[Steamturtle]

 Owner       >>> Ruby-Skylark
 Name                >>> Jaxx
 Gender         >>> Gelded Male
 Adoption Price         >>> 
 Training         >>> {Trained to Trail}
  =====
  . Patient
  . Determined
  . Calm
  . Likes climbing
  . Slightly stubborn
  . Friendly

 [Discipline >>>>> ]
 [Shows Entered > R: W: E:]
 [Shows Won >>>> R: W: E:]

 [Ej > ] [Ep > ]
 [Eh > ] [Ws > ]
 [Wp > ] [Wt > ]
 [Rf > ] [Rs > ]

This boy had been found in the wild shortly after an attack.
everything was tried but lost his right leg. Was young so he adapted
quickly, and specialists worked for a year to develop the prosthetic.
He didn't mind wearing it. Designed specifically for him. When pressure
is applied to the hand, it stabilizes; when climbing the "fingers" which
have pressure on them stabilize while the thumb presses against trunk.
Three fingers: One "thumb," and two longer "fingers" which are curved.
The colors are meant to look as close as possible for the limited budget
of the adoption agency, however it is possible for the owner to buy a
different one if desired. It is unknown if he can ever be ridden, and he
will only be able to be in show competitions.

[Ruby-Skylark]

~ FIRST TOUCH ~

Jaxx peeked out over the stall door every day, hoping someone might come and visit him. He was terribly lonely, but most people weren't interested in a "special needs" Neravontii. Especially one that had lost a leg. Not that he ever let it stop him, or anything? The wonderful people at the adoption centre had given him the best leg they could, and he didn't mind wearing it. But he just wasn't as mobile as "normal" Neravontii. Which made him a bit sad, because he loved to run and climb and play, it just took him a while to figure things out sometimes, like, what was the best way to climb a tree, or get over a fence.

Luckily for him, he'd had the "leg" since he was very young, and had adjusted to it so well that he didn't even notice it most of the time. But on days like today, "adoption day", when all the riders (both new and existing) came to look a the Neras up for adoption, none of them ever came to see Jaxx.

So yet again, when he saw the riders arriving, taking care of their Neravontii, and then taking them out for rides or letting them out into the paddocks, he felt intensely lonely. All he wanted was a kind rider, and maybe a family of Neras he could join? Surely that wasn't so much to ask in the grand scheme of things?

There was one particular rider that he adored from afar, she had flaming red hair, and he could see how much she loved her "family" of Neras just by the care she took with them. They obviously all loved each other as well, which made it all the more lonely watching them.

He heard her voice and peeked around the stall door again, hoping to see her, but she was blocked by one of the stablehands as she stood at the fence watching her Neras. Then as he watched, the stablehand turned and pointed in Jaxx's direction, when the rider turned as well, he quickly ducked back into the shadows hoping she hadn't seen.

Jaxx waited a few minutes and then moved to peek around the stall door again but was surprised to see the young red-head standing just on the other side...he jumped back in surprise as she smiled at him.

"Hi there?" she said as she leaned on the gate. "I'm so sorry for not visiting you sooner, I didn't know you were here until the stablehand mentioned that you were looking lonely." She turned to look back at her Nera's in the paddock, "I don't mean to be rude, but I really do have to keep an eye on them, they can get a bit silly when I'm not around." She watched as the blue and white one rolled in the mud and covered her eyes. "Oh dear, he'll need another bath before bed," she said with a laugh.

"That's Jaye, he can be such a derp at times, but I love him dearly. The darkest lady with the stars, she's called Starlight and sometimes I think she thinks she's my mother, but she takes good care of me. The last boy, the deep blue one, he's called Jake, he's a bit more serious than the other two."

She turned back to Jaxx as he stood at the back of the stall and put a treat in his food basket. She shuffled her feet a bit as she looked down, "How would you feel about maybe, I don't know, joining our little herd? We'd really love to have you, and I know the others would love it as well?" she looked up at him with pleading eyes.

Jaxx couldn't believe his ears...all this time he'd thought no one wanted him, and she was acting like he wouldn't want her? She certainly didn't seem at all put off by his "leg", in fact, she looked at it with curiosity but didn't actually say anything, or try to touch it. He moved slowly back over to the stall door, and looked past her at the paddock. The other three were watching with great curiosity, obviously wondering what was happening. Jaxx reached his head forward and tasted the treat she had brought him, it was wonderful! When he had finished, he shuffled over and rested his head on her hand and licked her arm, as if to say "thank you for being kind, and for wanting me".

She giggled at his raspy tongue and scratched him between the ears. Jaxx leaned his head into her fingers and thought he had died and gone to heaven. If this was what having a rider was like, he couldn't wait to meet new new "family".

[Ruby-Skylark]

~ FIRST "SADDLE" ~

After working with Jaxx for a few days, his rider decided it was time to try the next stage in his training.

At this point, most riders would have had their Neravontii geared up and ready for their first saddle, but she knew from working with him that his leg would never be able to take the weight of a saddle, let alone a rider. So she had worked to adjust his training into a routine more suited for his physical abilities.

She'd been going through the equipment available and she had found something that was the perfect compromise between a saddle and a halter. After ordering it, she knew that Jaxx would love being a part of things by being able to join the other Neras when they went out riding. While going through the catalogue of equipment, she had come across a page listing for a "Backpack Walk My Horse" and she had fallen in love with it! It was perfect for Jaxx!

When the package arrived, she couldn't wait to unpack it and get a good look. She couldn't wait to show Jaxx and let him try it on. She bounced happily up the path to the stables and couldn't help laughing as four heads poked out of the stalls searching for her.

She let Starlight, Jaye, and Jake out first so they could work off some energy, and then she slipped into the stall,gently pushing Jaxx back inside. "Not you, not just yet," she said as she dropped the bag of equipment. "I have a surprise for you!" She said with a big smile.

Jaxx was frustrated more than anything, he wanted to be outside with his friends, but his rider wasn't letting him out. Then he saw what she was getting out of the bag and he got even more excited! It looked like a saddle, but it was only about half the size of a regular saddle, plus, judging by the easy way the young woman was carrying, only a third of the weight? What could this surprise possibly be, he wondered?

Finally the bag was unpacked and the young woman turned around to face him with what looked like a cross between a saddle and a...backpack? He looked back at her and she was smiling so hard her face was fit to burst..."I got this just for you. It's a special saddlebag for horses who can't yet wear a full saddle, but I thought it would be perfect for you!" She brought it over and let him smell it, and feel the fabric. She gave it to him so he could feel the weight of it and he was surprised by how light it felt, and the fabric was so soft.

"This is so that you can come on rides with us. I always end up having to carry so much extra gear when it's all four of us exercising together, it would be such a huge help for me if I could get someone else to carry some?" Jaxx looked at her face, she looked so eager and excited that he couldn't help but love her for making him feel valued and giving him something to do.

When dropped the pack back into her hands her face fell, like she'd somehow hurt his feelings and done something terrible, so her touched her shoulder and when she looked up, his mouth turned up in a smile and he turned himself sideways and gave her a look as if to say "hurry up, the others are still waiting?"

Suddenly Jaxx found himself on the receiving end of the biggest hug yet, and then she was rushing around snapping the catches together and making sure nothing was too tight, but also not too loose that the whole thing would slide off.

When she was done she stroked down his back and looked so proud that he couldn't help himself, he preened just a little under her attention. Then she opened the stall door and let him out. He bounded over to the paddock as quickly as he could to show off to the others.

Jaxx knew his rider wasn't doing this for anyone but him, but she'd done it in a way that made it his choice, and she'd made him feel valued and needed (and really, when he saw the amount of gear she had to carry, he knew he was making a difference, and that made him feel so good about himself)

Every day since she'd asked him to join her little herd, she'd never made him feel inferior or inadequate in any way. She'd always treated him as equal to any of her other Neras. Besides which, he loved his new saddlepack, it was so light and comfy. Even Jaxx himself admitted that he would have struggled with a regular saddle. This was definitely easier, and he could even still climb while wearing it, which was even better!

[Ruby-Skylark]

~ FIRST "RIDE" ~

Jaxx couldn't contain his excitement, he was almost bouncing in place, which wasn't making his riders job any easier. She was currently trying to get his saddlepack on, today was their first actual "ride" and she wanted him to look his best.

Jaye and Jake both had their halter and lead ropes on, and she'd saddle Starlight first. They were just about ready to go, she just needed to load up the pack with any supplies they might need and then they were off on a horse trek. If only Jaxx would hold still, she thought with some frustration of her own.

Finally she just pulled on his lead and said "stay!"

Jaxx took the hint and stood still enough for her to finally get the pack strapped in place. she loaded it up with water, maps, warm clothing, and extra food in the pockets. There was enough for the young woman, and also for the Neras as well. He was well packed, but not weighed down. He still had total freedom of movement.

Once Jaxx was loaded up, she patted him on the back and sent him off to join the others. She made one last stop in the stable office to pick up an emergency locator beacon, and then she led Starlight over to the mounting block. She still wasn't confident enough to cmount on her own, she probably never would be, but that's what the large stump was for, and she knew she wasin good hands with her herd.

Jaxx was playing with Jaye when she rode over. She was happy to see that he was excited but they needed to calm down or they'd exhaust themselves before they even left the stableyard. She called them over to where she was sitting on Starlights back, Jake was standing nearby, so she reached down and picked up their lead ropes.

She looked around, "everyone ready for an adventure?" Four heads bobbed up and down excitedly, almost pulling the ropes out of her hands, and with a laugh she turned Starlight toward the gate out of the stable. She was happy enough to let Jaye and Jake lope ahead once they were outside. She knew Jake would keep Jaye in line.

That left her, Starlight, and Jaxx taking a slower pace on the uneven ground. She kept a close eye on Jaxx to make sure his leg wasn't giving him any trouble, but he seemed to be handling the trek really well, which made his rider immensely proud.

This was the first time she'd had the opportunity to see how he walked on rough ground, as he'd only been walking on soft paddock grass and stable paths until now. But as she watched him smelling the air and watching the world around him, she could see that he had adjusted so well to his prosthetic that she wouldn't need to worry about him at all.

She let go of his lead rope and let him roam as he would. She watched as he wandered off to one sode and found something interest in a tree. Then, as she watched, he started to climb the tree!? She was so surprised she laughed out loud, which startled the others. They came back to see what was happening, and immediately Jaye tried to climb the tree too!

The young woman shook her head and rode over to see what they'd found and came face to face with a poor frightened squirrel. She pulled both her boys away from the tree before they could climb too high and sternly told them off.

"No eating poor little furry creatures unless you're starving and need to eat, and only then as a last resort please?" She said as she looked from face to face. "And definitely no eating kitty cats! Kitty cats are off the menu for all time, ok?" She wasn't happy until she got four nods of agreement, then she let go of the ropes again and rode back to the trail.

After a few minutes, she heard crashing and saw Jaye and Jaxx loping ahead again, while Jake took a slow pace with her and Starlight.