bales of hay next to it.

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A horse was getting in his stall.

There were many horses, but they could not find Happy Horse.

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Going To The Stables

This horse is called Cobby.

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Dublin is Here .

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Going To The Stables

“Is this Happy Horse?” Zion Asked.

“No, this is Dot.” Pape said.

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How about this horse?

This is Bella!

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Going To The Stables

“Is it this white horse?” Zion Asked.

“No, this is Princess!” Pape said.

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“Is it this brown horse?”

“No, it is not this horse.”

“Gee Whiz! Where can we find Happy Horse?”

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Going To The Stables

“Hum! Is it this horse?” Zion Asked.

“Let us see!” Said Pape.

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“Yes, yes, yes! This is Happy Horse!”, Pape said.

“Wow! Wow !We finally found Happy Horse!”

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Going To The Stables

Happy Horse is a nice medium size horse, black and beautiful. He was happy eating hay. Zion and Pape were happy looking at him for a good while.

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They were very happy to have had a full and beautiful day.

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Going To The Stables

“We rode two trains, two buses, and, most of all we saw Happy Horse!” said Zion. The rain stopped.

The day turned out to be a great day.

They walked happily back home to Pape’s house which was close by.

The End ! ****************** 73

Zion Watt

Author:

Zion W. Watt

Photographer:

Pape

Publisher:

Pape

Editors: L. Loken, K. Kane, Joy Watt, & Hamet Watt May 25, 2011

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