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Post by Renathan on Apr 13, 2018 2:17:51 GMT -6
The stallion twists to look at the right side with obvious disdain across his equine face, and then turns back around to stare at the left, offendedly. Renathan tries not to laugh, holding his breath and petting the stallion's neck carefully. The stallion tries to control himself quietly, stilling his head and then carefully being silent as Renathan pets him. He certainly looks like he is pouting, and that was hilarious. However, Renathan knew that these saddlebags were not hurting the huge stallion, merely aggravating him. He waits until the Stallion stops reacting unfavorably to this, and he gives him a good pat before proceeding to use the reins to lead him around the fence. The stallion did quite the good job growing quickly acclimated to this now; as he proceeds to walk around the fence without incident and without the poor behavior; such as tail wringing or stamping around. Renathan is pleased, and gives him a treat for his effort, as well as a few pets. He was accepting the weight, even if he didn't like it much.
[10] - [END of 'Carry Load']
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Post by Renathan on Apr 13, 2018 2:37:12 GMT -6
The next day, Renathan felt like they were ready for the newest challenge. He had no idea how the stallion would react to this newest requirement; but he figured it would take very much forever to get this into the stallion's comfort zone, since the other training with weight on the stallion's back didn't go as well as planned at first. Renathan was nervous about this; however, today. He figured that they may take a break on training after this to do some good old fashioned exploring of the area, perhaps? He really had always wanted to go back out and check out a few of the places he'd passed through on his journey previously; so why not do some little mini-campouts here, right? Renathan pets the stallion as they go out to the paddock; and once in he places both the saddle and the hackamore on the stallion. Then he stands there for a moment, and sighs. Today was the day.
[1] - [START 'Carry Rider']
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Post by Renathan on Apr 13, 2018 2:41:52 GMT -6
Once all the tack is in place, Renathan orders the stallion to bow, since he was FAR too big to get on the stallion from the ground just by himself. The stallion lays down, and Renathan breathes out. Today was going to be a strange day... He breathes back in, and then stands up over the top of the stallion. The stallion is suddenly nervous acting. This has not happened before! That could be very bad! The stallion begins to stand up, and Renathan orders him to stay. At this point, he stands there for a long time and then is pleased for the day. He wanted to get the Stallion used to the idea that that him being up above him was not a bad idea, and was not a big scary spooky thing. Renathan stepped away, and bent down to give the stallion an apple. Then, they go home for that day quietly. This was the first big step; and it had not wound up disastrously.
[2]
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Post by Renathan on Apr 13, 2018 2:45:49 GMT -6
Renathan and the stallion returned the next day. Renathan knew that he'd have to be patient for this training, but it was still stressful to think about it. The next few days could make or break them; it could make it very easy to continue to mount train the creature, or make it straight up impossible. Renathan had no idea how this would wind up, but the first step had worked quite well. Renathan tacks the stallion back up again today with the hackamore and the saddle, and then he gently pets the stallion. At this, he quickly orders the stallion to bow again; the stallion bows down his front legs while keeping his butt in the air for maximum ease in this. Renathan had been planning their mount training a long time ago, after all. Renathan goes to stand above the stallion easily, one leg on either side of the stallion's huge body.
[3]
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Post by Renathan on Apr 13, 2018 2:55:17 GMT -6
The stallion sits there quietly, though obviously a little nervously. At this, Renathan breathes in a shaky breath, and then slowly bends down quietly. The stallion begins to move, but Renathan commands him to continue to lay down with his 'stay' command. The stallion stays, even though he is nervous. Renathan finally gets close enough to thread his fingers gently into the stallion's mane. Then he proceeded to pet the stallion, cooing gently. He had not put his weight on the stallion yet, and did not plan to today. He proceeds to give the stallion a piece of the apple, and watches him from the unique position of just above the saddle as he eats the apple right out of his hand as he leans up to give it to him. The stallion does think this is weird, but it was good that he was calm and that it wasn't hurting. Renathan then gets up away from the stallion, and they go home today.
[4]
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Post by Renathan on Apr 13, 2018 3:06:57 GMT -6
The next day they were back again; this time the Stallion feeling like he perhaps is being trained something else, something entirely new right now. He seems a lot less anxious now; as he trots into the paddock. Renathan is quite happy to see him in good spirits, since they don't have a whole lot going on quite yet. The stallion settles down in the middle of the field after Renathan gives him the command to bow. He pretty much knows what is going to happen now pretty soon. Renathan does walk over gently and carefully to the stallion and stand over the top of him. Then he slowly begins bending down on the stallion, hoping to finally get some of his weight on the stallion today. The stallion is not near as nervous today; he tolerates Renathan doing this today quite well. Renathan then gently places his rear end on the saddle, holding most of his weight up off of the ground in a squat.
[5]
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Post by Renathan on Apr 13, 2018 3:16:37 GMT -6
Renathan is anxious as he sets even the lightest amount of his weight onto the saddle. Thankfully, however, the stallion barely seems to even notice in this moment. Renathan sits there for a good moment, waiting for an inevitable twitch that would tip him off to an upheaval. Whenever that doesn't happen, Renathan begins to feel much less anxious now. He breathes out a breath he hadn't noticed he'd been holding, and then he sits down a little bit more into the saddle. The stallion turns to face Renathan, and blinks slowly. The stallion doesn't seem to be alarmed, but he definitely notices that Renathan is sitting on his back. Renathan watches him for a moment, and then sits down just a little more into the saddle yet again quietly. The stallion doesn't seem alarmed quite yet, but Renathan knew that if this went wrong in any way, it could set them back weeks, perhaps even months.
[6]
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Post by Renathan on Apr 13, 2018 3:24:08 GMT -6
Renathan didn't want to push it too hard, but he did want to make progress as fast as possible, since they had so many other things to do! Renathan pets the stallion and gives him an apple piece to distract him, and then he sits back down fully into the saddle, his entire weight on the the saddle and that on the equillion's back. The stallion is too busy eating his little pink apple piece to notice; but then he turns and stares at Renathan on his back. Renathan fills a swell in his chest; the swell of success. Renathan gives the stallion a few more little pets, and then another piece of the apple. He knew that the road was just a little longer from here, tomorrow he'd go a little further with it. He removes himself from the saddle, and then stands up, allowing the stallion to stand; and then the traveled back home for the day.
[7]
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Post by Renathan on Apr 13, 2018 3:30:54 GMT -6
They were of course back the next day; Renathan happy with their quick progress and good situation. Renathan had been worried that they would be set back instead of going further, but thankfully it was not too horrible. Renathan pets the stallion once they get there for a moment, ready to get even further into their training; since there was so much to do even further than this! This was the first step before the whole rest of everything they had to do; but it was still a rather strenuous step for both of them. Renathan quickly but expertly tacks the stallion up with the hackamore and the saddle, and then he goes to stand on top of the stallion. To Renathan's surprise, the stallion slowly begins to stand up, just as Renathan goes to sit down very slowly. Before Renathan could even blink, the stallion was stood up, and Renathan was seated comfortably in the saddle.
[8]
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Post by Renathan on Apr 13, 2018 3:39:18 GMT -6
Renathan was shocked, and really; so was the stallion! He hadn't been ready to take this step until a little later; but he was definitely glad that the stallion had taken the step of standing up on his own. He could certainly forgive being scooped up into the saddle without permission at this very good sign of progress here. The stallion is of course shocked at the weight of the mamalian, since he had indeed taken this step himself as he anticipated that this for some reason was what Renathan had wanted. However, it wasn't too bad once he was stood up. The stallion was actually incredibly strong for his breed; and incredibly large. The stallion now notices that once the weight is on his back and he is stood up; he is strong and the weight doesn't hurt. Renathan then calls for the stallion to bow back down, and he dismounts. That was enough for the day!
[9]
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Post by Renathan on Apr 13, 2018 3:50:18 GMT -6
The next day, Renathan was very confident. The stallion danced about in the paddock, feet high up in the air in some kind of happy prance. Renathan watches, with amusement. The stallion was certainly a lively one! After a while of this, Renathan called for the stallion to come to him and then he began to tack the stallion up with the tack they'd been using. The stallion took to it well, allowing all the tack on his back quietly. Then Renathan called for the stallion to bow, which he did quickly and carefully. Then, Renathan goes to mount, swinging a leg over just as the Stallion began to stand up just so. It was a good mount, with the stallion practiced now and not having difficult lifting Renathan's weight with his strong body. Renathan feels a surge of pride, and takes the reins in his hand, without indicating one way or another to go. The stallion was carrying a rider quite well; but at some point Renathan was going to have to acquaint him with rein-commands.
[10] - [END 'Carry Rider']
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Post by Renathan on Apr 17, 2018 3:19:10 GMT -6
Renathan had to decide; go home for now, or continue training? He decides quickly to continue training; he at least wanted to do some rein training today, as opposed to going home and losing some of this momentum. Renathan has the reins in his hand; and the stallion is standing still beneath him under the saddle. The least complicated thing he could think of to train was perhaps the 'backing up' command; the rest of the rein training would take much longer than this. Renathan pets the stallion on his mane and says something soothing; thinking for a moment of how to get a prey animal to understand a rein command. "Well, let's get cracking then." He softly says beneath his breath. Then he takes the reins in both hands again gently, and soft-handedly pulled the reins while squeezing on the stallion's sides with his own legs. The stallion feels uncomfortable; and appears to swish his tail around.
[1] - [START 'Back']
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Post by Renathan on Apr 17, 2018 3:24:50 GMT -6
Renathan had just barely squeezed the stallion at first; since he was afraid that the beast would spook if he grasped his sides too hard. However, he is quite surprised when the stallion doesn't move at all; and hardly seems to notice! The stallion was strong; stronger than Renathan, so Renathan was really going to have to put some strength into this. Renathan begins to squeeze the sides of the stallion harder and slightly harder, until the stallion lays his ears back slightly, and glances slightly back at Renathan on his back. Renathan suggests he moves by pulling the reins ever so softly again, and the stallion takes one small step back. Yes; that was it... Renathan lets the pressure go, off of the stallion's sides and off of the reins. Renathan then leans forward and then gives the stallion a small piece of apple- to show him that he did correctly.
[2]
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Post by Renathan on Apr 17, 2018 3:30:49 GMT -6
Renathan knew that the stallion might stop wanting to obey rein commands in the future if he didn't take care in this training. He didn't want to startle the stallion or cause him to associate bad things with the little bit of pressure on his sides, and the reins. He figured that the stallion would do whatever he needed him to do due to liking him, but he also feared making the stallion dislike him. Renathan waits for the stallion to eat the apple piece before he continues. He sits there on the saddle for a moment and then gives the reins a slight pull at the same time as pushing into the stallion's sides. The stallion steps back again, and then again as Renathan continued to push into his sides instead of stopping; he took another step back. Renathan was happy for his good sense; and then stops with the pressure on the sides and the reins.
[3]
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Post by Renathan on Apr 17, 2018 3:41:52 GMT -6
Renathan leans forward gently in the saddle and gives the stallion another piece of apple again; so that he knows that he is doing well. Renathan pets his mane gently with a single hand, and continues to give him some soft murmured words. He was glad that the stallion was capable of figuring things out so quickly; because this would have been so difficult, so very difficult; if the stallion had not been a quick learner! The stallion finishes off the apple piece and Renathan decides to continue. He gives the suggestion of a pull on the reins, and then presses into the Stallion's side practicedly. The stallion steps back once, twice, and then three times. Renathan continues to keep his legs into the stallion's sides so that he knew what to do; and the stallion decides to continue to back up (perhaps in an instinctual attempt to 'back out of' whatever was holding his sides?).
[4]
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