Flashback A Lesson in Mounts, Part II

[Collin Ashcroft]

Fall 88th, 515 AV
Windmount Stables
Mid-morning

Note :

Part I

Per Ser Blackburn's instruction Collin loosened his horse's girth a few notches before leading the animal out of the arena and back up to the barn. Once inside they closed the stall door behind them and the Squire began to untack, starting with the bridle. He undid the buckle and slipped the crown over the gelding's ears. It automatically opened its mouth to release the bit and he pulled it out carefully, trying to be mindful of its teeth. The horse gave a large yawn when its mouth was free, smacking and licking its big lips.

Essentially it was like working backwards, but easier. With the bridle hanging over his shoulder he undid the loose cinch and pulled the saddle off together with its pad. The horse hadn't even broken a sweat. The only indication it had done any work was slightly mussed hair where the saddle and girth had been.

"The tack room is this way," Ser Blackburn explained as he opened the stall door then latched it again behind them. He lead Collin down the barn aisle to a large door that opened up into a room full of impressive gear. Lances, saddles, bridles, hundreds of different bits, horseshoes, grooming supplies, blankets, harnesses. A lot of things he hadn't seen before up close. The Squire found an empty spot on the wall for the saddle bridle and put the blanket with the others. When he turned out his patron was holding two types of brush, a comb, and what looked like a metal hook.

"I'm not going to go through all the different kinds of brushes today. Mostly because I don't want to. For now all you need to know is to use the stiff bristled brush on the body, the comb on the mane, this brush that look like its for a lass on the tail, and this here is called a hoof pick. If your horse goes lame you're petched. Never neglect the hooves. You have to clean them out after every ride, and usually before but yours was just standing in hay before you rode him. If I ever see that you haven't checked their hooves I'll shove horse shit down your gullet, and if Mistress Serena is the one to see it, then may the Gods have mercy on your soul."

"Yes Ser," he said immediately, looking a little pale.

"Good, now come with me." Ser Blackburn went from deathly serious to cheery so fast it made his Squire's head spin. They returned to the gelding's stall and shut the door behind them once more. The Knight handed him the bristled brush and motioned to the horse. "I assume I don't have to explain how to use a brush?"

"No Ser I think I can handle this part," Collin assured with a smile.

[Collin Ashcroft]

It was surprisingly relaxing brushing out the gelding's hair. He paid particular attention to the saddle and girth marks, smoothing the short coat back to a fine shine. His patron paid little attention now, seeming more interested in cleaning under his fingernails with his dagger. The horse seemed to be enjoying himself immensely, and as the stiff brush rasped along his back his head dropped and his eyes lulled half-shut. Collin cleaned the arena dirt from the gelding's legs, careful of his flanks but not as apprehensive as before the ride. He assumed by this point that the horse wasn't going to be pulling any tricks.

"Be sure to stand directly behind him now," Ser Blackburn joked when it was time to switch, handing him the brush for the mane and tail. Without turning around Collin gestured rudely with his finger and the Knight smirked with devilish delight.

The gelding's tail and mane in particular were in good shape and needed little attention, but he still picked through each until everything laid flat and shone with the oils from its skin. Last was the hooves, and his patron stepped forward to show him how to handle the feet and use the pick. Ser Blackburn ran a hand down the gelding's front left leg and as he rubbed past the knee it lifted its foot for him. He stooped and held it still on his thigh, brushing the loose dirt off with his fingers.

"This here?" he started, tracing out a funny looking piece of triangular flesh. "This is the frog. It's very important and sometimes very sensitive. Try not to mess with it too much, and definitely don't scrape on it with the pick. What you want to do it dig out the dirt around the hoof wall like this." Blackburn hooked the pick into the dirt packed in the sole around the heel and gave it a yank. A large chunk popped off and he scraped the remnants out with a few swipes. He brushed the dust off again with his fingers and set the hoof down. "It's that easy." He handed Collin the pick and motioned to the other legs.

[Collin Ashcroft]

Collin moved around to the other front leg and copied his patron's technique. He ran his fingers down the forearm, knee, and canon bone. By the time he was down around the horse's pastern though, it still hadn't given him its foot. He pulled on it experimentally but it felt as though all of the animal's weight was on that leg.

"See the longer curls there growing off of the fetlock?" Collin looked at him, eyes accusing. "Right, I mean this here." Ser Blackburn crouched down at put his hand around the area in question. "It's what you would assume is the ankle without a better word, but it's called their fetlock joint. If he's being stubborn and not giving you his foot, try giving these long hairs a tug."

"Like this?" The Squire grabbed a handful and yanked. The horse instantly shifted his weight and gave him that foot. Obviously like that, apparently.

"Good," Blackburn praised.

Collin was hesitant as he scraped at the dirt packed into the sole of the animal's hoof, afraid to hurt it in some way and suffer the wrath of Mistress Windmount like Blackburn had threatened. The looser bits crumbled away, leaving some spots he felt more comfortable digging the pick into. He pried the pick underneath, yanking out and down. A neat disc of mud popped out and dropped into the hay underfoot. It was strangely satisfying seeing the sole shaped dirt lying there, imprinted by the horse's frog and shoes.

With most of the mud cleared he took a moment to more closely examine his first closeup encounter with a clean foot. His patron came around beside him and leaned over to point out a few key areas, seeing that his Squire was curious.

"There you see the frog, like before." Collin nodded.

"What about these?" He ran his finger over edges of the hoof by the frog.

"Those are called the angles of the hoof, and these are the bars." Blackburn pointed out the ridges that followed the frog down toward its point in the middle of the sole. "You also have the hoof wall and the white line here right. It's good to remember the sections of the foot as well. There's the heel, from the heel bulbs to the angle of the hoof; the quarter, which is the middle third here; and then the toe up front. If you want to learn more about their anatomy I can find someone to teach you. I know enough just to get by."

"I think I would like that."

"All right then. I'll look into it. Now finish up with those back feet so we can go find some poor sod for you to swing a sword at."

[Izuyanai]

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