[Flashback] Do You Really Care? (Solo)

[Cara]

Spring 29, 507 AV Again, the children and their teacher gathered on the rounded hill. Again the students sat, their teacher watching them idly with her ever changing eyes. She could see the children fidgeting beneath the sun's rays. Their strength, as they burned their flesh. "You all here?" Cara barked after a time, causing them all to nod. "Awesome, so now, we shall delve into the care of one's horse." She paused, just to be sure she had everyone's attention, before she moved on. "A horse must remain both physically fit, and rather healthy, if they are to be expected to complete the tasks that their master asks of them. So like crying babies, they're going to need all of your attention, because as their owner, it is your job to make sure a horse gets what it needs. And your job to start noticing when it's unhappy or unwell. Every horse, no matter if it is left out to pasture, or in a stable throughout the course of a day, should be scrutinized, just to be certain that he or she remains well. Horses tend to be creatures of habit. They tend to do well when faced with routine, and should therefore be visited, exercised, fed, watered and more during the same periods of time each and every day. Once you, or anyone else, comes to know a horse, they will be able to treat common ailments with ease, slightly more advanced problems, may require assistance, however. Thus, it is important to be able to recognize when you can no longer care for a horse, and need to bring a veterinarian in, so that the horse may become well. Also, taking the horse to a farrier, for the upkeep of their shoes, among other things, will help to ensure that the animal stays healthy." "Now, as we have just said, a horse needs exercise, just like you youngsters, to remain well. What sorts of things do you think a horse may do to exercise?" Cara asked. "Run!" "Play!" "How?" Cara asked. "Maybe they like hide-and-seek, or tag, like we do," a small girl suggested. "What else may they want to do?" Cara asked. "Jump over things!" "Tear things apart!" Cara chuckled. "If they are the violent type, perhaps." The Vantha paused a moment. "Walking and running tend to be the main forms of exercise for a horse. The amount it needs depends on the horse and their diet. If a horse is left out, they will often tend to their needs themselves. However, if they are often stabled, you may have to help them to exercise." Again, the Vantha paused, as she passed her fingers across her lips. Considering how best to explain to a series of little ones, whom as far as she was concerned, understood very little about the ways of the world. "You see, when a horse is cooped up in a stable for a full day at a time, or even, just twenty-two hours of each day of its life, it is likely to develop bad habits, or stable vices. Since just like you would, if you were stuck inside on a rainy day, they get pretty petching bored." "Mistress Cara said a bad word..." a little girl complained. "Papa always says never to say those sorts of words." "Well I will say a lot more if you don't shut your petching trap and listen to what I am trying to teach you!" Cara barked, as she straightened herself out, and glared at the child, before moving back to her lesson. "Some of these vices include chewing wood, box walking, crib-biting, or weaving. During weaving, a horse will stand in one place, typically with his head dangling over the length of the door, and sway from side to side, as though he is a stalk of wheat dancing in an endless field beneath Zulrav's mighty winds. Most, if not all of these behaviors, may harm a horse. These things can injure an animal, but, can be avoided, if only you mind what the petch you're doing with them." Cara swept her hand over the crowd. "You see, a horse's exercise regime can be divided easily, into three separate stages. The first period, is slower work. It is absolutely necessary, and need not be rushed." Cara raised her right hand as the left dropped. She lifted a single finger into the air for emphasis, as she poked at the sky. "The best way to make a horse grow fit, and to prevent it from straining itself or injuring itself when the going gets rough, is through the use of roadwork. After a long time at which the horse has been at rest, he must be allowed to walk only, nothing more. Forty-five minutes throughout the course of the day will do for starters, if the horse has been left out to pasture. Gradually, over the course of two to three weeks, and a bit longer if the horse is going to be required to perform a great deal of hard work, this period may be increased to an hour and a half, or two hours per day." "Although this work is designed to be slow, and not too tough, a horse needs to be kept moving straight forward. He should maintain a decent rhythm as he moves, this will help the horse to develop muscle in all the right places. If possible, the ground upon which a horse exercises should change as much as possible, in order to keep the horse's level of alertness at its peak, and to maintain the horse's level of interest. The horse should receive a day off each week, this way, it will have a chance to both rest, and relax." "During the third and fourth week of a horse's exercise program, it can begin to be coerced into a trot, and from there, things may grow to be more strenuous, as you near the second stage," Cara explained.

[Cara]

"Stage two is more strenuous, and requires the rider to have more control," Cara explained. "Why?" "Because the exercises are rougher!" "Why?" Cara inquired. "Because you make them go in circles and in and out of things!" Cara nodded, "and what of the third stage?" she asked. "What then?" The children shrugged. "Well it depends largely on what you need the horse for. You see, if it's for hunting you may train up which attribute?" she asked, as she swept her hand out to one of the students. "Strength?" "Or?" Cara asked, as she drew her hand over another student. "Stamina?" Cara nodded. "Why would that be helpful to a hunting horse?" Cara asked. "Because it would help them to keep up after the animal... travel great distances after it," the child replied. "What about an animal trained for sport?" Cara asked, as she drew her arm over to another student. "Speed and endurance." "Good," Cara commented, as she returned her hand to her side. "Now that we understand how to train a horse, and help it to accomplish what we need it to. Why don't we move into how to determine whether your horse is healthy, or unhealthy." The children nodded eagerly. "Being able to recognize when your horse is both healthy and unhealthy is all part of being good at looking after them. An experienced caregiver will be able to tell if something is wrong with one of their equine companions with a single look. Learning to recognize any sort of warning sign will help lead to an earlier diagnosis, which will help make sure the horse gets proper care," Cara explained. "What are some things we discussed that may tell us if a horse is getting sick?" the sorceress asked. "It eats less." "What else?" Cara asked. "Maybe it will act different. I always get grumpy when I am sick, and never want to be around other people," and older boy explained. Cara nodded, "and maybe... something nasty will drip from its nose, like when people get a cold. Maybe it will cough, or its eyes will get filmy or red." Cara simply smiled. "Maybe it will poop more! And it'll smell more!" a little girl exclaimed. "Perhaps... all the more reason for them to fling it at silly little girls like you," Cara mumbled under her breath. "They may also develop a temperature, or a fever," Cara explained. "A horse's temperature tends to be 38 degrees Celsius. So if it changes, that may tell you something. The same with heart rate. A horse's rate, at rest, is about 40 per minute. If it gets any higher, it may suggest that the horse's system has become strained." "Maybe it will breath differently too," another kid said. "The breaths could always get faster, as though they have just exercised a great deal. Or perhaps even slower, and more shallow..." Cara nodded. "Sometimes they will have heart problems, or irregular beats, like us too. Sometimes, they may also go lame, or have problem with their hooves. You can test for that." Again, the woman paused. "They also tend to have worms in their stomach. So sometimes, they need to get cleaned out, a vet can help you with that." The kids scrunched up their faces. "What, don't like the idea of the slimy little buggers rolling around in your guts?" Cara asked, a hand on her hips, her eyes flashing a bright emerald. The kids shook their heads. Pity... "Now, why don't we go over some common ailments?" Cara asked. "Can anyone name one?" "Azoturia," a kid replied. "The muscles at the back of the hindquarters tighten." Cara nodded, smiling at the little farm boy. Or at least, he seemed with one, with his simple trousers. Shirtless stomach, and sweat lining his belly. Clods of dirt sticking to him everywhere. Grass stains on his knees. "Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is another. When the pathways to the lungs are blocked. They tend to get runny noses, and cough a lot..." Again, Cara nodded. "Colic is common enough in horses as well. It is a severe abdominal pain within the horse's body. It is believed to be caused by a number of different things, which include a sudden change within the horse's diet, migrating worm larvae, or even, a twisting within the horse's gut. If your horse has acquired colic, it may stand and look at, or try and kick its flank. It will also sweat profusely, and lie down repeatedly, and roll around. So, it should be led into the stable, if it is not already there, and put on a deep bed. If you don't know how to treat colic, get the vet to come, they should be able to help." "Some other common ailments, which we won't get into for the sake of your weak, recently fed stomachs," Cara went on, not at all in the mood to deal with a child's vomit, "include equine influenza, grass sickness, mud fever, rain scald, ringworm, strangles, and tetanus." Cara paused. "Sweet itch, much as it sounds, is an irritation of the horse's skin. It is caused by a hypersensitivity to the midget's bite. The disease tends to attack the mane and base of tail, inflaming them and making them sore. Sometimes, the irritation is so great, a horse tears away its fur. Once a horse gets it, they are likely to get it again, unless they are protected from the insects. Taken inside, for example, when they are out. Certain herbal mixtures may be applied to ward off the bugs, although, none seems to work all that well. Sometimes, placing special sheets upon the entirety of your horse's neck and form can provide an added level of protection." "Surely that didn't make you all sick to your stomachs?" Cara asked. The kids shook their heads. "Sick of bugs, perhaps?" The kids nodded. "Well... they are going to get you. Pesky little buggers..." No pun intended.

[Cara]

"Naturally, the best thing to segue into are common injuries. These range from various back injuries, say from a stumble. To capped elbows, an overreach, splints, and tendon injuries," Cara explained. "Any injuries to the tendons and ligaments tend to be the result of a sudden and unexpected level of stress, which causes the fibres to tear. This is very painful, and will soon grow hot as it swells. Cold is the best treatment. Applying a bag of ice to the injury works well. The ice should be replaced often, and perhaps, even tied to the wound, for more support. Although, it should not be so tightly bound that it cuts off circulation, etc. Rest is also a great way to treat this problem, so that it is not made worse. A vet can help decide when a horse is well again." "Horses may fall victim to quite the number of different sorts of wounds as a result of field accidents, etc. Some of these injuries will heal at a rapid rate, especially if they are something minor, other sorts of injuries, can cause a multitude of problems. Puncture wounds tend to the worst sort, for an infection may make its way deeply into the wound. Although difficult not to spot larger lacerations, it may prove surprisingly difficult to locate a deeper puncture wound, for they tend to be rather small, and not so grave in appearance," Cara went on. "Now, what is the most important thing to remember when tending to an injury which may be bloody, and perhaps bandaged?" Cara asked. "Clean them, and change them!" the kids answered her. "What should you clean them with?" Cara asked. "Water!" a kid in the back shouted. "What kind?" Cara inquired. "Cold!" they shouted, causing the Vantha's ears to ring. Oh how she wished to for a bucket of the stuff to pour onto their parched tongues. To tap with her gnosis, and freeze. To stick their lips together so they couldn't pester her with their incessant speech. Their smiles, their piercing, sing-songy voices. But, she forced herself to smile. Forced herself to nod. "Alright, so, like humans, horses can be tended to with many different objects. What are these objects?" A wave hit the young sorceress. "Creams. Ointments. Cotton wool. Bandages. Bug repellants. Scissors. Soap!" As she grit her teeth, Cara nodded some more. She could feel her hands tensing. The muscles rippling beneath her flesh as her fingers furl. Sank into her palm. She could feel her nails digging angrily into them, as her hands balled into fists. If she couldn't conjure magic, she wished to punch all of their stupid, smiling faces in. It was the least they could let her do.

[Cara]

"Yes yes," Cara grumbled. "But I am no petching Whitevine, so we won't get into that nonsense. I will leave it to those tree-hugging, Rak'keli worshipping good for nothings." They're almost as petching bad as the bloody Snowsongs. With their incessant rattle and horribly composed song. Stories of the snow... blah blah blah... shut the petch up... "Back to Frostfawn business with us, alright?" Cara asked. "Time to learn a bit about the horse's anatomy. Starting with the foot... a few notes: a horse's lameness tends to occur in the foot more than in any other location, including the legs. What a surprise, considering they use the things so darn much to help them get places, among other things." "When one refers to a horse's foot, they are actually referring to its hoof, a dense horn-like covering at the bottom of a horse's leg, and everything within it. The outer shell, which we see whenever we look at them, is called the wall. The plate just below that, is the sole. There is the frog too, it's shaped like a wedge and is far more delicate and pliable. There is also a thin layer of epidermis between the wall and skin, known as the periople," Cara explained. "The sole of a horse's foot is designed to keep the sensitive, internal structures of the horse's hoof safe, and to help support its weight. The frog does the same thing, although, it also provides a grip for the horse and is a shock absorber. The peripole controls the rate of evaporation from the underlying horn. The internal portion of the hoof is made up of the sensitive laminae, the sensitive sole, the sensitive frog, the perioplic corium and the coronary corium." "Laminae appear as though they are leaves, which interlock, and attach themselves to the hoof via the pedal bone. Hundreds of sensitive laminae dovetail with thousands of horny laminae which sprout outwards from the interior wall of a horse's hoof. The sensitive sole, which is attached to the lower portion of the pedal bone, is a slender layer of tissue which corresponds with the horny sole and provides it with a source of nutrients." A little boy chuckled. Soft lines etching across his cheeks as two dimples formed. His cheeks grew red as Cara gazed intently at him, his hands on her hips. His eyes glimmered like the sun's light as they scrunched with laugher. "What's so darn funny?" Cara asked. "Funny names... they all sound so... funny..." the kid laughed. "Oh really?" Cara asked, prompting a nod from the boy. Cara could feel her face heating, as sparks flew from her fingertips. "Away with you then, for being so disruptive." She waved her hands at him, shooing the laughing boy back down the hill to his home. She thought she could hear the laughter bouncing off the hills, slowly dying away. She waited, for what seemed like ages before it was gone. Frustrated, Cara closed her eyes, and rubbed her aching temples with her fingertips. Gently circling. "Since their names can't be taken seriously... since at least some of you seem to think that a slimy, big-eyed amphibian has been crushed beneath the foot of each horse. Shoved up its hoof, so as to serve, we shall move on. To something, perhaps, you can all take in, and take seriously." The Vantha dropped her hands to her sides, and opened her eyes, surveying the class a moment, before considering what to move on to.

[Cara]

"Well kiddies, I doubt you're interested in the role of the farrier, and his tools, how he helps with a horse's shoes and care, so why don't we move onto something else?" Cara suggested. "Common foot problems. Like a corn, which will most often appear upon a horse's front feet. A corn occurs mainly on the sole is bruised. This area is known as the seat of the corn. Corns tend to be the result of a build up in pressure, say from a rock becoming wedged in the hoof, poor shoeing, etc. In these instances, the horse shoe should be removed, and any discolored section of the horn should be pared away. Be way of infection however, for it may spring up. Extra pressure may be taken off the foot by having a farrier put special shoes on a horse." Cara paused. "Laminitis, occurs when the laminae are inflamed. The feet then heat up, which causes the horse to lean back when it stands, so that some of its weight is taken off the front portion of their forefeet. We still don't know the exact cause, but it may have to do with a poor diet, or the retention of the afterbirth within the broodmare." "Your equine companion receiving veterinary care tends to be essential. If the laminitis was caused by a poor diet, the vet may prescribe a purgative. The horse should be brought into the stables, for sand is said to reduce the pain a horse feels, being that the terrain will provide the foot with an extra sense of support. The vet may also offer medication, and if the animal is overweight, a new diet." "A danger, which arises from laminitis is the chance that the horse may acquire pedal bone rotation. Unless the case of laminitis is a mild one, it should be given box rest." "See kids, how important it is to take care of a horse's feet?" Cara asked. They nodded. "What other problems may arise?" "Navicular disease," the farm boy replied. "Pedal osteitis, and ringbone." "Sidebone and speedy toe!" shouted another little girl. "Thrush can also be a problem," Cara explained. "It tends to be caused by poor management of your stables. For example, an inability to clean out a horse's feet on a regular basis. It is easy enough to detect, considering it causes the frog to smell terrible. The frog will also be somewhat moist, and may produce an icky black discharge. The affected area should be opened, so that it can be exposed to fresh air. It should also be treated with antiseptics." Cara paused, "now what is the last problem we are forgetting?" she asked. The kids searched their minds. "Sand crack," one whispered, Cara nodded, as she clapped her hands together. "Good, now our time is up, so why don't you scurry on home?" she asked. "One of the other teachers will be here tomorrow to pick up where we left off." "Ok," the kids said cheerily, more than overjoyed to be rid of their crazed mistress. OOCSame reference.

[Hermit]

Thread Award

And the lessons end. What a knowledge base for those children. I hope they remember it all!

Animal Husbandry 4
Teaching 4
Intimidation 2

As always, my door (cave opening) is always open.

Hermit