[noreptiles_]

 Owner       >>> Firedancer77
 Name                >>> Bramble
 Gender         >>> Gelded Male
 Adoption Price         >>> 4 UC WL or 1 WL R
 Training         >>> [Fully Trained]
  =====
  . patient
  . over-exaggerates
  . turtles are scary

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

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

[Firedancer77]

His name will be Bramble.

[Firedancer77]

Excited was an understatement for how I felt whenever I finally got myself to accept the fact that I had finally managed to get my first Nera. A Gelded Male, and from the images I'd been sent, a real beauty. I couldn't wait to see him. I knew that what I payed would be worth it. I was definitely excited to finally meet my little - er, not so little, now that I thought about it - guy. And, not only was I excited just about that, but the excitement was doubled because it was going to be today. He was going to be arriving today!

Yes, excited was definitely an understatement.

At the sound of a car rolling up, I hurried outside of the stables that I had managed to purchase. It had taken a lot of hard work, and I hadn't even been able to think about getting a Nera till I had them. But, now that I did, I'd been able to purchase my first Nera, and I knew all the effort I'd put in would be worth it. We were going to be best friends. I could feel it!

A man opened the trailer attached to his truck, and after disappearing in there for a moment emerged with the most amazing Nera I had ever layed eyes on.

"He's beautiful!"

The man chuckles a little at my reaction. "Indeed. Where would you like me to lead him to, ma'am?"

"In that corral." I point it out, and follow the man as he leads the Nera over.

"Any idea what you'll name him?"

"I've been thinking quite a bit about that." I admit. "And I've chosen the name Bramble."

The man gives me some general details about caring for Neras - like I haven't been studying all of that stuff like mad already - and then he leaves, leaving me with Bramble.

"Hey there, Bramble." I give him a smile, and he tilts his head at me like I'm crazy. I giggle a little. "Do you like this place?"

He gives a loud, but short, screech, and I force myself not to cover my ears, mainly because I wasn't expecting it.

"I see." I respond. "I'm going to take that as a yes?"

He walks around the corral, looking around. Is may be just me, and I may be crazy, but I think he might be a bit lonely. I'll have to fix that, once he's fully-trained.

"Hey, there's no one here, bud." I swear he looks a little saddened by my answer.

Maybe it's the sadness of being alone. Maybe it's because he likes me. Or maybe it's for some other reason I can't guess. But when I hold up my hand to gesture around, sitting on the fence so I can be almost level with him, he presses his face into it. Or, kind of. Since he's so big, it's a little awkward. But, it somehow works, and I can't help but take it as us bonding.

I don't bother hiding my grin.

[Firedancer77]

"Bramble! Why won't you just cooperate?" I plead, holding the saddle and standing in the corral as he prances away. I'm trying to remain serious, but it is slightly funny, how he keeps making me think he's going to stay put and let me put the saddle on, only to dart away at the last second.

Then I get an idea. I set the saddle on the fence, and hurry into the stable to the feed room. I haven't moved Bramble into a stable yet - it would still be connected to an outdoor area, so he could run - because I have a feeling he'd probably end up destroying it. That could just be an assumption, but I'm taking no chances. Grabbing a sparrow, I hurry back out, and there's Bramble, waiting there as patiently as ever for me.

"Hey, Bramble! Guess what I have?" With a grin, I reveal the sparrow, and he walks over, taking his casual time. I move over to the saddle and pick it up, causing him to stop. He obviously wants the sparrow, so hopefully I'll be able to do some persuasion. "Uh uh, if you want this sparrow, you're going to have to put this," I lift the saddle up a bit, "on."

He gives a scream, and his tail whips back and forth.

"No buts." I shake my head. "The only trade I'll make is you putting on the saddle in return for the sparrow. And you can't shake it off once you have the meat!"

I'm not quite sure he understands me. Maybe he does? Or maybe it's just the fact that there's meat he could eat. He settles, and when I come over to him, he doesn't run away. So, I lift the saddle up, and place it on his back, along with adjusting all the straps and making sure it's in place. The moment it's on and I step back to make sure it's all correct, he starts sniffing at my hands, trying to grab the sparrow.

"Hey! Calm down, and get used to the saddle, okay?"

After a few minutes of walking around with it, he comes back, and I can tell he's waiting for the sparrow.

"Alright, alright, there you go." I grin, giving him the bird.

He eats it very quickly, and seems satisfied. Thankfully, he doesn't try to get the saddle off either. Maybe he's adjusting? I'll probably have to keep up this process for awhile before he adjusts.

[Firedancer77]

It took around two weeks for Bramble to finally adjust to the saddle. And then it took another week for him to fully adjust to me sitting in it. Just sitting, not riding. But, I think he's ready for our first ride now. I had him all saddled up, and was leading him to the open pastures for riding. It seemed like the best place.

Once we're there, I use the fence to get in the saddle. "Alright, Bramble, you ready?"

He lets out his normal scream. I think my eardrums have finally adjusted to it, and I can now generally sleep through it when he's doing it at night. Thank goodness. Otherwise I'd never get any sleep.

"Let's go then. Nice and easy at first, alright?" It's a good thing Bramble is patient, otherwise I don't know if I'd still be on him. I was a little worried that he might just take off, and that I'd fall, but he listens, and just walks.

I speed it up a little. "Good boy, Bramble. You're doing great." I think he likes the praise, but I'm not totally sure.

In the end, we end up making it to running and run for awhile. After some time, I take on stricter control and begin to lead him back to the stables. "Good job. You did great. How about we take you into the stables tonight, boy?"

He gives me a nice, loud scream in response. That one rattles my brain a bit.

"I'll take that as a yes."