[Timey]

Rogue had seemed to warm up to Goldenrod quite well in the small paddock they now shared. She never left his side, and he never left her's. She had a lot of trust in the dunalino; we could all tell. However, today that would be put to the test, as it was time to get her to have trust in us as well.

I made my way into the pasture and called Goldenrod over. The stallion immediately looked over from where he was currently play fighting with Rogue, and turned on his heels and galloped over to me. He wasn't expecting a treat or anything, just some affection. I held his head in my arms and scratched a particularly itchy spot on his cheek that he couldn't seem to get at. I could feel him melt in my arms at the touch.

I looked up to see Rogue standing a little ways away. She seemed skeptical, and I understood why. I had never been this close to her in the same enclosure before. It looked like seeing Goldenrod enjoying the company of a human was making her have conflicting thoughts. Goldenrod lifted his head and looked over at Rogue. Rogue took one step forward, and then stopped again, unsure. Goldenrod's ears swiveled, and he nickered over to her, as if to reassure her she'd be fine if she came over to see me. He turned back to me and began begging to me pet and scratched again.

As I complied, I noticed Rogue beginning to make her way over to us. I was in the process of scratching Goldenrod's ears when she came over and pressed herself into his side, looking at me expectantly.

Ever so slowly, I moved my hand away from Goldenrod and over to Rogue, and began slowly petting her face. She didn't try to move away. A few moments later, petting turned to scratching, and to my surprise Rogue began spinning herself around so my hand would land on a spot on her body. Apparently she had a lot of itchy spots she wanted scratched, and I was now the perfect tool!

It seemed safe to say she had trust in me now since she was letting me touch her like this. Even Goldenrod seemed proud.

[Timey]

And now began an even more challenging task. Rogue seemed to sense the trial that was ahead of her...However us laying the saddle over the fence probably was what was giving it away. We caught her sniffing the piece of tack over multiple times, and she seemed dismayed that it was too heavy for her to run off with and throw around. Goldenrod watched her futile attempts with a face that almost resembled amusement.

Later on, she found herself moved back into the round pen with Goldenrod, as we needed a smaller area to begin this part of her training. We couldn't have her darting to each end of the paddock every time we approached her. It would be impossible.

Rogue had her butt backed up to the round pen fence as I tried to approach her with a saddle. Goldenrod watched from a little ways away, looking like an annoyed parent. Even he knew she was being ridiculous. At that moment one of the stable hands walked into the round pen with Goldenrod's saddle and pad, placing them on his back and tacking him up. Rogue watched the entire process from afar, and after a moment of debate, walked forward and exposed her back for me to place the saddle on. I did exactly that.

Once the strap was secured, she suddenly went tearing around the pen, bucking and screaming.

Well, at least the saddle was on.

[Timey]

After a few days of getting Rogue used to the saddle, she finally stopped flipping out when it was on her back. With this, we decided it would be time to do some ground work. We acquired a lunge line, and began to get her used to the saddle as she moved through different gaits. Walking, trotting, cantering, and then finally galloping. It took some time but she was finally getting the hang of it. Days later she had completely mastered it. It was time to up the challenge.

Now a sack of feed was placed in the saddle to simulate weight. This new addition seemed to tick her off a bit, but nonetheless she did what was asked. We now had one of the stable hands riding Goldenrod around the outside of the pen so Rogue would see what was expected of her. The sack gave her an idea of what was up next, and she almost seemed anxious during her days in the pen.

Gradually, the weight became a thing of the past, and we even lead her on trail rides with the saddle, bridle, and sack on so she'd get used to the idea of being ridden. She was now comfortable with the weight and the tack, so we decided to attempt the last leg of our journey.

[Timey]

Now was Rogue's final test, and she knew it.

She stood in the center of the round pen with the saddle and bridle on. I was the only other thing in the pen with her. The sack was nowhere to be seen, and I'm sure she knew who was about to take it's place. I approached her, and she found herself taking one step back. Goldenrod was once again being ridden around outside of the pen, and she stopped to watch him for a few moments.

I owed a lot to the stallion, his presence seemed to be the only thing that would convince her to let us do anything.

With a heavy sigh, as if she was resigning herself to the entire task, she walked towards me until she was standing in front of me, and then stopped. When I was sure she wasn't going to move again, I moved over to the saddle. I carefully placed my foot in the stirrup, and pulled myself up into the seat. Rogue didn't even shift. When I was sitting up straight, I tapped her side, which urged her to walk. After a bit of this, I sent her into a trot. Then a canter, and finally a gallop, until we were moving flawlessly around the pen. I resisted the urge to thrust one of my fists into the air victoriously, a grin plastered on my face. We'd done it!

[Timey]

Rogue's hooves thundered through the sand, kicking up the grains high into the air as the salty sea breeze fluttered through her mane. In celebration of the completion of her training, we'd decided to take Rogue and Goldenrod to the beach for a little play day. So far, they were both loving it. Goldenrod enjoyed bugging whatever little sea creatures happened to scuttle across his path, and even picked up a starfish and tried to bring it over to us. We took it from him and returned it to it's home, hopefully uninjured.

Rogue was having a ton of fun galloping down the beach and playing in the waves. Her fiery red coat contrasted beautifully with the blue water, and the sea foam only enhanced her white markings. Though she was having fun, a simple call of her name would send her barreling back in our direction. I grinned at how much she'd transformed. It looked like this little mare was here to stay, and I was glad for that.

[Timey]

Finished. <3