Going to the stables

Going To The

Stables

Zion W. Watt

Copyright © 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

i

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.

3

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.

Zion Watt

4

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.

Going To The Stables

5

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.

Zion Watt

6

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.


7

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.

Zion Watt

8

They will take metro to the Union

Station in Washington DC. They

bought tickets at the ticket stand.


9

While they waited for their train,

Zion had fun watching other trains

change lanes.

Zion Watt

10

There were many people waiting to

go down town.

Here comes the Metro!

All aboard!


11

They boarded the Redline Metro

going to the Union Station in

Washington, DC.

Zion Watt

12

There were many rails coming

from all directions!


13

Shuuuu, Creeeeek, Shuuuu,

Creeeeek, Shuuuu, Creeeeek…

The trains were noisy but fun to ride.

Zion Watt

14

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.


15

Chug, Chug, Chug, Chug ……!

Kreeeek, Kreeeek, Kreeeek…!

Puush, Puush, Puush….!

Some trains were going slowly.

Other trains went very fast.

Zion Watt

16

There were many more trains as

they approached the Union Station.


17

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.

Zion Watt

18

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.


19

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.

Zion Watt

20

Zion is standing next to a Special Bell

called Liberty Bell. The Liberty Bell is

a symbol of American Freedom.


21

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.

Zion Watt

22

There were many special buses for

tourists. Like Zion, tourists came

from out of town to visit the capital

city of Washington, DC.


23

This is an old fashion trolley. The

trolley takes tourists to visit

important places in the city.

Zion Watt

24

This vehicle is called Capital Duck

because it can drive on the road, and

on the water. It also takes tourists

around the city.


25

This is a big double decker tour bus

which drives people around special

places in the City.

Zion Watt

26

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.


27

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.

Zion Watt

28

The train runs underground for a few

minutes and then it runs above

ground for several more minutes.


29

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.

Zion Watt

30

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.


31

After they got out of the Metro, they

waited at the bus stop.

Who is the cool guy waiting at the

bus stop?

Zion Watt

32

When it arrived, they rode their

second bus of the day. The bus took

them to Meadowbrook Lane.


33

II: To The Stables

They followed the signs to the

stables Zion wanted to see.

Zion Watt

34

Meadowbrook Lane leads to the

Meadowbrook Stables where Happy

Horse lives.


35

The Meadowbrook Stables is in the

Rock Creek Park, Maryland.

Zion Watt

36

The Meadowbrook has a large barn.

There are four large outdoor arenas.

There are three grass paddocks for

grazing and exercising.


37

This is the utility building where

machines and tools are kept.

Zion Watt

38

These trucks are used for towing horse trailers.


39

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.

Zion Watt

40

Pape and Zion opened the gate and

entered the stables.


41

There were many children and their

families at the stables.

Zion Watt

42

A few of the children were taking

classes. Here is an instructor giving

lessons to two students.


43

Some students were already good

riders. They could make the horse

trot and gallop.

Zion Watt

44

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.


45

Their names were: Dunny, Bobby,

Jack, Doodle Bug, Snip, Snoopy, Tess,

Alli, Chance and many others.

Zion Watt

46

This is Chance.


47

This is Snip.

Zion Watt

48

This is Tess.


49

Visitors are not allowed to give food

to the horses.

Zion Watt

50

There were horses outside the barn in the arenas.


51

This horse was in another arena.

Zion Watt

52

This horse stopped eating to take

a picture with Zion.


53

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.

Zion Watt

54

This horse is having his shoe fixed

and cleaned by a horse trainer.


55

They saw a trainer saddling a horse

and taking it for exercise.

Zion Watt

56

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!”


57

On the left side of the barn, they saw

many saddles. They were in many

colors and neatly arranged.

Zion Watt

58

The harnesses were hanging by the

wall in an orderly way.


59

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.

Zion Watt

60

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!”


61

Inside the barn, there were also

many horses in their stalls. Each stall

had bales of hay next to it.

Zion Watt

62

A horse was getting in his stall.

There were many horses, but they

could not find Happy Horse.


63

This horse is called Cobby.

Zion Watt

64

Dublin is Here .


65

“Is this Happy Horse?” Zion Asked.

“No, this is Dot.” Pape said.

Zion Watt

66

How about this horse?

This is Bella!


67

“Is it this white horse?” Zion Asked.

“No, this is Princess!” Pape said.

Zion Watt

68

“Is it this brown horse?”

“No, it is not this horse.”

“Gee Whiz! Where can we find

Happy Horse?”


69

“Hum! Is it this horse?” Zion Asked.

“Let us see!” Said Pape.

Zion Watt

70

“Yes, yes, yes! This is Happy Horse!”,

Pape said.

“Wow! Wow !We finally found

Happy Horse!”


71

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.

Zion Watt

72

They were very happy to have had a

full and beautiful day.


73

“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 !

******************

Zion Watt

74

Author: Zion W. Watt

Photographer: Pape

Publisher: Pape

Editors: L. Loken, K. Kane, Joy Watt,

& Hamet Watt

May 25, 2011

Documents

Going to the stables