by Schainukan » Wed Oct 28, 2015 8:34 am
Owner: Schainukan
Name: Laitté
Gender: Stallion
Task: Gaining trust
Laitté, alone the name almost brings a scowl to my face. Never have I seen such a young, sassy and troublesome Chry as this very foal. Stubborn as a mule one might say and with a will strong enough to move whole mountains. Yes, we certainly haven't had the greatest first encounter and it definitely isn't easy with him. Having demands like a grown up, constantly behaving like a little prince.
It's been a month since he moved into my stable and we still aren't the best pair yet and far from becoming anything close to that. In fact, we are far from grooming and nuzzling ones hair, how you would say in equine terms. There are little times Laitté actually listens for once and does what I am telling him to. However, most of the other times it's a human quarreling with a Chry, an odd sight enough. Who's the one to blame or for that, at fault, you ask? Honestly, it would be both of us. I'm pretty sure, not only I, but he as well realizes both our behavior might not be the best with each other.
If the little colt would just be a little bit more honest and less cocky, it would make this whole tensed situation and atmosphere so much easier. Truly, I have a hard time knowing how to act around him lately. His temper isn't making it any better to work with him either. Swiftly he gets bored of something or doesn't even want to do something from the very start. Strictly rejects it by shaking his head, whining, lashing his plume as well as stomping his hooves. Definitely, he's not going easy on me.
However, me being a very understanding person, I'm slowly coming to a loss of possibilities how to deal with him. Honestly, I don't know how to continue this. His behavior, with no certain and still unknown source, is eating at me. Irritating me highly. There are a few times of me simply sitting on a bench in the stables and pondering my head until its running hot. Despair seeping through.
There are times, where I honestly wonder if I made the right choice at picking this Chry and not another. But, there was something that captured me as I saw him, that I adored from the very moment I laid my eyes upon him. A low fire flickering in his eyes, the spirit of life, a spark strong enough to ablaze into a sea of flames. Who would have known exactly this fire will be mine to tame?
As the second month passed, confusion still nagged at me. Laitté hasn't made any sign of improvement. In the end, was it really my fault? It was just a moment as this ridiculous question popped up in my head and with anger bubbling inside against myself I quickly dismissed it. I released a long and deep sigh, "Just what should I do...?" I asked out loud.
It was then that a shadow fell over one side of my face and sudden movement caught me off-guard. It was exactly this stallion I pondered about which had lowered down his head next to me and a strand of forelock tickling my cheek. Slightly my lips formed to a goofish grin as his mane was pretty ticklish. However, in a swift manner I remained my usual pokerface I had around him as I saw the sharp gaze of his looking straight at me.
It took me a few heartbeats to realize that this so seemingly serious gaze was one with a depth, as calm as the sea itself. I was literally speechless at Laitté's action. Silence, the only sound audible was the one of our breaths. The Chry's eyes not leaving mine. Was he, worried? I thought astonished. Slowly and with the greatest care, I rose my hand up to pat the side of his muzzle. My hands trembling so lightly with uncertainty. However, just inches apart, he pulled his head up again and walked over to nibble on his hay.
To others, this might have been disappointing, but to me, it was something silently shared. It was a help as well as an answer. He had noticed my unsureness and, even if this sounds hilarious, he might even had thought about his own behavior and came to the conclusion he wasn't doing the best. On the other hand, he told me he wasn't ready yet to be patted.
Laitté gave me hope again, reassured and assured me that I have done nothing wrong. Strengthen me at the fact that my choice was well worth it, that he was worth it.
From then on, very slowly but with a tenderness it gotten easier and easier to work with Laitté. And I finally understood his former way of acting. It wasn't fright that had lead him to behave like that, it was the fact the Chry thought none would care about him, that he would be nonrelevant and so he searched the best working way how to get attention. Certainly, acting like a troubleshooter worked very well. Much like a teenager kid would do, him being nothing more than that. The stallion had gotten much better now though, realizing he was cared about and keep holding up that bad behavior any longer was of no use, but worrying the person that kept coming into his box.
I am now even allowed to pet and groom him and we are currently working on halter training.