Brennen Astraea Equestrian T3

Brennen Astraea grinned that almsot infectious grin he still held, the left over of his teeanger's boyish charm. He would nod to the stable manager, a man who likely had seen quite a lot of this Astraean youth over the years considering his sizeable passion for the equine animals left in his charge! He would sceamble behind the counter and rummage around, returning some time later with with several impliments. A bucket of soapy water, a brush, a comb, and a corser then normal sponge. - 1

"Now, I'd like you to start with Good Ol Potato here!"

He gestured to an older looking potato colored stallion. It didn't have a saddle, and it's legs had caked on mud. The horse itself lazily munched at some hay.

"Potato is my father's horse. He doesn't ride as as much as he used too, as Potato is getting on in years, but he's used to humans and what is about to happen. So if you make a few mistakes, he won't do naught but whinny at you to let you know! He's a really good and nice horse, I promise!" -2

He paused, taking a breath.

"You'll be cleaning him! Start with the brush, to get all the loose dirt and dust out of his coat, use even strokes, starting from the neck going backwards, always the same way. Then you'll move onto the sponge, getting it wet as needed. You'll use the same motions as before, long, even strokes, all in the same direction. Make sure you get him nice and lathered up! Once he's soapy from head to toe, you'll use a hose and hose him down." -3

He paused again, letting the female gather everything he'd shared.

"Then you'll finish up with with comb and braiding! You'll wanna comb him really well, make sure there isn't too much moisture caught in his hair. Then you'll baird his mane and tail for comfot of both the horse and ride! I'll of course be here to watch the whole time, feel free to ask any questions!" -4

He paused once more and then shook his head.

"Change first though! The vestments of church are not meant for menial labor. I'd wear some work clothes over your church finery."

Brennen Astraea nodded his head softly, watching the whole process with the eye one one who's done so a million times. He would intercead at any point that might have been needed but these moments, if at all, were rare. She moved slowly and methodicly and was careful with the horse and it's body. He was impressed and offered only some minor notes upon her finishing. -5

"Well done! Potato looks five years younger. In the future, try to move a bit faster when washing. I've never met a mare or Stallion that enjoyed being covered in suds longer then needed, but otherwise! A plus! You did great, Well done Lady Sylvania. As for building a bond? Yes and no. Yes, this method will very much build a bond up between you and your mount, but it's also important to care for your steed. A horse, or pegasus, is like a living weapon. You must maintain it to keep it in tip top shape." -6

He admited, shifting to replace the earlier used tools he'd then nod to the shopkeep and pull Potato forward with some gentle urgeing. New objects are gathered and arranged for the prirestess. A saddle complete with all needed belts and buckles, a bridle with a soft bit. A small blaket, and finally some leather reigns. -7

"Now watch, and get repeat as I do"

He explained and then carefuly arranged each item where it needed to go. The blanket placed on the beast's back. The saddle belted into place over the blanket, carefully making sure the blanket covered all the points the saddle might try to dig into the horses body. The bridle placed around the beasts muzzle, with the soft bit within it's mouth. The last to be attached was the reigns. -8

"The bit can sometimes be metal, if you need to encourage your horse to move faster, but I'd never recomend them personally. They can hurt the horse. There are also spiked spurs that you'd attach to your heels and jab into their sides to encourage galloping. I disapprove of their useage as well, but to each their own. The use of your heels is more then enough." -9

He explained, before slowly and methodicly removeing everything, in reverse order for the priestess to see. The reigns we're uncoupled first, wiped with a cloth, then set aside. Next the bit and bridal were removed and likewise giveing a cursory cleaning. The next to come was the saddle and then the blanket. These objects removed the male would likewise shake the blanket free, needsly but for the sake of showing the priestess. Last the saddle is wiped down. -10

"Normally you'd also polish and treat the saddle with a jar of leather oil to keep wear and tear down after rideing. I'll have you do that if we make it to rideing today, for now, go ahead and try and equip and then un-equip the horse." -11

Brennen Astraea moved forward and double checked the work the nun had performed in the process of equiping the steed before her. His smile never left his face as he double check the straps and buckles, tightening them if needed. This may likely be the case, given the priestess over caustion and gentle approach. He would then likewise ensure the bridle and bit are fastened properly. -12

"you did well, very well, for your first time. Don't be scared to be a little firm. The horse will tell you if you've pushed it too far. Most are used to this kind of treatment. The bit and bridle work needs a little more speed as well. We don't want the horse to get uncomfterable. Other then that, great job once more! Now, I want you to go ahead and give ol Potato a ride. I'll have you sit on his saddle and then take the lead and walk him at a canter. I want you to focus on getting a feel for the saddle." -13

Brennen Astraea nodded in a satisfactory way as he walked over to the desk once more and began to rummage through the various objects there. After a short time the male would return holding a new object he had not used earlier in his demonstrations. He' would hold it up for the nun to see. This object resembled the reigns she now held, only it was a single length fo leather with a hook clip at it's end. -14

"This is mostly for your future teaching benefits so I'll do my best to explain as much as possible. This object is called a lead and it's used in the place of reigns when you want to guide a horse without rideing it. This can be for various reaosons such as teaching, as I'll use it for today, or to help a horse through a dangerous area, or out of deep mud. Remeber to be firm when useing it. Sometimes a little urgency in voice and action will be needed." -15

He casually explained before walking forward and clipping the device to the horses bridal, alongside one of the reigns. This completed and with one hand placed upon the flank of the horse to keep it calm, he would begin to walk the less the majestic beast out of the stables. It was slow, no more then a canter, but it's purpose was easy to spot. -16

Ths horse obeyed and followed wherever Brenne led it as if it had complete trust in the teenager. This was of course because the horse did in fact had complete trust in him. The horse had gorwn old as the young boy had aged. They had been compaions for years and as such showed no signs of resistince as they walked easily into the open air. -17

"As you can see, this is called a canter, it's a slow easy movement for you and your horse. It's importat to pace your animal at all times on long rides, only pushing them when it's urgent or needed. Keep them watered and fed whenever you stop to rest. Your horse is a living creature just as you are, but requires much more sustance to keep active then we do." -18

Brennen Astraea hummed a small tune to himself internally as he led the Nun around at a canter. He had plans to increase the pace a bit before allowing her to ride on her own a bit, and finishing their little training course with the maintaince of a horse's hoofs and how to address getting a horse reshoed once it was time. Of course they would still need to address how to properly saddle her pegasus in the future as well. -19

He wacthed her intently as they moved partly to ensure she was retaining the information but also to ensure he wasn't going overboard. He was a knight at his heart and due to this, he tended to get overly excited about the training as one, which in his mind, had included things like horse care and the proper use of a shield. He led the Animal to a small brook and allowed him to drink while he regarded the female. -20

"The best thing to bring along would be oats in a feeding bag, which I'll of course show you once we return for the last steps of the day. However in a pinch there are a few diffrent options. You can bring along a bundle of hay in a bag, though it'll be akward and likely ruin the bag. You can also bring along fresh carrotts, as they make a wonderful treat for a horse, cut lengthwise." -21

The male paused and took a breath as the aged stallion finally finsihed drinking and nuzzled his hand expectidly. He produced not a carrot but a small white cube and offered it to the horse, which quickly consumed the small treat. Then he produced a larger, pink, cube. This would be placed on a stump. The horse would canter up to the largish block and begin licking it slowly. -22

"Salt licks, believe it or not, are also good in moderation. They provide some variety and important chemiclas that a vegtiarin diet won't normally have, needed to keep horses healthy and ready for work. It's also fine slip them some small amounts of surger cubes. They are a nice treat but as all things in life, moderation is the key." - 23

He finished as the horse finished moved away from the salt lick. The page would shift forward and wrap the cube in cloth, returning it to his own pack. He'd then disconnect the lead from the horse's bridal and nod to the nun to take the reigns. He would answer her question and give her instructions in a moment time all at once. He was genuinely enjoying his time teaching Slyvania. -24

"From this point, I'll have you lead the horse at a Canter so you can get a feel of the process on your own. It's important to remeber who is rideing whom when your leading a horse with the reigns. The horse will wish to go off course if you aren't focused. Give it a try, remeber to be firm and to make sure you aren't to soft when it's not needed.  -25

As for me I guess my future plans depend heavily on my time at Dawn acadamy and what prospects it holds for me in the future. I'd like to mayeb get Lady Sonja's permission to rebuild the knights of the round. Reclaim the weapons of my nations history, if possible. Not for myself of course, but for the new knights of the round. I'd like to start a family some day, continue on my family line, of course. I want to help people. Continue to raise horses of course, haha. I might even breed a true legendary horse once day." -26

Brennen Astraea nodded somberly as he recalled his father and mother coming home from their own cresting. He had never asked them which house they had promised themselfs too, and he had never been told. He smiled softly and placed a comforting hand upon the horses flank and then took a deep breath. The training had been going well, no need to sour it with the past that was now history. -27

He would shift his hand to place his pointer and middle finger into his mouth and then inhale. The breath was released and a shrill whistle was heard, calling his own peagasus to his side. Considering the steeds ability to fly he often left the avian equine to do as it pleased. He would shift and mount the horse. taking it's reigns. -28

"We're going to gallop back to the stables and then I will cover the last steps of horse care and you can spend a moment looking over my pegasus to see how it's setup difers from a normal horses for it's equipment. You'll want to dig your heels into his sides, firmly but not to firm. Your urging him, not hurting him. As for the knights of the round, I may take you up on that. Proper direction and motivation are good ways to move the future forward. " -29

He admited, and then urged his pegasus forward with a light application of his heels. The pegasus rushed forward, knowing full well it would outpace the aged workhorse, it would double back once the horse had gotten going and keep easy pace with whatever speed Sylvania opted for. Once they had returned to the stable he would dismount and give Sylvania time to examine it's equipment. -30

"The last step in horse care is maintaing the horses hoofs and horseshoes to make sure it doesn't have any accidents. None of the horses here will be in need of such care for a while, so I very much recomend you look into the proceedure on your own time or ensure a stable master can do so for you." -31

He paused and produced a small feed bag.

"This is a feed bag, it's for oats and other spacific foods you want your horse to eat outside of his diet of hay. You'll also find it to be the main way you keep your horse fed on long journeys if you take them to the rough. I believe, that covers all the basics I can share with you, Lady Sylvania." -32