Rider: Ginger
Gender: Female
Age: 27
"I am a young biologist who is currently employed by the local Division of Wildlife.
My job is to count, document and keep an eye on sensitive environments,
like the Redwood Forests."
~He was born in a bed of lush green grass, to the mare of the neighboring farm~
Echo's presents had changed the small town from one of fear to one of respect for the mysterious creatures. An effect Ginger had never imagined, yet here he was, Corduroy, the prize foul of Little Rock. It had happened almost over night, Echo and Ginger had been out paroling and studying the movements of the wild Neravontii for several weeks. Her partnership with Echo had been going on for a little over a year now and while the tension at Little Rock was easing, Ginger worried that Echo would never come to be fully accepted in the small farming town. Neravontii were consider pest in these parts, they would raid farms for food and cause all kinds of damage to property and agriculture. It was all part of their curious nature, but facts were facts, the farming town was loosing money hand over fist to these creatures and it was Gingers job to reduce the damage to both sides.
She noticed the buckskin mare in the farming yard on their ride back into town. The sight of the female made her heart skip a beat. "Oh no, one has gotten into the Hansen's yard." I thought that made her stomach turn, the Hansens of all people in the town had warmed the most to Echo, but that didn't mean they would be happy to find a Neravontii on their property. At first Echo had been a point of tension between the neighbors, Jake, the owner of the Hansen farm was less then pleased to know a Neravontii would be taking up residence so close. However Echo's sweet and inquisitive nature soon grew on the family. Ginger had even let the young kids pet, ride and feed Echo from time to time.
Rushing to the door Ginger rang the bell, Echo stood close by looking confused over Ginger's sudden change of behavior. The door swung open and before Jake had a chance to say hello Ginger was apologizing and explaining the options for capturing and removing the Neravontii. "I am so sorry Jake, I just have no idea were she could have come from. Truth be told I have never seen one of that coloration anywhere near here. Perhaps she escaped a shipping truck."
Jake looked confused at first, as he worked to understand what Ginger was rattling on about. "Sorry for what?"
Ginger deciding to just show Jake the problem, leading him around the barn. "Once again I am very sorry for the trouble she may have caused, I am sure we can get some kind of payment for any damage."
Jake's look of confusing melted into one of amusement. "Ginger thats my Neravontii, we bought her a few weeks ago. In fact we got a stallion coming from out of state as well."
Ginger's mouth hung open in astonishment. "She's yours? But you hate Neravontii."
"True, there was a time when I would rather shoot first then ask questions later, but Echo has really changed my view on these guys." The buckskin had made her way over to the group sticking her nose out from under the fence to greet the pair. Jake rubbed the velvet nose gingerly. "Besides this isn't just any old Neravontii, this is a prize winning racer. The stallion Iv got coming should produce some find racers."
Ginger was shocked, but sure enough the Hansen's kept good to their word. The stallion wore a coat similar to a paint pony and won race after race. It was't long after his arrival that the Buckskin became pregnant and in spring gave birth to a brown and white foul. He was named Corduroy as according to his bloodline.
Ginger enjoyed watching Corduroy grow, she often went to visit him offering sugar cubes and dandelions. Meanwhile the town began to boom with Neravontii of all kinds. A race track was erected and people began to come from all over the country to watch, bet and race Neravontii. A sport that Ginger did not take part in, she was far to busy monitoring the local herds and wilderness to be caught up in these silly games.
~Why me?~
Warm-blooded, that was what they called it. Ginger remembered the day the ambulance pulled up to the Hansen house. By that time they easily owned 15 Neravontii and were turning a fortune on racing. All of their animals were well trained and good racers all except Corduroy. Ginger poked her head out of the house at the arrival of the loud vehicle. From the looks of things Jake's oldest son Sam had a nasty broken arm.
Carefully making her way over to the farm Ginger over heard Jake explaining what had happened to a paramedic. "He is over a year old now and we can't get a single thing done with him. No matter what you do around the darn creature he bites or kicks you. I'd have half a mind to put the monster down if it weren't for the fact that he should be pure gold on the track."
The paramedic gave Jake a look of frustration. "Look Jake, we have been friends for a long time and I know as well as anyone else that your a darn good trainer. Heck your showing and breeding racers on a global level. But I think its time we face the facts, Corduroy isn't worth it. How many more farm hands are you going to let get hurt over this boy? I think its time to fix and sell the creature or even better put him down."
Ginger cringed at the thought of euthanizing Corduroy, her expression of displeasure didn't go unnoticed. Jake chuckled at her. "I think we have a volunteer."
"What? Oh no, I am not taking him. I am far to busy to work with a Neravontii with those kinds of behavior problems." Ginger snapped, she agreed to take Echo all those years ago to save his life, but that didn't mean she was willing to take every troubled or broken Neravontii in.
"Look Ginger, if I get him Gelded he isn't worth anything to me anymore. Here I will make you a deal, I will play to geld him and even teach you how to train him if you keep him on your land and care for him."
Ginger hesitated at the thought "Well I could use another set of hands out in the field.."
"Then its a deal, come by this weekend and we will start training." Jake brushed his hands and strode off. "Someone get the Vet on the line, we have a male that needs fixing."
~You want me to do what?~
"You heard me, give him a nudge then sit up like I showed you and go over the jump." Jake's tone was starting to sound irritated. It had been a little over a month and the two of them had made good progress with Corduroy. The now Gelding had calmed down a lot and groundwork training had become trivial. Now both Ginger and Corduroy were learning new things. Ginger was skilled at training the basics, stop, go, turn etc. But Jake wasn't happy with his specially breed male being a pack animal. Jake wanted Corduroy to compete.
"Look Gin, we have been over this a thousand times. Your the perfect size to show Corduroy, it will be fun!" Jake called, Ginger growled something under her breath that wasn't audible and adds "Or so you keep saying."
By the end of the day Corduroy and Ginger had made decent progress and both were excused. What was normally a stroll up the road to Ginger's house and barn now felt like a climb to the top of Mount Everest. The lead rope slide along the ground, Ginger and Corduroy shuffled both hung their heads in pure exhaustion. Echo pranced up to the pair jumped around to greet his friends. Corduroy made a muffled groan at the sight of Echo, who he normally loved wrestling with.
Echo pulled the lead rope from Ginger's hands and shook it playfully pulling at Corduroy. The brown Neravontii snapped at Echo, teeth coming inches away from Echo's nose. "All right boys, lets not get into a fight." Ginger pushed the two away from each other. Echo proceeded to sulk and drape his head on Ginger. "He's just tired Echo, give him some time and he will be back to his hold self."
Leading the two into the barn she feed and watered each and lay down next to Echo who happily curled up with her. She watched Corduroy lazily munch at his food before laying down near to them. He was close enough to reach out and touch but had turned his back to the pair of them. Obviously in a grump mood. Pushing a foot out she shoved him playfully in the back. "Oh get over it you weeny. If you think this stuff is hard wait until we are out in the field."
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