Early Lessons (open)

[Cara]

Cara stood at the gate that lead into the pastures that the mares at the college shared. As the others where wither in their stalls or being ridden, a solitary figure stood at the far end of the pasture. A small chestnut mare, who was looking out toward the west. The student stood at the gate watching the pony with a mixture of compassion and empathy. It had been a week since the auction, and slowly the girl was getting the mare to accept her.

The pony wore a Weatherbeeta Landa combo, as she was far too skinny to be out in the pasture with only a half rug on. The girl had decided that it was best for Missy to be kept outside where she felt safe rather than enclosed in a stall where she would be surrounded by people. So, without fail, the girl would go and visit the pony any chance she got. morning and evening she would take the pony a bucket of feed and chaff and on occasions like this, she brought treats in the form of carrot or apple - just a simple reward for the pony allowing her to get close.

She easily vaulted the gate, only slightly catching her breath as she used the wrong shoulder to do the vault with. She then walked across the grass with purposeful strides until she got a good distance from where Missy stood, now watching the girl's approach. "Hello, beautiful." She whispered gently as she stretched her hand out that held the carrot chunks she had brought with her.

Missy's chestnut ears pricked forward and she stretched her neck out toward the human female, but her tucked in tail and stiff posture told anyone that she wasn't going to budge.

With a gentle chuckle, Cara took a couple of steps forward and when the pony didn't back away she stepped closer so that Missy could snuffle the carrots off her hand before she closed the gap between them and ran her hand down the pretty mare's nose. "You really are going to be alright, my beautiful girl." She whispered as she lowered herself onto the ground in front of the pony.

Missy lowered her head and sniffed around the girl's face and blew into her hair before she rose her delicate face again, her attention caught by a movement at the gate.

[Lottii]

Harry's body quivered as a large number of students descended on the yard to see the arrival of a new horse. With Remii nowhere to be seen, he just wanted to get away from them. Casey hadn't been out to the pastures for a couple of days, her fine coat made Harry want to keep her in during the chilly spell. And the fact that after three years she was slowly starting to poke her head out the stable asking for a fuss or treat as other students walked by. Slipping a headcollar over her head, he fastened a rope to it and then pulled down the turnout rug which had been hung in her stable. Unfolding the Aerborn Tundra rug across her back, he did up the clips on her chest, the cross surcingles and finally the strap which sat comfortably under her tail. Harry swung the door wide as the Anglo-Arab couldn't seem to make up her mind whether to prance or not, her neatly set ears swinging back and forth.

Leading her up the track that ran between the pastures, he stopped at the gate of a small field which Casey shared with Remii's gelding, Oscar. The bay gelding was the only horse the silly mare accepted anywhere near her. A sigh slipped from between the lips of the mare when she realized she would be alone in her pasture, but she still walked next to Harry, nudging him gently in the back every few strides. As he unclipped the lead rope, the mare cantered away to the other end of the pasture, snorting at a horse in the distance. Harry shook his head, laughing quietly to himself. Stepping out of the gate, he noticed Cara a few fields away, with a horse that seemed to be the mare he had considered buying from the auction.

Wandering up to take a look - and not wanting to go back down to the yard yet - Harry slowed as he approached the gate, not wanting to interrupt. He had stopped completely by the time he reached the gate, but he still caught the delicate mare's attention. Waiting until Cara noticed him, he was content to watch if the mare's focus returned to the girl, their session continuing.

[Cara]

Since her back to the gate Cara remained facing the mare, she didn't want to risk her turned to see what had caught the pony's attention spooking the mare's fragile psyche. "You, need to learn how to have fun." The girl whispered. "But I shall wait until you are completely comfortable with my presence." She was still debating on introducing Truss with the smaller mare in case the grey took advantage of the other mare's submissiveness and really got stuck into her.

Thinking of the other mare tugged at Cara's heart. Poor Truss was so open and honest, so willing to do anything that was asked of her. And because of this willing nature, someone had pushed her too far and broken what spirit she had.

Missy's attention finally dropped from the person at the gate and she returned her attention to the girl sitting on the ground. Her head dropped down and she pressed against the human's knee with her muzzle, jumping back as the knee bounced ever so slightly from the pressure. Finding her confidence again, she stepped forward again and blew down her nose at the small human who right now resembled more of a rock than a human if it weren't for the sweet smell of flowers.