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Name will beApollo
First Touch
First Saddle I welcomed the old Neravontii to my Stables, and groomed him a bit. I introduced him to his stall to let him settle, and hung around stroking the rest of my Neravontiis. He seemed to settle pretty fast, and looked like he loved the company of other Neravontiis. The old Fellow looked out his stall and nodded his head. I smiled and walked over to him. "What am I going to call you"?
He looked at me as I stood silently. "Brody, nah... Marley... no no just doesn't fit... I do like the name Apollo though". I looked at the old Stallion, and I repeated the name "Apollo" he nodded his head and nuzzled me. "Seems that name suits then". I slip away for a moment and walked snuck into the tack room. I had a few saddle to spare, and had found the one I found to be the best match. I pick up the tack, and head to his stall.
Apollo peeked out, twitching his ears. I know he was a rescue, and may know what a saddle was but unsure if he's friendly with a saddle and if this will be easy or hard. I set the tack down on a stack of hay bales, and open his stall carrying his bridle, he lowered his head to sniff the bridle. He seemed to give a glare at the bit, so I remove the bit just to slip his bridle on. I gave him a small carrot and stroked him a few times. I then pick up the bit and he lowered his head bellow my hip then turned it to the side. "Apollo, please I promise I won't hurt you", he twitched his ears. Decided to pull out another small carrot, and held it in the same hand as I held the bit. I slipped my thumbs through the rings of the bit, and gently slipped it in his mouth as he ate his carrot. He didn't react, so I gave him another carrot after I connected the bit to the bridle again.
I stroke him for awhile then lead him out of his stall and tied him outside his stall. I grab the saddle pad, and showed it to him. He sniffed it for a few seconds then just looked back at his stall and lowered his head showing he accepted. I placed the saddle pad in the spot it needed to be. I then grab the saddle and slowly moved it toward him. I let him sniff it as well, unexpectedly he moved to the side and snorted. I held out a carrot for him and stroked him a few times then tried again. This time he didn't move to the side but held his ears back. So I decided to just give it a try by putting the saddle on him. As soon as the saddle had settled on his back, his head rose high. then stomped a bit. I gave him a carrot, then tightened his tack. I let him settle a few minutes.
First Ride This next step seemed to work out differently than the rest of my Neravontiis I trained.
I lead the Stallion out to the round pen, and did my usual with the Neravontiis I'm training. He seemed to reply well, so I tightened his tack, loosened the Stirrups to the length needed. I then wiggle the saddle to be sure he had his balance. I tried to mount then suddenly he had jumped to the side. I lunged him around the pen for a few minutes, and tried to mount him again, he again jumped to the side and snorted. I then lunge him for a minute then faced the other way. He stood for a minute then walked to the center to meet with me. I looked him in the eyes, then looked at his back and met eyes again. He lowered his head and gave a small nuzzle. I walk up beside him and he stood as I was able to mount him. I did a few warm up moves as he stood still. I then gave him the signal to walk on. After riding him for about half an hour, I dismounted and lead him to the stable. I removed his tack, then gave him a brush down. I put a blanket on him and placed him in his stall, and gave him a last carrot.
All 3 have been complete