Phase 3: Trust and Friendship

6:00 am…..
Moose Willow Stables; Mountain Trail
Sylus Rotherford Langston

Wings stood patiently in the cross ties, nickering to Koiboi next to her as Sylus rubbed her down with a curry comb. The raven haired male smiled, rubbing her belly and hearing Wings whinny happily. Her ulcers were gone! She had never felt happier!

Kairi tied her brown hair up into a ponytail before pulling a sponge out of a warm bucket of water, soap slathered on it. She rubbed it down Koiboi’s back, listening to him sigh in relief at the cooling sensation of water on his coat.

Sylus smiled, “Early morning bath?” 

Kairi chuckled, “Yeah, he’s dirty and better to get all this out his white coat before it hardens in and becomes a mess.”

Sylus sighed before dropping the comb into the grooming bucket, moving to the saddle rack to grab Wings’s brown saddle pad. He settled it on her back, sliding the top up over her withers before placing the half pad down.

Wings looked back at him, nickering again as he placed the newly fitted saddle on her back. It fit Wings to a T, Sylus extremely glad deep down he got that expensive appointment done for her post-ulcers.

“How’s my pretty girl?” He smiled, reaching over to rub her nose as he slung her hackamore over his shoulder. The chestnut splash mare eagerly nuzzled into his touch, her ears perked toward in glee.

He tossed the reins over her head first before undoing her halter and one of the cross ties, letting it fall to the ground. He slide the hackamore over her head, adjusting the straps as Wings waited patiently.

“We’re heading to the trail! If we’re not back in 3 hours then send a search party,” Sylus laughed as he adjusted the girth one more time before pulling the stirrups down and hopping onto Wings’s back.

The duo walked out of the barn, heading towards the paddocks where the trail’s entrance laid behind them.

Wings perked up, whinnying as she picked up into a trot as they reached the trail’s start. Sylus chuckled, giving her a reminder tug on the reins, “We gotta take it easy, remember?”

Wings snorted, happily trotting along the trail as Sylus kept a steady eye on her, letting her into herself and pick her own ride. She joyously trotted over rocks, avoiding the logs altogether. Sylus meant it when he told her she never had to jump again, and Wings was glad for it.

She had changed so much. From a fearful mare that nearly trampled him at their first meeting, to now an easy going mare who wanted to please and have fun. Her progress had been a far cry from what others had said about her. She was never an aggressive mare, she was just never listened to.

As the pair began to climb the mountain, the sunrise peeked over the trees. It shined golden light on both of them, Sylus reaching down to rub her neck as Wings smiled back at him with that newfound sparkle to her eyes.

“Thank you.”

Wings whinnied in return.

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Word Count: 522