[KathrynKat]

Owner: Rondell
Registered Name: Jolly Green Giant
Barn Name: Bean
GS ID: #18
Gender: Stallion
Height: 18.1 hh
Age: 6 Years Old
Coat: Appaloosa
Rarity: Common
Personality Traits: Noisy | Playful | Loves Snacks | Loves Fetch | Loves Learning | Very Smart & Learns Quick

Training Levels Completed: 2
Training Tier: Tier 1
Base Points: 0
Training Points Total: 0

Shows Entered Total: 0
Shows Placed 1st: 0
Shows Placed 2nd: 0
Shows Placed 3rd: 0
Shows Placed Runner Up: 0
Disqualified: 0

Generation: First Gen
Parents: Unknown
Offspring: None Yet

[Rondell]

Owner: Rondell
Registered Name: Jolly Green Giant
Barn Name: Bean
Prompt: *flails*

[KathrynKat]

Owner: Rondell
Registered Name: Jolly Green Giant
Barn Name: Bean
Prompt: *flails*

Grats and Enjoy! I love the outcome of this beautiful boy! Might need to breed a Strider with him myself sometime hahahahaha

[Rondell]

Level 1 Training
- Adoption Day
- 800-1,000 letters/characters (or 130-160 words) Story.
- Visit to the Adoption Center, how adoption and loading the GS to take it home went.

The story of how Rondell ended up with a second Strider so soon after their first is a simple one: on their way out of the Center, whilst driving past an outlying field with Pixie in the trailer behind them, they spotted an absolutely stunning stallion off grazing by himself. His great feathery crest is what caught their eye - it shone silky green and velvety black in the sunlight, making him visible even from a distance. Rondell couldn't HELP but pull off to the side of the road so they could get out and take a better look at him!

As they drew near the fence, the stallion raised his head and swiveled his ears around to listen. Otherwise, he didn't move an inch. He just kept on chewing at the dandelion he'd torn from the lawn - thoroughly unconcerned. Only after he'd swallowed it all down did he turn to gaze curiously at his visitor.

Rondell held the stallion's for a for a full thirty seconds. Then he got bored and went back to his grazing.

They couldn't help but grin. Green was their favorite color, and this boy's calm demeanor was so attractive! To say nothing about his gorgeous coat! They hesitated for the barest of moments before turning around and climbing back up into the cab of the truck. They couldn't keep Pixie waiting much longer, but they figured they had enough time to break out their cellphone and make a quick call... In for a penny, in for a pound, right? Besides, Striders - like horses - are very social animals. Pixie couldn't very well be pastured with a Grel or a Nera, and she'd get lonely on her own! So it it made perfect sense to get her a buddy.

They'd just have to wait till tomorrow to come back and fill out the paperwork. Assuming everything else checked out, of course! For now though, Pixie needed tending.

[Rondell]

Level 2 Training
- 1st, 2nd, and 3rd time bonding
- 100-250 word stories

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Bonding #1

The stallion didn't end up coming home with Rondell until two days after Pixie's arrival, but the delay was probably for the best - it gave the mare a bit of time to settle down and settle in, which removed the last of the nervous edges from her behavior and allowed Rondell to worry less about her getting into trouble when left unsupervised. She was much more at ease now! Given that the ranch now had TWO two new equids to keep track of, anything Rondell could cross off their 'To Worry About' list was a major weight off their shoulders!

And as it turned out, the stallion's homecoming went even more smoothly than Pixie's had.

The very first thing he did upon being released from his trailer was let out a cry of excitement. This jubilant sound was quickly followed up by a frolicsome buck and a series of high, prancing steps that led him around in a tight little circle. Presumably he had energy to burn after the long trip from the Center to the the ranch - Rondell couldn't really blame him for showing off a little! Then he reared, cried out again, tossed his head, and set out to explore every last inch of his new home at full gallop. Playful indeed! The very sight of him made Rondell laugh out loud!

This was going to be fun...

Bonding #2

Bean wasn't people-shy at all - after leaving the Strider to settle in overnight, Rondell returned to the paddock bright and early only to be treated by the sight of him hanging on the fence-line and looking for breakfast. The instant he spotted the bucket-bearing construct he he puffed his feathers up and let out an excited squeal. It was almost as if he demanding to know what had taken them so long!

Rondell chuckled heartily. "Hang on boy, I'm a-comin'! You won't be left to starve around here..." By this point they'd reached the fence and, true to their word, they hefted the bucket into place. "There. Have at!"

The instant Rondell took a step backward to give him a bit of room, Bean's head vanished into the bucket and the sound of contented munching began to echo from within.

Bonding #3

It was Jolly-ball day! That is to say, Bean's new toy had finally arrived in the mail and it was time to let him have it! The strider could be plenty well behaved when he wanted to be, and equally relaxed, but he was also a big playful goof. Hence the ball! It would keep him occupied, entertained, and ultimately, more chill - three essential ingredients in the recipe for a happy Strider! Rondell also saw the ball as a sort of graduation present. Now that the stallion had been here for a couple of weeks, it was time to move him from quarantine paddock #2 into an actual field/barn. Which meant that the REAL work was just beginning...

As Rondell came up to the paddock, jolly ball in-hand, Bean raised his head and gave them his customary 'welcome squeal'. He then abandoned the patch of clover he'd been grazing in favor of trotting over to the fence.

Wip

[Rondell]

Level 3 Training
- 1st, 2nd, and 3rd time halter training, steps from first seeing it, to wearing it to leading in it.
- 100-250 word stories

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Meeting the Halter

Now that our bond had progressed from passing familiarity to to fast friends, I felt confident enough to begin Bean's training in earnest. Thus, after picking out a nice Neon blue halter that I felt complemented his colours perfectly, I headed out to the field. I was determined to start that very day!

At first my stallion was nowhere to be seen. But a sharp whistle and and a hearty rattling of the feed bucket brought him around promptly. Bean knew the breakfast summons when he heard it! He came trotting up to the fence, his ears perked forward, wholly ready to chow down on his oats... only to stop in complete confusion when he found his bucket empty. His feathers even wilfed a bit, becoming visibly less fluffy as he stood there and looked at the bucket, then at me, then back to the bucket.

I hadn't filled it yet.

First, I wanted him to see the halter.

Only after letting Bean give it a thorough sniffing and rubbing his neck for a while with it in my hands did I jump down off the fence rail, grab the bucket of oats I'd brought, and fill Bean's own bucket by emptying mine into it.

He'd tolerated the halter stuff with an air of boredom. Now though, the stallion came to life and nickered happily, burying his snout in the bucket and totally ignoring me. I simply smiled, shook my head, and went off to do the rest of my chores.

Wearing the Halter

Getting an equine to wear a halter when they haven't grown up with one is always a game of patience and understanding, even when the equine in question was one who learned fast, learned well, and loves snacks. Namely... Bean. He was fine with the halter as long as it was just in my hand. As long as I was petting him with it, or brushing him with it, or letting him eat berries from my palm while it dangled from my fingers. The INSTANT I tried to hold it up and put it on, though? Bam. Magical vanishing Strider. Now you see him, now you don't.

So I had to get tricky.

I started setting treats in Bsan's bucket, holding the halter in a big loop, and placing the loop overtop of the bucket. So he HAD to put his face through the halter - to some extent - if he wanted the treat. After a few false starts... it worked. Bean finally jammed his muzzle into the bucket as fast as he could, snatched the goodies, and trotted off a few steps before actually eating his prize. All while staring suspiciously at me. I couldn't help but laugh!

Over the next week I continued to play this little game, making Bean work for his treats instead of simply handing them to him. By the end of it, he'd gotten pretty used to reaching through the halter. I could even hold it in the air, put a treat on my palm, and he'd go through rather than around!

Now that he'd lost his fear of it, it was time to actually put it ON him.

With the help of still more treats, I was able to get Bean to poke his muzzle through the requisite hole, then lay the rest of the halter loosely in place on his face while he munched. Before he had a chance to complain, I took it back off.

After a few more days, I was able to do up the buckles!

Accepting the Halter

Once I got Bean pretty used to wearing his brightly coloured halter around on his face, I worked on getting him used to my taking it off and putting it on in a non sneaky way. Because... ya know... I can't be taking ten minutes to halter him up every time I need to lead him somewhere! Just doesn't make sense.

ONLY THEN did I actually start... trying to... LEAD him places.

Which was accomplished with a bright green and blue striped lead rope (to match the halter) and still more treats. I'd lightly pull on the lead, hold out a treat, coax Bean to take a few steps, then repeat the process. Over the course of the next few days I'd gradually increase the distance Bean would have to go before getting his treat.

Bean is a fast learner.

Now that he'd fully gotten over his fear of the halter, teaching him to be led properly was a snap.

By the end the tenth day, I had him more or less acting like an old hand - leading around like he'd been doing this for years instead of a couple of weeks. Though there was still a lot more to do before he'd be ready for a show! Plodding in a straight line does not a champion make!