Training Satan

[Trophyhorse misses kmsnead]

Taylor walked into the Alone Barn, feeling a little nervous about meeting the horse she was to train. Gena had said that the horse was very violent, so naturally, she was worried. She heard a crashing noise up ahead and went to investigate.

When she walked up to the stall, the first thing she saw was a wild-eyed bay thoroughbred kicking the wall of his stall.

"Hey there, boy," Taylor said in the most soothing, sing-song voice she could come up with. The large gelding stopped dead and watched her, his ears pricked forward for a moment, then he flicked them backwards against his head. He barred his teeth at her.

"Nah ah!" she said abruptly and sharply. The horse's ears pricked forward again as he looked at her curiously.

Taylor pulled a treat out of her pocket and stretched her hand into the stall, turning her head away, waiting for the horse to come near her.

It must have been several minutes before Taylor felt warm breathing on her hand, then whiskers on her palm as the gelding snatched up the treat. She turned her head to look at him, but when she did, he retreated to the far corner of the stall, pinning his ears back at her again.

"I guess that's alright for now, boy," she said quietly. "I'll see you in a few hours."

As Taylor left the feisty gelding, she decided to name him Satan's Prodigy (aka Satan) because of his negative demeanor.

[Trophyhorse misses kmsnead]

THREE HOURS LATER

After a vigorous ride on her mare, Skylar, Taylor walked back into the Alone Barn, her jacket pockets stuffed with carrots. When she reached the stall, Satan was already near the gate, as if he'd been waiting for her.

"Hey, buddy," Taylor whispered softly, watching his ears flick back and forth at the sound of her voice. "I brought you some carrots, Satan."

She held one of the carrots out to him, but Satan had already backed away from her hand. Taylor stretched even farther, waiting for him to take it. She turned her head away again, waiting for the shy horse to come closer. Just like last time, she soon felt Satan's lips rubbing against her palm as he ate the carrot.

Taylor turned her head and looked at him as he munched on the carrot. Satan's eyes were half-closed, so he didn't notice her looking at him. When he did, however, Satan backed up quickly and snorted at her, but his ears weren't pinned back.

Satan watched her with a curious expression as she pulled out another carrot. This time she didn't look away, so she wasn't so sure that Satan would come near her. Satan looked at Taylor with his bright, intelligent eyes, then at the carrot, then back again. Then, he took a tiny step forward, then another, and another, but he stopped when he was a foot away from her hand.

Taylor clucked to him, urging the cautious horse on. Satan snorted loudly, then walked forward with a little hesitation. Taylor watched him eat the carrot slowly, as if he was thinking about something.

Taylor quickly pulled another carrot out and held it up to him, but this time she held it just over the stall door, inches from her body. Satan watched her again with that same curious look on his face, then he stepped forward with very little hesitation and took the carrot from Taylor.

As he chewed the carrot, just as slowly as he had the last time, Taylor reached her hand over to his muzzle. Satan's eyes widened a bit at how close she was to him, but he didn't move a muscle; Satan sniffed her hand and still, he didn't move. Heart pounding with excitement, Taylor reached out and placed her hand on his shiny white blaze.

For a moment the world seemed to stop as each starred at the other, both mesmerized by the fact that they had made contact for the first time.

Unfortunately, the moment ened just as fast as it had happened; Satan appeared to suddenly realize what he was letting her do, and jumped back with a sort of buck. He stood in the far corner of his stall, chewing fast and looking all around Taylor's face.

For horses, chewing meant that they were thinking something over, but Taylor really couldn't be sure that Satan was thinking, or just finishing the rest of the bits of carrots. Either way, Taylor knew that they had just taken a huge step forward in Satan's training.

"See you tomorrow, boy," she said softly.

[Trophyhorse misses kmsnead]

THREE DAYS LATER

Taylor coughed a little as she hurried down the aisle of the Alone Stable, as a result of the bad fever she'd had for the last two days. She was extremely worried that Satan wouldn't remember her since he hadn't seen her for so long. Taylor pulled a horse treat out of her pocket as she approached Satan's stall, but she had little hope. Satan was munching on some hay in the corner of his stall near the door when Taylor walked up. He nickered loudly and smelled the air, almost like he was greeting her.

"Hey, Satan," Taylor said happily. "how you doing, boy? D'you still remember me?" She held out the treat to Satan, which he snatched up without hesitation. She placed her hand on his face, and when he didn't move, Taylor started to rub her hand all over his face. Satan stood still and chewed the treat as he willingly let Taylor pet his face.

Feeling an oportunity creeping up on her, Taylor grabbed the chance; and slowly, very slowly, she opened the stall door and stepped inside. Pulling out a treat quickly, she handed it to Satan then placed both her hands on his neck. Satan threw his head up and backed away, but he didn't rear or freak out; he merely watched her with a suspicious look in his eyes.

Taylor took out another treat and held it out to him. Satan eyed her warrily, but took the treat easily from her. She held out her hand to him so he could sniff her, and after a moment, she put her hand back on his muzzle.

Satan watched her with quite calm eyes; his ears were pricked froward with interest. Taylor petted the rest of his face, then went on to his neck again. This time Satan didn't move, though he did flinch slightly at her touch. She rubbed his neck slowly with one hand while she ran her other hand through his shiny black mane.

Handing him yet another treat, Taylor gave his muzzle one final pat and backed out of the stall, feeling something beyond triumph, but it was undescribable. "I'll see you tomorrow, boy, I promise," she said softly, blowing a kiss in his direction before she turned and walked away.

[Trophyhorse misses kmsnead]

THE NEXT DAY

Feeling considerably better than she had yesterday, despite the fact that Satan let her pet him willingly, Taylor strolled towards his stall. As she approached it, she took out a carrot with her right hand, while her left was clasped around a dark blue, nylon halter. Satan was laying down in the straw bedding of his stall, appearing to be dosing.

Taylor clucked to him. "C'mon, Satan, I've got a carrot for you," she said in a sing-song voice to the pretty bay gelding. Satan tossed his head up and looked around; the moment he saw her, Satan scrambled to his feet and walked right up to her. Taylor gave him the carrot and patted his muzzle softly.

Very slowly, Taylor genlty opened the gate and stepped inside with Satan. Gripping the halter in her hand, she held it up for Satan to sniff. His nostrils flared widely as he smelled it. Taylor placed her hand on his neck and she slowly started rubbing the halter around on him. Satan flinched, snorted, and backed up several steps, but Taylor made sure the halter remained on him.

Eventually, Satan gave in a quit fighting her. Smiling, Taylor gave him another carrot and rubbed the halter on his cheek. She could see Satan's body tense up, but he didn't move. Feeling that it was the right time, Taylor slowly slipped the halter over Satan's nose.

Satan let out a piercing whinny and reared up. Taylor tried to back away quickly, but too late; as the thoroughbred came down, his sharp hoof crashed against Taylor's shoulder, knocking her into the wall.

Taylor gripped her shoulder tightly to try and numb the pain, gritting her teeth, as she watched Satan calm down. After several minutes, she stood back up and pulled her sleeve up; her shoulder was a horrible black and purplish-blue color already and hurt a lot when she touched it.

Taking a deep breath, Taylor picked the halter up off the straw and held back up to Satan. His eyes widened threateningly, but he stood still. This time Taylor slipped the halter over his face so fast that Satan didn't even have time to think about it. She fixed it behind his ears so it fit right and backed away from him.

Satan shook his head and snorted, noticing the halter he was now wearing. Taylor gave him another treat, and as he chewed it, she decided that she was going to leave the halter on him for the next few days, so he could get used to it. She gave him a pat on his forehead, then left the stall.

[Trophyhorse misses kmsnead]

THE NEXT MORNING

A chilly mist hung in the air, making Taylor shiver as she walked toward the stable. She opened the barn door quietly and stepped into the warm, sweet-smelling barn. When Taylor reached Satan's stall, she stepped inside and held up the lead rope she'd been holding for him to smell. When he was done, she clipped the lead rope to his halter. She opened the door and left it that way.

Grasping the lead rope tightly, she gave it a small tug. Satan tossed his head up and nearly hit the ceiling, but did no more than that. Taylor gave it another tug, then pulled a treat out of her pocket, holding it up to Satan. He appeared to be thinking about the fact that she wanted him to move and that she had a treat.

"You've got to come to me, Satan," she said coaxingly. Taylor tugged on it again while holding the treat near her body. Satan took a timid step forward, then another, and another; before Taylor knew it, Satan was standing right in front of her, munching on the treat.

While he was still eating, Taylor pulled on the rope again, this time she was delighted to see Satan step forward again; he had obviously experienced this before, however long ago that may have been. Taylor lead him forward and out of his stall very slowly. Satan smelt the air when they walked into the aisle, looking around at his surroundings.

Smiling, Taylor turned him around and led him back into his stall. She unclipped the lead rope from the halter and gave him a treat.

"Such a good boy, aren't you?" she asked him quietly. "I'll see you later, buddy."

[Trophyhorse misses kmsnead]

LATER THAT AFTERNOON

Taylor had been in the lounge, relaxing, when she decided to go take Satan for a walk; perhaps outside the barn around other people. She slipped into Satan's stall without invitation and gave him a treat to calm him down. She clipped the lead rope she was holding to his halter and opened the stall. Satan was very submissive and followed Taylor without argument.

She led him down the aisle of the barn slowly, back and forth, for several times, before deciding to take him outside. She opened the barn door, and, to her delight, they were both met by a gentle summer breeze. Satan snorted and widened his nostrils, smelling the cool air blowing around him.

Smiling brightly, Taylor led Satan outside. Satan stepped with what seemed like dignity, and he held his head up high, as if he was proud of himself for being out with Taylor.

After around ten minutes, Taylor led him back into the stable and put him up. She left only after giving him many treats and petting him.

[Trophyhorse misses kmsnead]

THE NEXT DAY

Taylor breathed in the fresh smell of hay and horses as she entered the barn. "Satan!" she called as she approached his stall. Satan had his head hung over his stall door, dozing, but when Taylor called to him, his ears pricked and his eyes opened. He nickered softly to her.

"How's my favorite boy?" Taylor asked, handing him a treat. "Want to go for a walk again today? Does that sound like fun?"

Satan bobbed his head up and down as Taylor opened the door and clipped the lead rope to his blue halter. She was so glad he wasn't too crazy anymore; her shoulder was still badly bruised. Taylor led him out of his stall and took him outside the barn. Satan walked with dignity; head held high, prancing, swishing his black tail, his bay coat glittering in the sunlight.

"Hmm, I think I'm going to take to the pasture today," Taylor said after a moment of thought. "You can't have been there in weeks, so why not? I know you're not good with other horses, but I think you'll respect the mare I put you with, my friend.

Taylor tugged on his lead rope and started jogging in front of him. Satan picked up his pace and went from a proud, high-stepping walk, to a floaty, elegant trot. Taylor had the perfect idea of how the mare was going to teach Satan a lesson about dominance.

(Switching to the Pastures)

[Trophyhorse misses kmsnead]

TWENTY MINUTES LATER

"I know you didn't like it, Satan, but it was a necessary learning experience for you," Taylor said as she put Satan back in his stall. "You're too dominant around other horses, and Skylar doesn't take crap like that, so I think it worked out well."

Satan looked and acted perfectly fine on the way back from the stable, and when he passed other horses, he didn't pin his ears back or snap, probably fearing that they would turn the tables on him like Skylar had done.

Taylor gave him a treat, and left the stable, thinking that maybe she could start trying to do things like getting him used to equipment and carrot sticks tomorrow.

[Trophyhorse misses kmsnead]

THE NEXT DAY

Taylor led Satan out of his stall (after giving him his regular treat) and led him out of the barn, toward the lunging ring. Hoping that he wouldn't flip out today, Taylor wanted to introduce the carrot stick, long lead rope, and bridle to him. The three objects were already waiting for her outside the ring, right where she'd put them around ten minutes ago.

(Switching to Lunging Ring)