Hello fellow snippeteers!
I'm continuing snippets from the draft of my current 'work in progress' a fantasy novel 'The Matchmaker's Mare' which takes place in Wales. The story is told from three p.o.vs. and two time-lines. Today's excerpt is in Glyn's P.O.V. and is our first glimpse of him.. and he has a bit of a problem. (Adjusted from original to conform with ten sentence rule.)
(This is only a rough draft to give the gist of the novel, and is subject to change and edits!)
Don't forget to visit the other authors at the link below the excerpt, there's something for all tastes.
SNIPPET
“I’m not sure about that, Evan, there’s
no telling if she’s broken to ride, although she’s let me halter her and lead
her around, but she spooks at her own shadow and seems a bit temperamental.”
For Info: I still have a few audio codes for each of the three books in the Destiny Trilogy. If you would like one, or all three, just let me know with your email address at Lyn@hywelalyn.co.uk and I'll send you the ones you request, (Each book has its own code). If could manage to post a short review after you've listened, that would be greatly appreciated. 😍
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SNIPPET
Glyn knew was something odd about
the chestnut pony when it appeared in one of his paddocks from nowhere. At first he thought she was
one of the semi-wild ponies that roamed the mountains. They were all owned by
someone and usually freeze branded or micro-chipped, but this one had no
owner’s mark on her and his scanner revealed no micro-chip.
He contacted the Police, the Welsh Pony and Cob Society, the local pony
club, riding club, and everyone in his E-mail lists, and posted her picture on Facebook
and Instagram but no-one reported losing a chestnut cob type pony mare.
“She’s pretty little thing, with that distinctive star on her face, but what
am I going to do with her?” he said to Evan Thomas— friend, groom and general
handyman, who broke in all the young horses for him. “I can’t sell her or breed
from her since she doesn’t legally belong to me.”
“Look Glyn, why don’t you just let
me put a saddle on her an’ let’s see what she goes like?”
Glyn hesitate - at six foot, he was too tall himself for a mare her size, and he knew
of no-one, other than Evan,who was light enough and competent enough to handle her if she proved
difficult.
He glanced over at the mare standing in a corner of the paddock. She
stamped her foot and shook her head so her long mane flowed around her like a
halo, almost as if she knew they were talking about her.
For Info: I still have a few audio codes for each of the three books in the Destiny Trilogy. If you would like one, or all three, just let me know with your email address at Lyn@hywelalyn.co.uk and I'll send you the ones you request, (Each book has its own code). If could manage to post a short review after you've listened, that would be greatly appreciated. 😍
For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never will share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation. http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join
The way she reacts to being saddled will say a lot about how much training she's had.
ReplyDeleteThat said, my mother came home from work one night and found a stray horse by her door. Put her in the barn, called some neighbors (note: farmers do not like being awakened at midnight to be asked if they're missing a horse). Found the owners the next day and I bought her soon after that.
That's so true - and why Evan's a bit worried about Evan's safety! What a great story about the mare that arrived at your mother's door. You were obviously destined to have her!
DeleteHum at first I thought that she might have been born in the wild without anyone knowing but if he can lead her around that's strange.
ReplyDeleteIs there something wrong with her or did someone decide to abandon her?
All the questions that are milling around in Glyn's mind at this point, LInda! :)
DeleteI'm sold from the first word where horses are concerned. My last two children's books centred around a pony and a stallion, due to the fact that one story involved a boy who was a pit pony driver in a Victorian mine. For this I had to do a great deal of research; previously I didn't know one horse from another. You know the amazing creatures, which makes your stories all the more natural and interesting.
ReplyDeleteAw thanks so much - and your children's books sound so interesting, what are the titles? You're right, horses are amazing - and one never stops learning about them!
DeleteWhat a great "problem"! Maybe the mare would prefer a female rider?
ReplyDeleteYes, lots of horses do prefer a female rider - especially if their previous, and only, rider was a woman!
DeletePS. We adopted a stray black lab last year.
ReplyDeleteOh lovely Aurora - 'rescues' are so loving and forgiving. I wish more people would 'adopt'!
DeleteHOW I ENJOYED THIS SNIPPET. WELL DONE, MY FRIEND.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Charmaine, that gives me so much confidence to keep going! x
DeleteVery cool and appropriately mysterious, so now my mind is going in all directions, trying to figure out this pony! Great snippet...
ReplyDeleteThanks Veronica - glad the sense of mystery came through. This is not just an ordinary pony! :)
DeleteTruly excellent job describing and characterizing the pony, although the pic helped; I'm pretty vague about what a chestnut cob is. Writing about horses may be your metier!
ReplyDeleteAw thanks Ed. I have to admit I've managed to get a horse or pony in all my SF books, except Beloved Enemy. (Couldn't quite work one into that one.) A cob is generally just a thick set, strong horse or pony, but in Wales the Welsh Cob is a specific breed - 'Section C' in the studbook, which is the pony version, and 'Section D' which is the larger horse size cob. Both show a lot of Arabian influence. The only real difference between the two is size. Chestnut is a red colour, like the pony in the picture. It's usually called 'sorrel' in the States. Hope that clarifies things a bit. :)
ReplyDeleteHow mysterious that the horse just appeared. I love your description of her.
ReplyDeleteThanks Elaine!
DeleteCool! This sounds like a ghost pony--or a time-traveling pony! :-)
ReplyDeleteYou might have something there, Teresa!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the snippet. I love animals in stories.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Kate. There are a lot of horses in this story, although it is essentially a romance!
ReplyDeleteTh pony is not only beautiful but smart too. Enjoyed the snippet.
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen - she certainly is both! :)
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be something else at work here with this pony. Very intriguing. I definitely want to know more!
ReplyDeleteHe's tried a lot of ways to find the owner. But I understand his concern. Besides feed and stable her, what can he do? A dilemma for sure.
ReplyDelete