[KathrynKat]

 Owner       >>> Shenan_the_cat
 Name                >>> Tybalt
 Gender         >>> Gelded Male
 Adoption Price         >>> 5 2014 Christmas Deer
 Training         >>> x
  =====
  .Full of Energy
  .Respectful
  .Willing

 [Discipline >>>>> ]
 [Shows Entered > R: W: E:]
 [Shows Won >>>> R: W: E:]

 [Ej > ] [Ep > ]
 [Eh > ] [Ws > ]
 [Wp > ] [Wt > ]
 [Rf > ] [Rs > ]

[Shenan_the_cat]

Going to name this boy Tybalt [Pronounced Tib-ul-t] after the character from Romeo and Juilet.

[Shenan_the_cat]

First touch:

The young Neravontii stood alone in the field, sniffing at his surroundings cautiously, having only just been unloaded from the trailer ten minutes prior, he was understandably nervous. Lilly stood off to one side, close enough to keep a watchful eye over the gelding but not close enough to spook him, she'd have to take it slow with this one. Although full of energy he seemed extremely jittery, unsure which part of the paddock to explore and wary of the fixtures, the water trough got a glare as dig the food baskets, if Lilly went too fast he'd most likely bolt - which would undoubtably set their progress back weeks.

At the same time, however, it was now or never, she couldn't wait a lifetime for the gelding to settle down, it seemed this one would always be lively but if she got them introduced now maybe he'd learn to accept her. With that thought in mind, Lilly dug her hands out of her pockets and approached the paddock gate, being sure to make her steps heard. Upon reaching it the gelding's head turned her way, he was in the left corner of the paddock, furthest from the gate and didn't come closer as the girl unbolted the gate and stepped into his temporary home. He didn't back up either, it was progress. Lilly closed the gate as much as she could without locking it - if the Nera decided to attack she'd need to flee as quickly as possible - and held her hand out for their first touch, making soft cooing noises to him.

A tense few moments past by, with Lilly getting gradually closer and the gelding staying adamantly still, all the while the girl make gentle encouraging noises to him, or noises she hoped were encouraging. She stopped an arms length away from the statue still Nera, holding her hand palm up to him, as if offering a treat, and waited.... and waited.... and waited until finally the gelding brought his head down to sniff at her hand. Lilly kept it as still as she could, fingers flat, thumb tucked out of the way, as he inspected her with quiet sniffs and, just when the girl had been about to move away, he lowered his snout to her hand. Resting it atop her palm gentle and allowing her to rub circles under his chin, it wasn't quite a stroke but Lilly supposed they'd have to work up to that.

First saddle:

By now the gelding had been at the ranch for three weeks, just under a month, and Lilly decided that - given his progress and how easy he'd become around her, fully wiling to engage in their games and temperament tests - it was time for him to be saddled. She held it now, rubbing her hands over the black and white leather, the saddle was the same colour as Tybalt's coat: the main saddle was black, the fur blanket beneath was white and the accents were various shades of blue. Lilly had had this saddle custom made just for her new boy, he was truly something special and deserved the best possible tack, she could see the two of them entering competitions together. But first she just had to get the saddle on him. That was going to be the harder task, since his arrival the Nera had not calmed down, he was respectful, didn't nip or head butt, but at the same he was excitable, jumping whenever she approached and bounding up to her.

He did the same when she arrived with the saddle, unbolting the paddock gate one handed at closing it behind her with a kick, but upon smelling the leather he backed up, unsure about the saddle and instantly on guard, "Easy." Lilly murmured comfortingly, clicking her tongue as she always did to calm him and Tybalt relaxed enough to approach her once again. She held it out for him to smell and, just as he often did with her hand, the gelding inspected the object cautiously until he was satisfied it was no threat, all the while Lilly kept up a litany of, "Easy boy. It's okay." But when she went to move round his side, lifting the saddle up onto it, he flinched and backed up again.

"Come on." Lilly encouraged again, stroking him softly, "You need to get used to it, I know it looks scary Tybalt but your safe." Although he could not understand the words, Tybalt relaxed at the tone. The gelding settled enough for her to slip the saddle onto his back, doing up the straps before he could buck it off, and slipping on the reigns just as hastily, being sure to be gentle and continue to talk to Tybalt as she worked, once on, Lilly stepped back. After a few moments, during which Lilly held her breath, the gelding calmed down slightly, shifting with the heavy weight on his back. "Perfect." The girl commented, "We'll get you ridden soon enough, Tybalt. I'm sure of it."

First ride:

Tybalt had slowly gotten used to his tack and now wore it with pride, trotting around his paddock to show it off to anyone who would care to watch and his trust in Lilly had only grown over there time together, she wasn't the only person the gelding saw but she was by far his favourite trainer. It was for this reason that Lilly had been chosen to ride him for the first time, he was already wearing his saddle - it had become a task trying to take it off of him - and was tethered to a fence so that he was still for when Lilly mounted. He was still jumpy on occassion but his trust and willingness to please often over-rode his nerves.