Estrella's First Touch
I shot out of bed as I heard the sounds of a distressed nera. I grabbed a flashlight as I bolted out of my house and followed the sound to the quarantine pasture. The first thing I saw was Estrella sitting by the gate, her head turned towards the sky. "Estrella? Sweet pea, are you okay?" I called out to her. She turned her head in my direction and jumped up, wiggling in excitement. I went into her pasture and she bumped me gently with her head before rolling around goofily. I giggled as I sat in the grass, ignoring the itch the grass caused on my legs. Estrella bounced around for a bit before walking over to me and lying down behind me. I slowly leaned back and petted her, to which she responded by licking my arm. I leaned back all the way and rested against her while petting her, looking up at the stars. I noticed from the corner of my eye Estrella had her head pointed towards the sky again. I wonder if neras can see far enough to see the stars?
Estrella's First Saddle
The smile that was on my face was so big it hurt. I was sitting on the fence of the outdoor arena, watching Estrella play with her new saddle. She'd bite it, scoot it around, roll it over... It's a good thing that's a sturdy saddle! I watched her play with it for 30 minutes before she got bored and wandered over to me and plopped her head in my lap as if to say "What now?" I rubbed her head and played with her ears before scooting her head off my lap and jumping off the fence. I picked up the saddle and brushed the dirt off it. "Estrella! C'mere sweetie." I chirped to her. She tilted her head and pranced over, probably curious as to what new game we were gonna play. I placed the saddle on her back and she started spinning around, looking at it. I ducked as she spun so hard the saddle flew off. "Easy, girl!" I called before getting the saddle. I patted her neck then placed the saddle on her and fastened it up as fast as possible. She started spinning again, trying to get a good look at what was on her back. I giggled as I watched her. She was too cute, I swear.
Estrella's First Ride
Estrella frolicked around the arena, her saddle staying firmly in place. She turned her head towards me and bounded over, almost running me over. I laughed as I hugged her and stroked her side. She wiggled around, nipping at my hair playfully. "Hey, is today gonna be the day?" I asked her. Her response was a curious head tilt as she flicked her ears. I grabbed ahold of the saddle, gave myself a boost and climbed into the saddle. She jumped, then started spinning wildly, trying to see what was on her back. "Easy, girl! Hey hey it's me!" I cried out and held on tighter. She slowed down and tilted her head again. "Alright. Now that we've got that sorted out.. Let's walk?" I half-asked, half-said. I nudged her sides gently and she walked forward, wiggling every now and then. We worked for an hour before we both decided it was time to stop for the day. She rolled on the ground after I'd taken her saddle off. I lead her over to the second herd pasture and let her in for the first time. She bounded around, excited to have more space to romp and play.
EXTRA(not extra training. Just fun stuff.)
Story 1 - Estrella and Tobias' First MeetingAs I led Estrella out to the pasture, I caught sight of the sleepy Tobias eating from a bucket. I let her into the pasture and walked in, closing the gate behind me. I took off her halter and leadrope and backed into the corner, holding my breath. Tobias lifted his head, smelling a mare in his pasture. He walked over lazily, sniffing and touching her. She was having none of that as she wiggled and pounced on his back, her front legs thrown over his back as she bit his ear playfully and tugged it. She toppled over the other side of him, quickly bouncing back to her feet and bounding around the field before running back, straight at Tobias. He barely managed to scramble out of her path as she ran into a fence. He padded over again, sniffing at her before licking her gently. She stood up and started nuzzling him before bounding off again. He walked back to his bucket, finishing his food before retreating to the safety of a bush, probably to nap. I smiled as I watched Tobias and Estrella.
Story 2 - Meeting Veratala and KuareiI grumbled to myself as I walked into the arena, towards the screaming nera tangled in rope. "Where did you even GET rope?" I groaned at her as I dodged the flailing limbs and began to work on untangling her legs. "OW! Would you quit squirming?!" I snapped at her. She made a noise then plopped her head down as she went still, pouting. After 5 minutes I finally untangled her legs. I quickly gathered the rope and tossed it out of the arena. "Yeesh! No more rope, okay?" I said to Estrella as she scrambled to her feet and bumped me with her head, playfully. I rubbed her head before walking out. I returned with Kuarei and Veratala and let them into the arena. Kuarei bounced his way over to Estrella and began nipping her playfully and bumping into her. He hopped around the arena like a rabbit, then bounced back to Estrella. Estrella wiggled in excitement when she realized that the apple-colored gelding wanted to play with her. She bunny-hopped past him and then turned around and pounced on him, chomping on his ear. While those two were wrestling, Veratala was off in a corner, studying the cow chute. I quickly raced over to it, making double sure that it was latched. I don't want Veratala breaking it again.
Story 3 - What Estrella Does During A StormEstrella pouted in her stall. She wanted to go run through the rain; it felt great on her skin. Estrella turned her head up as she heard the rumble of thunder in the distance. Estrella stood and began to pace in her stall. Soon, that proved too boring. She began to dig at the hay in her stall, tossing it around. She chewed on her salt lick, but even that lost its appeal after her tongue started feeling weird. She studied the others in their stalls. Kuarei and Veratala were curled up together in a corner of their stall, sleeping. Tobias was sprawled across the ground in his stall, asleep, too. Estrella decided to mimic the others and laid down. She tried to sleep, she really did, but to no avail. She grew increasingly bored and frustrated, until she heard the sound of nails clicking through the barn. Soon, the farm dog, Pupadou, was standing infront of her stall, wagging his tail. In his teeth he held a large bone. Estrella wiggled at the thought of chewing on it, but knew she wouldn't be able to reach it. Suddenly Pupadou jumped up, putting his front paws on the stall door and his head close to the bars. Estrella slowly reached for the bone, and grabbed it. Pupadou let go and barked at her once before curling up in one of the other stalls. Estrella chewed on the bone happily, finally content.