Solo [The Sanctuary] Blood, Sweat, and Horses (Job)

[Gianne Basete]

3rd Day of Fall, 512 AV Early evening The Sanctuary The fresh faced youth standing in front of her was quavering like a sheep. His eyes were as round as coins as he looked between his instructor and the mare he was to ride. Gianne had the reigns to Anasha's bridle coiled loosely in her first. The mare sighed patiently, ears pricked forward to show she was alert. She was a very good horse, well trained and nearly in the prime of her life. Sadly the boy had never had the pleasure of riding before. This was to be his first experience, and his parents had insisted instruction at the Sanctuary. After all horses were their niche and if Gianne knew anything it was how to ride. She was no expert, but she could definitely find her way around on a horse's back. "Alright Will," she started carefully, knowing he was scared. "Anasha here won't hurt you. She's an amazing horse, that's why I'm starting you out on her okay?" The boy nodded his head numbly, pursing his lips. "Yes ma'am," he quavered, stepping forward when she offered the reigns for him to take. "You'll have to trust us. No need to be worried," she said gently. Will took the reigns and draped them over the mare's golden neck, being so careful it seemed he thought she would catch fire or suddenly crumble. He then looked over at Gianne for further instruction. She smiled encouragingly, motioning to the saddle. "Be sure to mount on the left side. I like to get my horse used to me mounting on either side in case of emergency, but for starters you'll stick with the most common side. Slide your left foot in the stirrup and pull yourself up. Be sure that you keep hold of the reigns so you can always stop your horse in case it starts to walk before you're ready." Will's adam's apple bobbed as he gulped then turned to face the mare standing quietly. He stuck his foot in the stirrup, grabbed the front of the saddle with one hand while keeping the reigns in the other and hoisted himself up a little awkwardly. When his butt was planted firmly in the saddle his eyes light up with glee and he smiled so brightly that it could have blinded Syna. Gianne smiled back, nodding her approval. Anasha twitched an ear back to the elated boy sitting on her back, awaiting orders. "Very good Will," she said with conviction as she stepped closer to the horse and rider. Absently the placed a hand on the mare's neck. The traces of a winter coat were growing noticeable. Her hair was a little fluffier than in the summer. "Click your tongue or make a kissing sound with your lips to get her to move. If you prefer you can give a little squeeze with your legs or tap with your ankles. To stop her, just gently pull back on your reigns and clearly give a Whoa command." She looked meaningfully at him. "Did you get all that?" she asked, to which he nodded emphatically, obviously growing nervous once more. One hurdle down, a million more to go. "Alright then. Start her in a walk and make... let's say 5 laps around me. Try and get a feeling of how she's moving. The sway of her body. Keep your hips nice and loose, and your back straight." Gianne backed up a handful of paces and crossed her arms over her chest, giving him a nod to start. For a moment he hesitated but then clicked his tongue a few times. Easily Anasha lumbered off in a walk, and Will's eyes were once again the size of large coins. "To turn you just lay the reigns on either side of her neck, or pull her head in the direction you want to go. A horse will pretty much always follow its head." To which he nodded and murmured, "Okay." He kept Anasha several lengths out in a wide circle. Gently he pulled her head to the left and of course she complied, moving in a slow arc around Gianne. "Good, good," she assured him, turning in place to watch his progress during the circuit. He was too tense. His legs didn't sway at all, they were like planks hanging over the side of the saddle. The hips were the same ordeal. Scratch the leg comment; his whole body was like a board. After 5 laps he reigned the mare in with both his hands and voice, to which Gianne praised him once more. "After riding a certain horse for so long you don't have to be so thorough and strict with your cues. A horse learns to read a rider's body language just like a rider can read their horse. Right now though I want you to imagine that if you don't use clear cues, your horse will explode underneath you." She said that last part with a completely straight face and Will's own face contorted with anxiety. "Yes ma'am! I won't forget," he said in a high pitched voice. Gianne couldn't help but laugh. She threw her head back and let loose all the pent up mirth this youngster was causing. "I'm only teasing, Will! Don't take me so seriously. All you have to really do is just follow my instructions. Trust me, I have a sense of humor and I won't bite." The shock on his face was also comical, and then it turned to embarrassment. He smiled sheepishly and gave an apologetic shrug. "Yes ma'am," he mumbled with a smile, and she returned it with a loud chuckle.

[Gianne Basete]

She had a lunge rope at hand so she quickly retrieved it from where it was hanging close by. "Will, how are you liking it so far?" He thought seriously for a moment, running a gentle hand over Anasha's neck. "I like it. It's not so scary anymore, but this is only my first time. Plus I've only walked her." Gianne nodded and held up the long lunge line for him to see. "Do you think you could handle a few laps trotting? I'll clip this onto her bridle so you won't have to worry so much about steering her as you would just learning to get your seat right. What say you?" His face puckered with uncertainty as he eyed the rope and his teacher. "I'unno...," he began slowly, mulling over the idea in the privacy of his thoughts. "Can I just walk today?" Will asked as if Gianne would be angry over his decision. But she smiled and nodded, hanging the rope on her shoulder with an air of finality. "Of course you can. It was just an idea. I want you to ride in a few figure eights and then try backing her up alright?" When he nodded she retreated a few yards, crossing her arms over her chest and cocking out a hip to take some weight off. Perhaps asking him to trot had been too fast of a move. She shouldn't assume that everyone wanted to jump right in on their first try. She'd file that away for future reference. Will made a single loud kissing sound and Anasha complied placidly, lumbering forward in a casual walk. Gianne watched quietly as he steered her in a slow figure; once, twice, five times around. "Change directions," she called casually and he did so. Again five circuits before she ordered him to reign the mare in. He looked at her for further instruction and she approached him, putting both of her hands on the reigns. "I want you to back her up a few feet. When you want to have her do this, keep your hands low, sort of toward your thighs and pull back towards yourself. Don't let your hands get high." She pulled his hands up to give him an example of the wrong form, then put them back down where they should be. "And don't just pull back and leave it like that. You give and take. Pull back then give her her head then pull back again and repeat until she's moved as far as you want her to. She'll start to ignore the bit if the pressure is constant, and we obviously don't want that." Will was nodding as Gianne gave these instructions, a look of deep concentration furrowing his brows. "Show me," she ordered. "Alright," he warbled, giving the reigns a small tug. Anasha gave ground for a few steps, then again when he pulled once more. "Don't let her stop. Keep her moving backwards until I say." He nodded and started guiding her backwards with less delay in his cues, and the mare now steadily backed away from Gianne, head slightly lowered against the pressure of the bit. "Stop," she said after they were a few yards away. He let the reigns go slack and Anasha sighed loudly, letting her head rise once more. "Very good," she said with a grin and he smiled back, showing all of his teeth.

[Gianne Basete]

She had moved to Anasha's side, next to Will's leg. Her leather gloved fingers ran through the mare's golden mane with absent affection and she was about to have the boy call it a day until a raucous swarm of barking dogs rounded the corner of a nearby building. The one in the lead seemed to be dragging something. Was that an old rag? The bewilderment surely shown plain on her face. Why in the Gods' names were they so intent on a piece of cloth? It all seemed innocent and cute from a distant, but it turned out the hounds were barreling right to them. Anasha started to snort and sidestep nervously. Will instinctively hunched lower in the saddle, gripping the pommel in front of him in the iron grip of fear. Gianne quickly grabbed the side of the horse's bridle, not the reign, for better control. It the mare reared she'd probably drag her right off the ground, but oh well. Defensively Gianne swung a foot out at the miniature pack, catching one in the butt. It wasn't a hard kick, but it yelped, startled. One ran right underneath Anasha, yapping loudly. Then chaos broke out. The mare squealed and reared back, jarring Gianne's arm and ripping her right off the ground at least two feet. She let go and landed a few feet away, blinking in confusion up at the horse and the boy clinging desperately to the saddle. His instincts worked in his favor at first. He leaned forward in the saddle, clinging to the reigns, pommel, and mane. Anasha pivoted on her hind legs and dropped back to all fours, springing away in a fast lope even before her front legs had touched the ground. Awkwardly, Gianne scrambled to her feet, wincing as she took the first few steps. She'd landed on her knee wrong. Will was making a valiant effort to hang on; but he was bouncing all around in the saddle, his feet having come out of the stirrups. Already Anasha was slowing to a steady canter, then a fast trot, and finally, she stopped. Gianne jogged over to meet them with a slight limp, quickly grabbing the mare's free-swinging reigns. "Will? Are you okay?" Her voice was a little higher in pitch than usual. He seemed to be fine, except very pale and very tense. His knuckles were white from the grip he had on the pommel in front of him. He didn't speak, only nodded. It upset her to have to say this next part, but it was a part of riding. "I'm sorry this happened your first ride. I know you must be scared. But I can't let you out of the saddle quite yet." The sharp look he gave her spoke of his surprise and displeasure clearer than any words he could have used. She smiled apologetically, patting his foot gently. "If you get off now, scared and resentful, you'll never get back in the saddle. I'm not going to make you steer her around, I'll just lead you two for a while until you relax again." He struggled with himself a few long moments, but finally his shoulders sagged and he nodded. "Okay," he complied meekly. She smiled encouragingly and continued, "Anasha has already calmed down, there's nothing be afraid of. This wouldn't have happened if those dogs hadn't shown up." They could still hear the sounds barking in other area of the Sanctuary, though the sound was much fainter. Gianne handed him the reigns and he held them like they were venomous snakes about to bite. "It's fine," she murmured encouragingly, and not just to Will. She took hold of the mare's bridle once more and led her a few steps. The boy barely moved at all on her back he was so tense. She smiled and started leading again. Anasha clopped along next to and slightly behind her, head down and ears twisting this way and that. It really didn't take long for Will to relax again. Gianne would glance behind her occasionally as they meandered through the Sanctuary, passing other workers and animals. It was her intention to take him through the complex, and it worked. The good feelings that seemed to radiate from the smiling people and happy animals seemed to give him a better level of confidence. She did notice though that when they passed a dog, he paled again and made a show of looking straight ahead. Once back where they started she let go of the bridle and backed away, giving the two space. Will beamed, and without any urging from his teacher, nudged the mare into a walk. Gianne smile toothily and clapped as they made a wide circle around her. Anasha flicked an ear at her as if to say, "What did you expect? We're naturals."

[Gianne Basete]

She was trying not to let it show, but she was overwhelmed with relief. She'd been afraid he would be too terrified to ever ride again, since this was his first time and he'd had a pretty scary experience. She couldn't say she ever had any problems her first couple of rides. Gianne had gotten really comfortable at a walk and trot before she'd ever fallen off. Poor kid. At least he hadn't actually fallen, that made it better. "I think you've got a lot of potential, Will," she said with conviction. He seemed startled by her words, then flushed and smiled, ducking his head in thanks. After all, he'd had quite the little rodeo. Her reigned Anasha in, a little awkwardly, next to his teacher. "I want you to come back again as soon as you can and I'll get you back in the saddle. Dismount." She motioned to the ground and stepped back to give him room. Didn't want a swinging foot to catch her in the face. "You lead her. Follow me." Gianne led him to the paddocks where a lot of the other horses were enjoying the warm sun. Several nickered a greeting, either to her or Anasha she didn't know. She showed him how to properly tether a horse with a release knot, and instructed him in unsaddling. She pointed out the different straps and what came first. Back cinch, breast collar, girth. "What's that?" he asked, touching some rings set into the back of the saddle behind the cantle. Gianne smiled and hoisted the saddle off Anasha's back, holding the blanket underneath it. "Those help hold the saddle bags down. Sometimes they are rings and sometimes they're strings instead. I prefer strings." "Why?" he inquired, all questions now. "Don't know, really. I just do." There was a grooming kit lying next to the wall filled with an assortment of brushes, rags, and combs. She's set it here before Will arrived. She almost always groomed a horse after riding it, or even lunging it. Especially since it was so warm out. "I want you to groom her down while I go put the tack up. And don't worry, there's really not a wrong way to brush a horse. She'll be your best friend forever after this." She laughed and went to go put the equipment away, smiling crookedly to herself when she heard him start to talk to the mare when he thought Gianne was out of earshot. The rasp of a stiff bristled brush accompanied his bubbly voice. When she returned, Anasha was gleaming like a bar of gold. He'd been extremely thorough, even going as far as brushing out her mane and tail. She nodded to herself, appraising his work. "I didn't expect you to do so well," she said with a smile. He frowned a little, suddenly confused. "I thought you said there wasn't a wrong way to brush a horse?" Gianne didn't answer, but only smiled wider. Let him wonder. "Okay!" she said after a few moments. "Go ahead and let her into the paddock, I'm sure she hates our guts after today." She gave the mare's shining hindquarters an affectionate pat. Once everything was done, she picked up the grooming kit. "Well, Will... I think that's all for today. I have to say you did splendidly today. Even though there was a bit of mishap. That happens though when you're working with horses. Just within the past few weeks I think I've fallen out of the saddle at least two or three times." He smiled and ducked his head modestly. "Go get yourself some refreshments. I want you back here as soon you're allowed. There's a lot of work to be done." Gianne smiled fondly at him, then ruffled his already tousled hair. "Go on, get! Before I have you muck out the paddocks and feed the birds. Both very messy jobs." Will beamed at her for a long moment before turning and jogging off to find a meal. He disappeared around a building and Gianne sighed. Never a dull moment at the Sanctuary. Now it was time to put these brushes up, go check on the hounds, and help move some building materials. Work, work, and more work! But she loved it.

[Gossamer]

Character: Gianne
Experience: +4 Teaching, +3 Leadership
Lore: Assessing a students strengths and weaknesses. Reassuring a fearful student. Lightening the mood. Encouraging a new student. Keeping calm in the face of an emergency. Helping a student through emergency situations. Giving clear commands.

Additional Note: Very good example of a job thread. You did very well. It’s nice using NPCs. Perhaps in future threads you can persuade PCs in RF to take lessons from you. The interaction always makes the thread less boring or tedious for you the writer. Otherwise, very good job. If you would have handled the horse more or did more demonstration, I could have given you riding/horsemanship as well.