Riding Mishaps *

[Elizabeth Belrose]

It felt rare these days that Beth had time on her hands. Her waking hours felt like they were either spent in her classes, toiling away at her studies, or in the walls of the book store so that she could keep things running while her father took a much needed day off. He wasn't as young as he used to be, and despite his assurances that he was doing just fine, the young woman had seen the beginnings of weariness in his face. And with weariness often came the warning signs of sickness. If her father were to catch anything while he was already worn down, Beth didn't know how his body would withstand the pressure.

No. It was far better for her to be the one working in those moments.

But today was sunny and bright and filled with promise. As soon as she had gotten up and begun to prepare for work, her father had emerged from the back room and shooed her away. It was too beautiful for her to be stuck inside, he said. She needed to get out and enjoy the sunlight before she became a ghost.

It didn't take her long to decide where exactly she wanted to go. Philippe was waiting for her down at Dun'Broch Ranch, where he was well cared for in the time that she had to spend away from him. But he always greeted Beth with the same excited nicker and a toss of his head, sniffing about for a sweet treat as she slipped into his stall. Today was no different...the instant he heard her boots click against the cement of the alley, he had poked his head over his door and started to kick up a fuss. It had been almost two weeks since she had last been able to come and see him, and today she was dressed as if she was actually prepared to go for a ride.

Beth laughed softly. "And hello to you too!" she called as she approached his stall door. Philippe stuck his head as close to her as possible, pressing his nose against her arm as he nuzzled in close. The young woman laughed once more, allowing herself to take a few minutes just to cuddle with the Clydesdale before she nudged him backward and stepped inside. "Ready to go for a ride?"

A foolish question, really. One magic word was all it took for Philippe to take up his stance, giving her plenty of room to move around him as she set everything in its proper place. In the span of ten minutes she had managed to tack him up and proceeded to lead him out of the barn. She swung her smaller frame up onto his much larger back and settled into the saddle. Then with a click of her tongue, Philippe was off and headed for the trails that ran right alongside the ranch. He knew the way, for he had traveled them many times during his stay. But he always responded best when it was Beth who was up on his back or leading him along the riverside.

WORD COUNT: 524
TAGGED: Harry Bieste
NOTES: A little rambly to start, but I hope this will kick things off!

[Harry Bieste]

just horsin' around

After a particularly draining couple of days, Harry was very ready to get out to the ranch, chat with some friends, and spend some quality time with his favorite horse. Of course, he was by no means an owner of the noble steed, but he certainly loved Jacques like he was his own. He was possible the most placid horse on this earth, with a steady gait and a smooth ride. He was also large enough to accommodate Harry, who would have felt incredibly guilty had he rode some of the smaller horses that called the Dun'Broch Ranch home. Being a Percheron, Jacques was plenty capable of carrying Harry along comfortably, but despite his stature Harry still had one heck of a time climbing aboard the large steed. Standing around 18 hands high at the withers, Harry liked to use the little stool to climb aboard. He might not have needed it, but sometimes it was better to work smarter and not harder.  Once he'd finished chatting, Harry took some time to get Jacques equipped, ignoring a strap that seemed to be getting a little old. He was too eager to hit the trails to pay the strap much mind, and when he tugged on it, it felt solid enough! He figured it was fine. With a tug for good measure, Harry decided all was well and mounted Jacques, a large smile on his face. The trail ride began smoothly enough, with Jacques plodding along, the warm breeze caressing Harry's face, blowing a few stray strands about as he focused on the scenery around them. It wasn't often Harry wished his family's estate was larger, but had he the space to keep a horse and trails to ride, he would probably take part in the act more often. It was relaxing, outdoorsy, and he really enjoyed spending time with good ol' Jacques. They had just reached a stretch of trail that bordered the woods, a meadow on the left and the woods on the right. Life brimmed around them, reminding Harry that he ought to slow down every now and then and smell the roses. Of course, he hated roses, and naturally, it seemed as soon as they crossed his mind something back happened. Just as Jacques was stepping over a small log that had fallen across the trail, a loud snap! accompanied his footfall, spooking the horse and causing him to stumble. The saddle, no longer tethered to the great beast, slipped forward, Harry taken with it. He ended up face down in the dirt, only to have his face rubbed into the trail a bit as Jacques removed his neck from beneath the saddle. Thankfully he was well-trained enough not to go too far, but had decided in the commotion that he would very much like to snack on some nearby greenery.  Harry, naturally soured by the occurrence, was quickly frustrated with himself for believing everything would be fine. After angrily getting himself out of the stirrups, he flipped himself to his side in a huff, trying to wipe the dirt from his face with his sleeve. He was thankful it wasn't wet, for had the trail been muddy he would have been considerably less impressed than he already was. Mumbling some curses under his breath, he looked around for Jacques, who was quite taken with the grass he'd found. Picking up the saddle, Harry approached Jacques, trying to figure out the best way he could get back to the ranch. They were about 45 minutes out by horse.  As Harry approached Jacques with the saddle, the Percheron took it upon himself to act rebelliously, evading Harry's attempts to hoist the saddle over his back. "Jacques, get back here!" Though he tried to curb the irritation in his voice as much as possible, his emotions were not going to be mistaken by the animal, who took it upon himself to walk a little further into the meadow and eat the grass there. Truly, he had to look ridiculous, dirty-faced and trying futilely to get the busted tack back upon Jacques.

Elizabeth Belrose |  682 words

[Elizabeth Belrose]

It was a quiet ride, with only the running water and the soft twitter of birds to fill the air around them as they rode. Beth felt little need to talk to her horse as she usually did. Philippe understood just as much in the silence as he did when she spoke, it seemed. He anticipated every little move and need, pausing when he felt a sway in the saddle or picking up the pace when there was the slightest hint of pressure against his side. Her father had once told her that she hadn't chosen the horse...the horse had chosen her. And Beth was inclined to believe that he was right. Of the three horses that they had gone to view that day when he had said that it was time for her to have her own, it was Philippe who stood out...and he hadn't even been among the horses they had gone to see.

Smiling softly, Beth recalled that day with clarity. There had been a dapple grey horse, a painted quarter and a black stallion, all of whom had been lined up in the alley and then taken to the indoor ring to be put through their paces so that she could see what they were capable of. Yet it was the Clydesdale out in the back pasture who had caught her eye, standing sadly on his own as he refused to engage with the other horses. She'd learned that his previous owner had enjoyed him for six months before she had grown tired of him, and that poor Philippe had fallen into a dreadful melancholy after that. He tended to walk away from people when they approached and kept his head low. He wasn't interested in treats or pets from the owners of the ranch.

Until Beth had hopped over the fence to see him.

Her hand reached out to gently stroke his neck as she remembered the way in which his ears had perked at her approach, his dark eyes watching her warily. But he'd allowed her to get close enough that he could breathe in her scent. And then, to the amazement of the staff, he had walked over and laid his head against her shoulder. The rest was history.

Dark eyes lifted as she heard shouting in the distance, a soft frown forming on her lips. Had they stumbled across another rider? Or was there something else going on? Perhaps they ought to turn around and get back before they came across anything that they didn't want to be involved in.

But Philippe seemed quite happy to continue onward despite the way that she tightened his reins. And when a riderless horse hurried over the crest of the hill, Beth found herself pulling Philippe to a halt. What on earth...?

The young woman carefully swung her legs over the side and landed, scattering a little bit of dust as she did. She left the reins in the saddle as Philippe put his head down and moved over to nibble on some of the grass off to the side. That allowed her to have a free set of hands with which to approach this new horse, every movement careful and slow so that she didn't spook him further. "Where did you come from?" she asked him softly.

Tossing his head a little, the horse stepped a few paces to the side and kept a distance. So she paused and waited. "I'm not going to hurt you," she cooed softly. "It's okay...c'mere..." Beth gently clicked her tongue at him, catching his attention as she watched the ears twitch and shift to these new sounds. "You're not supposed to be wandering around on your own out here," she chastised softly, scratching his nose when at last he wandered close enough for her to reach him. "We still have wolves out here. And I'm sure they'd be more than happy to turn you into a snack."

WORD COUNT: 662
TAGGED: Harry Bieste
NOTES: BOOM!