[hiraeth + hound]

Username: Vinson
Name: The Wind In The Willows//Chance
Gender: Mare
Eye Color: Green

[Vinson]

Oh my goodness they're gorgeous! Thank you so much! I'll need a bit of time to come up with a name, but she'll be a mare for sure.

No, I haven't been staring at her for fifteen minutes. Definitely wasn't me.

Name: The Wind In The Willows//Chance
Gender: Mare
Halter Color: Can you actually keep it as it is? Its grown on me.

[Vinson]

1. -First encounter {finished, 1403 words}
2. -Adjusting to the new home {finished, 1203 words}
3. -Introduction of the halter {finished, 1327 words}
4. -Meeting a friend {finished, 820 words}
5. -Gaining your horse's trust {finished, 1512 words}
6. -First time with saddle {finished, 941 words}
7. -Ground work {finished, 830 words}
8. -First ride {finished, 672 words}
9. -Free spot {finished, 685 words}

[Vinson]

Chapter One: The First Encounter
The mare cocked her head when the gate of her pen was opened, and the wrangler smiled a bit before drawling out a half drunken statement. "Here ye go, darlin'! Make yer way out here, come get now." She was confused. They had put her in here this morning, and had made no move to bring her out or move her anywhere new. She didn't like it where she was, no, it was muddy and damp and it smelled horribly. Hesitating a bit, she put one hoof in front of the other, sniffing the crude metal gate that had held her here for hours. The skinny, young looking man smiled at her, slapping her hindquarters and causing her to lurch forward with surprise. They had been kind so far. These people had given her food and even pet her a bit. The others had put her in a pen with many others of her kind, and let them nibble at the grass shoots around the metal fencing.
She huffed and continued forward, her mane and tail floating in the slight breeze. Her green eyes took in the sight before her - a large, red barn, with many humans in it. They were loud, and she didn't like loud humans. She liked the quiet ones, the ones that spoke softly and gently. Many of these ones were yelling or shouting, many were pointing at the horse currently in there, eyeing him and shaking their heads. She wondered why. He recognized him as one of her former herd. He was called Splash, as that was the sound he made when he jumped in the lakes and rivers they crossed. He was bold and fun to play with, and his coat was very pretty, too - the humans had called his color buckskin. They had called her color champagne appaloosa, and she thought that sounded nice.
She stopped in front of the red painted metal gate, rubbing her head against it to soothe an itching fly bite. She startled a bit when the gate suddenly lurched forward, and she skittered into the pen in front of her, swishing her brown tail to shoo a pesky fly. Her green eyes looked out at the people in front of her, judging them and looking to see who would take her. She had seen a human slapping Splash with a long stick, tying a rope around his neck and leading him out of the barn. There were only a few people left, many of them female, and all smelling of horse. Some smelled good, most smelled bad, and one bad smelling woman reached out to try and put a rope around her neck, but she wouldn't have it! She would not go with this one. She would only go with one that smelled of contentment and home, and very few smelled that way. Her nostrils puffed as the gate to the humans was opened, and one was let in. He smelled very bad, he smelled of hurt and of death. So again she denied a human, turning and flashing a leg out at him. One by one they were let in, and one by one she denied all of them.
There was only one left now, and she was smaller compared to most of the humans standing around her, but one thing she noticed was how she moved slowly, opening the gate so it didn't screech, not yelling or screaming at her. This one seemed nice. As her green eyes met with the human's deep blue, she couldn't help but feel like this was her person. She wore dull colors, greens and browns earth tones, except for a very bright blue bandana tied around her neck. "Hey, little mare, would you come with me? I've got some new stables back at home, nice and fresh for you. We've got good meadows, lots of forests, we can even go down to the lake if you like swimming, darling," the human spoke, softly and gently as she held out a white rope. It smelled of pine, and she liked pine. This human was good. The mare lowered her head and let the woman tie the pine smelling white rope around her champagne neck, followed the soft, gentle tug of it out of the barn. Her human stopped, pulling back on the rope, and the mare understood this as a silent asking to halt. "Look at those mountains, girl. That's where you'll be living, right under the tallest one in the middle," the human spoke, pointing a finger out to the rocky peaks in front of them. The mare turned her head to see them clearly, and she nickered when her eyes caught on the tallest in the middle. That was where her herd had stayed for a hot season, climbing the peaks and enjoying the fresh mountain breeze. That had been only a few months after her mother had foaled her, and she remembered being a foolish filly, making rash decisions and getting to know the world better.
The human's voice brought her out of her thoughts, gentle and soft. "I never introduced myself to you, did I, girl? Well, my name's Charlie Vinson, and I'm your new momma, okay? And you need a name too, my darling girl. You've just gotten your second chance at life, and you don't even have - I just thought of one. Can I call you Chance, my darling girl?" Charlie spoke gently, even when she was excited, and she appreciated that. As for the name, the mare liked it. It was simple, easy to say. In the herd she had been known as Frost, for she loved the snow and anything to do with it, but Chance seemed fitting right now. So Chance nickered quietly, nudging Charlie. "There's my baby girl! Do you want to see your new home now, sweetie?" She asked. Chance stepped forward, they had been standing still too long for her liking, she needed to move. Charlie smiled at her, clucking twice, pulling gently, softly on the rope. Chance kept walking, following her human, until finally they stopped once more in front of a white and blue four horse trailer. Chance eyed it warily, watching Charlie draw a small, shiny object out of her pants. The truck in front of the trailer, also white and blue, made a small beeping noise, and Chance didn't like it. It flashed its eyes and made a small noise, and Chance stepped back once, looking for a place to escape to. There was none. Scared, the mare backed up once more, and Charlie stood still, watching her.
"It's alright, Chance, darling. It's called a truck. It has four legs, called wheels, and you use it to move around in. It'll help bring you home, dear," Charlie murmured, gently pulling on the rope. Chance looked at her human, eyeing her before stepping forwards. The truck made no move, so Chance assumed it was safe and nickered, looking at Charlie. How was this truck supposed to bring her to her new home? She wasn't supposed to get in the trailer attached to it, was she? She watched as Charlie opened the doors to the trailer and gestured inside. She was supposed to go in. With a small sigh, the mare moved forward, smelling the trailer. It also smelled of pine, and of other horses too. She supposed it was okay, so she hauled her body inside and immediately she smelled food in the bucket in front of her. It seemed fresh enough, so she dove her muzzle into the blue bucket, lips closing around a bundle of hay. Nickering, puffing out her nostrils, Chance looked at Charlie as she entered the trailer as well, reaching out a gentle hand, stroking her neck and loosening the white rope, taking the end of it and knotting it on a metal ring. "That's my good girl. I'm going to get in the truck and take us home, okay? It won't take more than twenty minutes, baby," she murmured, rubbing the sweet spot on Chance's forehead. It was then that Chance realized she was tired, and she hardly even noticed as Charlie left the train and the doors were closed, a breeze blowing through the window. Her eyes were closed when the truck was fired up, and by the time they were pulling out of the dirt parking lot, Chance was fast asleep.

[Vinson]

Chapter Two: Her New Home
Drowsily the champagne mare lifted her head as the trailer rumbled to a stop. Her green eyes peered around her, everything was the same as when she had drifted off to sleep. Then she lifted her head to look out of the clear place, which she could've sworn she had heard it called a window, and her gaze took in her new home. Grassy green meadows rolled around her, the mountains were nestled right up along them. It was the hot season now, so there was no snow, but Chance could imagine the powdery white flakes falling from the bright blue skies, chilling the air and coating everything. Her head immediately turned when the doors to the trailer opened, and she found herself staring at Charlie. The mare blinked, then tugged on the white rope that bound her to the metal wall. With a small, curving smile, Charlie was inside with her, loosening the rope just a fraction, undoing the knot, gently tugging. Chance moved forward with her, taking the cue and walking beside her human. She heard a whinny and immediately her ears were up, her head pointed towards the noise. There were other horses here? Were they meant to be her new herd? She just hoped they were friendly.
She whinnied back, alerting the other horse of her presence, then continued forward as Charlie took another stride. The mare took in the scents of her new home, her nostrils flaring as her head tilted upward. It smelled of pine, grass, and other horses. Human scent was here as well, and so was the smell of the mountains. There were no wolf or cougar scents, and Chance took that as a good sign. The humans were protecting their herd from predators. She was safe. And so on she continued, her tail whipping in the slight breeze, her long mane tickling her neck. Her hooves crunched the gravel road, and her ears flicked this way and that as she took in everything. Suddenly a stable appeared in front of her, a beautifully deep shade of cherry wood, the roof sleek and black. It was bold against the green and gray of the environment around it, and Chance liked that. It stood out, so she could find it easily when she wanted to come back to it. She stopped as Charlie stopped, slipping open the lock of the door and pushing it open roughly. It rumbled as it moved, and Chance took this moment to look inside. There were easily thirty stalls in the barn, and it was very clean and new looking. Charlie flipped on the lights, and the stables were suddenly bright and alive with color. The stalls were very clean, halters and lead ropes hung on bars outside each stall, and buckets and small tack pieces were strewn around, though nothing was in the walkway. She followed Charlie's gentle pull towards one stall, and peered at it while Charlie opened it. "This is your own little stall, darling. You can come here whenever you need to get away from the others, and you'll sleep in here as well," she murmured, leading the mare inside. Chance sniffed at her bedding - it wasn't firm, but it wasn't too soft, either. She liked that. A water bucket and a feed bucket were on the wall by the stall door, and Chance took a moment to slurp up a few sips from the bucket, which then refilled itself. She would like it here, yes.
Charlie smiled as the mare nickered, turning to her and nuzzling her arm. "You're very gentle, for a wild tolter. I thought I'd go and get myself stuck with some spunky, aggressive stallion, but you're so sweet, my little baby!" Charlie murmured, stroking Chance's head. Hopefully the beautiful mare would fit in at her stables - she sure hoped she would. Charlie then ran her fingers over the mare's brand, and Chance shivered as her raw skin was touched. The men had been rough, but luckily it was cold and not hot as some other horse's marks had been. Her green gaze fell upon another horse walking in, his bay pelt catching her eye. She noticed he had what they called a halter on his head, and it seemed to be a fancy one. A charm dangled from the bottom, one of a heart. She nickered a greeting to him, he looked up and nickered one to her. He seemed sort of sad, his head had hung low when he walked in. Charlie smiled at the stallion, reaching a hand out to him as he walked near. "Alright, Chance, this is Elijah. He's been here for a while, and he's had a tough time in the past. He was sold when he was young because his family was poor, and he was taken away from his family. We got him when he was two, back when we had just started up the stables, and he's a wonderful boy, aren't you Elijah?" She told Chance, gently stroking Elijah's head as well as Chance's. The mare peered at the stallion, still sensing the sadness rolling off this horse in waves. With a flick of his tail, he moved forward, slipping into the stall next to hers. Well, she was going to have to get used to him if he lived right next to her. Charlie watched Chance as she scratched an itch, then looked up at her as if to say, 'What next?'. She smiled, then tugged lightly on the lead rope. "You wanna go see the pastures, Chance? You can say hello to everybody, have a little snack, just relax," Charlie murmured, leading the mare out of her stall.
Chance watched as she passed by all of the empty stalls, and she couldn't help but wonder who lived in them. Were they nice, or were they going to be mean to her? Elijah was okay, she thought, but sad. She would as to request his story later, when they were in their stalls for the night. But right now she wanted to go out to the meadows and graze. She flinched as the bright sunlight hit her eyes, but then she continued forward. Her eyes would adjust. The luscious green grass around her was tempting, but she knew Charlie was leading, so she had to follow. She would be good for her human. A few more steps, and then the pair had stopped in front of a gate. Chance looked around her, spotting the odd horse here and there. "Alright, Chance, is it okay for me to leave you here? I have to find you a halter," Charlie murmured to the mare, watching her swivel her ears as a younger stallion nickered his greeting. She took Chance's silence as a yes, so she opened up the gate and took the lead rope off of the mare's neck, gesturing for her to go in. Chance looked at her, then squealed, and with one bound she was off and cantering into the meadow. Charlie smiled, watching the new addition to her stables, then closed the gate and ran off to the tack barn to see what she could find in the means of a halter.

[Vinson]

Chapter Three: It's Called A Halter
Charlie's small figure was dwarfed by the stables as she walked by it, her tall boots crunching the multicolored gravel until they met grass once more. Her blue eyes flashed around, looking at the pair of lark buntings that flew by her head to go nest in the pine forest on the property. Her smile grew as they flittered around her head, warbling their song, their black and white feathers a blur as they finally flew off. She loved the property her family had managed to snatch up the day it had been listed, and they had treated it well. Only a few of the pine trees had been cut down, and it had been for a few finishing touches in the main house and to sturdy up the barn. The lake in the forest was kept all natural - nothing had been dug up, it hadn't been drained or dammed. Sure, a small little bunk room had been put up, but nothing had been put in the ground. The pastures were mostly natural, but of course they had been weeded and debugged and seeded a bit with better grasses, to be safe for the horses. Natural. Cobalt Sky Tolters likes natural, and so does the Queen of Hearts branch and the Charger branch. But stop thinking about that, Charlie. Think halters.
What would look good on her beautiful new mare? Elijah's was a custom order with a beautiful charm, Canvas' was white like his markings and his name. So what would fit Chance? Not something big and bold, she knew that. Her mare was nice and quiet, and didn't need a bold halter to make her stand out, her coat would do that. She wasn't expecting to end up with a champagne varnish appaloosa! That coat was rare for tolters, and a wild tolter with that coat? Crazy. And with her wonderful temperament? Insanely crazy. Chance would probably be good with a solid colored halter, maybe blue, maybe green like her beautiful eyes. She would see what they had stocked up that would fit her.
The tack barn wasn't far from the stables, Charlie had just walked slow and thought quick. It held all of the extra tack and halters and lead ropes and basically anything else that related to the word tack and wasn't being used very often. It was for new tolters that needed a halter and a saddle and bridle, and they could use stuff from this room to save money and reuse all the old stuff they had gotten. She drew a key ring out of her pocket, flipped through the many keys, and finally shoved a bronze colored one into the keyhole, twisting it and opening the door. She flipped the lights on and glanced at everything to make sure it was all there, then went to the back left wall of the 15 by 15 room, running a hand over all of the many halters. A light blue one caught her eye, and so did a green one that seemed to be the color of Chance's eyes. They were both nylon and fairly new. After going through the halters completely, only two more seemed to fit Chance - a bold orange chevron nylon, and a very old looking, faded brown leather. She picked them all up in her left hand, the keys went in the right hand, and she was out the door and off to the pastures.
She almost skipped all the way there, but she knew her sister would come driving up the road right a that moment and tease her for the rest of her life, so instead she was walking quickly over to Chance. Had she been getting along well with the other horses in the pasture? She sure hoped so. Chance was nice, most of the other horses were nice - except for Titan. And maybe Elska. But Titan was being leased out for two weeks, he would be in the arena, and Elska was probably nipping some sense into crazy little Starling. She glanced up, the gate was only a few feet away. She leaped the few feet over and swung the gate open as soon as the lock was off, then swung it back closed and clipped the lock back on. Her gaze flew along the pasture ground, until finally it found Chance grazing against the fence. Glancing back at the road, Charlie decided to screw her sister's thoughts and skipped over happily. "Hey, darling. I found four halters, do you want to choose which one you wear? It'll be yours forever," she murmured, watching as the mare raised her head and blinked at her. And so Charlie lauded the halters out on the grass, in no particular order. Chance could find the one she wanted.
Chance looked at the four halters with curiosity. She got to choose her own halter? This would be fun! She stepped over to the line of halters and one by one, she examined them. The blue and green were nice, she thought, but the orange was too bright. She picked it up and dropped it a foot away from the rest, turning back and looking at the worn leather one. She immediately loved its well used look, the way it seemed to have been given to someone else before. She sniffed it, it smelled of dust and oldness, and she could just pick up the very faint scent of horse. This halter was old, it told stories, and Chance liked that. She picked up the two other nylon halters, dropping them both one by one with the orange chevron one. She then went back to the leather halter, picked it up, and dropped it in Charlie's arms. Charlie smiled at her mare, although she was a bit confused by the decision. She thought Chance would like something colorful to stand out against her pelt, but this one blended in. But if Chance liked it, she could have it. And so she put it around Chance's face, making sure to be gentle and move slowly, and pulled the strap over to her side, sliding it through the metal piece, then tightening it so it wouldn't hang loose and get caught on something. Quietly, and also very slowly, she slid the metal bar through the hole in the leather, and the halter was on.
Chance liked the feel of the old, softened leather against her skin, and it fit just right - it didn't hang loose, it didn't squeeze her skin and make it hurt. She shook her head, the leather didn't scratch. It rubbed gently, but not enough to give a sore or make a rub mark. She loved it. This was the halter she would keep until she grew old, and she would love and cherish it forever. She would make sure it lasted a long time. Quietly, she nickered a thank you to Charlie, who smiled and hugged the mare around the neck. "You're my good girl, baby, and you know it. What do you want to do next? Maybe meet someone new?" Charlie murmured in the mare's ear, watching as her gaze fell on a trailer coming up the drive. "Oh, that must be Flurr! She's bringing a few of her tolters over so they can find mates," Charlie told Chance, who seemed sort of confused. She had never had a mate before, because she had never found a stallion attracting. Only mares, and mares couldn't breed together. Could they breed together here? The humans might make it possible. She turned her ears toward the trailer as it slowly stopped, and then the car went to sleep. Chance just watched as a human female, who she assumed was Flurr, as Charlie called her, got out of the car, waving at Charlie, then walking over to the trailer doors. She heard a click as they were unlocked, and Flurr brought out possibly the most attractive mare she had ever seen.

[Vinson]

Chapter Four: Meeting Callisto
Immediately she was out of Charlie's grasp and by the fence, staring at the beautiful mare in front of her. She was slim, but not skinny, and her coat was gorgeous - the bottom part was pure white, the upper a sort of red. And her eyes were the most catching thing about her. They were a beautiful teal that stood out against the red of her perfectly groomed coat. Her halter also stood out, being a teal and white stripe. Her mane and tail were of the color of the dust that rose in the air, but they seemed to be silky smooth and flowed easily in the breeze. She whinnied to the mare, who then turned and looked at her, stepping forward tentatively. Flurr looked up at the tug on the lead rope, then retied one knot in the trailer of horses and let go of the rope, watching her mare meet Charlie's. Chance immediately stuck her head over the fence and out towards the mar, puffing out a breath so she could take in her scent. She got a puff in return as their faces met, and she inhaled the other's scent deeply. She liked her, and so she nuzzled her gently. The mare paused for a second, confused, before nuzzling back and nickering. Chance was excited. Did this mare return her feelings? It would be the first time in her life she had been accepted as a love interest for another mare. Chance nickered quietly, a nicker a stallion gives to show their love. The other mare seemed confused now. Chance was a mare, but she gave a stallion sound? She cocked her head, but gave a returning nicker, one that a mare gives.
Chance jumped in the air out of excitement, springing along the fence in her happiness. Charlie laughed at her behavior before looking to Flurr. "I think your mare just found a love interest!" She said, laughing as Flurr watched the two with an odd look on her face. "Well, I was hoping you'd find a stallion, Callisto, but I guess mares are more your interest," she mumbled, bringing out two stallions and closing up the trailer doors. Chance stopped her excited behavior to go tell the mare her name, after learning hers. Callisto was a wonderful name, one that sounded of beauty. 'My name is Chance,' she nickered, nuzzling Callisto once more. Callisto returned the nuzzle, then nickered back, 'They call me Callisto.' Charlie watched their interaction with a smile, then bounded over to the gate and opened it. Callisto's head was immediately up, and. Then she walked calmly over to to the now open gate. Charlie unhooked the lead rope from the mare's halter then let her walk inside to greet Chance. They leaped over to each other, and then off they ran, across the green pastures, nipping at each other in a friendly way, rolling in the grass and grooming each other. They nickered sweet things to each other, Chance confessing her love, Callisto hesitating slightly before confessing her love as well. They were out in the pasture for the rest of Callisto's time at Cobalt Sky, before they were both called back and Callisto had to leave.
"I think Callisto and Chance would make a good pair. It seems they've warmed up to each other nice, what do you think, Flurr?" Charlie asked, petting Chance's muzzle to comfort her as her love left. "They'd be good mates, yeah. They'd produce some pretty foals, those two love muffins!" Flurr said with a smile as she stroked her mare. "Too bad no one seemed interested in you stallions, though," Charlie said, almost apologetically. "No, it's fine! They can find a mate somewhere else, I'm sure," Flurr said, loading her horses into the trailer. Chance and Callisto nickered their goodbyes, but Chance knew they would see each other again. If Charlie and Flurr had decided that they were mates, they had to see each other again. But right now, Chance was tired. She wanted to go to her stall and sleep until morning, but together Chance and Charlie said their goodbyes, and Flurr was off.
Chance pushed on the gate, then nickered for Charlie to open it with a drowsy look in her eyes. Charlie saw this, then looked to the setting sun. "Here, Chance, you go back to the stables, I'll call everyone back. You should all be getting to the stables before the sun sets completely," Charlie murmured, opening the gate and letting Chance out, before whistling to the rest of the herd. They all came cantering, but Chance was already on her way to her warm, comfortable stall. She walked along without even looking at her surroundings, but before she knew it she was at the barn. She walked inside, then into her stall, closing the door, and then her leg bones locked and she was snoring in her slumber.

[Vinson]

Chapter Five: You've Gotta Trust Me, Baby
Chance awoke to the sun peeking through the window in the empty stall opposite of her. She yawned, telling the sleep to leave her brain and stop clouding her usually clear thoughts. Swinging her head to her water bucket, she slurped in a bit of it and then scratched an itch on her leg. Her green eyes took in the sunlight of early morning, and she glanced down at her stall door, push it to open it and so outside. It didn't open. She glanced down at it again and saw the bar on it had been pushed into the opening in the stall wall. There was also a metal clip that prevented her from just pushing the bar out. Huffing, she gave a shrill whinny. The other horses were just mulling about in their stalls, but she wanted to leave the confines of this same and out to the pasture. Her whinny wasn't answered, and so she gave another, a louder whinny. She waited a minute, and then she heard hurried footsteps coming their way. The door was thrown open very roughly and eagerly, and Charlie came bounding in with a bright smile. "Good morning, my sweet baby Chance. So you're an early riser, huh?" She said, her clothes a bit different than yesterday. Her shirt was a dull red polo, her pants cream breeches. The blue bandana still sat around her neck, though, and Chance like that. She nickered quietly, letting Charlie pet her head. She noticed someone else's presence, though, and she was curios. Her green eyes looked up, and suddenly they fell upon another human female.
Her hair was short, only falling to her shoulders, and of a reddish orange, her skin about the same color as Charlie's - tan, with lots of freckles. But this human had a lot more freckles. Not only were there freckles on her arms and face, they were on her lips and eyelids and scalp. Her eyes were blue, a little bit lighter than Charlie's, but they still held the same kindness in them. She was taller than Charlie, too. A full head taller. Chance glanced at Charlie, at her long, braided black hair, her small figure, then back at the other human. This human looked almost nothing like Charlie, but somehow they were very similar. "Chance, baby, this is my sister Callie. She's a few years older than me, but she's family. She's really nice, honey," Charlie murmured, grabbing the rope that smelled of pine and hooking it on her halter. Chance bobbed her head as Charlie unlocked her stall door, and stepped out to follow the gentle tug of the lead rope. "That is one beautiful mare you scored, Charlie," Callie murmured, her voice also very quiet. Chance immediately took a liking to the redhead.
They led her through the barn to the very end of it, and then there was an empty space. Two long, bright blue ropes were attached to two poles on either side of the empty space, and Charlie attached one to one side of her halter. Chance was startled. They were tying her to the building? But why? What were they going to do? She gave a nervous whinny, picking her hoof up and slamming it onto the floor. "Shh, Chance. You're okay. We're just going to clean you up, darling. So you can be a pretty little mare," Charlie whispered, immediately by her side. Chance glanced at the walls, there were many shelves with various things on them. Clean her up? Did that mean grooming? She liked grooming. And so she stood still as they attached the other rope to her halter and unclipped the much shorter lead rope. The lead rope got hung on the wall, and Charlie rummaged around on the shelves until she found what she wanted. It was thin and black and had little tiny spikes on it, Chance noticed. Charlie held it up to her nose for her to smell, and she breathed in the scent of the thing. It smelled of many other horses, and lots of dust and other things she assumed were in other horses' pelts. "This is called a curry comb. We use it to get all the stuck on things off, and when you have a lot of loose hair. We use this one first," Charlie said, putting it on Chance's neck and pushing it in, then rubbing it in circles. It felt pleasant, Chance thought.
And so she let Charlie move the curry comb along her body, brushing a little extra near her withers, then stopping on her hindquarters. Charlie then came by her face, stroking gently before currying her other side. It felt good, the way the little teeth dug in and pulled all the dirt out. What would Charlie use next? Her question was answered when Charlie brought out a circle of teethed metal on a stick. "I forgot what exactly this is called, Chance. But it's used to get all the extra hair off of you," Charlie said quietly, scraping it along the mare's neck. Chance shivered at its coldness, but she enjoyed it also. It wasn't as pleasant as the curry comb, but it was taking away the layer of dead hair that had constantly annoyed her in the summer heat.
The brushing went on for a while - hard brush, then soft brush, then her mane was untangled and her tail cleaned of all the burrs and bits of dry brush that had caught in it. And then came the hoof pick. It took both Charlie and Callie to get her to pick her first hoof up, but Charlie helped to support her weight and it wasn't that bad. Just...unusual. Within five minutes all of her four hooves had been picked. Chance felt really good, now. She was clean for the first time in her life, and the pleasantness of a full grooming surprised her. Charlie was taking good care of her, and she was content and happy. Chance had picked the right human to trust, she now knew. Charlie had put her trust in Chance when she walked into that pen, and now Chance trusted her as well.
She blinked as Callie brought out something of leather and a bit of metal. What was this thing? "Chance, baby, that's a bridle. The metal part goes in your mouth, and most of the leather is on your face. You'll learn how to take directions from the bit, darling," Charlie said, stroking Chance's neck gently. "Callie, is the bit warmed up? I don't want it to be too cold," Charlie said to her older sister, watching as she nodded and handed her the bridle. It was used a few times before, Chance could tell. It wasn't new. It was brown leather like her halter, but this had a lot more straps and buckles, and the bit. It was silver metal on the outside, but on the inside, the part that would go in her mouth, it was a sort of orange color. It smelled okay. Not good, but not bad either. Sort of neutral. Tired, she suddenly yawned, and then something was in her mouth. It was metallic, and Chance didn't like it. It pressed too hard on her gums, and the metal was still sort of cold. No, she didn't just dislike it, she hated it. She tossed her head, stomping her hoof down hard and trying to spit the metal out. She managed to get it out of her mouth within a few seconds of struggle, and Charlie managed to catch it as it fell. "Chance, baby, you've got to trust me. You're going to be okay, honey. We'll get you a different one," Charlie murmured, trying to calm down the crazed Chance. "Callie, can you get me a hackamore, please?" She asked her sister, who quickly nodded and ran back into the tack room to grab a hackamore bridle.
She came out a few seconds later with a brown leather, padded hackamore. "Here you go, Chance, baby. This one doesn't go in your mouth, it just goes on your face. No metal," she whispered, showing her the hackamore. Chance calmed down at that, lowering her head to sniff the bridle in front of her. She didn't smell metal, and so she let Charlie reach over and take her halter off and put it around her neck. The reins went over her head, and she felt the bridle on her face. It was gently pulled over her ears and tightened, but not to the point it was uncomfortable. Just so it would stay on her face good. It felt strange, to have something on her face other than the comfortable halter, but it wasn't too bad. It was much better than the metal bit in her mouth. "Alright, Chance, how is this one. Is it alright?" Charlie asked, and Chance nickered her approval. Charlie smiled and patted Chance on her shoulder, happy that Chance was alright with the hackamore. "Alight, Chance. Can we try a saddle now, baby?"

[Vinson]

Chapter Six: She Doesn't Like The Girth, Does She?
Chance cocked her head, peering at the saddle Charlie held on her arm. It was brown, the same color as her halter and the bridle, but it was much bigger and oddly shaped. Charlie smiled, then slid the saddle onto a horizontal pole. She was left carrying two colored things and a strip of leather, a long strip. She placed the strip on the saddle and let Chance sniff the colored things. "Alright, Chance baby, the bright blue thing is called a saddle blanket. It goes on your back first. The white thing is called a saddle pad, that goes on second. And then we put the saddle on. We hold it on with the girth, which is on top of the saddle right now," Charlie murmured, stroking Chance, moving her hand to the mare's back. Gently, Charlie placed the saddle blanket on her back, watching for Chance's reaction. She swung her head back, glancing at the saddle blanket, getting used to the feel of its very light weight on her back. It was alright, Chance thought. It didn't hurt like the metal bit, it was just a tiny weight on her back. She let Charlie put the saddle pad on, and it didn't add much weight either. It actually looked nice, she thought, the two colors together on her pelt.
Then Charlie reached for the saddle, making sure the stirrups were looped up. Glancing back at Chance, she mentally cursed herself, walking to the mare's head and putting the halter back over the bridle, hooking the rope on the side. If Chance didn't like the saddle, she could have easily gotten away and caused a lot of trouble. Charlie then went back to the saddle, watching out of the corner of her eye as Callie walked off to let the horses out to the pasture. Charlie sucked in a breath, picking up the saddle and gently sliding it onto Chance's back, pulling up the front of the pads and freeing part of the mare's long mane. She let her breath out as Chance shifted on her hooves, getting used to this heavier weight. Chance puffed out the breath she had been holding in, testing different positions as the saddle sat on her back. It was much heavier than the pad and blanket, and all it did was sit there. She supposed it wasn't too bad, as it didn't dig into her skin or hurt her in any way. It just sat. She gave a quiet nicker to tell Charlie she didn't mind it, it really wasn't that heavy.
Charlie smiled, letting out a little laugh. She had broken Starling just a few weeks before she had gotten Chance, and he had put up a giant fight, bucking and kicking as the saddle was placed on his back. The bridle he actually hadn't minded that much, but the saddle? He absolutely despised it. Chance was just lovely, not putting up any fight on the saddle at all. Sure, the bit she had spat out, but the hackamore was a good little fall back. She held onto her hope she would be okay with the girth, if the saddle was alright. She grabbed it slowly, then turned back to Chance and put the elastic side through the buckles, only up one hole. Then she was on Chance's other side, pulling the girth to her, then putting it up to the third hole, testing how tight it was. She went around to her left side once more and put the elastic side up to the fourth hole, patting Chance as she stilled.
She hated it. The way the leather rubbed against her sensitive barrel, how tight it was - she pinned her ears back, giving a warning bark, Charlie's smile quickly faded and she loosened it and let the girth drop, and then Chance was nickering her apologies for acting up, turning her head to gently nuzzle Charlie. "It's okay, Chance. I'll get you a padded girth, no worries," Charlie murmured, stroking the mare's muzzle. "You just stay right here, darling. I'll be back in a few seconds," she continued, quickly running into the tack room. She glanced around, her eyes finally resting on the girth size she was looking for - a forty four. She picked up a padded one, running back out to Chance. She literally hadn't moved - she was in the same spot, the same position. Charlie smiled, coming around the mare's head to fasten the girth on. She then fit the elastic side up on the fourth hole, coming around and putting the non elastic side up to the third hole, watching Chance.
This one was alright. It didn't rub, and it didn't feel as tight. It was nice and soft, and she was glad it was that fluffy. Otherwise she wouldn't like it very much. She nickered her approval, her green eyes watching Charlie as she smiled and gave the mare a great big hug around her neck. "Oh, thank you for being so easy, Chance! You're the best wild tolter ever, baby!" She murmured excitedly, stroking the mare's neck as Chance quietly nickered her love. "Alright, darling. How about we try some ground work now?" Charlie asked, smiling as Chance's eyes showed confusion. She laughed a bit, undoing the ropes and taking the halter off of the mare's head. She put the halter on the hook with the lead rope, then looped the reins over her head and tugged gently, Chance getting the message and walking forward. Charlie grabbed a lunge line on their way out of the barn, and then they were off, walking to the outdoor arena.

[Vinson]

Chapter Seven: But I'm Already On The Ground
They walked through the grass, along a dirt path, and it was less than a minute before they reached the covered arena. They were in Colorado - if the arena flooring wasn't covered, it would constantly be mushy and damp and not good for riding. And so they walked under the covering, in the slight shade of the aluminum roofing. Charlie closed the blue gate, running a hand along Chance's neck. She looped the reins back over the mare's head, tying them in a knot to make sure they wouldn't go over her head and injure her, and then the lunge line was hooked on her bridle, and with a gentle tug Chance was walking forward. Charlie let out the line and smiled. "Alright, Chance, we're going in circles now. Just go right around me in a circle on the end of the line," Charlie said, directing her in a circle. "This is called ground work, baby. We're going to practice everything until you understand it good, alright?" Charlie asked, and Chance nickered. Why was it called ground work if she was already on the ground? And all she was doing was walking in circles. "When I say whoa, you need to stop, okay baby?" Charlie murmured, and Chance took this information in. Whoa was the stop command? She could do that.
"Whoa now, Chance," Charlie said, and Chance stopped immediately. The lead mare in the herd called this command often, although it was a sharp, demanding whinny with her instead of a smooth word in the human tongue. "Walk now, Chance," Charlie said, and Chance picked up her hooves and started walking. "You've got this down, Chance! Let's move on to a trot now, okay baby girl?" She said, and Chance was now a bit confused. She knew what a walk and a gallop were. But what was a trot? Somewhere in between, surely. She pricked her ears as she heard a nicker, and immediately her eyes met a bay stallion. She nickered back, but then took a second glance. There was a person on his back, in the saddle. She had only seen a few people on horses, but they looked nothing like the person on the stallion's back. Charlie smiled and called out to the person. "Hey Molly! How are you liking Titan?" She asked, and now Chance knew their names. "Oh, he's a great challenge! I'm glad you got me to ride him that first day. Is this a new mare? She's really beautiful, Charlie," the girl said, walking the stallion over.
They sniffed noses, exchanging scents, then pulled their heads away. "Yep! She's a wild tolter, although she's very gentle and easy. Got her yesterday, and she's alright with the saddle, bridle, and halter already. She doesn't seem to know what I'm talking about when I ask for a trot, though. Can you demonstrate a trot for us?" "Of course, Charlie! And that's impressive, two days and already the saddle and bridle. You're amazing!" Molly said, tapping her heel in the stallion's side. With a grunt he walked away, and with a few more heel taps he was trotting. Chance watched him as he trotted, and bobbed her head, now understanding. She had seen foals trot to their mothers as they tried to keep up, but it didn't really have a name out in the herd. It was just called a fast walk. Charlie looked back to Chance, and said, "Trot now, Chance." She stumbled a bit getting into the gait, but when she got the rhythm right she had a very smooth trot, fast and not very bouncy at all. "Whoa now," she murmured, and Chance was still. "Can you pick up a canter for us now, Molly? Any lead, although I would prefer if you got the correct one," she shouted to Molly, who nodded and urged Titan to a canter. Chance decided she could do that, and picked up a canter without Charlie's prompting.
She stopped it once she heard the whoa from Charlie. Confused, her green eyes looked upon the woman's face, searching for an answer. "My baby, you have to wait until I ask! I know it seems odd, but you have to learn to listen to voice commands right now. You're just too smart!" Charlie said, walking to Chance and giving her a pat on the shoulder. She went back to her former position and added a few feet of line, then asked for a canter quietly. Immediately Chance was off, her legs knowing what to do. They used the canter to cross shallow streams and get through the snow without much noise. It made a huge mess of flying powder, but it was quiet. Except this time, there was no snow. Just the arena flooring, Charlie, and a horse and rider. It was so quiet, all you could hear were the pounding of the horses' hooves, the breaths they took, and the faint chirping of birds from the forest.