[♥ soft]

sorry this took so long!
i hope you're happy with this design 8D

taming tolters may not be bred until
● all tasks are completed
● september 13th

username: horsemad55
Name: Battle Scars
Gender: mare
eye color: yellow
dam: --
sire: --

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OMG she is beautiful!
I think i'll name her Desert Clouds
Updates:
named changed to Battle Scars
Finished-

task 1
task 2
task 3
task 4
task 5
task 6
task 7

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Day 1: The first encounter.
I walked around the yards looking at the horses, there were some of the most beautiful animals i have ever seen in my life and it made me wonder why people would shoot these amazing and wild animals.
As I walked past one of the yards, i noticed a young roan mare charging wildly at the fence, only making a sudden change of direction when she realized that this strange 'thing' wasn't moving and circling around for another try.
The others horses were nothing like her! They did as they were told but this mare, she was well as mares will be, hot headed and fiery. But she was just different, impossible to put in words. She was perfect.
As I saw my wild bay roan barreling down the shoots I knew that she was truly the one. The men next to me laughed and said that I was crazy; for the roan was the wildest of the lot.
She looked at me through the corner of her eye as she stood restlessly in the shoot as I aligned the trailer up to the ramp so she could make the journey back to the farm.
Loading was a problem! When the gate opened she bolted up the ramp, only stopping when she saw the dark and new object that she had to go into! It smelt like horse but she was confused because she couldn’t see one. The more confused she became the wilder she got, bucking and kicking at the make-shift horse yards.
The people sending the animals into the shoots tried to help me get her into the horse truck, but the young mare became wild with rage! Charging at the men and biting at the rubber pipes in their hands!
After a half hour struggle, the stubborn mare realised that these humans wouldn’t give in and allowed herself to be loaded onto the truck, I shut the door and returned to see what other horses there were.

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-Adjusting to the new home- Battles point of view
Okay we stopped! Where am i? How did I get here? What is this thing containing my freedom?
The questions i could only ask with frequent whinnies.
Where is my herd? Where is my son? Where is the river? the sky? the ground?
Constant whinnies, no answers only the bark of a dog? a coyote? an owl?
Where am I?
Alone. Captive. In darkness
................................................................................................................................................................................

What was that? That sound? Didn't you hear it?
Questions I had to answer my self, no-one around me except the darkness. Darkness, my only company for hours? Day? Weeks? Time seemed to have no meaning in this great, solid demon that swallowed me up. Little light made it through the small slits in the wall, the same slits that gave me fresh air but the same ones that held me captive, contain my freedom, my anger, my hope.
I whinnied louder, remembering the human who put me in this thing. Maybe she is there. Maybe she can get me out.
What was that? That sound again? It sound like footsteps, not made by horse but what?
Something creaked! What was that? Light! Blinding Light! Fresh air! I'm Free!
I charged out, cantering! Galloping! Bolting! Open Space! Wait what! Fence!
i pivoted on the spot, galloped off again. Fence! Another!
Once again captive!
Try and tame me? What was she saying? Everything was going to be alright? Huh, I don't think so!
Anger. Rage. My feet seemed to move without me thinking, towards her. Hurt her. Trample her. How dare she do this.
........................................................................................................................
The sun was going down, my only reminder of home.
Whats that? It smells nice! Food? only one way to find out.
I walked over to the 'food' well it looked like dry grass, just in a big clump and hmmm smells a lot sweeter!
Okay, I don't really know what this is. Small bites, okay.
one bite, okay this is nice. Two bites, getting better. Three? Four? Five? okay, i could get used to this and you know what this isn't too bad. Green grass, water, shade and space to my self.
But that still doesn't mean i'm going to trust that human.

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Introduction of the halter-
It's Sunday morning, i better go out and see what i can do with that crazy horse. Pouring my coffee into my mug and walking out onto the front veranda, staring out into the rolling paddocks and green mountains. I leaned up against a wooden post, the cat circling my ankles, i chucked the remaining part of my coffee which had gone cold out onto the grass and walked over to the small paddock where my mare lived.
I had been trying to think of a name for her, at first sight i thought about Desert Clouds but now i have her it doesn't seem to suit her. She is angry at the world, she needs to run it seems. She needs to be free.
Holding the electric blue and red halter in my hand I walked over to the fence. I layed it on the gate and entered the paddock. Calling to the mare, letting her know i wasn't going to hurt her, her ears pined to her head, her yellow teeth showing, the eyes rolled into the back of her head.
"Hey girl. I'm not going to hurt you. I'm here to help you." Showing her the sugar cubes and holding on the palm of my outreached hand. She stretched her neck out so she could almost eat them. Her breathe was warm and gentle, her ears forward with interest and her eyes kind and soft.
Giving her one and walking backwards towards the gate, to my surprise she followed. I turned to grab the halter, showing it to her so she could see it wouldn't hurt her. Slowly, carefully i slipped it over her head doing up the strap and giving her the cube.
Ha, that wasn't so hard. I walked slowly and she followed, her nose resting on my shoulder. Who knew a seventeen year old girl could tame a wild horse.
I tied her up and rubbed my hand down her neck, scratching of the mud and seeing once deep wounds now scars. Battle Scars.

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-Meeting a friend - Battles view
Breakfast time! I galloped over to the fence and whinnied for the girl to bring my food. Come on! Where is she? I pranced along the fence line. Okay, if she won't come out i'll whinny louder! The grey cat circled around the post, making well, the sound cats make (i'm a horse and have never met a cat) the cat jumped up onto the post and purred when i rubbed my nose along his back.
That tickled! The cats grey fur grazed along my face, oh how soft it was! How warm and silky! The cat looked me in my eye, i saw trust i saw, safety.
I spent the rest of the day hanging with the cat in the shade of the trees by the river. The coolness in the summer sun and the crisp sweetness of the water as it filled my mouth with ice compared to the heat.
Although i might not trust that girl, i know that i can trust the cat. No matter what. The cat and i, best friends.

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-Gaining your horse's trust
The sun rose over the hill. I awoke to Battles whinnying from the paddock. Guess it's time to feed her, i walked to the shed and grabbed a bale of hay. Hauling it over the fence to my mare, her comforted nickering told me that she was enjoying herself. I rubbed my hand against her head, talking to her softly.
Time to move her into the large paddock with the other horses. I trudged up Battle's paddock to the top gate and called her over,hesitantly she came over and into the large paddock. I think she is starting to trust me. I slipped the halter over her head, knowing that she won't go any further than a few steps. I started walking infront of her, with the stubbornness of a mule she stood her ground.
"Come on Bat, it's okay, trust me." i tried another time, i walked forward into the paddock. One step. This is going to take a while. Talking to her softly. Two steps. Three steps. Her trust grew, after 3 hours she walked beside me. Finding the other horses i released her. I walked away, i heard something behind me, Battle followed.
She trusts me!

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-the saddle
I called Battle, she came cantering to the fence, she had become used to me and the hater and can lead no problem. I led her to the barn where i had a light all purpose saddle hanging over the fence rail. I allowed her to sniff it as i gently placed the saddle cloth on her back, nice and gentle. "What brave girl!" i reassured her. i gently lifted the saddle onto her wide back, it was not heavy like a stock saddle but it still gave the mare a fright. I coxed her with treats and told her she was s good girl.
I put the bridle on, we had worked on this but she still didn't like it. She never will and i don't blame her. I lead her around the small paddock, she was getting used to the new object and i think she'll make a wonderful riding horse!

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-ground work
I kept her in the barn over night, so she could get used to the smell of the saddle before we started lunging. At first light i headed to her stall, saddled her up and took her to the small round-yard. I attached a long lunge rope to her halter and began moving her around. She bobbed her head constantly to show her disapproval. For hours i spent moving her one way then another in a nice easy trot and a fast walk, if she was going to be a riding horse she needed to canter and gallop. Steadily i moved her up into a canter, her legs went everywhere! Not the best horse at cantering, so i moved her to a gallop. She had speed and i was constantly turning on the spot.
Lunging went well, now i had to lead her with another horse. I mounted a bay gelding bareback with a halter and leaded Battle around the paddock. she was doing great!
I dismounted and rubbed my hands all around Battle, down her legs, over her face and ears, everywhere! Just to get her used to a rough rub. We spent another hour on the lunge.
Ground work went great with her!

[♥ soft]

congratulations, battle scars' all yours as you completed 7/9 tasks!
just so i can get it perfect, what pattern does her halter have? i saw it has two colours c: ♥