[.FrozenFire.]

Barn Name: Lacaya
Registration Number (Brand): #741033

Show Name: none yet
Age: 5 years
Breed: (Wild) American Mustang
Color: Dapple Grey (Liver Chestnut base)
Markings: Blaze
Genetics: e/e, A/a, F/F, G/g
Height: 14.2 hh
Vice: Lacaya likes to nip people when they turn their back to her and doesn't understand that it's wrong. Yet she isn't sorry for it. Although she likes to use her teeth sometimes she only nips, she hasn't attempted to truly bite someone.
Training progress concerning vice: Still nipping, but she reacts to "Shht" and a movement telling her to back off.
Notes: -

Personality: (Loyal and reliable, a bit of a rascal, sly) more to be discovered
History: WIP (Will be told from Lacaya's point of view.)

Likes: Apples, Horse Cookies
Dislikes: Rain

Discipline: -

Art (pieces that are not involved in the story): nothing yet

Animals befriended: none yet
Humans befriended: Dakota

Rough Daily Schedule: WIP

Things will change over time as personality and other things are discovered.

[.FrozenFire.]

Meeting new faces...
I'm not living in the past, but I know my life has changed forever.

<=====================================================>

It was a foggy morning and the day promised to be beautiful. Two people calmy walked through the crowded halls at the airport. The woman pointed towards a panel while the man checked for the exit with the fewest people. Eventually they left the airport together with a rented car.
"Cam, do you really think we will get there in time? I mean we want to be there in about two hours", Dakota said and tried to sit quietly on the seat. The excitement grew inside her and she couldn't wait to see her newest addition to the family.
"Don't be so nervous sweety, we will be there in time. Your Mustang won't run away or fall to dust", Cam answered her and laughed. The woman shot a sharp glance at her husband and sulked. Cam shook his head, but drove faster, because secretly he feared that the man who promised to rent him a trailer would break that promise. It was way to silent in the car, because nobody was talking. The radio was broken and Dakota was still offended by Cam's unsensitive reaction to her excitement.
"I'm sorry sweetheart. You know I was just joking. Don't be so." But she wouldn't react first. The woman just gave Cameron another short glance. He sighed and pointed towards a large hall. "Our trailer is waiting there for us. Do you want to couple it on while I get to find that man that offered it to me?"
Dakota smiled slightly and nodded. "You know I don't like those kind of 'jokes', but you also know that I calm down in a certain amount of time. Just don't make those jokes and we have no thing to discuss about." Then she and Cam got out of the car and Cam handed the keys over to Dakota.

20 minutes later they were back on the road and drove the last kilometers to Cottonwood Wild Horse Ranch. They had come all the way from Germany to participate in the Mustang Makeover, more precisely, Dakota would participate in the annual event, Cameron just wouldn't want to miss out the opportunity to watch his wife and truly wild Mustangs. As soon as they arrived at CWHR they were greeted by very nice staff and guided towards the place where the Mustangs were kept.
This wasn't the first time neither for Dakota nor for Cameron to visit CWHR. They both had participated in several events at the facilities and all, or almost all horses that resided at Ileanior Manor Stables where imported from Cottonwood.

A shrill whinny caught Dakota's attention and eventually she was able to see a beautiful, grey Mustang. The purple halter raised from her light coat and for a moment she seemed to be the center of attention.
A voice brought Dakota back to reality. "You are Dakota right? The little beast over there, the grey one, she is your Mustang. But keep attention to your fingers and other body parts, she likes to nip."
The young woman looked at the mare and couldn't see the beast the man just mentioned. The only thing she could see in the Mustang's eyes was fear. The grey mare rolled her eyes and shot to the other side of the corral when the helpers tried to get her into the trailer.
Cam approached Dakota now and stood next to her at the fence. "She is terribly frightened, isn't she?" His gaze turned darker as he saw the men trying to catch her. She is, definitely. But what else should she be? She doesn't know anyone here, her family is gone. I don't see why she should not be frightened." Dakota answered him now and told the helpers to stop. They just scared the horse even more.
Dakota got inside the corral and used a rope to guide the mare into the trailer's direction. The grey mare pinned her ears and showed her teeth when the woman got near her. Then she got on her hind legs and threw her fore legs around.

Dakota jumped backwards and threw the rope into the mare's direction. Movement, the mare would have to move in order to get her on that trailer.
Bucking and fleeing first, the grey horse made it's rounds in the corral and Dakota wouldn't allow her to slow down. Both sides she let the mare run, sweat shining on her body. Eventually she allowed the mare to slow down and turned to the side, but the mare wouldn't react to the "join-up". There was not enough time put into it, but the mare seemed a bit calmer and less furious. The helpers approached again and together they could drive her into the trailer.
Dakota was sweating as well and she was probably as stressed as the mare in the trailer. "Alright, Cam, let's go before she will hurt herself." The woman said and her husband nodded. With waving and a few words they said goodbye and left CWHR.

Almost two hours later they arrived at the Ranch of Cameron's aunt, Amy Prince. She generously offered Cam and Dakota to stay at the ranch for the time the Mustang Makeover was running. The last days have been extremely exhausting for the couple, but with the last energy gathered they brought the grey Mustang mare to her temporary home in a nearly 20 x 20 big pasture made of 6-ft high welded pipe panels, attached to a wooden shelter.
As the trailer door was opened the mare immediately shot out of the trailer and jumped into the next corner. Dakota decided that it would probably be best for her to settle in on her own for now. Together with Cameron and Amy, Dakota walked over to the house to get out of the dusty and wet clothes and relax a bit, before the real work would start tomorrow.

<=====================================================>

Day 1 - Summary
. Dakota and Cam arrived in America
. They picked up the Mustang at CWHR
. Mustang is very jumpy and scared
. At the end of the day all three got to the ranch where the Mustang is going to be trained

[.FrozenFire.]

Learning how to whisper...
Misunderstandings between two creatures that don't speak the same language
- how to use your body language.

<=====================================================>

It was calm in the big house, Dakota was only able to hear the soft breathing of Cameron and his aunt's dog "Seeley". Carefully she rolled out of the bed and was cautious not to step on the tail of the German Shepherd, but even though she was really quiet, the dog woke up and started to lick her hand. "Shhh, calm Seeley, don't be so loud." Dakota whispered and took fresh clothes out of the wardrobe. Quietly the dog and she walked out of the room and the woman closed the door behind them. Afterwards she went into the bathroom, took a shower, braided her long hair and got dressed.
At 7 am she was ready and walked down the stairs to quickly eat a sandwich and drink a cup of coffee. Eventually she left through the back door after she had attached a note to the coffee machine that she would visit the Mustang now. Seeley lay down in the kitchen on his blanket and fell asleep again.

Before she actually went to visit her Mustang, Dakota visited some young Mustangs that were bred in captivity. A variety of colors crowded at the gate and begged for some attention. All of them were well tempered and absolutely sweet. With a smile on her face Dakota now walked over to her wild Mustang. The grey mare stood in her shelter and winced when the woman approached the pasture. "It's alright little girl, calm down. Shhhh, it's fine." Dakota's voice was soft as she opened the gate. The mare pressed against one of the walls, but eventually pricked her ears when Dakota took an apple out of her pocket. She put said apple into a corner of the pasture and walked back to the gate. Surprisingly the mare followed her with her eyes and as soon as the woman was back at the gate she walked out of the shelter to get the apple. Dakota took her chance and closed the shelter with another panel. As the man back at CWHR said that the Mustang mare nipped, she had a whip-like, long stick with her. A blue plastic thing was tied to it. Dakota would just use it to look a bit more "impressive", she didn't intended to use it.
"Alright little grey one. We will have to work now."
With a slight movement of her hand and the stick, she told the mare to move, and she did. A bit too excited she jumped forward and bucked. The first rounds were of a fast galopp, uncontrollable and Dakota used her body language wrong. She urged the mare to run faster instead of calming her down. As she noticed it she put her arm down and stepped forwards. The mare stopped and changed directions, very hectic. It took Dakota quite some minutes to figure out the right steps. The mare wouldn't change directions every time she stepped in, but rather slip through and get hectic again. For 20 minutes they communicated past each other and Dakota got a bit helpless. Then for a short moment, something changed as the mare came to a stop again.
First one ear, then both showed into her direction and eventually also the head turned to her. She had taken the command Dakota's body sent to her. "Good girl."
Then the moment was over as sudden as it came and the mare started to walk into the other direction. When Dakota moved her arm up now, the mare started to trot at a good pace and the woman decided that for the moment that should have been enough. When Dakota turned her back walked to the gate and reached it, something nudged her shoulder when she got there. She stood there, frozen, almost shocked. She could feel the breath in her neck, but she knew that the Mustang would flee in case she would suddenly move or even turn around. When the breath disappeared, Dakota moved to the side, soon enough to escape from the mares muzzle. "Shhht. Don't do that." Dakota made herself bigger and build up in front of the mare. She backed off two steps. She wasn't scared, just shocked that somebody had given her a command. With pricked ears she stood there now, seeming to be confused. She stepped forwards again and tried to nip Dakota one more time, but stopped right in front of her arm when Dakota slapped the whip to the ground. Afterwards she walked away from the mare and opened the shelter again. The eyes of the Mustang were still following her. Back at the gate she pulled out another apple out of her pocket and rolled it over to the mare. For a moment the mare stood there really proud, before she ate her apple.
Kaya, beautiful one... Lacaya! That's perfect, Lacaya, Lacaya... the young woman thought and smiled.

After training the mare, she cleaned the pasture and removed the droppings.
Then she climbed one of the panels and just watched Lacaya walking around, rolling or relaxing. And sometimes the mare would raise her head and look at her...

<=====================================================>

Day 2 - Summary
. Mustang received her name, "Lacaya"
. Lacaya and Dakota get to read each others body language
. Lacaya starts to understand Dakota
. Apples are fine as a treat for Lacaya
. Lacaya showed her vice, but accepted Dakota's first reaction to get her to listen
. First step to fight against the vice is done, Dakota started to etablish her role as leader

[.FrozenFire.]

Dancing in the Dark
Those midnight talks... it is dark and cold, but soft voices keep you calm.

<=====================================================>

After yesterday's sun and warm weather, this day was dark and rainy. The sky was grey, almost looking like the Mustang, standing calmly in her shelter where the rain wouldn't reach her. Lacaya watched the Quarter Horses grazing near her own pasture. They had approached her and seemed friendly, not wanting to pick on the Mustang. The mare had always hated the rain, while the Quarter Horses didn't seem to mind the water pouring down their bodies. A soft whiste made the mare look up.
Dakota was already soaking wet from walking over to Lacaya's pasture. She couldn't run, because she wouldn't want to disturb or scare the horse. The woman was happy as the whistle made the mare look up and turn her head to her.
Yesterday Dakota sat on one of the panels for about two hours, just examining the horse, then she got back in and sat on a hay bale for another two hours, before Amy invited her to ride on one of her Quarter Horses. Lacaya had also examined Dakota and was already comfortable with her presence.
Now Dakota moved towards the mare, this time with some horse cookies. The mare pricked her ears and smelled the strange things, but their scent was tasty to her. Very cautious Dakota got near the mare. She backed off first, showed her teeth once and pinned her ears, but as the mare came a step closer eventually, Dakota treated her with a cookie. Slowly her muzzle got near her hand, sniffed for a moment and took the cookie then, a bit harsh, but without pinching the skin.
Still standing in the rain, Dakota slowly started to freeze, but she feared that the mare could get aggressive in case she entered the shelter, so she decided to go back into the house instead. Possibly the weather would be better at noon.
"Bye Lacaya, I'll leave this cookies here for ya, alright?", she said and put the cookies in front of the mare.
At a faster pace Dakota now almost ran back to the house, suddenly bumping into Cameron. "Whoa!"
"Man Dakota, you are soaking with water. I know you are exited, but you probably wouldn't want to get sick now, would you?"
He exclaimed as he gazed into her blue eyes. Dakota nodded in agreement and was almost ashamed that she ran around like a little kid at christmas eve. Slowly she walked past him and got back into the house. For several hours she sat by the fireplace and stared into the flames softly embracing the wood. She knew that Cam was outside, probably riding one of the Quarter Horses in the inside arena. That's when she decided to get two of her own horses to the place - but she wouldn't tell anyone yet. She decided that Praia and Paidia, two Mustang mares, would come over.

When Dakota woke up at 11:46 PM after some sort of nightmare she wasn't able to find back to sleep. Probably because Cam wasn't sleeping next to her. He decided to sleep in the guest room after they had a terrible discussion. Dakota had cried herself to sleep afterwards.
Eventually, after five minutes of throwing around herself in the bed, she stood up and just put over a jacket, before she left the house and walked over to Lacaya. The dim light from two lamps was the only source of light that was around and the woman could only sense the silhouette of her Mustang. Softly whistling, Dakota opened the gate and walked into the pasture. She placed herself on the same hay bale as yesterday then and started sobbing again. Lacaya stood at the fence, her ears pricked as the human being sat there, totally distraught. Dakota didn't notice the grey mare approaching her. Step by step Lacaya got near her and finally stood right in front of her. She just stood there, not alarmed, almost sleepy, looking as if she knew what was going on.
Dakota could sense the presence of the Mustang as she was breathing next to her. Looking up into beautiful brown eyes, Dakota couldn't resist and stretched her hand out, to touch the mare's muzzle. The sleepy horse didn't really care at that moment and Dakota touched the mare for some seconds. "Sleep well Lacaya."
Then she curled up on the hay bale, just with her pyjamas and a jacket on and fell asleep, Lacaya, a still wild horse standing right next to her as if to follow her instincts to protect the resting herd.

<=====================================================>

Day 3 - Summary
. Layaca likes horse cookies
. The mare started to befriend her neighbours, the Quarter Horses
. Dakota discovered that Lacaya hates rain
. Lacaya seems to be a truly loyal and reliable horse when it comes to playing the guard of the "herd"
. She starts to understand Dakota and seems to from a bond with her

[.FrozenFire.]

It is all about the bond
Bonding is all about understanding and understanding takes patience.

<=====================================================>

Something tickled her cheek as Dakota woke up. Tender hair touched her hole head, before she opened her eyes and looked into the gentle face of Lacaya. The mare hadn't moved around, at least that was what Dakota assumed. Carefully she put out her hand and stroked the horse's muzzle. Lacaya didn't back off she looked as if she enjoyed the hand stroking her soft nose.
When Dakota took her hand back, Lacaya put her head forward and nipped into the back of the woman's hand. "Shht, Back off Layaca!" Dakota exclaimed and almost fell off of the hay bale. The mare did as she was told and backed off several steps. It was probably around 7:00 AM now Dakota assumed and rubbed her eyes. Lacaya had approached her for another time, ears pricked and eyes shining. "You are a little rascal, you know?" Dakota chuckled and got up. Calmly she stroked Lacaya's nose and then went up between her eyes and back. She did that until the mare lowered her head. Dakota decided to pull off the purple knot halter. Cautiously she brought her hand between the mare's eyes and grabbed around the head with the other hand. Then she pulled the halter off of Lacaya's head. The mare shook her mane and looked like she had a nest on her head afterwards. Dakota had to laugh, but also thought that Lacaya needed some grooming now.
"I will visit you again later little lady. I will have to change into some more suitable clothes. Bye Lacaya."

Back in the house she could immediately hear somebody walking down the stairs. She put her jacket on the peg in the floor and waited for the person to come. It was Cam. With kind of a relieved expression he came towards her and embraced her tightly.
"Where have you been honey? I thought you ran away or something." Dakota freed herself from his arms and stared at him with a furious glance. "Don't dare to play sorry now Cam. I slept outside, on a hay bale in Lacaya's pasture. Only there I was able to find some sleep." Dakota had to calm down herself, otherwise she would have slapped him right away. Her husband gave the woman a shocked expression while she almost refused to look into his eyes.
"No, Dakota, really I'm sorry. I know that discussion yesterday was about nonsense and that I freaked for nothing, but I didn't feel well. Would you please forgive me?"
Dakota could tell that he was really sorry and gave in. Cam softly kissed her before he shoved her towards the stairs. "You should probably get a shower and some other clothes."

Half an hour later Dakota felt fresh and comfortable. Cam made breakfast for the two of them and the atmosphere was once again friendly and vibrant.
After breakfast the couple cleaned up together and left towards the horses then. While Dakota would try to get a new halter on Lacaya and to show her a brush, Cam would ride one of his aunt's Quarter Horses now.
With the clean, new and also purple halter, a long white lead rope made of cotton and a soft horse brush, Dakota walked back to Layaca's pen. The mare pricked her ears and snorted. Bringing down her energy level and trying to project it on Lacaya, Dakota came into the pasture and approached the Mustang. Next she took out her whip-like, long stick and guided it towards the mare's hindquarters. Curiously the mare watched the stick and started to galopp when she sensed it near her hind legs. First she was a bit hectic and jumpy, but soon she got slower and lowered her head.
One ear always pointed towards Dakota, Lacaya was listening to her voice and reading her body language closely. The inside- and outside-turns got better every time and understanding each other was much easier now. When Dakota turned around and showed the shoulder to her Mustang, the mare trotted to the middle and walked closely behind her when Dakota started to move. Her first successful join-up.
After some more minutes and some working on Lacaya's vice, which wasn't as bad as Dakota had assumed, the mare was ready to get the halter on. The woman opened the halter's knot and let Lacaya sniff it. As soon as the mare was comfortable with the scent and relaxed, Dakota put the halter over the muzzle, waited some seconds, and then Lacaya pulled out of it and backed off. Instead of trying it again immediately, Dakota repeated the join-up, tried it again, then another join-up, till the mare was amazingly attentive. Then she allowed Dakota to get the halter back on her head.
Suddenly, when Lacaya acted up, she noticed that there was something hanging from her head, the lead rope, and almost jumped backwards. Shying away, fleeing, the mare flew around in the pen, Dakota just holding the leash, till the mare would calm down.
"Woooah, shhhhhhh, everything is fine Lacaya, hooooh."
Finally, when the mare settled, Dakota walked up to her and stroked her nose. Lacaya was breathing heavily, but allowed Dakota to pet her with the end of the lead rope now. She accepted that it wasn't a snake or something else that could get dangerous for her. Smiling, Dakota started to walk. Lacaya wouldn't follow her first, but with a bit pressure on the rope, the mare started to move. Four rounds around the pasture, then Dakota took off the halter again and praised the mare extensively before giving her a horse cookie. Without the halter on, the mare still stood besides her trainer and rubbed her muzzle against the pocket of Dakota's jacket where she assumed the cookies. Dakota laughed and shoved the mare away as soon as she tried to nip into the jacket.

Actually she decided she would brush the mare tomorrow and left the Mustang alone after cleaning the pasture and shelter and saying goodbye.
The rest of the day Dakota went for a short trail ride with Cam.

<=====================================================>

Day 4 - Summary
. Lacaya is progressing nicely
. she understands some easy commands already
. she reacts nicely to the join-up
. she is still nipping, but accepts a "stop it"
. she doesn't mind being led with a halter and lead rope

[.FrozenFire.]

There she goes...
... looking like a star with her body shaped like a rock guitar - Or, at least that's what the song says.

<=====================================================>

The first sunbeams of the day stroked Dakota's face as she opened her eyes. It was 8:00 AM, much later then what she normally woke up to. Cam was still sleeping, but she decided he should get up to, so she softly touched his cheek. "Get up sleepyhead." She joked and got out of the bed. With a sigh she walked through the room and dressed herself. Cam rubbed his eyes and growled. Ugh, please Dakota I am tired. Please, let me sleep." He begged and closed his eyes.
"Nope." She answered him and threw a pillow at his face. Then she went out of the bedroom to visit Lacaya.

In a good mood, the mare whinnied when Dakota came towards the pen. "Good morning Lacaya."
She was attentive and wouldn't need a join-up in order to be calmer. Dakota took the halter and got it over the Mustang's head. The mare didn't mind and just waited for the things to come. After walking some rounds in the pasture, Dakota opened the gate and walked towards the stables, Lacaya following her closely. Noises were to be heard from every corner and the mare's ears turned around a lot. When a bucket with grain dropped to the ground, Lacaya spooked and jumped two meters sideways, but Dakota could calm her down.
Several minutes after they had left Lacaya's pen, they where finally inside the stable. The Mustang got stiff and she moved awkwardly. Her nostrils were flared and she seemed to freak every moment, but instead she just sniffed everything she came by. When Dakota led her to the brushing area, Lacaya stopped in front of the box of another horse. The mare inside the box didn't seem too amused about that and snapped. Totally shocked, Lacaya jumped away once again and directly fled into the brushing area where she ran into another horse. Woaah, calm, girl, calm."
Eventually the mare really calmed down and Dakota could catch her. The woman knotted a twine to the lead rope and attached the twine to the ring where normally the lead rope would be tied to. It was too dangerous to simply tie the mare, because she could panick and could get injured.

About half an hour later, Lacaya was all clean and enjoyed the brush touching her body, even the legs were fine with her. Dakota was also able to scratch out the front hooves, but Lacaya wouldn't give her hind hooves for that matter, she even tried to nip then.
"Shht. Don't do that."
With a single finger Dakota tapped on the mare's nose and she really listened. Dakota could cut her mane afterwards and freed her from the remaining dust.

"That should be enough for today." Dakota said and led the mare back towards her pasture. Some of the stablehand had cleaned the pasture in the meanwhile and had moved it to another location, because the grass got scarce at the old place.
As if nothing changed, Lacaya trotted back into the pasture, her nostrils still a bit flared from the way back to the pen, but otherwise she seemed to be okay.
Everyone was content and left for the daily work at the ranch.

But what had been achieved in the past five days should be shattered. Shattered in a matter of seconds in the near future...

<=====================================================>

Day 5 - Summary
. Lacaya enjoys brushing and gives her fore hooves
. The mare that "attacked" Lacaya was moved back to her original owner
. Lacaya has proven to be curious and attentive
. She doesn't nip as much as she did before

[.FrozenFire.]

WIP

[.FrozenFire.]

WIP

I am short on time recently due to school and I just post to have the post on the original days the training should be.

[.FrozenFire.]

Wip as above

[.FrozenFire.]

Same as above.