“I think that I’ll take out Harry, as you said the mare is rather new and inexperienced, she’s not for a beginner like me”
“Very well, i only ask to wait a few moments as I prepare him” The attendant start to herd the stallion out of his stall, then she whisper something in Harry’s ears as he’s fitted with a saddle and an halter. She turns and give you the reins “Harry is our best stallion, he arrived 3 years ago and nobody ever complained about him, in fact everyone wanted to have another ride after their first walk” Amusement dances in her eyes briefly “ I suggest the forest for your ride, it’s beautiful in summer and nobody will disturb you two”
You started to ask another question but you are cut short as a loud neigh sound behind you, you turn to see a filly dragged to her stall by another attendant, the mare pull back, resist and tries to escape the boy vigorously, but with the arrival of two more attendants it’s only a matter of time before the mare is tamed.
As a last resort her eyes roam around for an escape route and when they land on you she throw a pitying look your way and then is dragged kicking and neighing in the stall; you stare bemused as the attendants close the gate and they leave the animal alone, not before nodding to your attendant that sport a knowing smirk on her face.
“Why was the mare so stubborn, it was almost as she was scared of the stall”
“Oh don’t worry, Allie is a troublesome horse that arrived today too, she just finished her first session of training because she is still a wild mare at hearth, her taming will be finished soon, we took her in and I think that we’ll need a few weeks to instruct her, we are professional after all”
She smiles at you “Now move along, and remember to return the stallion before nightfall”
You thank her as you climb Harry’s back and then turn the horse to the woods.
The stable disappears in the distance as you start your ride, the sounds of birds fill you with calm as you admire the scene, you even saw a deer fleeing in the deeper part of the forest as you approached a clearing with a small lake and you decide to take a break. Your ears and feet itched like crazy just minutes ago and you are sweating under the sun, so a brief break in the shadow of a tree is tempting.
You dismount the stallion and you lie down under the shade of an oak, with Harry tied to a tree near you; the attendant told you to return before closure, so you still have several hours to fill as you start to get sleepy.
Your eyes close as you start to rest, but you didn’t notice the intense stare of the stallion that roam your body or the fact that your pointed beige ear flicked to swat a fly…