Riding with Autor

[not_his_pa]

William has tack, brushes and everything needed to get Duncan ready to be ridden near his stall as well as the same for Diana. If everything goes well, he and Autor will go for a small ride.

Now he's sipping some coffee and eating a biscuit outside the stable door as he watches the morning mist rise off the lake.

Comments

[not_his_pa]

"Sort of, horses get eaten well cats do the eatin'. That's why horses are all nervy, don't want to get caught. You need to make 'em feel safe and show 'em that you're in charge,"

Duncan seems happy and turns his head to affectionately nuzzle Autor, there is some horse drool.

[herr_bookman]

"Oh, gross," Autor says, wrinkling his nose. "He drooled on me."

The boy doesn't stop brushing him down and patting him gently, humming under his breath. "How do you show them that you're in charge without hurting them?"

[not_his_pa]

"Just bein' firm is all. Men who hurt their horses end up gettin' kick and bit. Now when you finish one side, keep your hand on him all the time as you walk behind and then do the other side."

[herr_bookman]

"I have to walk behind him?" Autor says, squashing his momentary horror underneath a surge of determination. "Okay. I can do this. I can."

He's careful to keep his hand on Duncan's back as he scoots around behind him, praying he won't get kicked. Once he makes it to the other side, his sigh of relief is loud.

[not_his_pa]

"Yeah, you'd have to even if I had him tied outside,"

William hears the sigh but doesn't comment just keeps on brushing down Diana.

[herr_bookman]

Autor brushes Duncan down with all the grit of a man facing a firing squad. He pats the horse's back methodically, at regularly-timed intervals, trying to make sure he doesn't move. The boy finishes up the other side of the horse with a grim satisfaction. "I think I'm done. What's next?"

[not_his_pa]

"Keep your hand on him and then come out into the stable. We're going to saddle them up. That means bridle, blanket and saddle,"

William is waiting outside with a small smile, he's proud of Autor.

[herr_bookman]

Autor follows his instructions and enters the main stable. "Bridle, blanket, and saddle. Got it. Is the bridle the same as the reins?"

[not_his_pa]

"Not exactly, come watch me put the bridle on Diana,"

This is the trickiest part of saddling and William picks up the bridle and gestures Autor over to watch him slip the bridle over Diana's head and slip it into her mouth.

[herr_bookman]

"Oh, so it has to go into her mouth," Autor says, watching William handle Diana. "Interesting. Is that the bit?"

[not_his_pa]

"Yes, see in the back of her mouth, there are no teeth so it ain't actually botherin' her that much,"

Diana adjusts to the bridle and neighs, "Think you can manage that with Duncan? You might get some drool on you."

[herr_bookman]

"I can try it," Autor says, eyeing Duncan. He picks up the bridle and manages to slide it over the horse's head, but he hesitates when he gets to the bit. "I didn't know there were no teeth back there. It makes sense, though, that it doesn't bother them."

He finagles the bit into place, tearing his hands away from Duncan's mouth when it's done. "Like that?"

[not_his_pa]

"Just like that and he wasn't bothered by you, was he?"

Duncan's a well behaved horse and that's why William has Autor dealing with him.

[herr_bookman]

Autor eases into a smile. He's still jumpy around the horses, but he seems to relax with William's praise. "No, he wasn't," Autor says, beaming. "What's next?"

[not_his_pa]

"Now you put on the blanket and watch me again. You're settlin' it on his withers like this,"

On Diana, he sets the blanket so that it keeps her comfortable with the saddle.

[herr_bookman]

Autor takes a moment to find the blanket, which he makes sure is folded the right way. He drapes it across Duncan's back, patting him on the neck as he does so. "Well, that was easier than the bridle for sure. What's next?"

[not_his_pa]

"Now the saddle which will be heavier. We'll be ridin' on ones like I do,"

That means western saddles and William lifts his up and sets it on Diana then starts to bring the girth under her.

[herr_bookman]

Autor finds Duncan's saddle and hauls it out. It's a more modern saddle, dark brown with hand tooling. Autor appreciates that there's a pommel to hold on to, though he doesn't know what to call it. He settles it over the blanket on Duncan's back, following William's lead to bring the girth under Duncan. "Like this?"

[not_his_pa]

"Yeah, loosely secure it for now. We're goin' to lead 'em outside and I'll get you settled, get your stirrups the right length and all before you mount up. That's hard to do for yourself,"

William's saddle is already set for him which means he doesn't have to worry about that step.

[herr_bookman]

Autor does as instructed and manages to buckle the saddle around Duncan's middle. He takes the reins in a sweating palm, petting the horse on the neck. "Ready when you are."

[not_his_pa]

"Now follow us out,"

He leads Diana out as Duncan gives Autor a nuzzle. Outside, William loops the reins around the paddock fence and waits for Autor.

[herr_bookman]

Autor draws a breath through his nose. "Just a big cat, that's all, a really big cat," he mutters to himself, tugging gently on the reins. Duncan follows, to Autor's relief, and the boy takes him outside to where William is. "Do I put the reins on the fence like you did?"

[not_his_pa]

"Yeah, you do. Once you're settled I'll hand them up to you. Do you think you'll need a step to mount?"

Duncan's not the tallest horse but mounting is always tricky at the beginning.

[herr_bookman]

Autor loops the reins around the fence post, and shakes his head. "I should be okay. I can stretch my legs out pretty far if necessary."

[not_his_pa]

"That ain't quite it with mountin', but we'll see,"

He walks over and checks the girth, tightening it a little more then gestures to Autor, "Alright, from this side, get yourself up."