Friday Fictioneers are riding high! Lots of writers from all over the world race to join our group each week. Marshalled by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, we trot, canter and gallop along to the finish line with our interpretation of the prompt for each week.
The photo this week is courtesy of Doug McIlroy, a great fictioneer.
Genre: fiction
Word Count: 100
The Dancing Horse
In the high pasture hidden away, the old grey horse raises his head. Ears pricked, he hears the music drifting up from the valley below. Memories stir, the crowds and applause come back to him.
He sways in time with the music, then very slowly lifts his front legs off the ground, the muscles in his hind quarters rippling and straining with the effort to keep them in the air. He attempts a Levade, learned in a different life, long ago.
In the stables in Vienna, the name Maestoso Portia shines bright above his stall and fresh straw is waiting.
—-00—-
I saw the famous Lipizzaner horses at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna performing their Airs Above the Ground a few years ago, it was a magical experience. Then later, I heard stories about how some of these magnificent horses had been stolen and just disappeared, I wondered what happened to them. For more information on Lipizzaner Horses visit http://www.lipizzaner.com/
Riding on the curb. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
40again's Blog 
Dee this is your best one yet. You nailed it this week. Great work!
Tom
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Thank you Tom, that’s praise indeed. Thanks for reading
Dee
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Dear Dee,
Very visual piece with perhaps a little mind of the horse. I enjoyed it.
shalom
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
Glad you liked it. I was a bit stuck on the prompt this week, then I remembered the article about the stolen Lipizzaners.
Thanks for reading
Take care
Dee
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What a great image…so majestic and strong!
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Thank you, so glad you liked the story
Good to hear from you
Dee
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I think Mary Stewart would be proud of you. Her “Airs Above the Ground” fascinated me in high school and led to a visit to a show in Salzburg as well. Unforgettable, even though I only got to see the rehearsal! I’ve seen the Lipizzaners a few times in the US as well. Stunning!
janet
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Hi Janet
Thanks for reading and for mentioning Mary Stewart – I’ve since ‘Googled’ her and will be ordering the book!
The interior of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna is wonderful in itself, the show was unbelievable. The training, love and trust between rider and horse was clear to see.
Have a lovely day
Dee
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Let me know how you like the book. I love Mary Stewart’s books, especially her earlier ones.
janet
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I’ve ordered the book, should be here tomorrow. I’ll let you know how I get on with it.
Dee
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These famous stallions used to visit the united States and an arena near us. I can remember the television commercials and being amazed that they could do this amazing thing.
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To see them perform was magical, it’s something I won’t forget.
Thanks for reading Joe
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This is particularly good, Dee. I never did “get off the ground” with this prompt, and I was so swamped with work I didn’t get very many other people’s stories read that week either. So I’m just now getting to it. I really like this!
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Thank you Sandra. Nice reference to the story – I like your humour.
I found the prompt a bit difficult at first and had decided to give it a miss. He seemed such a happy horse and I couldn’t come up with a story that would fit. Then thinking about horses took me back to the stories about the stolen Lipizzaners and off I went
Thank you for reading.
Dee
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