I believe this lovely mare is mine (Well, when I finish the tasks that is).Done the required tasks.
Registered name: Echo of Authority
Call name: Echo
~Required Tasks~
~The Retrieval~ Darkreh RavenBlack sighed. The young woman couldn't believe she finally got accepted for a AISP. Next to her, driving the black Mitsubishi truck was Darkaz Riven'wen, he was also just as surprised as she was.
Hooked on to the truck was a newish Sinclair trailer. When they finally got there Darkreh lifted the hood on her black coat, it was cold but that wasn't really the reason why the hood was covering her black hair, it was to hide her black wolf ears. Darkaz new of course, but it was a secret that Darkreh wanted to keep. As was her shaggy wolf tail that was hidden behind her coat. Darkreh shivered, it was cold even for a wolf girl. The wind ruffled her black hair even inside the hood.
"Darkreh, lets go, I'm getting cold" said Darkaz shivering. Darkreh nodded and started towards the reception. It was a relief to get somewhere warm,
"Excuse me" said Darkreh to the receptionist,
"I'm Darkreh from RavenBlack Stables, and I'm here to collect my AISP?" The receptionist checked a list,
Ah, yes, Darkreh RavenBlack, Please fill out the paperwork. your AISP is in stable 19 waiting for you. My assistant Alex will show you." she said handing Darkreh some papers. Once that was finished a tall fair haired man came forward, He was in his early twenties apparently. Alex led then to a huge barn,
"We only have these stables here for people to collect their assigned AISP" he explained. When the got to stable 19, Darkreh finally saw her new mare.
Darkreh's blue eyes met the mare's green gaze.
"May I go in?" she asked.
"Sure" Alex replied opening the door.
Carefully not to make any sudden movements Darkreh stepped in. The mare was very uneasy at first and backed into a corner. Looking round the stable Darkreh found a stool to sit on a waited. Eventually the mare was curious enough to wander over, Darkreh reached out with the back of her hand and let the mare sniff it. When the mare came close enough Darkreh stood up very slowly and reached out to stroke the mare's neck. The mare backed up a little so Darkreh paused.
Then, when the mare calmed down a bit she started to reach out again. This time the mare let Darkreh stroke her silky fur and actually began to enjoy it.
"All you want is a leader eh? someone to support you, I think the name Echo of Authority would suit you...Echo for short. What do you think? Asked Darkreh softly. The mare nickered quietly.
"Echo it is then" Darkreh decided. Carefully Darkaz handed Darkreh a black halter and she gently put it on Echo, careful not to alarm her. Alex opened the door wide and Darkreh led Echo out.
~Read Onsite Check-up~Darkreh lead Echo to the trailer. The black Sinclair was big and spacious. At first they had trouble getting her in but the finally managed after Darkreh opened the jockey door so the mare could see out the other end. It was a relief to get off the ferry and on to the road not to mention take her coat hood off. Her wolf ears were a bit stiff and ruffled but nothing she couldn't deal with. Though she didn't show it, Darkreh was extremely exited.
(556 words)
~Onsite Check-up~Darkaz is a qualified vet.
Once Echo was out Darkaz began to check her. He ran his hands carefully down her legs and over her back, feeling for any lumps. She seemed to be in excellent condition, though the mare was rather uneasy by her back legs. Darkaz lifted one of her legs and inspected the hoof. There he discovered a small infection, checking all of her other hooves he didn’t discover anything else. Darkreh checked her teeth, one of them was a bit chipped, but the rest were fine.
One of her hooves had a crack going lengthways across it,
better get the farrier to take a look at that thought Darkreh. Alex brought the stethoscope and Darkaz checked Echo's heart, everything seemed healthy. Darkreh walked her up and down, one of her legs had a minor sprain but she wasn't lame which was a good sign. Turning her round Darkreh trotted Echo so Darkaz could have a look.
Echo particularly enjoyed it and lifted her legs up high, Darkreh smiled, her gait seemed ok. Next Darkreh turned Echo round in a tight circle, again the mare had no trouble. Darkreh tried on the other rein, Echo was slightly more reluctant but had no physical trouble.
Darkreh was pleased with this mare, she obviously had no problem with people, and she was more than willing to do what Darkreh asked. “Well, looks like we’ve got a new horse” Said Darkaz as he finished his inspection, “She’s fit and ready to go!”
(253 words)
~Introducing to the new area ~The trailer ground to a halt. They had finally arrived at RavenBlack Stables. It was still pretty cold and Darkreh longed to get out of the wind. Opening the jockey door first to check if Echo was ok, Darkreh untied the lead rope and shouted to Darkaz to open the back of the trailer. Once everything was ready Darkreh started backing Echo out of the trailer. Without warning Echo rushed out backwards and Darkreh shouted a warning to Darkaz as the rope was wrenched out of her hands. Luckily Darkaz was ready and he managed to grab the rope before the mare tripped. Stroking the mare and soothing her they finally managed to calm the mare down. After Echo had calmed down enough. Darkreh checked her over for any injuries.
Once again luck was with them and Echo was fine. Breathing a sigh of relief Darkreh looked down at her hands. Unfortunately she hadn't been wearing gloves and now had a nasty rope burn. Leading the mare to the main barn Darkreh let her have a look at everything. From the brooms to buckets Echo was very curious about everything. After the barn Darkreh led her out to the paddocks, where the mare also had a good look at everything. RavenBlack Stables was a very peaceful, quiet place and rarely had any visitors.
To meet other people Darkreh' would have to take her to other places. After selecting a good paddock Darkreh turned off the electric fence and opened the gate.
(251 words)
~The Release~ Darkaz stayed back at the gate and watched while Darkreh led the shy mare in. There were other horses grazing peacefully in the paddocks next to hers, but none were in the paddock where Echo was going. Echo was very interested in her surroundings indeed, her ears were pricked up, and she was still in mid stride.
The other horses were just as interested, they crowded round the fence nickering and whining, Echo replied by shaking her mane and swishing her tail, gently taking the halter off Darkreh released Echo and stood back waiting to see what would happen. The mare made her way round the paddock inspecting every inch of it. The fence was avoided. Smiling Darkreh went back to the gate turned on the electric fence and left the mare to wander round.
Echo breathed in the cool crisp air.
She was still very nervous but she had found a new home, one that so far she loved, the paddocks were huge and the grazing was as good as it could get in the cold weather, It had this mysterious feeling to it. Echo had the feeling that she would be rather happy here.
Lifting her head she trotted round the paddock to the water trough. It had just snowed, and the ground was covered in a soft white blanket making it look magical. Echo had all she needed here, space, some horses to be friends with and better than that a new leader. Someone to show her the way. Gradually her nervous feeling faded away and was replaced by calmness.
(263 words)
~Optional Tasks~ ~Introductions to other equines~ It was two weeks since Echo had arrived, I was really getting to know her well. Today I was taking her to a local show, just to meet some other horses and get use to other people around.
Darkreh and Darkaz started up the horse box. This time they were taking the Black Ifor Williams horse box. Darkreh had a number of trailers and horse boxes.
"I'll go and get Echo" said Darkreh turning off the electric fence. The beautiful mare looked up from grazing and trotted over,
"Morning Echo, time to go and see some other horses eh?" said Darkreh softly. Echo nickered in response. Walking over confidently but non-threating Darkreh gently slipped the halter on the mare.
Echo snorted and followed Darkreh to the horse box.
Echo was very nervous about the horse box as last time she went in a trailer when she tried to get out she had slipped, so it was a great struggle to get Echo in. Once they did though Echo was calmed down and started munching some hay from a hay net. When the finally got to the small show Darkreh made sure she had gloves on before unloading Echo, her rope burn was still painful. Darkaz stood at the side ready in case Echo should rush out again, slowly Darkreh backed the mare out onto the frosty grass.
Echo looked around. The show grounds were rather busy, full of people unloading their horses and tacking them up. Among them Darkreh spotted her friend Windra with her horse Vinyen.
Echo was very exited to meet all these horses and the other people were very kind and calm. Darkreh shivered. It was a while since she was around so many people, and she wasn't enjoying it, but Echo certainly was.
"What breed is she?" asked a young girl with a bay pony whom Echo was nuzzling.
"She's an Aleutian Island Seal Pony" Darkreh replied resisting the urge to scowl.
"Really! that's awesome! where did you get her?" asked the girl enthusiastically,
"I sent an application form, you cant get one that way unless you own your own stables with over 100 acres" Darkreh answered stiffly wishing that the girl would just go away.
"Oh..." said the girl looking disappointed and pretending to look longingly at Echo.
"You're not getting a ride if that's what you want, she's way to difficult for you" said Darkreh sourly,
"Of course not!" exclaimed the girl
"please excuse me, I need to get ready for my show, I'm doing family pony, my first time doing a jump in a show!" she said beaming before skipping off with her pony.
Oh wow! I'm so happy for you. thought Darkreh sarcastically. Nope, Darkreh hated company.
Well, except Darkaz and maybe a few others.
The rest of the day went fine, Echo met lots of other horses and people and Darkreh got stressed with all the busyness and constantly worrying whether someone saw her wolf ears or tail.
"And that was just a local show!" exclaimed Darkreh when they got back in the horse box. Darkaz smirked, he had no love for company ether. However the objective was to get the mare to meet some other horses and get used to the busy surroundings, which they achieved.
(548 words)
~Wild Observation~ The frost crunched under Darkreh's black Goth boots. Today she was going to spend some time observing Echo. Her field was three acres, larger than all the other paddocks. It had a small pine forest down the other end and a field shelter at the top. the grass was quite wild in some patches but other than those the rest of the field was nicely presentable. Echo wasn't in the shelter so Darkreh headed for the woods, occasionally stopping to check the fencing.
The hood of Darkreh's coat was down as there was no one around to disturb her. Darkreh's wolf ears were now sprinkled with white show, as was the rest of her. The white snow was a beautiful contrast against Darkreh's black choice of clothes. When she reached the forest, she found Echo laying down by a large spruce tree.
wip
~Training~ ~Treats~ Darkreh dug into her pocket, there she found some sugar cubes and half a biscuit. It was now one month since Echo had come to RavenBlack Stables, and Darkreh found she had quite a sweet tooth.
wip
~First ride~wip
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