Post by Peanut Loves EVERYONE!! on Jun 13, 2011 1:31:36 GMT -5
Bree had been about to lead Cookie back into the lesson barn, when she realised that the mare wasn't a lesson horse anymore. She walked nervously into the border barn, unsure of where to put the sweaty horse. She found a stall that didn't have a card slotted into the nameholder, and opened the door, walking the mare inside. "Like your new home, girl?" she asked the mare softly. Cookie just sighed tiredly. Bree unbuckled the girth and pulled the saddle and blanket off from Cookie's back. The mare was covered in sweat. Balancing the saddle on the stall door, Bree was about to take off Cookie's bridle when she realised that the mare's halter was still in the other barn. She led Cookie out of the stall with her bridle still on, closing the stall door and latching it, but leaving the saddle there. Bree led Cookie through the border barn, outside to the yard, and into the lesson barn, collecting her halter and grooming kit, as well as her rug.
Back in the border barn, outside the mare's new stall, Bree switched Cookie's bridle and halter, laying the bridle on top of the saddle. She slung Cookie's rug over the stall door too, and hung the grooming kit on a pin nearby. Leading Cookie to the closest wash-bay, Bree tied the mare and turned on the hose. She started at the mare's hooves, so the cold water wouldn't startle her. Bree worked quickly, making sure to wash the sweat out of Cookie's coat. The mare stood quietly, occasionally turning her head to blink at Bree with her big eyes. Bree smiled. "Does this feel good?" she laughed. Cookie shook herself like a dog, scattering water droplets everywhere. Bree laughed. "I take that as a yes then," she said, giving Cookie a rub on her damp shoulder. She was always more comfortable around horses than people; Bree could talk to horses all day, yet she struggled to hold small conversations with most humans. After the mare had been completely washed down, Bree grabbed a sweat-scraper and scraped the excess water off, making sure that there was no water dripping off the horse. "All done girl," she said, taking a handful of water from the hose and gently rubbing around the base of Cookie's ears with it. The mare tossed her head, trying to get away from the water. Bree smiled and rubbed the sweat off Cookie's face, then untied her and led her back into the barn.
In her stall, Bree attached Cookie to the cross-ties and then took her tack to the tack room. She found an empty hook and slid the saddle onto the rack, flipping the saddle blanket upside down and putting it atop the saddle so Cookie's sweat would dry out. She hung the mare's bridle on the hook above the saddle, then went back to her horse. Cookie was dozing in her stall, a hind hoof cocked on its edge. Bree smiled, and made a kissing noise. Cookie lazily opened an eye and nickered softly to Bree, who grabbed the grooming kit and slipped into the stall. She spent a while grooming the mare, making her now dry coat shine. She took a hoof pick and knocked a few small stones from Cookie's feet, then rugged her and stood back with a smile. She released the mare from the cross-ties and rubbed her on the forehead, planting a kiss on Cookie's nose. "I love you, girl," she said, not for the first time. Somehow, it meant more now that Cookie was Bree's very own horse. Cookie nudged Bree's shoulder affectionately, then promptly fell asleep. Bree laughed, checked to make sure the mare had plenty of fresh water, and then left Cookie alone to rest.
Back in the border barn, outside the mare's new stall, Bree switched Cookie's bridle and halter, laying the bridle on top of the saddle. She slung Cookie's rug over the stall door too, and hung the grooming kit on a pin nearby. Leading Cookie to the closest wash-bay, Bree tied the mare and turned on the hose. She started at the mare's hooves, so the cold water wouldn't startle her. Bree worked quickly, making sure to wash the sweat out of Cookie's coat. The mare stood quietly, occasionally turning her head to blink at Bree with her big eyes. Bree smiled. "Does this feel good?" she laughed. Cookie shook herself like a dog, scattering water droplets everywhere. Bree laughed. "I take that as a yes then," she said, giving Cookie a rub on her damp shoulder. She was always more comfortable around horses than people; Bree could talk to horses all day, yet she struggled to hold small conversations with most humans. After the mare had been completely washed down, Bree grabbed a sweat-scraper and scraped the excess water off, making sure that there was no water dripping off the horse. "All done girl," she said, taking a handful of water from the hose and gently rubbing around the base of Cookie's ears with it. The mare tossed her head, trying to get away from the water. Bree smiled and rubbed the sweat off Cookie's face, then untied her and led her back into the barn.
In her stall, Bree attached Cookie to the cross-ties and then took her tack to the tack room. She found an empty hook and slid the saddle onto the rack, flipping the saddle blanket upside down and putting it atop the saddle so Cookie's sweat would dry out. She hung the mare's bridle on the hook above the saddle, then went back to her horse. Cookie was dozing in her stall, a hind hoof cocked on its edge. Bree smiled, and made a kissing noise. Cookie lazily opened an eye and nickered softly to Bree, who grabbed the grooming kit and slipped into the stall. She spent a while grooming the mare, making her now dry coat shine. She took a hoof pick and knocked a few small stones from Cookie's feet, then rugged her and stood back with a smile. She released the mare from the cross-ties and rubbed her on the forehead, planting a kiss on Cookie's nose. "I love you, girl," she said, not for the first time. Somehow, it meant more now that Cookie was Bree's very own horse. Cookie nudged Bree's shoulder affectionately, then promptly fell asleep. Bree laughed, checked to make sure the mare had plenty of fresh water, and then left Cookie alone to rest.
