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First Ride

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:iconequibreak:
Andar - equiBREAK 
Training Step 4: The First Ride
Reference used: here

(Forgive the backward jump in chronology :P )

Everyone was a bit tense the morning of Andar's first ride. William had been working with him from the ground, but this would be the real test.

The staff all found scattered activities which allowed them to be within eyesight of the paddock without actually appearing to watch. William never failed at anything. At least, William never allowed his underlings to see him fail at anything. With the actual possibility of Andar ruining William's longstanding reputation, everyone wanted to be on hand in case history was made.

Only Thomas was steadfastly convinced in his father's ultimate success. Raised by humans, he had those human qualities instilled into his very being which the others lacked; optimism and loyalty.

Andar was already saddled as William led him to the mounting block. Clearly he already knew something was afoot; the colt- stallion now- was foaming at the bit, pinning his ears back and glaring at the assembled poorly-concealed spectators. William was, as always, eternally patient and brought Andar's attention back to the task at hand.

William's leap was one of unexpected gracefulness for a man of his age and weight, and he landed squarely in the saddle before Andar had time to shy away.

Immediately Andar began yanking at the bit and trying to spin out from under William's unaccustomed weight, but William was having none of it. After a few seconds of pinned ears and a tug-of-war over the bit, Andar backed down.

The rest of the training session went smoothly- or at least smoothly for a normal Andar training session- with sporadic interruptions as Andar attempted to buck or spin or reach back and bite William's knees. Each bout was briefer than the last- not serious, just testing the waters. In the end he walked quietly from the paddock behind William with nary a protest and only a flicking tail to indicate his annoyance at being made to submit.

Thomas shot his father a congratulatory smile and collected his earnings from his few well-paced bets. For his prescience he had won himself a Roman era coin, a feather from a Bird-Of-Paradise, a handful of green and blue sea glass, and a reputation for foresightfulness that might have understandably been mistaken for an emergent magical talent.
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MissDudette's avatar
Awww, I remember when it was just a little bitty foal!