[MustangKnight]

 Owner       >>> carmineflyer
 Name                >>> Kazemde
 Gender         >>> Gelded Male
 Adoption Price         >>> 3 commons
 Training         >>> [First Touch][First Saddle]
  =====
  . shy
  . gentle
  . eats leaves off trees

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

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

[carmineflyer]

I dunno what this post is, reserving in case I want to use it later.

[carmineflyer]

First Touch
The gelding is clearly agitated, huffing and pacing around his enclosure. I'm almost scared to approach at first, this is the first time I've seen a Neravontii. Seeing one face to face is a whole lot different then reading about them, studying them.
I approach warily, unsure of what to expect. The gelding -Kazemde, I must learn to call him by his name- belongs to me, and no one else is going to care for him because I'm too scared to even touch him. He notices my approach and stops his pacing, views me in a curious manner.
Leaves. Take out the leaves. I remember, and grab them from my bag, holding them up as an offering; "Kazemde. Kazemde, come here boy."
Does he know his name? I called him by it a few times, once when I got him, another time when I was cleaning out his enclosure, and more times, some I cannot remember.
He comes slowly, cautiously, reaches out towards the offered food. He gently takes it, so close I could reach out to touch, and in an odd mixture of primate and horse, uses his hands to tear the leaves, but places them on the ground to eat. He seems to be purposely avoiding my gaze.
I know a little about his personality, I know he's shy, and gentle, the two reasons I was drawn to him. I didn't want a hyperactive Neraontii to be my first, I'm quite shy myself.
Lost in my thoughts, I don't see Kazemde's face until it's right up against my hand, snuffling around in search of more leaves. Neravontii's are carnivores, but Kazemde seems to like leaves just as much. An odd little quirk for sure, but it just makes him more endearing to me.
I pull some more out of the bag, his confidence inspiring my own, and he takes them quickly. I unconsciously find myself stroking his snout as he eats.
Well, that was easy.

[carmineflyer]

First Saddle

Of course he doesn't like the saddle. It would make too much sense for this next milestone to be as easy as the first. He doesn't buck it off or anything, but it seems that whenever I turn my back, the saddle is several feet away from Kazemde. I've caught him pulling it off himself a few times.
"Kaze, come on. Please? Just keep it on for a few seconds? Minutes, maybe?"
He simply stomps his feet in response, presumably in displeasure. I've spent many days getting used to him and him to me, and I've learned how he communicates in his own little ways, his personality, his quirks, his likes, and dislikes. And one of those "dislikes" appears to be any sort of heavy pressure on his back. Which includes a saddle. And this is one quirk that really has to go if Kazemde wants to show, or if I want to ride him.
Small steps then. I lead him inside, and grab his blanket. Giving him what I hope is a stern look rather then one that says please don't freak out and lets just try the saddle because you haven't even had it on for more then a millisecond and who knows you might like it and by extension racing, I slowly lower the blanket onto his back. Nothing. That's good. I leave the blanket on as I lead him outside again, out to the pasture. Grabbing the bag I seem to always carry now, the one that has all the little leaves he loves to eat, I take one out, feed it to him. "Good boy. Maybe try the saddle now?"
Another huff, but no stomping, pacing, or running away from me. Maybe the saddle will be alright now.
A few minutes later, I find that, no, no the saddle is not alright. I swear, he's alright with every kind of weight on his back now except this one saddle...
Just the one saddle. I've only ever tried one. Maybe... Another type? It seems silly I haven't thought of this before, but I assumed it was a weight problem, rather then a problem with the type of saddle... This one is rather cheap. I know I have another one, older, and I hadn't grabbed it before, because, well it looks rather... Beat up. It is a little more worn in though, so I try it.
Of course it's the solution. I swear Kazemde looks smug as he prances around with it on. At least he seems to like it.