Cow Spotting - Prompt Party

Cass brought Reckless Homicide around the bend in the trail at a breakneck speed. It had been a little bit since Cass had taken the sooty pecan stallion for a good run. He was a steady ride, fast and sure footed though more accustomed to tracks than trails. He still tended to be a bit skittish about some things found in the woods and fields. 

The glittered stallion jumped a downed branch along the path without stopping, his primitive dun markings rippling as the muscles underneath tensed and released at the action, his white markings almost seeming to dapple in the shifting light from the trees. It was just about the perfect day for a ride. 

She turned him out towards the fields, leading him down wider trails than she’d otherwise take. If he spooked, she wanted room for both of them to navigate the matter for the moment. She didn’t mind hitting the dirt if it got bad, but she did have a few objections to sharp sticks and the wider trails meant more room for him to assess the passing scenery rather than getting hit by branches regularly. 

The wider trail meant more sunlight, the flecks of glitter along Reckless Homicide back and face sparkling brightly as they raced out of the woods and towards the open fields. He was usually easier there, but Cass was ready for just about anything. He’d given her a few rougher fights the last two times he spooked so he was anticipating at least one wild run before getting home. 

As they came out of the treeline and out into the pastures beyond, Homicide tossed his head, his pecan and white mane catching the wind in a beautifully dramatic flash of color. 

Cass slowed him just long enough to scan the fields beyond and look for potential problems along the way. Homicide was good with other horses for the most part, and from their current vantage most of the fields seemed empty, so she once again gave him his head and let him take off down the road. 

He was faster on the open roads, the space more akin to the tracks he was used to, and Cass nearly cheered as he cleared an unexpected branch in the road without missing a beat. There was a time he would have balked at that, or worse decided to spook. Now he didn’t miss a step, which was why she’d keep taking him out and working with him until he was comfortable. She’d race a track if she needed to, but the open trails were her home. 

As they turned down a road that would loop them out past the far fields and back towards Thorn Rose, Cass spotted a potential problem a few fence lines up. A group of spotted cows standing near the fence grazing. 

Rather than hit them at their current speed, Cass slowed Reckless Homicide from a canter to a trot and then down to a walk. She was hoping giving him time to see the cows would avoid any issues, but her hopes were short lived. 

Homicide handled seeing them well enough, but the first time the spotted cows mooed, his ears flattened back and he tried to turn and bolt away. Cass kept a firm hand on the reins as Homicide attempted to live up to his name, though without a specific target, he seemed to like trying to kill his riders. 

The cows were brilliantly indifferent to the situation as Homicide’s ears flattened back and he reared up letting loose a scream that would have made you think there was a fire. 

“It’s just cows.” Cass muttered, keeping her seat mostly through skill and raw determination, trying to keep Homicide from bolting. 

He danced backwards, once again trying to throw her and run, but she’d tightened the reins enough he wasn’t able to get much of a start. 

She pulled him back further and turned him so the dreaded cows wouldn’t be immediately in his line of sight, still trying to keep him from throwing her as he managed to buck unexpectedly. 

“For the love of…” Cass pulled the reins in again as Homicide reared up, the white jagged markings on his legs catching the sun in a way that would have been beautiful if he wasn’t trying to kill her. 

Devoid of the opportunity to commit homicide, the stallion decided to attempt to live up to the other half of his name. He managed to get just enough leeway to rather recklessly throw himself over the fence and straight into the same field as the dreaded cows. 

“Really?!?” Cass demanded, letting him get a little distance from the cows before pulling him to a stop and forcing him to turn. “Straight into the field? Are you kidding me? WITH the things you’re running from. For the love of the gods, Homicide! What the hell is wrong with you? You could have at least picked a different field.” 

Homicide clearly didn’t care, reined in too hard for serious antics, he kept trying to dance his way out of Cass’s control.

“No, I don’t think so.” Cass turned him towards the fenceline a few yards away from the cows and nudged him into motions. He tossed his head and protested, but he jumped the fence back onto the road. 

“Much better.” Cass patted his neck, only semi-trusting Homicide to not attempt to throw her the moment she eased her grip. Much to her surprise, he didn’t. His ears were now back and he was watching the cows more like they were ghosts than anything else, the whites still visible around his pale blue eyes. 

Cass gave him a minute to look, waiting until his ears started to inch up before giving him a slight nudge to see how he’d respond to moving closer. 

He did walk forward, but the side eye he gave the cows was epic. The cows, beyond one or two looking up at him, didn’t care one bit. To them, the grass was far more interesting than the horse. 

It took far longer than it should have, Homicide attempting to run at least twice on the way past the herd of herbivores, but they finally made it past the spotted terrors and onto the open road. 

Cass gave him a little bit more leeway once the cows were out of sight, but she made a mental note to watch for them the next time she took Homicide out for a ride. He’d have to get used to them, but maybe a little less impromptu next time would be best.