[Part 1] To the Library! (Solo)

[Cara]

Timestamp: Fall 20, 511 AV The sun had just risen by the time Cara fastened the clasp of her cloak, and pulled it around her slender form. Her companions were still resting on the foot of her bed when she pulled her bag off the floor, slung it over her shoulder, and made her way outside. She navigated the slender halls of the hold in silence, the sound of her boots clicking against the wood the only sign that anyone was up and about at such an early hour. When, finally, after several minutes worth of walking, Cara had reached the door that led out of the Frostfawn hold, she raised her right hand, and placed the hood of her cloak over her head. It served to cast her face in shadow, as it would serve to keep some of the snow from buffeting her just as soon as she had walked outside. The Icemaiden drew in one deep breath, before pushing against the door for her shoulder, and stepping outside. The sun was still low in the sky, as several white snow flurries fluttered down from its expanse. Glimmering a gentle cold as the sun's light reflected off of it. The wind whistled against the horizon. Sweeping puffs of freshly fallen snow from its blanket upon the earth, and into the air, before settling it down again. Creating small snow clouds, as the woman strode through the white expanse, on her way to the library. She hadn't been there for a long time, and didn't often make a point of going. But today, she was in the mood for a good book. Something that could expand her knowledge of animals, teach her things she didn't know, and remind her of that which she knew, and at times, may have forgotten during a time of need. Trudging through the cold, and keeping her head down as she moved, so as to keep the cold from seeping into her bones, Cara picked up the pace. She wanted to be certain that the cold would not seep in, certain that she would get the best books before the other Vantha, and filthy outsiders, could obtain them. The woman walked for several moments, before reaching the location's doors, and stepping easily inside. The air was much warmer in there. Causing the snow that had gathered on her clothes to melt, and sink into the fabric. She stomped her feet lightly on the ground, freeing her boots of any snow that hung around the edges. When she had finished, Cara made her way through the rows of bookshelves in silence. As though following an invisible thread, that guided only her along on her journey, she weaved in and out of the stacks. Only stopping from time to time to inspect a small section of literature, before moving on to another. Running her fingers along the slender spines, wishing that one of the titles would jump out at her, and hold her interest for more than a mere moment. As she kept on searching, for what felt an eternity, Cara began to lose hope. Perhaps the library was not the place she wanted to be after all. No, that wasn't true. She did want to read, at least for a little bit. But she hadn't found anything on animals yet, which made her wonder if the library had anything about them at all. She sighed. There had to be something here about them. Something to cater to the Frostfawns... she just didn't want to ask. Asking meant interacting with another human being. Putting up with their stupidity and lesser status. Asking would only lower her to their level, make her appear as though she were stupid, and weak. As though she could not manage to do anything on her own. Cara shook her head, she simply could not bring herself to ask for guidance. Thus, she continued to wind her way between the shelves, in pursuit of something that would suit her fancy. After several more chimes had passed, she discovered a single, large leather bound volume with the words "An Encyclopedia of Horses," printed on the spine. Cara smiled, "that may do," she whispered, as she raised her right hand, and ran her fingers over the top of the book, allowing the pages to settle into her skin, before she plucked it from the shelf, and opened to the first page. It read: Introduction- Every race within the vast world of Mizahar has been bound to the lives of horses for as long as anyone can seem to remember. At first, horses were seen as just another source of fresh meat, they were hunted just like any other animal. Over time, the Mizaharian races began the process of domestication, as nomadic persons began to herd horses as they did other livestock, such as cows and pigs. It was not until man discovered the horse's swiftness, their ability to transport goods and even people over great distances, that the horse really came into its own. Some members of every race learned how to ride them. Life transformed. Horses became a rather common way to transport oneself from one place to another; the practice surviving well into the present day. Domestication, coupled with a general rise in the population of most modern Mizaharian races, began to signal the end of the wild breeds of horse. In the present day, even the horses which live in herds out in the wilds, grasslands mainly, are not truly wild, for they are all "managed" by one race or another. Nevertheless, horses retain most of their instinctual behavior, which in the past, has enabled them to exist without the intervention of outside forces. It seems necessary then, to come to understand then, if we expect to be able to continue to live in peace amongst them. Cara turned to the next page, which described the history of horses, and their bond to mankind. Being not at all interested in the matter, Cara kept turning the pages, until she came to one entitled, "conformation." The page read:

[Cara]

Conformation, or the overall make up and shape of a horse, varies greatly between the various breeds found within Mizahar. What comprises an "ideal" conformation depends on the sort of work a horse is expected to be able to complete. In spite of this, numerous guidelines may be followed when looking for a desirable equine companion. Most of these guidelines relate to proportion: if a horse is rather proportionate, it will be better balanced, and less prone to unsoundness. It will be more capable of completing the tasks its owner sets before it than a horse that is poorly proportioned. Several horses with conformational defects have been declared somewhat difficult, when their mere shape was what had been causing the problems all along. A horse is said to have "correct" proportions when specific measures are the same. For example: the length of the head, the depth of the body at the girth, the distance from the point of the hock to the ground, the distance from the chestnut on the foreleg to the ground, the distance from the croup to the fold of the stifle and from the fold of the stifle to the point of the hock should all be the same. Most domesticated horses, if not all of them, are required to complete certain tasks throughout the course of the day, rendering certain features of heightened importance. If a horse is deep through the girth, that is from the top of the wither to below the elbow, then his lungs will have plenty of room to expand, such a thing can prove invaluable when trying to pick a good, working horse. The length of a horse's back may also be important, especially in the case of a horse meant for riding. If the back is too lengthy, then the horse may prove weak, if it is too short; it may restrict some of the horse's actions and abilities. Beginning with the front of the horse, it is important to note that a horse's head should be proportionate to its size overall. If the head is too large and heavy, it will disrupt the horse's balance. The extra weight will force more of it to be taken on by the forehead, which already supports approximately sixty percent of the horse's weight. A head that is too small can also affect the horse in a rather negative manner. The creature's upper and lower jaws shoot meet evenly in the front of its mouth, should they not be even, the horse will struggle to bite and chew its food. Things such as grass and grain. A horse's nostrils should be grand and wide. Large eyes are preferable to smaller ones, for they seem more capable of taking in the world around the horse. Also, their is rumor that smaller eyes denote a less than generous temperament. The set of the head also has its place. If there is not sufficient clearance between the mandible, (the lower jaw), and the atlas, (the top bone in the neck), the horse will have difficulty flexing at the poll, a requirement in the more collected gaits. There should be room for two fingers' width when the horse's head is raised. If a horse is used strictly for riding, its neck should be both fairly long, and gently curved. A tendency towards fleshiness around the throat should be non-existent, for such a thing would only serve to restrict the flexion, and movement of the head. A long neck is oftentimes associated with a horse's swiftness, shorter ones with a horse's fortitude. Thus, heavier draught breeds have shorter necks than their smaller counterparts, Frostmarch and Gilding. The shoulder should be well sloped, (one can determine the slope by studying the angle the scapula produces). This sort of build allows the horse to take longer strides than one with a straight shoulder, whose movements are far smaller, and more restrictive. A straighter shoulder may also cause jarring, which can harm the forelimb. Horses with straight shoulders also tend to be less comfortable to ride. The shoulder should be somewhat muscular, but not at all loaded. The withers should be of a good height and well defined. If the withers are too high, a rider will struggle to fit a saddle upon their horse. If the withers are poorly defined, it is unlikely the saddle will stay in one place, which can be dangerous for a rider, especially one that lacks any sort of skill. With a larger draught horse, however, a slightly straighter wither is more acceptable, for they tend to wear collars so that they may pull wagons and carts filled with goods around. Their worth then, lies in their ability to pull; their strength. A horse's chest and body should be somewhat broad, but not excessively so, for in so doing, its movement will be negatively effected. Narrowness in the chest, giving the forelegs the appearance of "coming out of one hole" is a serious fault, causing the foreleg joints to brush against each other. The back should rise slightly to the croup, and be well muscled. Short, well-muscled loins are essential: the lumbar vertebrae have no support from the ribs, yet is the loins which transfer the thrust from the engine (the hindquarters) to the body. The croup of the fully grown horse should be the same height as the withers and should not be too sloping, a feature which, combined with a low-set tail, is usually a sign of weakness. Croup-high horses throw extra weight on to the forehand, thus putting more strain on the forelimbs. The power that drives a horse lies in its back, in its hindquarters. Thus, the hindquarters should be well-built up, strong and muscular. When a horse is standing still on its hindlegs, they should not be stretched out behind him, or tucked beneath the body- a line dropped vertically from the point of the buttock to the ground should touch the hock and run down the rear of the cannon bone. The forelegs should be straight and durable, with long, muscular forearms and large knees that are flat as a board. Shorter cannons are indicative of a horse's superior strength; thus, there should be a decent measurement of bone. (The measurement is taking around the cannon, just below the knee). The amount of bone found in the measurement is representative of the horse's ability to carry weight. The amount of bone found in the measurement varies based off the horse's breed, but generally speaking, a lightweight riding horse standing at 16.2hh should have a minimum of eight inches of bone, a heavyweight horse, of the same height, at least nine. The horse's pasterns should be of both a medium length and slope. The forefeet should have a rounded edge, and appear rather symmetrical, as though they were a matching pair. "Boxy," feet that appear rather upright, are prone to jarring. Feet that are both large, and rather flat, on the other hand, are far more likely to bruise upon the sole and corns. The hindfeet, which bear less of the horse's overall weight when he is stationary, should be more oval in shape than the forefeet. Viewed from the side the slope of both fore and hindfeet should be a continuation of the slope of the pastern. The horse's feet should always be pointed directly in front of them. Having reached the end of the page, Cara turned to the next one. It depicted a slender box, above which was written "common conformational defects." Cara smiled, thinking that she had found a sort of cheat sheet, she read on, her eyes grazing over the little which had been scrawled inside the box. Back at the Knee- where the knees, if viewed from the horse's side, tend to extend to their rear Calf Knees- shallow knees from front to back Cow Hocks- when a horse's hocks turn inwards, when viewed from behind. Similar to a cow, hence its name Ewe Neck- where the top line of the neck is concave and the lower line convex Herring Gutted- when the horse has an upward slope from its front to its back on the underside of its belly Over at the Knee- when the horse's knees protrude forwards Pigeon Toes- toes which turn inwards Roach Back- when the spine of a horse has an exaggerated, upwards curve Sickle Hocks- hocks which when viewed from the side have a concave line in front of the hocks and a slanting cannon bone Slab Sided- when a horse's ribs appear flat, as opposed to "well sprung" Splay Footed- when the horse's toes turn outwards Sway Back- when the horse's back has an exaggerated hollow Tied in below the Knee- where the measurement of the bone just below the knee is less than that farther down the cannon bone Having finished reading the chart, Cara turned the page of the book. OOCJudith Draper's book on horses was used as a reference, portions of the book left in bold are direct quotes.

[Cara]

The next portion of the book discussed a horse's colors and markings. It was rather brief, and held many charts. It read: We are as of yet, unsure of what causes a horse to display certain traits. To look a certain way. Mizaharians speculate that a lot of it has to do with where a horse is bred. For example, most horses found in the icy north of Avanthal tend to be white, while others found in regions of Eyktol tend to be a sandy color, or brown. All horses, however, may carry specific markings, no matter the breed. Examples of this include facial markings, such as the star, stripe, and interrupted stripe, snip, blaze, white face, and white muzzle. Leg markings, are also an example of this, such as white to knee, which refers simply to a patch of white fur, which stretches from the hoof to the horse's knee. Other examples include the mid-cannon, half-pastern, crown, and coronet. After reading each term, Cara studied the diagram in the bottom left hand corner of the page, until she understood and remembered everything. After that point, she continued on. The horn of a horse's hoofs can vary from blue or black to white and may be marked with dark stripes. The horse itself can come in the following colors: Grey- A mixture of black and white hairs throughout the length of the horse's body. The coat varies from light to iron. The horse's skin is black. Fleabitten Grey- A grey coat smattered with brown specks. Dappled Grey- A light grey base coat with dark grey rings. Bay- A reddish coat with a black mane, tail and points. The color of the coat may vary from a red, to a brown, or even a yellowish shade. Black- The horse's coat is entirely black, save for the occasional white marking on its head and/or legs. Chestnut- Varies from a pale golden color to a rich, reddish gold. The mane and tail may be lighter or darker than the coat color. Liver Chestnut- The darkest of the chestnut shades. Sorrel- A light red chestnut color. Brown- A mixture of black and brown hairs, with black limbs, mane and tail. A very dark brown horse may appear as though its coat is black. Roan- A body color with white hairs interspersed, which lightens the overall effect. Strawberry Roan- Chestnut body color with white hair giving a pinkish-red tinge. Blue Roan- Black or brown body color with white hair, providing a blue tinge. Dun- Light, sandy colored coat with a black mane and tail, often accompanied by a dark, dorsal eel stripe extending from the line of the neck to the tail, and sometimes by "zebra markings" on the withers and legs, the vestiges of a primitive form of camouflage. Dun can vary from a yellow tone to a more mousy one, depending on the diffusion of pigment. The horse's skin is black. Palomino- A gold coat with a white mane and tail. Spotted- Small, more or less circular patches of hair of a different color than the main body color and distributed over various areas of the body. An example would be a white horse with brown patches. Piebald- Large, irregular patches of black and white. Skewbald- Large, irregular patches of black and white. Cream- Cream colored coat with unpigmented skin. White Markings- White markings on the face and legs and, occasionally, on the body, are valuable means of distinguishing one horse from another. Brindle- Brown or grey streaked or patched with a darker color. After finishing the decriptions of various equine colors, Cara turned the page. It read: Mizahar contains more than fifty breeds, or types of horses. Each breeds development has been influenced by the races and cultures that surround its natural habitat. Domestication resulted in selective breeding, and, in many instances, more nutritious feeding, both of which led to an increase in the size or the quality, (or both), of the horse. However, the greatest influence upon a horse's development and domestication, were the various tasks the various breeds were created for, whatever it is they are expected to carry out from a day to day basis. Whether it be hauling loads or plowing fields. Those horses needed to move heavy loads were bred for strength, while those who were to serve as a means of transportation were bred for speed. The terms warmblood and coldblood, which have surprisingly little if anything to do with temperature, are used to describe various types of horses. A coldblood refers to a heavy draught breed, which is said to have descended from a prehistoric horse said to live in the icier reaches of Taldera. Warmblood refers to a lighter horse, oftentimes used for riding. In the modern day, the term "warmblood" may also be used when referring to a horse bred for the purpose of competition. Cara turned the pages that followed, each of which listed a brief description of the various horses found throughout Mizahar. They read: Avanthalian Sleigh Horse Size: 16hh to 19hh Color: Any Solid Color Purpose: Driving - Cargo and Passengers, Location: Taldera Region - Native to Avanthal, Rare but possible to find outside Taldera. Value: Inexpensive in Taldera (75 gm), Expensive outside Taldera (200 gm). Special Abilities: Avanthalian horses are famous sleigh (and wagon) horses used to transport goods back and forth from Syliras to Taldera and other parts of the world - invaluable in the winter for their resiliency. Colorsplash Size: 15hh to 17hh Color: Multicolored - Bay, Chestnut, Black, Grey, Dun, Palomino combined with White. Purpose: Primarily Driving - Occasionally Riding Location: Throughout Mizahar - Very common. Value: 60-120 gm Special Abilities: None. Cyphrus Strider Size: 14hh to 16hh Color: Buckskin, Dun, Claybank, Palomino - Often with Dorsal Stripe, Stripping or Solid Black on Legs, and Multicolored Mane and Tail. Can be pinto. Purpose: Riding Location: Cyphrus Region, Rare but possible to find outside Cyphrus though usually of lower quality or confirmationaly inferior. Value: 150 gm. Special Abilities: While on Cyphrus' grasslands, Striders can travel at twice the normal speed of an average horse - reaching speeds easily in excess of 60 mph. This ability is only available to purebreds while in Cyphrus' territory, and often the horses will only gallop fast for those of the Drykas bloodlines or for those which the horses have been gifted to by the Cyphrus Horseclans. These horses often 'pick' their own riders and will rarely accept a rider forced upon them. They rarely wear full tack, only yvas, and can sometimes be luminescent in the dark. Eyktolian Desertbred Size: 13hh to 16hh Color: All solid colors. Often with white facial or leg markings (Blazes, Stars, Snips, or Cheek Patches) Purpose: Riding Location: The Deserts of Eyktol. Value: Inexpensive in Eyktol (50 gm), Expensive outside Eyktol (150 gm). Special Abilities: Eyktolian Desertbreds can navigate hot sands with ease and go long distances without water. Firemane Size: 15hh to 17hh Color: Dark bodied (black, bay) with pale luminescent mane (gold, red, white) Purpose: Riding Location: Coastal Kalea near Wind Reach. Rare but possible to locate elsewhere in Mizahar. Value: Rare - 250 gm. Special Abilities: None - But they are incredibly beautiful creatures much sought after for carriage horses and noble mounts. Frostmarch Size: 15hh to 17hh Color: White or Gray - normally heavily dappled Purpose: Riding Location: Taldera Region - Native to Avanthal, Rare but possible to find outside Taldera. Value: Inexpensive in Taldera (70 gm), Expensive outside Taldera (150 gm). Special Abilities: Frostmarches can navigate heavy snows, ice and cold weather with ease. Gildling Size: 14'3hh to 16hh Color: Palomino or Dun with pale luminous coats. Purpose: Riding Location: Throughout Mizahar . Value: 100 gm. Special Abilities: Gildlings tend to glow in the dark (and seem shimmering in the daylight), making them invaluable for night or storm travel. Gildlings are mischievous creatures that tend to find trouble or play pranks on their riders. They are surefooted and strong, appealing to those horse owners that simply 'want something different'. Kavinka Paintedmount Size: 15hh to 17hh Color: Pinto - White combined with any common coloring Purpose: Riding, Driving Location: Bred in Syliras and Cyphrus - Paints are common light riding horses known for their skill at herding large animals - cows, goats, other horses Value: 80 gm. Special Abilities: Being the all-purpose mount, Paints are well suited to herding, cutting, and light war. Leopardbred Size: 15hh to 17hh Color: White spotted with loud dots (as in a leopards coat) of any color (black, palomino, chestnut, or bay) Purpose: Riding, Driving, Packing Location: Northern Falyndar Region - Possibly found outside in other regions (Kalea Especially). Value: Inexpensive in Falyndar (70 gm), Expensive outside Falyndar (100 gm). Special Abilities: Leopardbreds can navigate heavy jungles with ease and tolerate humid conditions fairly easily. They have an incredibly good sense of being able to detect large cats, even from a distance, and will become agitated when one is in close proximity warning their riders. Due to the lack of need for true horses (there exists a wide variety of other means of travel in Falyndar, Leopardbreds are mainly found in fringe regions and coastal Falyndar, but do to their wild coloration, have been rapidly spreading throughout Mizahar. Mixed Blood Size: 10hh to 18hh Color: Any Purpose: Any Location: Throughout Mizahar. Value: 50 gm - 500 gm. Special Abilities: None. These horses are the single most common types on Mizahar and can have any coloring or disposition. They are also multipurpose and can be used for a wide variety of purposes. Mountain Pony Size: 12hh to 14hh Color: Any solid color or pinto Purpose: Riding, Packing Location: Kalea Region - Native to the boarder villages between Kalea and Falyndar, Exported heavily so common to find elsewhere. Value: 50 gm. Special Abilities: Mountain Ponies are very strong for their size, and have no trouble navigating steep terrain with heavy loads. They are also used in mining and other underground work. Nightwalker Size: 15hh to 18hh Color: Solid Black, no white markings. Purpose: Riding, Driving Location: Extremely rare - found in Syliras primarily. Value: 500 gm. Special Abilities: Incredibly intelligent and make excellent light war horses. Well trained and exceptional Nightwalkers will actually 'stand guard' at their rider's camps, alerting them to any approaching strangers or danger..They have extremely smooth gaits. Ravok Bloodbane Size: 15hh to 17hh Color: Any Purpose: Riding, Driving Location: Sylira Region - Native to Ravok, Rare but possible to find outside Sylira. Value: Inexpensive in Ravok (non-purebred) (80 gm), Expensive outside Ravok (non-purebred) (300 gm). Special Abilities: Extremely vicious, these creatures often are outfitted with sharp horseshoes and grow their canines extremely long so they can tear like a predator. Bloodbanes are said to be non-grazers but instead survive on raw meat. They are loyal to their riders and often make vicious swift warhorses. The Ebonstryfe are rumored to have created these mounts, but they are no longer exclusive to Ravok. Note however that purebred Bloodbanes are bred to be bonded with Paladins of the Ebonstryfe. The only Bloodbanes available outside of the Ebonstryfe are mix-breeds or flawed in someway (undesired behaviors, wrong coloring, poor confirmation, or anything less than that possessed by their purebred, perfected brethren. These specimens are in no way comparable to a purebred although they still carry many desirable characteristics.). Seahorse Size: Large Color: Multiple colors - though they are predominantly red. Purpose: Riding, Pulling Underwater Sleds Location: Throughout Mizahar's Oceans Value: 100 gm. Special Abilities: Seahorses have natural camouflage abilities that they can extend to their riders. For example, in a bed of kelp they can transform colors to match that exact shade and hence blend in. Their camouflage effects their riders as well, often tinting their skin a match color so long as they are in physical contact with the Seahorse. If they wish, they can change colors to match almost anything - coral, anemones, the sand of the seafloor. Seme Size: 16hh to 20hh Color: Black or Chocolate with White or Blond Mane and Tail Purpose: Primarily Driving - Occasionally Riding Location: Throughout Cyphrus. Value: 200-500 gm Special Abilities: Seme's are named after the Goddess Semele. They are primarily owned by the Drykas and used to pull their Pavilions (disassembled and placed in giant wagons) from place to place. Incredibly smart but docile, the Seme breed are low maintenance, hearty, and even tempered. It is thought they are the bloodstock for the more spirited Firemane riding horse found on the western coast. Seme's, like the Cyphrus Strider, pull their loads without headstalls. Sungold Size: 14hh to 17hh Color: Pale Cream to Deep Burnished Gold Purpose: Riding Location: Throughout Mizahar Value: 500 gm. Special Abilities: Noted for their wisdom, Sungolds are incredibly intuitive and possess a burning desire to both please and protect their rider. Once they bond with a rider (from an early age - mature horses rarely bond) they will anticipate their wants and needs. Sungolds rarely require tack to ride, preferring to carry their riders bareback and bridle-less. Thought to be magecrafted, Sungolds have bred true (though these traits are lost when they are crossed with other horse breeds). Priests and Mages often favor these animals. Tidal Pony Size: 10hh to 14hh Color: Any Purpose: Children's Mount, Pack Animal Location: Throughout the Coastline of the Suvan Sea Value: 50 gm. Special Abilities: Can navigate intertidal zones, swamps, and flooded areas with an ease. Tidal Ponies show no dislike for water and those that own them swear they sometimes can even 'walk' upon it. Children favor these animals as mounts. Windrunner Size: 14'3hh to 16hh Color: Pale - White, Dapple Grey, Slate Grey Purpose: Riding Location: Taldera Region - Native to Avanthal, Rare but possible to find outside Taldera. Value: Inexpensive in Taldera (50 gm), Expensive outside Taldera (300 gm). Special Abilities: Though somewhat fragile, these animals are the fastest on Mizahar. People often profess they run between the earth and sky, without setting their hooves to the ground. And while this is not true, Windrunners can generate sustained speeds of anywhere from 20-30 mph and hold them for long periods of time on even ground. They are not as fast as Striders in Cyphrus, because those animals are magically created, but anywhere else or in multiple weather conditions, Windrunners are the key for high speed travel. Messengers favor these animals. Zavian Size: 15hh to 17hh Color: Darkly Colored or Chestnut with a full or partial spotted rump blanket in White. Purpose: Riding, Driving, Packing Location: Throughout Mizahar Value: 100 gm. Special Abilities: None. Zavian are considered stout all-around all-purpose animals. Commoners favor these animals greatly, especially farmers that have multiple uses for an individual horse. OOCThe same book was used as a reference. Also, the breed descriptions are taken directly from the wiki page.

[Cara]

Buying a Horse: Almost everyone, if not everyone, who takes part in a sport on a regular basis comes to a point in their lives when they desire their own equipment. Whether it is a set of bows and arrows, a dog sled, a shiny new dagger, owning rather than borrowing or renting makes life easier in two ways: the equipment now becomes available whenever it is required, and, most importantly, the owner's ability to work with their horse because the equipment will have been selected with their skills and limitations in mind. Riders, however, are presented with several obstacles which other sportsmen to not have to face: their most important piece of equipment is not made by any of Mizahar's many races, which, to varying degrees, can be tailored to fit individual needs. The horse is a living entity, it has its own pulse, mind, will, and personality. The horse is an expensive animal to purchase, and to keep as one's own. Choosing the right horse is not always as simple as it sounds; choosing the improper horse can prove to be rather disastrous, a waste of time and money, and a severe blow taken to one's level of confidence. If a prospective horse owner proceeds with caution, and takes his or her time in picking a companion, the reward for doing so may be great. Choosing the Right Horse- Before one buys a horse, they should make an honest assessment of themselves- how skilled they are as a rider, how much money they have, and time to tend to the horse, especially if they don't have the income to pay for someone else to do it for them. Talented riders, unlike their inexperienced counterparts, will get the best from any sort of horse, despite their temperaments. No matter how difficult the creature may prove to be. They can school and bring on a younger horse, work with an older one that has yet to be properly trained, and ensure that the best trained horse lives up to its own standards and abilities. A novice rider, who has only just mastered the basics of horsemanship, can do none of these things and should choose a mount accordingly. A novice should pick a well-mannered horse with a gentler disposition, one who will be more than willing to look after its master. Its rider. The term "schoolmaster" is aptly used to describe these equine paragons. For most people, the cost of the horse is one of the most important factors when it comes to their purchase. The price of a horse is often determined by a number of the following: the type, how rare the breed is, where it is naturally found, and how far that place is from where it is sold, size and conformation of the animal; its age, its temperament; its ability to perform, (this may either be proven through practice, or the horse's potential for greatness), and its level of schooling. When speaking in general terms, an unbroken two or three year old horse will be cheaper than a four or five year old horse which has already received some training; after this time, the horse's value gradually increases, for the most part, until it reaches the age of ten. Once the horse has reached its teens, its value tends to diminish. Besides the price, the proper horse for any given person is determined by your own size and weight, your riding ability, how much room you have to store the horse, the amount of time you have to devote to its care, and how much you intend to use your horse to carry out certain tasks. For example, one would not purchase a tidal pony if they were a fully grown adult who intended to use the horse to ride great distances, or plow the fields so that they may plant seed. As to size, much depends on your own build- someone with long legs will certainly be more comfortable on a big horse than someone with short legs and vice versa, and it is usually easier to ride well if you are neither under-nor over-horsed. Both your temperament, and that of the horse, should be taken into consideration. After all, you want to be able to get along with your new companion, right? Nervous riders would more than likely prefer a calmer horse, so as to belay their fears, a bolder rider, on the other hand, may be more capable of enjoying a more spirited horse, and the sort of ride it would provide. Unless you are going to take part in some sort of activity that requires the use of a specific breed of horse, you will have many to choose from. Always bear in mind, however, your intended use for the horse: for endurance riding he will need great stamina, and so on, and so forth. While stallions tend to be gifted when it comes to eventing, they require a greater level of care and handling than geldings and mares, and are not well suited for a someone new to horse care. Mares can be more moody and take rather more understanding than geldings... They do, of course, come into season during the summer months, and this can be a problem. If one has a decent stable at their disposal, they will more than likely be able to keep any breed of horse without a problem. A lack of a stable tends to determine what sort of horse you are capable of keeping, especially if you live in an area where the winters are both cool and wet, and/or the summers are excessively hot, as is the case of several regions within Eyktol. If you wish to keep your horse solely for hunting purposes, than a stable is necessary. Then there is the question of how much time you can devote to looking after your horse. If you have a full-time job, and limited time for weekday exercising, life will be easier for you and your horse if he can live out or at least be turned out during the day. For general riding purposes, horses and ponies often go on well into their later teenage years, and early twenties. A young horse will, of course, have many more useful years ahead of him, and will be easier to sell for a good price. However, young horses are not suitable for the novice rider, who will be unable to give them the necessary schooling. Cara turned the page, to a section on where to buy a horse. "Pft... boring," she whispered, as she turned the page, to a section about trying a horse. "Not interested, considering I don't ride." Once more, Cara turned the page, to a section on vetting. "Now that may actually be useful to a Frostfawn," she muttered, as she continued reading. OOCIf it is unclear, this is a continuation of the thread in which Cara is in the library, reading the book on horses. Draper's book was used as a reference once more. Bold is for direct quotes.

[Cara]

Vetting- If possible, you should be present when your veterinary surgeon carries out his examination of your proposed purchase so that he can discuss the horse with you. A veterinary exam begins with an initial, visual inspection. The vet can determine a plethora of information based off the horse's attitude, when it is approached: his stance may betray a hint of lameness;the condition of his stable could indicate behavioral problems such as box-walking, (constant pacing around and around the stable), assuming that the vendor has not switched the horse to another box to hide the evidence; his head carriage can indicate problems of balance or vision; how he reacts to being handled will be indicative to his temperament. The vet will take note of the horse's general well-being, noting any discharge from its dark eyes, or its nose, the condition of its skin; and the presence of lesions, or heat in the horse's tendons and/or joints. He will also examine the eyes, by peering into them as intently as he can, sometimes shining a delicate light to aid in the process, before he moves onto the heart. He will study the heart with a stethoscope, or by placing his hand beneath the horse's heart, to make note of the horse's heart beating. Once the horse has been led outside the stable, it will be forced to stand up squarely, on as flat a patch of ground as can be found, while the vet takes the time to make a detailed appraisal of his conformation. After which time, the vet will complete a large-scale, manual examination of the horse in its entirety: the head, including the mouth and pearly white, or even golden-colored teeth, the neck, ribs, sternum, back, abdomen and limbs. Once the horse has been examined while in a resting state, he will be forced to walk and then trot in hand both away and towards the examiner so that he may search for any hint of lameness. Turning the horse to either side on a tight circle, backing him for a few strides and lungeing him at trot on a hard, flat surface are other tests which may reveal problems of unsoundness. Flexion tests may be carried out on a horse's limbs, especially in a case of expected lameness. However, these tests are used with caution, for they may actually induce lameness if they are carried out with sufficient force. To test both a horse's wind, and its heart, it is tacked up, warmed up by being forced into a walk, trot, canter, and then a gallop. The vet will note whether the horse dips its back when the saddle is put on and the rider mounts. Some horses will dip their backs out of habit, in other horses, it can be a sign for a multitude of problems. It is for the vet to determine, once he listens to his lungs after the horse has had a chance to exercise, for any signs of abnormal respiration and to the heart for any irregular rhythms. After the horse has cooled off, he will be given approximately half an hour's rest, at which point, he will trotted again in hand. If the horse is suffering from muscular or arthritic problems, which might disappear while the horse is warm, they may well reappear after this period of rest. Signs of old lameness might also appear after fast exercise. Examining the heart and respiration further may occur, just to be sure of the results. The vet will then share his results, and perhaps, write them up on a sheet, a sort of certificate. The certificate will include a detailed identification of the horse, the vet's findings after his examination, and opinion as to the suitability for purchase, remembering to always keep in mind the reason why the horse is being purchased. What service it is supposed to render its owner. It is important to remember that the certificate is not a guarantee, but an opinion expressed by a qualified person. It is a sign that the horse is free of certain disorders at the time of its exam. It does not guarantee that the horse will remain in this state of health, it simply, cannot. Nor does the certificate guarantee that the horse is free from so-called stable "vices" such as crib-biting or weaving. If you would like a written warranty to this effect, you must obtain it from the vendor. Mind you, not every culture uses a vet for this purpose, or to this effect. For many, they are merely those who know much about animals, and will care for them should yours wind up ill, for any reason. OOCThe same book has been used as a reference. Bold is a direct quote, same as before.

[Gossamer]

Moderator Note: Regurgitated info from a book does not a story make. There is zero rp in this thread past the first post other than your PC just turning pages. Unless this thread is turned into ACTUAL RP that involves study, it won't be eligible for any XP whatsoever because its just cut and paste or paraphrasing from resources. This thread is not rp. Please PM me when this thread has been modified. Storytellers, do not award XP to threads like these unless you talk to me first and they've been significantly changed.