(( .:Hoofbeats:. please read the rules. ))
"C'mon." Claire murmured. After walking Loan over the poles a few times, she trotted over them. The paint was a little hesitant at first, but when he got the hang of it he nicely popped over them.
Meanwhile, Claire was having a mental argument. Self vs. Self. Jump him. Canter him. She shook the thoughts away and walked Loan towards an x. He hopped gladly over it. Claire couldn't stop her grin. She circled him, asked him to trot, and jumped him over it.
He cantered over it. No trot for him! His canter was smooth, the lead correct. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, over.
Claire counted the strides in her head and folded into perfect two-point. He cantered over it.
"Good boy! Good boy!" She slackened the reins and leaned over, patting his neck. He was a wonder! Beautiful! Natural! This horse was, was -- perfect.
"I want you." Claire whispered, hugging the horse before hopping off. That was enough for today. Oh, how surprised Mel would be! This horse was a wonder!
She led Loan into the barn, bursting at the seams with pride. From the way Mel's face was glowing, Claire knew the friendly owner had watched.
"He's yours."
Claire stopped. She stared at Mel. "W-w-what?" She stammered, looking at the trainer in surprise. "Mine?"
Mel nodded, smiling. "Every staff member get's to choose a horse, once it's rehabited. Loan was proboally the most un-abused, sweetest rescue I've ever had. Not to mention the quickest-"
"MINE!" Claire screeched, interupting Mel's sentence with a bear hug. She flung her arms around Mel and hugged her. Mel laughed and hugged her back. "Now, go untack him and put him in the perament barn. I already have his things there."
Claire rushed off and untacked him.
***
Lily watched, with a smile on her face. She flipped her brown hair to the side, and walked over to Mel. "Hey, Mel. Good choice." She giggled, and combed her fingers through her hair. The 16 year old stared down the rows of rehabitation stalls. "May I brush Ryan?" She asked.
"Sure, after you bring in Cobalt." Mel smiled. "I'll bring Sterling."
Lily nodded and slung Cobalt's white halter over her shoulder. She walked towards his pasture. "Here, boy!" She crooned, laughing as the black gelding danced up to her. "Show off."
She buckled on his halter, snapped on his lead rope, and led him into his stall. Meanwhile, Mel had put Sterling away.













