[ScarletFeather11]

Day 25

I paced the room at my house with a soft frown. Ranger was due to come home tomorrow, his surgery being today. I was nervous and scared something would go wrong. I saw him last night to make sure he had everything he needed. The poor thing was restless. All he did was move and canter in the small paddock our vet had him in. From the way he acted I knew how much he missed home. I only watched him in silence, watching how he acted. I kept my fingers crossed the whole night he would be alright.

~~~

I groaned softly when the phone started ringing, waking me from my nap on the couch in the living room of my family's house. I noticed the caller ID said the vet's office and instantly answered it, "Hello?"

"Miss December I'm jut calling you to tell you about Ranger's surgery," Dr. Claire's vice came in through the phone.

"Is he alright?" I frantically asked.

"Of course he is dear. His surgery went over smoothly. He's in a stall right now laying down. I'm going to keep him over night then you can come get him tomorrow morning. He does have a bandage wrapped around his abdomen and I want you to change that twice a day. Once in the morning and once at night for the next week. He'll be fine to train after a week. The incision is very small so I'm pretty sure it won't do any harm to him. We just flushed him out with medication and got that kidney stone out of him rather easily. I know it'll be two weeks from today to ride him if you were going too but I know you haven't started that."

I sighed in relief before nodding, "Got it. I'll pick him up tomorrow. Also I wasn't planning on starting him out yet with riding. We still have to start on some lunge work which I can do in a week once he's recovered, correct?"

"Correct indeed. Now you plan on the English discipline so which competitions are you putting him in?"

"I wanted to make him a showing horse just for children and I was going to work on jumping for him and me together."

"Alright. Just making sure. Now you I shall see tomorrow when you pick Ranger up. Have a nice day!"

"You too Dr. Claire."

With that I hung up and ran up to my room in a fit of happy squeals over my horse.

[ScarletFeather11]

Day 26

I slowly drove down to my vet's office to grab Ranger. He had done well over night and hadn't kicked his stall once. I was so proud of him for it. Soon enough I was already pulling into the driveway. I slowly got out of the truck with lead rope in hand. I opened the trailer doors and let the ramp down after then made my way into the recovery barn. I grinned softly seeing Ranger with his head poked out of the stall, "Hey buddy."

In a matter of seconds he was already whinnying gleefully when he saw me. I kissed his nose and clipped on the lead rope, "Come on boy let's get you home."

I carefully walked him out of the stall and to the barn, patting his neck softly as we walked side by side. He slowly loaded in the trailer, hesitant at first but that hesitant side relaxed once he knew he was going home. I made sure he was in and safe in the small stall in the trailer before shutting it up. I made my way to the truck and hopped in.

I drove as slow as I could so he wouldn't be tossed around in the trailer. Soon enough we were home and I drove down the long paved driveway to the stables. I parked once I got there and turned off my truck. I hopped out and carefully unloaded Ranger. He whinnied softly over at the horses in the pastures, earning a few nickers in return. I giggled softly with a shake of my head as I walked him to hi stall. He hesitantly stared at it for a few moments before slipping into it, no kicking was heard.

"Good boy," I cooed softly. "In a week we'll start on our groundwork then after we get you finished with that we'll start getting you used to being ridden."

He whinnied softly and slipped his muzzle into his water trough, happily drinking the cool water in it. I smiled softly and sat in the stall beside him while he drank and ate some mash so it was easy on him.

[ScarletFeather11]

Day 27

Ranger had done well all night and was good when I started on changing his bandages. I was proud of him. He didn't kick or make a ruckus in the stable at all and didn't even show any interest in kicking. He's been making a remarkable recovery even if it's only been two days. I'm honestly really proud to call him my horse.

I had inspected the small wound on his abdomen closely and made sure it wasn't leaking or showing any sign of infection. Fortunately, everything was fine and there wasn't any sign of anything wrong with him. Ranger was still sweet and gentle but very nippy when any horse came near him or if anyone touched his bandages besides me. I kissed his cheek softly and got him to relax each time. He was only in pain and not in a good mood with the heat outside.

"Be good bud," I cooed softly as I brushed his pelt carefully.

He only snorted softly and went back to sipping water from his trough, flicking his tail side to side slowly.

[ScarletFeather11]

Day 28

Ranger was quiet as I walked him around the arena with a lead rope. I only had him doing one lap around it since I didn't want to overwork him or open up his wound. The gelding though obeyed my commands as we finished up our lap around the arena. He hadn't had any exercise and he wasn't aloud out in the paddock yet so leading him around was my only option which I didn't mind. We both bonded more over it.

"How's Ranger doing?" Ren's voice asked as he walked out of a stall as I put Ranger up.

"Great actually. He's doing pretty good. I haven't seen a horse this perky while recovering before," I answered my boyfriend as I walked over to be engulfed in his embrace for a few moments.

"Has he kicked any?" he asked after giving me a quick kiss.

I shook my head, "Surprisingly no, he hasn't. I'm proud of him. Dr. Claire was right he was just uncomfortable in such a small space and being in pain at the same time."

"She sure knows her patients."

"I know. Sometimes it's scary."

"I agree with you on that December," he chuckled as we started working together to clean the stalls.

"So I was thinking about getting Topaz, Smoke, and two other horses to work with Ranger when we start lunge work and riding. What do you think? I can get my friends to help as well," I asked as we worked.

"I don't think that's a bad idea. I might get Lucky to work with him as well. He's pretty laid back and won't be too hard to handle," Ren answered.

"That'll work. He's pretty experienced with show jumping anyhow. I do know Topaz is easy to work with children so she'll definitely come in handy when it comes to that point," I replied.

He nodded in return as we both continued discussing our plans. Soon enough we finished our chores for the stables and made our way out to his truck to go out to a late night dinner together.

[ScarletFeather11]

Week 4 Report
This week for Mr. Ranger it's been pretty laid back. Ranger is doing very well and soon in a few weeks we'll be working with lunge work and getting him used to saddles, bits, bridles, and humans on his back.

This week:
~Ranger had his surgery which was successful!
~Ranger won't be doing any training for a week as he is recovering.
~Ranger has finally stopped his kicking!

[ScarletFeather11]

Day 29

Ranger was up the next morning, quietly eating his breakfast while I cleaned up his stall after changing his bandages. He was healing up rather well and didn't seem to find an interest in kicking in his stall. He'd stare at the wall for a few minutes before going back to whatever he was doing. Ranger had gotten better about it all which to me was rather perfect.

"Hey bud," I said gently as I leaned against the stall door, rubbing his head gently.

He'd only whinny in return as I spoke to him. I patted his neck gently and kissed his forehead, keeping him occupied while I worked on and off. Once I had finished I grabbed the lead rope and halter, clipping it all onto the gelding. I walked him down to the outdoor arena and walked him slowly around for his daily exercise. He whinnied and swished his docked tail quietly whenever he saw a horse near the fence from the field over.

Ranger swiftly whinnied though when he saw Ren exercising Topaz and Smoke with the lead ropes. I held Ranger back as my boyfriend brought in the stallion and mare, "Hey."

"I heard Mr. Ranger calling out for some buddies," Ren chuckled as he led the two Paso Fino horses over to use.

I rubbed both of their heads with my free hand before nodding to Ren, "I think he's just lonely not being in a field with other horses. As soon as I have him well I'm going to start putting him out with Bo and Night."

"Those two will be good with him. They both won't hurt a flea and Ranger is just the same unless he gets annoyed," he answered as we walked side by side, both horses deciding to be on Ren's left while I stayed on the right with Ranger.

"Well you do have a point there," I agreed.

We chatted a while longer before leading the three horses back to the stable for the rest of the day to let them cool off in some air instead of suffer the heat.

[ScarletFeather11]

Day 30

I whistled softly as I washed Ranger's mane and tail out gently. He'd gotten some hay in his mane and tail overnight which wasn't the best idea. I wasn't happy with him about it but it all subsided once I had him clean once more. Over the past few weeks his mane and tail had been growing back out which was a great thing. I wanted his mane and tail grown back out by early fall.

"Come on boy," I cooed softly as I walked him out to the small paddock to let him graze some. In three days he'd be alright and ready to be put back out in the field without his bandages on.

Riley was leading over Smoke when she saw me sitting on the gate, "Hey December."

I looked over with a smile at my friend, "Hey. What's the matter?"

She climbed up beside me, still holding Smoke's lead rope in her hands, "Nothing actually. I was just wanting to see what you were doing and how Ranger was."

I whistled and watched as Ranger slowly walked over and set his big head in my lap to be rubbed, "He's doing great. He hasn't been kicking or bucking which has me very excited. In three days we can start on groundwork then we'll move onto saddling and riding. I can't wait until then."

"I bet," she smiled as she rubbed his head as well, "He's going to make a great jumping horse."

"As high as he can kick heck he will be," I laughed and kissed Ranger's forehead after moving his forelock out of the way.

Riley laughed and chatted with me for about an hour before she left to take Smoke inside the barn since it was about to storm. I followed after her with Ranger and let him into his stall. I made sure he was watered and fed before heading to the house for the night.

[ScarletFeather11]

Day 31

I changed Ranger's bandages slowly, cleaning up around his faint little scar now. The stitches were taken out last night when Dr. Claire came out. She said he was good to go. He just had wear his bandages for two/three more days then he'd be done and we could start ground work together. Ren worked brushed out my gelding's spotted pelt while I finished wrapping the bandage up.

"Is he all clean now?" I asked as I leaned into my boyfriend's side.

"Yep," Ren answered as he kissed my head.

I nodded and rubbed my horse's head, "So have you ordered his English saddle, bridle, and saddle pad yet?"

Ren shook his head gently, "Not yet. I'm going to order it all tonight so we can be ahead of everything."

I nodded once more and walked Ranger out with Ren for the gelding's daily walk. Eventually I took the horse back in and went out to dinner with Ren for tonight.

[ScarletFeather11]

Day 32

Ranger had his bandage off and was happily prancing around in his paddock, kicking up his hind hooves in glee. I couldn't help but laugh softly as I watched him. He was a great horse and an entertaining one as well. Tomorrow we could start on groundwork together. I couldn't wait. We already had one thing down together, I, the rider, was in control, not him. He understood that so we had that down pat.

"Ranger," I called softly after a while of watching him fool around with Lucky when we set him into the field with him. The two had bucked around, playing around with each other, earning my laughter.

Ranger obediently trotted over to me and nipped at my braided hair. I tapped his nose and slipped his halter on to lead him into the barn to wash him off. I made sure he was cleaned up good before sending him into his stall for the night.

[ScarletFeather11]

Week 5

Sunday wasn't quite a good day for me and Ranger this week. He was constantly moving about trying to take control when I was starting on ground work with him. He kept constantly throwing and tossing his head to tug the rope back, full of himself. Normally he wasn't like that which made me rather upset. I already was having a bad day so him acting up wasn't helping. Ren was talking to another girl at my horse show on Trenton and wasn't paying attention on me. I earned myself an irritable boyfriend after brewing a fight between us. Ranger eventually calmed down after and we finally got to work together. Towards the end of the day I succeeded in regaining our skill of realizing the one who has the rope and such is the one in control, not the horse.

Monday was a better day I guess. I worked with Ranger on simple easy commands like clicking with the tongue to get him to walk and speed up then a swift 'woah' to get him to stop. He was rather quick taking it all in as he took his time yet made himself quick while doing everything. Towards the end of the day I went out with my friends to get ourselves a round of sodas and ice cream from the ice cream shop on the corner to wash my anger towards Ren away. I hadn't texted him or called him since I was so upset with his attention not on me and hanging out with some other girl that is competition against my father's stables. By the end of the night I felt better and ended up asleep rather early for once.

Tuesday, alright I suppose. Ranger and I went back over our simple commands again, deciding on working on those until we start moving up into trotting, cantering, and galloping. He kept himself in place the whole time resulting in a happy me and a gleeful Ranger. I washed him off after a hot day of work and let him out into the pasture to graze with the other horses for the first time in a while. He enjoyed the attention of his fellow friends and I myself enjoyed watching him interact with them all.

Wednesday, the middle of the week. We started on trotting and as always since the week started Ranger wanted control. We relearned that skill all over and that took all morning. By late afternoon I had him trotting and walking with ease and kept him like that with the decision of working with commands tomorrow.

Thursday, over halfway through week 5. Ranger was up with me early and we went back over our who's-in-control-lesson as he started trotting and walking. We worked in our commands and surprisingly he did rather well which I'm proud of. He was quick and swift which helped with my teaching making it swifter for the day.

Friday, almost the end of the week. All we really did was do the same thing like yesterday. I wanted him to be familiar with the commands and with the different gaits.

Saturday, the end of the week. We actually just used this as our free day. We worked together for an hour before just hanging out in the pasture together, enjoying each other's company.