[Flashback] Introducing the Mighty Horse (Solo)

[Cara]

Spring 27, 507 AV Cara stood outside on one of Lhavit's larger rolling hills. Several children sat gathered around her. Resting on the round. Some rested on their knees, others had their legs folded beneath them, their feet held in their hands as they rocked themselves back and forth, eager to learn. Their slender eyes sparkled with the radiance of Syna's sun. Inwardly, Cara groaned. She was not looking forward to this. But it was a way to be paid, and she'd do what she must. Fill a bell with information the children were hardly likely to retain. "Alright Mistress Cara," one of the children called in her sugar-sweet sing-songy voice. "Everyone's here. Whenever you're ready our ears are yours!" Our ears are yours? Cara thought, as she rolled her eyes. Great, this is going to be even worse than I imagined, her mind wore on. Inwardly smacking itself against a wall, for not only did she despise children, but she had a hard time with people in general, and an entire hour spent without lighting them on fire for simply looking at her funny seemed unbearable. "Alright kiddies," Cara said, as she forced a smile, and clapped her hands together once, to make sure all eyes were on her. "We are going to begin. Today, you shall be introduced to the horse, which as you know, is tied to the life of just about everyone in Mizahar. You, me, your mom and dad, your aunts and uncles, and their llamas." The children chuckled. Inwardly, the Vantha groaned. "In the beginning of time, horses were seen as another food supply, and as little else. Yet, as time passed, the races began to domesticate them. It is said that the more nomadic races began this change. That they began to breed and raise these animals along with their other livestock, such as pigs. It was not for a long time, that the races came to realize that horses were fast like cheetahs. That they could carry all sorts of things over great distances. It was then that some of us learned how to ride them, and developed things to help us do so. Everything changed then, for as I'm sure you know, we still use horses to serve our purposes to this day. To carry us, to carry things we wish to trade with others, or simply take from one place to another. This, in turn, has brought a limit, and near end to the amount of wild horses still out there." The children's faces seemed rather blank. Just as I thought. I suppose we'll skip the boring historical context then, and run right up to conformation, and more advanced matters. Things they're bound not to understand either, Cara thought with a small sigh. "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 likely to prove unsound. It will be more capable of completing the tasks its owner sets before it than a horse that is poorly proportioned. It is not unlikely then, for a horse that has a poor conformation, to be viewed as difficult." A child with long, dark hair, and eerie blue eyes raised her hand. When Cara ignored it, she raised it higher, and started to flutter her hand. Rolling her eyes as the kid stretched as far as she could, the Vantha groaned, "yes?" "What does proportionate mean?" she asked. "Why don't you ask your parents when you get home, instead of taking away from the lesson with your lack of knowledge in the field of vocabulary!" Cara snapped. Whoops, Cara thought, as she watched the child's face droop. Watched her bottom lip tremble as she hung her head. "Now, if there are going to be no further interruptions... A horse is said to have "correct" proportions when specific measures are the same. An example would be if the length of the head and the depth of the body at the girth, among other things, were the same." "Most domesticated horses, if not all of them, are required to complete certain tasks throughout the course of the day, causing certain characteristics of theirs to become vitally important. If a horse is deep through the girth, then his lungs will have plenty of room to expand. This will be helpful when trying to find a good work 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 prove to be rather restrictive." "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, etc etc." Another kid, a little boy with deep red hair and green eyes shouted, "I heard that horses with small eyes are mean!" "Is that so?" Cara asked, as she raised one hand onto her hip. She leaned into it slightly, as the other hung at her side. Her eyes turning a ruby red as she glared at the child. The kid nodded vigorously. "It's only a foolish wife's tale. Disregard it completely, if you have any sense." The kid nodded vigorously again, he obviously, had no idea, that he had just been ridiculed by his teacher. "Now... where were we?" Cara asked, "oh yes... 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. 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. Questions?" Cara asked. All of the children shook their heads. "Good," she muttered, meaning that one, single word.

[Cara]

"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." "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 horse's feet should always be pointed directly in front of them." Again, Cara clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling as they took on some fiery orange flecks. "Alright, time for a small quiz. Question number one: what does 'back at the knee mean?'" Cara asked. The children frowned as they fell silent for a time. "Mistress Cara," one of them finally whispered. "You never taught us that." "Good," Cara replied, as she pointed at him, "you do know something... but this little one, isn't a real test of what you have learned. It is a test of what you already have come to know. So tell me, do any of you know what it means?" The kids shook their heads. "It means, if you look at a horse from its side, that their knees look to extend to their rear." The kids chuckled, some of them covered their mouths. "What's so funny?" Cara hissed. "Rear," one of them snapped. "REEEEAAAAAR!" Yellow flooded into Cara's eyes, making them a bit of fire, as tendrils of res escaped her fingertips, and, without her really noticing, turned to a spark of flame, before crackling away into nothingness. "It is not funny!" Cara hissed. "Now pay attention, or you may leave for disrupting the class." The kid passed his finger over his lips, as though sealing them shut. Settling down now, her muscles uncoiling, Cara went on. "So, what does a horse with pigeon toes refer to?" the Vantha inquired. "When a horse has talons like a big scary bird," one of the younger kids answered. "No... no, it means that their toes turn inwards," Cara corrected. "Oh," the little kid whispered, seemingly sad that she had been wrong. "Alright, alright, enough of this useless quizzing, time to move on... The races are unsure as of yet, 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, so that they can blend into their surroundings. 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, 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. 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. Can anyone name a few?" Cara asked. "Spotted," one little kid shouted. Cara nodded. "Grey!" another piped in. Cara smiled, although, it was rather forced, she found their little voices irritating, and wish winter would hit, so Morwen could come along and freeze off their petching tongues. Relentless in their inability to hold themselves still. "Brown!" "Light chestnut, like my father's horse!" "Sorrel!" "Good, very good," Cara said, as she forced her smile to widen. "Those are just a few, there are many more too." The children smiled back at her. "The world, you see children, contains many sorts of horses. More than fifty I have been told," she explained, causing many of their little mouths to drop, exposing their light pink tongues. Covered in saliva glistening with the sun's light. Hungry to absorb more knowledge. Suck it into their feeble minds. "Many have been bred for specific purposes- like hauling loads, or plowing fields. Some are specific to riding. The terms warmblood, and coldblood, are used to describe these sorts 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. Now, other than the Avanthalian Sleigh Horse, can someone name a breed of horse?" "There are Striders and Firemanes," a kid replied. "Sungolds," said another. "And Tidal Ponies!" shouted the littlest one. "Good!" Cara replied. "Now, how many of you have ever wanted your own horse?" Cara asked. All the kids raised their hands as high as they could. "How many of you have ever tried to buy one, or begged your parents to get you a pony?" All the little girls raised their hands, the boys were a bit more reluctant to this time. "You know, much like others, who participate in dagger fighting tournaments, lets say, horse riders may want their own things too, one day. Do you know why?" The kids shook their heads. "For a rider, a horse is part of what they need in order to practice, just like a tournament fighter needs a dagger, a Shinya needs their weapons. In now owning, a rider can do what he wants more easily, because what he needs to practice is always with him. 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 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 a bad horse can be a big problem, a waste of time and money, among other things. You must be very careful, when choosing a horse, just like your parents."

[Cara]

"So, before you buy one, or make your parents buy one for you, make sure to understand your skill level. 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 is still learning, will not be able to do this," Cara explained. "So be careful." "For most people, the cost of the horse is one of the most important factors when it comes to buying. Many things effect a horse's cost, who can name a few factors?" Cara asked. "Size, age, and personality?" A child asked. Cara nodded, and smiled one of her preciously fake smiles. "What other things then, may effect which horse you buy for yourself? Other than money?" Cara asked. "A person's ability. Like you said before!" one kid shouted. Cara nodded, willing other kids with her hands to say something more. "Your size! Papa always says he has gotten too old for the pony he promised me!" A little girl said, as she tried to stifle a giggle, and failed miserably. Again Cara nodded, as she motioned her hands, begging for more. "How much space you have to store it!" another shouted. "Good, good," Cara cooed, as she clapped her hands together. "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. Time, children, is also very important. If you don't have time to look after your horse, you should not get one! It's very irresponsible!" The kids nodded their understanding. "You know what else is very important kids, when it comes to owning a horse?" Cara asked. The kids shook their heads. Their eyes sparkling as they clung to her every word. The Vantha's eyes turned an emerald green as she glanced at each of them in turn. Holding their gaze for a time, drawing out the moment, before her simple answer. "Taking them to the vet. Making sure they receive check ups. Especially when they appear to be somewhat sick. Or even, very very ill." Cara paused. "Don't you like to see a doctor when you're sick, so you can find out what's wrong with you?" Cara asked. A little boy shook his head. "No! The doctor is so mean and scary, he's always poking and prodding." Cara's smile fell. "Well, your horse likes the poking and prodding and attention, and knowing it's being looked after. So... ignore him kids. Your horses don't feel like that," she stammered. The kids chuckled. "Now, a little more about owning a horse. It's a huge responsibility, and the decision to own should not be made rashly. You should not consider it unless you have the means to care for it- knowledge, time and space. Every horse, and every pony is in need of proper accommodations, and attention, on a daily basis- they can not be set aside one day, and not attended to until several days later. Unlike smaller domesticated animals, such as the cat, which shares the owner's home, a horse requires a larger abode to call their own, the maintenance of which takes a great deal of time, and money. Depending upon the work required of them and their breed or type, horses may either be kept on a field of grass so that they may graze, or stabled. Or even, a combination of the two, (the combined system). Thus, the owner will need access to a field in which their companion may graze, a stable, a weatherproof storage area for feed, bedding, and tools, and a secure location to keep tack and other equipment." "Horses you see, tend to travel a lot on their own, especially when left to themselves, out in the wild," Cara explained. "Therefore, many horses find it less stressful when they're left outside, to tend to themselves, and graze as they please. Even so, as an owner, you must be cautious, for any horse can get themselves into trouble within their paddock or grazing area. Every field used for grazing horses must be securely and safely fenced. Since it is within a horse's nature to roam, it is not unlikely that a horse will flee if he finds a gap in the fence's line. Similarly, if there is anything by which a horse may injure itself, he will find it- domesticated horses tend to be prone to injury. Without question, the most effective fencing is a wooden post and rail. But, it tends to be the most costly too. It is sturdy, long lasting as long as there is not a surplus of rain or snow, and is somewhat attractive." "A tall, thick hedge, as long as it is not poisonous, can serve as a wonderful barrier. Beech and hazel are rather good since horses refuse to gnaw on them. Unlike a regular fence, a hedge will provide the horse with shelter during periods of inclement weather. However, it does require regular trimming, in order to remain in good, running order. If gaps in the hedge begin to form, they must be fenced off. Arguably, the best boundary of the bunch is a mixture of the two: a dense hedge with a post and rail fence that runs directly in front of it. Now, those are just some sorts of fencing methods. What else is there?" Cara asked. "Do you know?" "Wire mesh and plain wire!" a kid shouted. "Stone walls!" another added. Cara nodded happily. Maybe they weren't hopeless after all. "Good," Cara commented, rather absently, before she clapped her hands together. "Now, that seems like a good stopping place for today. Why don't you all come back tomorrow, and we will continue our lesson?' "Awww," the kids cried, more than likely doing a good job of faking their enjoyment, as they shuffled off, back to their homes. OOCI don't pretend to know everything about horses. I DID reference Draper's book for some of the more detailed portions. The rest is stuff I have learned working on farms and such... miz lore.

[Hermit]

Thread Award

Quite an interesting lesson. I like that although it was falling on mostly deaf ears, she persisted. Good work!

Animal Husbandry 4
Teaching 2

Tolerating Children
Faking a Smile

Also, I chose to go with Animal Husbandry because as per the skill of Horsemanship, when dealing with horses, these two skills are interchangeable. So I went with the one you are already competent in.

Please feel free to PM me with any questions or concerns.

Hermit