[Expresso.]

 Owner       >>> stilinski. (used to be jojen.)
 Name                >>> Sunspot
 Gender         >>> Female
 Adoption Price         >>> 14 pugs
 Training         >>> [Fully Trained]
  =====
  . Clumsy
  . Shy
  . Quiet
  . Gentle

 Offspring;
 X Out of X

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

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

[ruberiot]

I've decided on the name Sunspot for this beautiful girl <3

[ruberiot]

First Touch
It was a rather chilly summer morning, faint patches of fog clinging to the humid air. There had been a violent rainstorm the previous night before, and considerably large mud puddles were scattered throughout. Despite the frigid air, I'd decided to take Arathorn out for a ride along my property.
I urged my gelding into a quick-paced trot, enjoying the feeling of the wind in my face. Suddenly, I pulled him to a stop and rode down a fairly large hill, humming tunelessly while Arathorn picked his way along. Even though it was cold, it was still gorgeous out here, I noted to myself, gazing at the sparkling dewdrops that clung to the grass surrounding us.
"Come on boy!" I exclaimed, touching my heels to Arathorn's sides. He sprang into a gallop, seeming to enjoy the fresh air, tail streaming along behind him. We rode along for several minutes before I asked Arathorn to halt. I slid from the Neravontii's back, dismounting atop an ancient tree stump; if I were to attempt to dismount him on empty ground, I feared I'd hurt myself due to my short height. I gently grabbed his bridle in my hand, leading him over to a gorgeous cottonwood tree.
No sooner had I released the headpiece then I realized my Nera's attention was elsewhere.
I followed his "gaze", quickly noticing the spotted figured in the distance; another Nera. I was aghast. There hadn't ever been a wild Neravontii on my property before. I scrambled to the tree stump and hauled myself over Arathorn's saddle, asking him to canter. He shook his head and snorted wildly, refusing to move forward. "Please Arathorn." I begged. "Please. I want to see if that Neravontii is owned or not; if it is I need to return it." Reluctantly he loped forward. When we were just feet away from the magnificent creature I halted him, vaulting ungracefully from his back. I hit the ground hard, unharmed, but in doing so I'd grabbed the attention of the mysterious alien.
She approached me shyly, her footsteps silent against the damp grass. Her nostrils quivered curiously, taking in the scent of my gelding and myself. She reached me with three long strides, her reluctance obvious within her hesitation. The female Neravontii lowered her great head, ears pricked. I expected her to go berserk or something ridiculous like that, but to my surprise she only nuzzled my face gently, stepping back.
Slowly I clambered to my feet, careful not to frighten her. It was evident she was not owned by anyone, though she was not skinny or malnourished in any way. My hands flew to the straps of my backpack, slowly slipping them from my shoulders. I set it warily on the ground where I removed Arathorn's halter.
I walked up to the spotted Neravontii, careful as ever to make sure she knew I meant her no harm.
"Hey girl." I whispered. "Will you please come home with me? There's more Neras for you to be friends with." I gently stroked her muzzle, smiling when she gently nuzzled me back. I quickly slid the halter on her, fastening the claps rapidly.
She didn't struggle at all as I did so. Maybe she was wild, but she'd seen other Neras wear a halter and knew its purpose?
I would never know, but I was wildly ecstatic when she followed behind my gelding.
I whooped and cheered as we made our way home.

[ruberiot]

First Saddle
It had been several days since I had brought home the Neravontii. I had had her for a mere 3 hours before I'd come up with the perfect name for her: Sunspot.
She'd settled in nicely with my herd. Her and Andromeda had become instant friends; I had a feeling that it was because of their calm and mellow personalities.
Since she had adjusted so quickly, I decided to start her training. Today was the first thing on the list: get the saddle on her. I'd dealt with one as stubborn as Wendell, and I knew somehow that she would be far more obedient then the gelding had been.

I strode over to the gate that led to the pasture, sighing as I spotted several specks on the horizon. Of course, my Neras had decided to go as far as they could. I sighed in faint annoyance before I whistled loudly, my irritation fading immediately when all of my Neras began to compete in a "race", so to speak. Arathorn was in the lead like he usually was, eagerly tossing his head. Much to my shocked amazement, Sunspot was trying her hardest to pass the gelding, sides heaving, feet hammering the grassy earth. Sunspot suddenly let out a surprised squeal, losing her footing and staggering. By then Arathorn had reached the gate, slamming to a halt.
They knew I had wanted Sunspot to come, but for whatever reason all of the Neras had decided to venture along.
I unfastened the silver gate, stepping inside with the enormous creatures that could kill me with a single move. "Hi guys," I greeted, offering them some baby carrots I'd purchased specifically for this reason. I gave all of them a pat before I haltered Sunspot and led her away, a slight spring in my step.

I brushed down my girl, talking to her whilst I did so. "Today I'm gonna put a saddle on you." I said. Several minutes later I told her, "You ready for this, girl?"
Once I had finished with brushing Sunspot, I returned the brushes to their original spot, trading them for riding tack. It was the same Neravontii training saddle that I'd used with nearly all of my other Neras, the same saddle pad that'd been used for similar purposes.
I perched the saddle and the pad atop the fence I'd looped her lead to, allowing her to investigate these foreign objects. She nudged all of them carefully with her nose, only slightly wary about these objects. When she seemed okay with them, I offered her a slice of apple. Sunspot eagerly accepted it, munching the piece of fruit eagerly. I patted her neck gently before I seized the pad, tossing it over her shoulders. Quietly, she turned her head and nibbled at the corner of the fabric. Seconds later, however, she turned her head away and rested her chin against the post. "That's a good girl." I praised, adding the saddle atop the cloth. She remained calm as I cinched up the saddle and fastened clasps. I grabbed the saddle horn and put weight in the left stirrup, repeating this process several times so that she was okay with it. I then copied what I'd done on the left side on the right side, proud of Sunspot when she seemed perfectly fine with it. I figured that I might as well get her used to the basics.
I drew myself up over the left side, wiggling about in the leather of the saddle for several seconds before I dismounted, doing so on both sides multiple times. The only time she ever really reacted was when I lost my footing.
As I slipped from the saddle, she moved quickly, spinning her head about to break my fall. I grinned broadly at the Neravontii. "That's enough for now." I told her, removing all of the tack and placing it in its rightful spot. I untied her lead rope from the fencepost, leading her away where I turned her loose in the pasture once more. Before she left, however, I drew Sunspot into a hug. "I'm so proud of you." I whispered.

[ruberiot]

First Ride
It was considerably early when I headed outside, grateful for the warmth of the already-risen sun. I immediately went to the stables where my Neras were kept, excited to ride Sunspot for the first time. My fingers hastily undid the lock that held the doors closed. I then drew them open, allowing the sun to beam into the stables. I heard a whicker from the farthest stall and quickly recognized which of the Neravontiis had greeted me first. Sunspot.
Since it was far earlier than my Neras were used to being fed, I did not feed them. I decided I would do so after the training session with Sunspot. I made my way to her stall, slowed greatly by the fact that I halted and greeted my other Neravontiis. Upon reaching her, I talked softly to her and offered her a small piece of hotdog. I presented it to Sunspot, watching as she gently retrieved it from my outstretched palm. She chewed the tidbit several times before she swallowed it, sniffing about for more. "Sorry girl, there will be more later." I unlatched the door to her stall and seized her halter, quickly catching her and leading her to my riding arena.
I looped her to one of the multiple posts, ready to saddle her as I'd placed the tack on the fence the previous night. She stood calmly, chin resting against the wood of the post, unconcerned while I cinched and tightened the saddle. Since I hadn't introduced her to the bridle yet, I did so, remembering how quickly Andromeda had adjusted to the headpiece. Much to my surprise, it seemed Sunspot was used to the bridle. I was confused. Had she ever been owned before?

I shrugged it off, moving to her left side.
I had been putting my weight in either stirrup for a while now, and she was used to the overall feeling of someone placing their foot in the stirrup, though I'd never actually mounted before. Now I did so, drawing myself up over the side and adjusting myself. I gathered the reins and asked her for a walk; she obeyed smoothly. I was somewhat amused, but not amazed. I had ridden my other Neras around her, and she seemed to have learned what it meant. "That's a good girl." I said, switching the pace from a walk to a trot. She listened to the command, but seemed slightly hesitant.
Then it dawned on me: she was rather clumsy.
Suddenly, she lost her footing and nearly fell, but somehow managed to regain her footing. "That was close." I said, laughing aloud and patting her neck. I pulled her to a stop and dismounted, having decided that that was enough for now.