The Stables: Saturday morning

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal was sitting one the fence, watching Trenor graze, wandering right to the end of the leadrope. The horse had been groomed until he glistened, and his tack was sitting next to him on the fence.

Karal wanted to see if John could tack up properly before he let him ride Trenor.

[ooc: for John of the Hair]

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[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

John leaned against the fence next to Karal. "Hey, Trenor's looking good today."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal beamed at him, "Thank you. I spent some time this morning grooming him, and I cleaned all his tack last night," he replied. "How are you this morning?"

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"I'm lucky not to be stuck in detention," John grinned. "And looking forward to hanging out with you and Trenor."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He chuckled and slipped off the fence. Trenor lifted his head and wandered over, immediately going to snuffle John's hair. "It may be true love," he said, trying not to laugh.

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"You're not the first to fall for the hair," John said, amusedly reaching out to pat Trenor. "And possibly not the last."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor snorted and nudged John's hand and Karal reached out to scratch his withers. "He was never quite the same after the weekend he spent as a human."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

John looked from Trenor back to Karal. "He was human?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor bobbed his head, and Karal sighed. "He was, and I'm never sure how much he remembers or how much it effected him." He pointed at the bobbing head. "That, for example. I don't know if it's coincidence or not." He smiled reassuringly. "Ready to show me what you know?"

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

John nodded, "Want help with his tack?" He felt fairly confident that he could remember how it was done.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I thought I'd let you tack him up, actually." He tied Trenor's lead to the fence with a quick release knot, stroked his nose, and stepped back. "He's all yours."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

With no apprehension, John moved to Trenor's side and started talking to him while he worked. "So, you spent time as a human. You know, I was a bunny for a while. It's interesting to see the world from another point of view."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor's ears flicked forwards and back while he listened, and he nosed John's shoulder.

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"I'm willing to bet you gorged on junk food," John said, petting Trenor's nose nicely as he slipped the bridle on. "Sadly all I brought for you today is an apple for when we're done."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He mouthed the bit thoughtfully, ears pointing straight forward, because he recognised the word for apple.

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"You know all about apples, don't you?" John asked, getting the rest of his tack on. "Most horses do. Like the word 'walk' for dogs. You say it enough along with the prescribed activity and the association is made." He apparently blathered when there was no one to talk back.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal was watching quietly. It wasn't a test, not really, but if he was going to trust Trenor to someone, he wanted to be sure that person knew how to look after him.

Trenor bobbed his head, peering around at John when he tightened the girth, and letting out a huff.

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"Don't like that part too much, huh?" John smiled, patting Trenor's side and surveying his work.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor heaved a sigh and nosed John's hair again, apparently ready to forgive him.

Karal smiled a little and came over for a closer look, sliding his fingers under the throatlatch, checking buckles and the tightness of the girth. "That looks perfect, John."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

John smiled proudly, his hair resigned to being mussed. "Thanks. He is remarkably easy to work with."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"He's very well trained. Whoever tithed him to the Temple took his responsibilities seriously." Karal scratched under Trenor's mane. "His only fault is a tendency to fidget when he gets nervous or bored. Do you want to ride him now? Just around here, to start, I think. And be gentle, he's got a very soft mouth."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"Sure," John replied, inclining his head slightly at Karal. "We can meander along the fence nice and easy." He was in no rush to do anything that would startle Trenor.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal nodded and stepped back. "There's a mounting block if you're more comfortable using that," he offered, pointing to it.

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"Probably a good idea for taking it easy," John agreed, leading Trenor to the block. "Okay, boy, ready to go for a ride?" he asked, climbing onto the block.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor squared up, standing very still as he waited for John to mount. He would play up for Karal, but he was always perfectly behaved for other people.

So long as they weren't wee children.

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

John mounted the horse carefully and situated himself in the saddle, everything about how riding worked coming back to him in a flash. "Oh, you're going to give both me and my memory a workout," John said, encouraging him to begin walking.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor stepped out easily, stride smooth, head carried low as he mouthed the bit.

"You have a good seat," Karal called out.

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"Thanks!" John called back, luckily he understood Karal did not mean his own rear as that would be awkward.

He pulled lightly on the reins, guiding Trenor to one side to make a nice circle around the stable area.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor was completely relaxed, listening to John and moving easily, and John seemed to have reasonably soft hands.

Karal followed after them, watching closely, then nodded. "If you want to take him out into the Preserve," he called, moving to stand near the gate, "you can."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

It was very trusting of Karal to allow John to take Trenor out alone, and not something John was going to take lightly. "If you're sure, I think I'd like that a lot. How 'bout you, Trenor? Wanna go for a nice walk in the woods?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor's ears flicked forward and back, and he snorted. Karal smiled. "Trenor is sure, and that's what I wanted to see," he said, swinging open the gate. "No faster than a light canter, though, and no jumping. And remember to be careful of his mouth."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

John grinned, "We'll fly slow and low and be back in time for supper." He was teasing, really.

"Let's see what sort of trouble we can get into," John whispered to Trenor as he urged him through the open gate.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal watched them go, unable to keep a worried look off his face, but he just waved goodbye.

Then went to go and work on Trenor's spare tack to keep himself from fretting. "Trenor will look after John, John will look after Trenor," he said under his breath. "And I will repair the broken stirrup leather."