Registered name: Carry the Gull
Call Name: Breeze
Retrieval
The storm had passed, luckily, the day before. In its wake feet of snow and ice had been left behind, but it was easier to traverse than the blinding sleet and snow that struck one down to the bones with the freezing temperatures. Kaylana Swineik had been on the road since the storm had passed on early that morning, sometime in the hours before people would rise for the work day had begun; she didn’t mind much, not with the calm excitement that was coursing through her. Having spoken to her husband, she had informed him it was high time to get things together and offer aid to the wild ponies that she had read about weeks before.
Now she was just waiting to reach her destination, but a few minutes away, her trailer hitched to her truck and as warm as it could be for the occupant she would be taking home with her; she had little information, other than the fact that the Seal Pony was a mare, was a bit of a firebrand, and held little tolerance for both fences and human contact. No matter, Kaylana had dealt with similar cases with other horses before, the black haired woman had the patience needed to win the mare over. Her thoughts strayed from the mare when she pulled up to the facility holding her, and once she had found the barn and backed her trailer closer she stepped out of the warm cabin, red parka hood pulled up to cover her ears, and shook hands with the handler she had been in contact with.
“She’s a little grumpy this morning, but I don’t think we’ll have too much trouble trailering the old girl. You really think you’re ready to get back into the game with this one? She really isn’t as easy going as a lot of others, Kay.” The man told her, looking a bit worried for his long time friend when she shook her head with a wry half smile.
“I’ll be fine, James. Ryce is coming down next week for a little while, he’ll be able to help if I run into any problems. Now can I see her, before my mood gets worse than hers?” Kaylana asked the man, eyebrows rising pointedly before James chuckled and nodded, leading her into the barn and stopping at a stall where the mare had been wrangled into. The bedding was everywhere, as if the mare had grown restless and began kicking around; when the mare lifted her head, straw caught in her thick fur, mane and tail, Kaylana let out an amused breath through her nose as she smiled, leaning against the stall’s door and watching the palomino.
“She’ll be fine, James. I’ll be fine. I’ve dealt with your Gerald, and he was one of the worst I had to just watch for a weekend.” James groaned as he recalled the gelding, a yearling colt at the time, but said nothing while he readied the gear to lead the mare into the trailer.
“We’ve got about seven, eight minutes before she starts to get real jumpy with us. Not used to contact, but you know that already. Come on, let’s get her in the trailer before she freaks out.” James offered, and Kaylana nodded as she took the halter and lead rope from him, slipping inside the stall, James standing in the gap in case Kay needed to get out quickly but still keeping the mare inside, before she clicked her tongue gently. The mare rumbled softly in response, ears perking up almost immediately as she extended her head and neck, sniffing at the offered halter, lead and the hand holding them. She snorted anxiously as she pulled back in a rush, taking a step backward, ears drooping back, before they lifted again. Twice more Kaylana waited for the mare to come to her, and the second time she smiled as she was able to slip the halter over her nose, slowly moving further up her face before she could secure it behind her ears.
“Always a pleasure seeing you work with the rabble rousers, Kay. Think that’s a new record for getting her into a halter.” James said, smiling as he stepped away and opened the door further to let the two out. Kaylana eyed the mare, but said nothing, when she stiffened at the sensation of being led forward, front legs locked and pressed into the stall floor before she snorted nervously; stubborn herself, Kaylana clucked her tongue before applying pressure again, releasing when the mare took a hesitant step; the process repeated a few times before the mare was rushing out of the stall like a fire was set under her tail. And, before Kaylana knew what to say, she had led the mare at a brisk walk into the trailer, tied her safely and then secured the middle gate to keep her from wandering around the trailer.
Closing it up with James’ help, the two bed their goodbyes, hoped that they’d keep in contact more often, and then Kaylana packed herself into her truck and set out for home.
