Quiz’s Day

The gelding pranced around in the snow, soft flakes continuing to fall around him. In his mane was a blue ribbon, with a bell tied to the end that jingled at each stride. Quiz had his head held high, strutting around proudly still. The darkness of his coat would contrast against the soft snow he stepped in, while the rest of him seemed to almost disappear into the cold powder below. 

He let out a soft nicker towards the other ponies, trotting closer to the group. They all also had ribbons braided into their manes, a variety of colors like a rainbow. All the bells jingled at movements, heads rising and beginning to walk to greet the new pony. 

Quiz grazed calmly alongside the herd, listening to the sound around him. The wind whistled, blowing nearby trees’ branches and leaves. He had gotten used to the soft jingling that never seemed to fade, focusing on the rest of his herdmates grazing around him. The snow he was pushing around to graze was cold against his muzzle, along with the wind that continued to try to breach his thick coat. Every so often he would nudge his nose against one of his front legs, knocking snow off his muzzle in an attempt to keep any warmth. 

The small herd of ponies began migrating from where they stood in the vast pasture. Everyone stayed close, keeping one another warm and guarding those in the middle from cold winds. When they reached a river, the group stopped. It was frozen over in the areas of lesser flow, where ice wasn’t being washed away and could continue to form along the shore. The ponies found an area where they could drink, dipping their noses in the icy water. When Quiz first put his own head down, a quick jingle could be heard by the other ponies as his head shot up at the freezing temperature of the water. Quiz shook his head, the bell still jingling constantly, before putting his head back down to drink. The water made him feel cooler inside, but he soon warmed back up after he had brought his head back up.

The day continued on, the once bright blue sky now darkened. There was a whistle from afar, all the ponies raising their heads to look towards it. One by one, the ponies started to head towards the whistle, knowing that it meant to return. Everyone was looking forward to the warm stalls with soft bedding for the night, with feed waiting for them before they would rest. When Quiz got back to his own stall, he began happily munching on the grain that was there for him. Compared to the snow-covered grass and freezing water, the grain warmed him up more. After eating, he laid down in the soft shavings of his bedding. His coat had dried after the snow that had accumulated on his back melted, letting him stay even warmer during the cold wintery night. And after he looked out the window of his stall to see the stars one last time that night, lulling into a peaceful sleep.

In his dreams he continued to roam outside in the pasture, though in his dream it was warmer out. He could run around in the warm sun, playing with his fellow pasture mates. In the barn, those walking by noticed the gelding rolling around in his sleep, kicking his legs out every so often as if he was running. By morning, Quiz had awoken from his slumber, being let out after having been fed in the earlier hours. After eating, he was back outside to be with his pasture mates once more.