the taming of the shrew
#1
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ooookkkaay dokie! So this is a thread to play out/document Saul's efforts to break in Maia. It will be set over most of August and I will be adding to it frequently. I will request when I want to close it, so it would be much appreciated if it was kept open until that time!


4th August . Night Time . Optime Form

The sound of laboured breathing was something the young male had gotten used to over the miles and miles it had taken the party to get home. His arms ached, his will power almost sapped. Despite the fact that the horse knew it had been captured, she would not walk at a reasonable pace. The one grace he had was that the storm grey foal he'd already decided he was bringing home seemed pretty attached to her and walked placidly by her side. He was a cute one, there was no doubt about that. But it would be a lot easier for Saul if the colt had been the only quarry in his keep. He didnt notice if anyone else's horses were playing up this badly, he didnt have the time to look around and see if anyone needed his help, for he had no help to give. They crested the mountain as darkness fell over the land and stepped foot on Ichikan soil not long after that. The mountain climb had calmed the mare a bit, although Saul was certain this was just because she was more tired than when she'd first been caught. Green eyes were focussed on the half broken form of the ranch in the distance with the other horses tucked up in bed.


He was so focussed on his own task that he didnt notice where the others went. He slogged onward, making his way towards the rustic red barn with determination all over his face. The grey foal was quick to shy away if the two of them got too close but Saul was certain he would be able to get that shyness once he was able to work with him. It was tricky trying to open the door and hold onto the horse who was now rearing up on her hind legs and lashing out with her front hooves. Using the remaining strength he had to pull her into a stall next to the now wide awake Hermes, he slammed the stall shut, hoping he wasnt going to damage it any more than it already was. The grey foal gave a great whinny, trying to get to his protector who was pacing round her stall trying to get out. He reached out and caught the foal before he could back away, the split second decision making him open Arete's door and desposit his foals new play friend into her stall. Glancing back towards the female who was leaning over to Hermes' stall as if to ask him what the hell was going on, Saul locked up the barn and returned home to nurse his aching arms.


5th August . Mid Morning . Optime Form


Dawn broke early over Ichika on the morning of the fifth, but the agouti male was oblivious to it. For the first time in a very long time the male was not up and about to see the dawn. The furs covering his body created a cacoon of warmth that he didnt want to move from. His arms protested whenever he moved, the after effects of practically dragging the stubborn mare back to Ichika from past Anathema. Over the mountains had been the worst, although she had tired enough to walk by then. His brain told him that he needed to start training straight away. Patience was something that the agouti male was a master of and he would need a whole lot of it in the coming month or two. He managed to drag himself out of bed at about eight oclock. There was something wrong but he didnt place it until the warmth had eeked from his body. Siku wasn't here. Confusion marred his handsome features as he crossed into what was technically her room but she never used. Her bed was still made with the furs they had accumilated, it hadnt been slept in.


Trying to push this thought away Saul headed over to the East River for a bath before stretching his legs. He made a lap from Trenton, past the Ranch to make sure Adonia left the chestnut mare in her stall lest she break out and run away, then on towards the Abbey and the Forest. He hadnt seen Alae at all since they'd arrived here, but every time he past the Abbey he could smell her fresh scent. He couldnt catch a glimpse of her though and he made a promise to her to go and visit at some point in the next month. He looped back round and headed back towards the Ranch. It was time to get down a few ground rules with the chestnut mare. And figure out a name so he could stop referring to her as 'the mare'. His run had taken him a good hour or so and when he returned Adonia was nowhere to be seen. Hermes was out in one of the paddocks and the two foals had been placed in a smaller fenced off area away from the rest of them. The two seemed to get on well and Saul smiled softly as he saw Arete headbutt the slightly larger grey colt.


Green eyes glinted softly in the dark of the barn as he entered. With a soft cluck of his tongue he managed to stroke the mare's head before she reared away and tried to bite his hand. Reflexes kicked in and he yanked his body out of the way. It was going to be difficult to get a headcollar on her. All the head collars they currently had were made of rope so he chose a thick looking one. Entering her stall was a bad idea so instead he awkwardly fitted it over her head, using the strength in his arms to hold her still before tieing it on. It would stay on her face until they had built up some trust with each other. He let her out of the stall and she charged forward. Nimble hands tightened on the rope but the burn in his muscles was pronounced. It would have to be a short session today. A battle ensued where Saul tried to walk calmly out with the mare charging onward trying to get free, or to Hermes either way.


Saul led her to the rough fenced in area that he had come to refer to as the training ground. He'd already begun to wear a circle into the grass where he'd trained with Hermes and this was where he led Maia now. Locking the gate behind him he attached the longer lunge line to her headcollar before backing off. Immediately she threw herself into a canter, trying to find her way out of the paddock. It was his job to get her to respond to the ques before he could work with her. Tired arms pulled her to a walk and with a definitive snick of the long stick against her haunches, he gave a firm "Walk on." This was the first que he was going to teach her. 'Walk On' and 'Woah'- one for starting and one for stopping. It was a restrained walk he managed to get out of her, breaking every few moments to trot or skitter away from the circle of trodden grass. The young male spent a good hour learning to stop her and then start her walking with a firm 'Walk On'. It was enough to be getting on with for now. He allowed her another run around the paddock before catching her and returning her to the stall. They would work on this daily until they got it right.


6th August . Mid Afternoon . Optime Form


He had woken at a much more reasonable hour this morning and had managed to watch dawn break over the lands. His fur was still slightly damp as he moved towards the lighthouse today, enjoying the feel of the gentle breeze on his back. It wasnt such a nice day as it was yesterday- thick thinder clouds rolled in out to sea and rain was just beginning to spot on the bay as he made his way back. Training with the mare, whom he had decided to call Maia, was going to be a short affair today. He had woken up alone again this morning and he had looked all around Ichika the day before trying to find Siku. Waking up with no white body beside him had just confirmed everything he had been thinking from the day before. Siku was gone, and it didnt seem as though she was coming back.


It was mid afternoon by the time he made it over to the ranch. Adonia had seen it fit to turn Maia out with Hermes today and the chestnut mare was in the paddock with the black stallion when Saul arrived. Hermes' immeditately came over, but the mare hung back, disdainfully turning her back on him. She was a stubborn female it seemed. After greeting the stallion with a pat on the neck and a quick rub over his back, Saul made quick work of catching her and attaching the lunge line to the head collar that he had attached to her for the time being. She kicked up a bit of a fuss at being taken from Hermes but the stallion seemed happy enough. Saul was surprised when she allowed herself to be lead out of the paddock. It didnt mean that she didnt charge forward straight away. It seemed she had no stable manners.


They made their way to the training area and Saul allowed her more room to move. As with the day before, she started running immediately. After a few moments he started to pull her gently to a stop, commanding with a firm "Woah" every time he pulled on the reigns to slow her. In this way she would learn to associate the slowing down with the word. Once she'd stopped properly, Saul tapped her rump gently with the stick he had favoured and commanded her to "Walk on". Whether it was the stick or the command he didnt know, but Maia walked forward. He shouldnt have been so hopeful but for a few moments she walked around the circle. He should have known that it was just a prelude to the run that was coming.


"Woah there, come on Mai"


He called, pulling on the line to get her to slow down. She eventually settled on a nice trot, tossing her head every now and then as if to try and throw him off course or to get him to let go of the line. They continued at that pace for the next few hours and by the end of it Saul thought he'd managed to get somewhere. He didnt need to use the whip quite so often and she was beginning to listen when he spoke. It wasnt going to last long however before the skies opened and the rain came down. He worked quickly to get the horses back into the barn, locking the door behind him before the rain really came down. He thought he'd made at least a little progress today with the chestnut.

word count → 1871 ;; image © Fir0002/Flagstaffotos ;; table by lin
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#2
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tralalalala


8th August . Mid Afternoon . Optime


more shizz goes hurrr!

word count → 000 ;; image © Fir0002/Flagstaffotos ;; table by lin
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