here for the party [Cherokee]

[jagger]

The truck rumbled up the drive and she expertly threw the trailer into reverse and pulled up to the shady area beside the barn, popping out of the truck and slamming the door with a bang. Jogging back to the trailer, she popped the front hatch and untied the mare inside at first, then stepped around to the rear of the trailer to swing the doors open and unsnap the butt strap. Tapping the dun rump lightly, she clicked.

Back back back.. She requested, stepping aside so Cherokee had plenty of room to dismount the trailer.

[harley]

The filly wasn't an expert at backing up out of a trailer; she was used to turning around and walking out head-first, but now, she had to back her butt out first, a hard task for a horse that was as muscular as she. Turns out the galloping around a roundpen actually did get her muscles workin'. She backed a few steps, finding the lip of the trailer and stepped down hardly, backing up quickly the rest of the way. She snorted and spun around to face the tall woman, lipping her shirt with her pale nose and kicking at her belly, where a fly had landed.

[jagger]

Patting her neck firmly, she praised the mare at her well executed trailer dismount, picking up the lead line and leading her past the trailer and toward the clean, airy barn. One hand on the dun's neck, she led her past the other stable occupants, passing stall after occupied stall until finding one suitable for Cherokee.

Here we go, mama. She murmured softly, sliding the stall door back and striding into the wide, clean box, kicking straw around to even it out. Asking the mare to pivot on her forelegs, she slid the door shut, turning to remove the mare's halter. She made quick work of it, checking the feed bag and automatic water; sliding the door to the adjoining paddock open. Enjoy yourself, you deserve it.

Stepping back to the door, she hauled herself up to perch on top of the half door, watching her new purchase fondly.

[harley]

The mare walked calmy into the stable, looking here and there, watching horses bolt in from their paddocks and stick their heads over to half-doors, oh-so-interested on what was coming in. The mare walked into the stall her head beside the girl and spun around -rather quickly- to face the girl. Once her halter was off, she made no deal of it. She first explored inside the barn, splashing around in the little water that was in the automatic waterer, and then sniffing the hay bag. She wasn't too hungry after the ride, but she needed to move her feet. She walked out into the paddock, meeting the horses on either side of her with a loud squeel. She sniffed along the ground before dropping to the ground and throwing herself over on her side, rubbing her neck on the ground and rolling, legs kicked up into the air over to her other side, where she rubbed her neck yet again. She switched sides a total number of four times before heaving herself up onto her legs and shaking, dust she had just collected raising into the air and off of her dull coat. She trotted back into her stall, stopping short on the straw, ear pricked forward, listening to the creature perked on the door, breathing heavily to get a scent.

[jagger]

Just me, I haven't gone anywhere. Mirrah chirped, reaching toward the hanging back outside the stall door to retrieve a curry and dust rag. Hopping off her seat, she made her way over to the little mare and patted her neck fondly, tossing the rag up onto Cherokee's neck and getting to work currying the mare's statuesque figure. May as well clean you up a bit, eh? She asked cheerfully, leaving the mare's head free to move away as she pleased.. the last thing she wanted to do was prevent the little girl from being a horse -- after all, she had a feeling Cherokee needed to get back in touch with being a real horse.

Moving the curry comb in miniature circles, she raised a layer of dirt to the surface and then used the rag to swipe it away, bringing one shoulder to a coppery shine before moving on toward her barrel and back with the same repetitive circles and swipes. So, 'Kee, I'm a bit of a sports-woman.. and I've been working with barrel horses, cutters, reiners and the like. You're pretty quick. I'm wondering if you might have a future in reining? Of course, she didn't expect the mare to talk back, moving to comb the red mane out gently with her fingertips.

[harley]

The mare snorted at the sudden movement, but stayed in the same place, just turned her head to look at the taller woman. She was already enjoying the attention she had missed out on for a year, when the only attention she got was negative, fo not being fully trained. The young mare had a good head on her shoulders, good muscle to her bones, and very good conformation for a horse being sold at an auction. She loved the brushing, her first in a few months, and rose her head into the air, lifting her upper lip, showing she enjoyed the simple act of small circles made by a rubber slab with small 'spikes'.

[jagger]

Continuing her grooming routine, she stepped behind the mare with one hand patting the base of her tail lightly; knowing she was risking a kick but not at all anticipating one. She trusted Cherokee already; the mare had a good heart. Starting on her other side, her circular strokes brought dust to the surface where she again wiped it away with her rag, continuing well down to her buttocks before moving up to comb through her forelock. Depositing the curry and rag in the hanging tack box out front, she plucked a hoof pick from her pocket and moved to the mare's left side, bending half-way and bumping her lightly with her shoulder.

Foot please. She cooed, running her hand down the dun leg and onto her fetlock to tug gently. May as well see how she is with her feet - she hadn't even considered checking that out, not that it mattered - she'd work with Cherokee as much as she needed to to get her past any issues she may have.

[harley]

The mare snorted, pulling her tail as close to her body as she possible could when the woman touched her dock. Being the good little mare she was, she picked up her foot when told and held it up to 'bout waist-high for an average hieght person. She didn't put any more weight on the girl's back than she could've, hardly even leaning on her.

OOC://Sorry, short \\

[jagger]

Picking the wide feet carefully, she pinched the excess hoof on the outside of her frog; realizing the mare was likely due for a trim. "Guess we need to see the farrier, missy." That would come later, of course. This day was growing late and no doubt Cherokee wanted to run around and settle down to dinner. Finishing with her last hind foot, Mirrah slid back to the dun's front, wrapping arms around Cherokee in a big hug. "Glad I spotted you, little girl. I'll be back in the morning. We'll go for a ride."

Mirrah dropped a kiss on the blazed nose, ruffling the mare's forelock and stepping out of the stall. Latching the sliding door behind her, she replaced her tack in it's proper place outside the door. Sauntering down to the feed room, she nabbed a flake of coastal off the nearest open bale, making her way back to Cherokee's stall to shove it in the already partially fully feed bag. Swishing the ickies out of the automatic waterer, she patted the mare one last time.

"Kay love, be back in the morning."

[ooc -- I'll work on a new thread for her today in one of the arenas.]

[harley]

The mare tossed her head when the hay was brought in, walking over to it with eager eyes and stuffing her nose in the bag, retreating with a mouthful of the rich hay. She turned her head to watch the woman's movements, ears swivling back and forth before turning her head back to the feeder and putting her nose back in, coming out with yet another mouthful of the delightful food. It would take her a few hours to finish up her dinner before she finally settled down to rest until the early hours of the morning, when she would be up and scavanging for food in the large paddock, quite suprised that no one had come into her stall yet to hit her over her fragile face, and chasing her around in the small paddock until she had broken a sweat, the exact thing that happened every night with her old owners. She would be headshy for another couple years, alwyas pulling back her head at even the raising of a hand.