Valkyrie

Valkyria’s life had been filled with constant travel, she passed from one owner to another, never having a truly warm home anywhere. She had only just arrived at a new farm, brought there by a very kind man, and she hoped she had finally found her home. But soon she realized she was in a place where unwanted horses ended up. She stood alone in the pasture, though in the distance she could see a few other horses, and beyond the horizon stretched more fields. Her dreams of a home were quickly shattered once again.

From time to time, random people would come to the farm in search of their perfect horse, but most often they left with the tall, athletic ones with long manes. Valkyria had never been a sport horse, she was a gentle mare, perfect for children. She once had a beautiful long mane, but unfortunately her previous owner had cut it off. To her, it was a tragedy, she had been stripped of her pride and charm. Her sad eyes could no longer be hidden behind her forelock, she had to face her sorrow fully.

She was groomed and well-fed, so she couldn’t complain. The place she had come to was quite pleasant. Especially since, as a newcomer, she was given her own pasture and a colorful ribbon with a little bell. Someone would check on her often, making sure nothing was wrong and that she wasn’t bored. But over time, that attention faded. She had been there for months, losing hope of ever finding a home where all the attention would be devoted to her. Was she greedy? Were such thoughts inappropriate? In her entire life, she had never experienced even a bit of love. Why shouldn’t she at least be allowed to dream of it? Although the farm wasn’t bad, it wasn’t truly hers. She didn’t belong to anyone, and none of the people working there were hers only either.

Her big moment finally came, the farm announced an auction on it’s website. More people arrived than on a typical day, and the horses were exceptionally well groomed. They were divided into several categories. Valkyria was assigned to one titled “A family horse—to be loved, not abandoned,” which perfectly described her life so far, a series of unfortunate events.

One by one, the horses were led into a small paddock separated from the others, and bids were called out. The young, athletic ones sold the fastest, as always. Before her, several ponies entered the ring too, with long manes and tails, which made Valkyria feel a bit sad again. Then the same man who had brought her to the ranch approached her once more and, smiling, tied a ribbon to her tail. It gave her a bit of confidence. With renewed energy, she stepped out onto the stage with a perfect trot, determined to present herself as best as she could.