[ShadyBro]

 Owner       >>> ShadyBro
 Name                >>> Copper
 Gender         >>> Female
 Adoption Price         >>> x
 Training         >>> [Complete]
  =====
  . Hates being alone
  . Extremely affectionate
  . Loves foals
  . Light on her feet

 Offspring;
 None

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

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

[ShadyBro]

Her name is Copper, short for Copper Queen <3
Adopted Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:51 pm

[ShadyBro]

First Touch

"When Copper arrived at the ranch, I was standing by the barn, ready and filled to the brim with excitement. She was a young thing, just barely able to be separated from her mother, but her current ranch just simply didnt want her there. I couldnt for the life of me imagine why, she was stunning, and the videos showed she had a sweet and gentle nature with children and foals alike. A large red truck pulled into the driveway, and I could hear Copper's cries echoing off the metal of her trailer. The driver got out and approached me, her long hair tied back messily and blood stained feathers all over her pant legs. I could smell from where I was standing she worked at the chicken farm across from Copper's previous home. We spoke little, the woman obviously exhausted from the long work day, and I finished sighing the paperwork as quickly as possible for her sake. I went to the back of the trailer and saw a nose poking over the top bar, a long muscular neck stretched upwards in order to reach. She was a small thing, compared to the rest of my herd, even if she was young. I unlatched the door, and Copper jumped back with a start, her ears pinned on my every movement. She watched me coolly, still as a statue, wary of the situation. I pulled the door open slowly and grabbed the lead rope off my shoulder, holding it out for her to sniff. She wiggled her nose and stepped forward, and I grasped the edge of her halter lightly. I managed to attach the lead without any issues, and when I gave her a soft click to move forward she complied quietly. All seemed fairly well with her, and once we got into the barn she settled into her stall without any issues. I unclipped her lead and hung it over the bridle spike, checking the door one last time to make sure it was latched tight. I left the barn in order to let Copper relax and adjust, as I did with most of my Neras, and went up to the house to start drawing out plans for some new tack for my new babe.

Half an hour barely passed me by before the loud and pitiful shrieks reached my ears. It was Copper, I was sure of it, as I didnt recognize the calls from any of my other darlings. I stuck my hid out the window of my workroom, brushing leaves out of my few from the tree outside, and saw nothing was amiss. I sighed fervently, annoyed at stopping my progress when it seemed there wasnt anything major happening. I walked out to the barn quickly, and saw Coppers nose settled over the edge of her stall door. The other neras, annoyed as I was, lay in there pens huffing and growling at her. I lowered the stall bars and Copper jerked her head out, her feet scrambling to the edge of the door as well. She made a low chuff in her throat and stared at me. I stood there for a moment, unsure of what she wanted, and figured there was only one thing I could possibly do. I jogged back to the barn entrance and flipped the lid of the food bin up, scrounging around until I found what I was looking for. I went back to Copper, who had started her awful crying again, and stretched my hand out to her. A juicy rat, dripping down my arm, dangled in front of her nose. Amazingly, Copper didnt seem to care. I nudged my hand closer to her, and she grazed the rat with her lips tenderly. Eventually she picked it up and lamely swallowed it, not really seeming to care either way. Meanwhile the rest of the barn was full of drooling mouths, their attention pinpointed on me. I couldnt understand what was wrong, and even more I couldnt understand why Copper was acting so tame. The agency had gotten her straight out the wild, and the ranch that had been holding her only had her for a few days in before they sent her over here. I shook my head, deciding I would figure it out in the morning. It was late in the night now, and the last bits of daylight shimmered over the south end of the field, coating the barn in dappled rays of orange and blue as the shadows crept out steadily from behind the corners and walls. I walked back to the house, my boots crunching on the gravel. I stripped down to my shorts and jumped into bed the moment I walked through my bedroom door. I hadnt realized how exhausted I was until now. I closed my eyes and felt the dark caress of sleep swallow my world whole, only to be ripped away by the shrieking of a pained nera. I jumped up and listened closer. It was Copper. Again. I growled and walked downstairs, not bothering with boots or clothes, and jogged out to her stall. I released the bars again and watched as she calmed and stuck her nose over the door. I stared at her for a long time, trying to read what she was thinking, what she was planning to do, but she was a mystery to me. Reaching out a hand to her, I saw her ears lay back, the edges of her teeth shining in the moonlight. I sighed and dropped my arm. I couldnt figure out what she wanted from me. I dropped down into the hay scattered barn floor, resting my back against the cool metal of the dropped stall bars. I could feel the overwhelming power and heat from Copper through the wall, and when I looked up I realised she had laid down as well. I felt the wood move along in tune with her breath, and for a moment I simply waited and admired the strength of these animals. I felt my eyes droop, and the world once again felt dark.

In the morning, I awoke with a start. I stilled, and felt my blood run cold. There was a weight on my lap, and soft fur tickled my chest. I looked down, slow as I could stand, and saw Copper stretched out in front of her stall. Her head rested in my lap, and drool soaked the edges of my shorts, and her ears flicked against my chest each time I let out even the smallest breath. She rumpled in her sleep, stretching further and resting her front feet over my legs. I breathed deeply, and let out a long shaky breath. She wiggled her nose and clenched her fingers, stretching lightly before lifting her head to stare at me. Her nose was just inches from my face, and I could feel her burning hot breath blow my frazzled hair back with little effort. She opened her jaws, showing an array of terrifyingly sharp teeth, and yawned. She pulled her head back and stood, shaking her pelt clean of debris, and then dropped her head back down to me. I stuck my hand out again for her, and this time she nosed it as if it were nothing. It all seemed to make sense to me at that moment. She simply didnt like being left in the barn all alone! That must of been why she cried every time I left, why she would calm when I came back, why she was so angry at me when I took so long getting back to her. Now that I had stayed the night with her, she seemed to trust me, acting as if she had known me all her life. I couldnt help myself, I just broke out laughing. I held my sides and griped onto Copper's halter, letting her pull me up to my feet. I stroked her soft muzzle and shook my head at her, speaking with a sigh, 'What in the world am I going to do with you?'."

[ShadyBro]

First Saddle

"Copper had grown little over the next few weeks, assuring me she was going to say a short little mare forever. Compared to the rest of my barn, where the Nera's all towered over me like giants, Copper stood at a puny 15.2 hands, about as tall as a normal horse! Nevertheless, she had all the qualities I loved in a nera, and acted as wild and free as the rest of my rambunctious herd. I had a hard time figuring out how to deal with her mental state. She couldnt bare to leave my side for any more than an hour, and around the fifth night spent sleeping in the barn I grew restless. I tried settling her in the med pen stall with Dyami, who she had grown rather close to, but it was no use. She wanted me, and me only. Eventually I did something absolutely insane, and brought her inside my home. I didnt own many possessions, and the tack room where I spent most of my time was cut off from her clumsy feet, so it amazingly worked out well. I found her to be much like any other household pet, able to be trained to use indoor manners and, with a little work, she was even able to be potty-trained. She spent every night curled up next to my bed, occasionally tapping my side with her tail for reassurance. During the day, she followed me about like a lost puppy, rarely leaving my side but for a moment. The bond we had created made training an easy task to say the least, and when I had started training her under the saddle she acted like it was nothing. I spent many painstaking hours creating amazing saddles and bridles to fit her smaller frame, and she loved every one of them. I barely bothered with the lunge lines, and had to spend little time working with voice commands as she already understood me very clearly. I spent some time teaching her the same commands in German, but she picked up on those rather quickly as well. She showed great potential as a show nera as well, with her shimmering coat and easy gaits. She was so particularly light on her feet it astonished me, and simply held a sense of awe every time I saw her run a coarse. Judges would love that about her, I was sure of it. When it came time to start riding her for real, I was more than ready for the adventures we would have together..."

[ShadyBro]

First Ride

"I walked out to the ring, a curious Copper trailing after me, and paused by the loading post. I didnt bother to tie her to the bar, just spoke a sharp 'Bleiben!' and watched as she stood still as a statue for me. I spent some time admiring her obedience, then got to work in laying out her tack. I grabbed her saddle pad, a beautiful vale themed fawn hide that I had tanned and dyed myself, and tossed it over her back. I pinned a few edges and trimmed at them, spending a few minutes sewing pieces into the right place until it was perfectly fitted. She watched me as I worked, intrigued as always at the swiftness of my nimble fingers. I liked to think sometimes that she was jealous of the humans smaller and more capable fingers, where most neras were harsh and clumsy. She shook her head and grasped at the bridle with her tail, feeling the smooth edges of the topaz encrusted silver plates. She had helped me in finding the precious rocks, carrying saddless saddle bags as we walked through the mountain paths and chipping at the stone with her teeth and nails. The next day, I was up all night long carving them into intricate patterns, to match the swirling spots of her saddle pad. I brought the bridle up her to nose and she took the bit gently, her slobbery black tongue licking over the metal dramatically. I laughed as she pinned her lips up and flashed her teeth at me in a wry smile, then continued to adjust the straps and hooks over her jaw. I struggled to pick up her saddle, having made it out of thicker leather than I usually do, but she eased the load by picking up the weight of it wither tail. I flashed a smile and cooed a grateful 'Danke' as I settled the tack over her saddle pad. I fit perfectly, and hugged her muscular back just right. It seemed quite comfortable to her as well, and she stretched out a little and grinned at me. I chuckled and fitted the rest of the straps, happy with the way everything sat. I stood back and checked everything over one last time before asking her to lay down, which she complied to without hesitation. I stepped over her and hopped up onto her back, adjusting the straps and foot holds and relaxing for a moment. Then, I asked her to stand. She looked at me with a sideways glance, a little confused at the command. She was used to me getting up first, and probably thought I was just being slow. I commanded her again, and she twitched, still unsure. 'Aufstehen' I snapped sharply. She pinned her ears back and stood quickly, rocking unsteadily at the extra weight. She turned her head and looked at me, still confused. I praised her greatly, and ordered her forward. She did so, now with a little more confidence in her actions. I walked her around the ring, slow and steady, and once she seemed anxious for a change of pace I pushed her into a trot. We got all the way up to a fast canter, practicing changing leads and pace around the turns, and then I slowed her at the side gate. I undid the latch and led her out onto the driveway, hoping over the most of the harsh gravel, and treading through the grass towards the main road. We walked along the edge, the sunlight warming against my back as the rolling clouds above us played patterns along the fields. We turned off towards the woods, cantering towards the closest group of trees. She paused cautiously, and I waited as well, straining to hear what she heard. A few squirrels scattered up a single oak tree, a tired racoon burrowed deeper into its rotted log home, and even a family of foxes stopped their play to follow their mother back to the den in a hushed panic. When everything was once again still we walked on, following an old path I hadnt cleared out for many years. We jumped fallen trees and swerved around mud pits, finally stopping at a clearing near the cliffs edge. A few feet down a slow trickling river wound its way beneath out feet, splashing the trunks of willow trees and shimmers with mottled sunlight that shown through the thick leaves overhead. I picked my feet up and slid down Copper's saddle, sitting at the edge with my feet dangling over the water. Copper flopped down behind me, her nose pressed against my thigh and her tail curled around the other side of me. We sat there for hours, watching the wildlife as it reappeared in front of us. I placed a tentave hand on Copper's neck stoking her gently to the rhythm of her breath. I felt at home here, next to her, with the world spinning by around me. And I wished, then, that I would never have to leave this place."

[ShadyBro]

N/A

[Alpha*]

I love her! This deserves a feature