Closed Saddles in Spring (Olaf)

[Letixia Raigner]

Spring 6th, 514 Leti was a bit nervous as she made her way toward the Windmount stables. She knew all squires had to learn how to ride in order to become a Knight. But up until now, most of her training was the extreme basics of her weapons and studies. She'd never been on a horse in her life, and had rarely even been near them. And now she was to spend the entire day around them. In fact much of her Spring was apparently to be dedicated toward this and her archery, since they were so far behind her sword and shield play. Her training would be considered complete when she could shoot from her horse. She had finally reached the pastures, and saw many a horse and person out and about. She saw the three barns, and made her way over to the first barn. She didn't know who was in charge of training, nor where to go. As she entered the large building, she saw tons of stalls and workers abound within. She looked around for someone who didn't appear to be too busy. Leti's eyes fell on a rather unkempt fellow doing... something. She wasn't quite sure as to what, but she assumed it had to do with horses. She walked over to him, "Um.. Hello. I'm looking for someone to help teach me about horses... I've never really been around them, ever. Could you perhaps point me in the way of someone who could help?"

[Olaf]

The unkempt fellow in question had been cleaning a bunch of blankets that usually went underneath the saddle to keep it from chafing. After a ride with a horse the usually those blankets were usually wet from the sweat of the horse and then somebody had to clean them before the knights or riders began to complain from the smell. Usually that smelly job ended up on his shoulders one way or another. He looked up from his tub filled with soapy water and the blankets as he heard somebody talk. He gave the older and taller woman an unsure look before looking around. yep, she definitely was looking at him. So she probably was talking to him as well. "Eh, well. everybody who works here can help you with that." He nervously began, scratching his fiery red hair. "I can help you if you want. I'm not an expert, or even very competent. But I can ride a calm horse a few times around the yard." He offered. "But if you don't want to. I guess some of the more experienced riders are going to be free in a while. You'll have to wait a bell or two though." As he waited he continued scrubbing the last blanket in the sop. Though now it was more then clean and he just was using at something to keep himself from making a fool from himself really.

[Letixia Raigner]

She smiled the moment he'd offered to teach her a little bit about all of this. But her patron had always insisted that one must learn to take care of their feet feet before they can walk. "You're not too busy right? I don't want to get in your way, but I think I'd rather you than someone else. I... just have a good feeling about you." The fact that he'd been washing what appeared to be a blanket for a good little while now suggested he was nearly done. She crouched down next to him, "Perhaps we could start with the extreme basics? I know nothing about horses. I don't know how to take care of them, what they eat, anything. You could show me how to take care of one and I could help you do whatever you do here. Baby steps, right?" She grabbed the scrub brush from his hand and began scrubbing the blanket, trying to mimic the motion she'd watched him use. "I am a quick learner after all. Just tell me what to do." Then she blushed slightly, "I've forgotten my manners. My name is Letixia Raigner, squire to Ser Ranqor Grayne. Thank you for offering to help teach me. What's your name?"

[Olaf]

When the woman claimed to have a good feeling about him he gave a strange look for a few moments before shrugging. "That's a first." he muttered. Taking a small step backwards as the woman suddenly burst into action. Talking about wanting to learn how to take care of horses taking the brush out of his hands and taking over his work without even asking. He didn't know it if was just him. But he thought that was rude. He hadn't seen others just take things out of somebody elses hands at least. "How about giving my tools back?" He meekly spoke up. "I mean, those blankets are clean already and just have to be hung to dry. I'm not going to have you wash stuff around here if you just want to learn." he held out his hand for the brush. Hoping that she gave it back and that he didn't accidentally offended her somehow. That usually happened quite a bit. "I'm olaf. Just Olaf of nowhere in particular I guess. Nice meeting you." He gave her an awkward smile. Still not sure how to deal with this rather active squire. "Anyway. Just let me get those blankets hung up to dry and I'll walk you through how to saddle and get on a horse. Start nice and easy. We got an easygoing stallion for beginners to ride. Really mellow one." Olaf hung the blankets up to dry on a few lines hung over the place he had been washing in. Dumping his bucket of soapy water out of the window. "Just follow me." asked the woman. waiting till she agreed before he walked of towards another stable. "How you going Igor." He greeted the grey stallion inside. The stallion calmly walked over and gave him a nuzzle. Sniffing around his chest. Olaf just let out a slight chuckle. "Sorry. Don't have any treats with me at the moment." He petted the stallion a bit. Turning back towards the woman. "Just come over and introduce yourself to him. Don't worry, he is a calm one." He took a few steps to the side. Letting letexia come over. "Just be gentile and calm and he'll be the same to you."

[Letixia Raigner]

Leti immediately realized that she had disturbed the man's work. She quickly exclaimed, after he explained about the blankets, "I'm sorry, I'm really nervous about all of this, and I have a bad habit about trying to work when I'm nervous. And I ramble a lot, I just won't stop talking... just like I am now. Sorry." She hurriedly handed back his brush. Leti was red in the face, normally she was never awkward or embarrassed around people. And in all reality, she still wasn't. She was just awkward around these massive animals. Leti silently followed her new found instructor, staying quiet and doing nothing extraneous for fear of him refusing to teach her further. He led her over to a large, grey horse, whose name was apparently Igor. Leti hadn't realized that she'd stopped a good bit away from the horse, nowhere near it. Olaf seemed to be handling it just fine. She heard Olaf's soothing words, and slowly took a single step forward. It was fine, it wouldn't hurt her, even if she was still nervous. Her palms were sweaty, but she managed to take another step forward, staring at the animal's eyes. Her feet moved a little quicker now, step after step, until she somehow found herself right next to Olaf. She didn't really know what to do now. "Um... Hello there Igor." She then, much to her own surprise, found her hand reaching out toward the animal. Her hand inched ever closer until it rested atop the horse's snout, a few inches below its eyes. Nervously smiling, "You're not so bad huh?"

[Olaf]

Olaf let out an awkward chuckle. Not really knowing what else to do. "It's not a problem, really." He just said. He easily saw her nervousness when she was handeling the horse. igor however was happy enough to get to know a new person. Leaning into her hand a bit. "He isn't. One of the nicest stalions we have. It's why we use him. Still, you shouldn't be nervous when walking up to an animal you don't know. Or at least not it show as much. If they know you're nervous they'll get nervous and weary. You don't want to spook a horse you don't know. Acidents happen when horses get spooked." From a nearby shelf he took a set of reigns,a bridle, a pad, a blanket and a saddle. "Anyway. I'm gonna saddle him now. I'll talk myself through it. Just pay attention and try to calm yourself down. After that we'll go outside and get you on him." Olaf explained. He put the bridle and reigns on igor. and tied them to a nearby pole. "When sadling your horse always start with tying him to a secure spot. Keeps him from wandering off." He started, taking the brush out of his pocket and gentilly brushed his back and flanks down. "After that, you brush the parts where the saddle's gonna be. Makes sure there isn't something in between it and the horse that can hurt it while riding." after thoroughly brushing the horse he put the brush back in his pocket and took the pad. "this is the pad. It's just a bunch of thick fabric to give it some protection from the heavy saddle. Makes it less bad for the horse's back." He put the pad on the horse's back. making sure there weren't any wrinkles and that it was at the right place before taking the blanket and putting that on. "With the blanket, always make sure there aren't any wrinkles and that both sides of it are even. Otherwise the horse has problems with it." He then took the saddle and put it on the horses back. "When putting the saddle on. Make sure it's on the pad and not just the blanket. Also check if the blanket isn't bunched up underneath the saddle. That can leave sore spots on the horse." He checked that and then chinched close the belts of the saddle. "The rest isn't hard, just check that the saddle isn't to loose or to tight. Some ornery horses hold their breath so the saddle is loose. Just walk a bit with them before getting on and check again if it's not too lose." Olaf unltied the reigns from the pole and held them in his hand. Opening up the door of igor's stable. "So lets go outside and get you on then?" He asked letixia as he lead igor out of his stable.

[Letixia Raigner]

Leti found it quite strange that an animal such as a horse could not only tell when she was nervous, but would in turn get nervous or even scared. Was that because of how much horses relied on people? Or because of some other unspoken relationship? Leti realized that by showing her nervousness she was both disrespecting the horse and harming it, albeit not physically. She tried to calm herself some more, for the sake of the horse at least. Her instructor grabbed a bar with leather straps connecting to them, calling them the bridle and reins. She watched him slip the bridle into the horse's mouth, followed by the straps moving over the horse's ears, one at a time. She watched him tie him to a pole, and her curiosity came forth. "What sort of knot do you use for that? I don't quite recognize it." She watched him brush down the horse, something similar to what she did to herself when she had to wear a helmet with her armor. It was rare though, she hated the confines of the helmets. They restricted her vision and were boiling hot inside. "Is there a particular spot where you want to place the pad, blanket, and saddle on a horse? Or just anywhere on its back?" She continued to listen to his instructions, making a mental note to try it herself later. Olaf then untied Igor and led him outside, Leti following right behind, nodding at his offer. Now was the time to step up or get out. If she could get on this horse, survive, learn to like it, learn to love it, then she would be one step closer to becoming a Knight. If not, she'd never make it. She used that to bolster her courage, stepping a bit more confidently alongside her instructor.

[Olaf]

"there isn't really a knot. Just use one that can handle a it of stress. Olaf here is nice but some horses pull and thug. Especially if it's their first time." He just responded. "As for where to put the saddle. Just put it where their neck meets their back. He patted the spot. "The saddle is shaped so it fits there so it's easy to spot." He gave the grey horse a rub behind the ear. Igor let out a satisfied whinny which brought a smile on the meek boy's face. When they were outside he put his attention back on letixia and motioned for her to come stand beside her. "When you go ride you first check the girdle." He pointed at the leather bands holding the saddle on igor. "Isn't to tight. I know I already said that. But it's very important, running or doing such things when your belt is very tight isn't fun for us, nor is it very fun for a horse. We're already letting them do most of the work when we ride a horse. So we need to put a lot of care to make sure they aren't getting too strained right?" He said with an awkward chuckle,as he turned away and did just that, once again feeling the nerves creep into him when talking to a person. "Usually two fingers is enough. After that we check the lenght of the stirrups. Put your hand on the saddle." He did so. "and see if the stirrup comes too your armpit. If you lift them." He showed it, the stirrup didn't come near it. "If it doesn't, you gotta adjust it. It's a rough method. But its usually better to get a rough idea how long your stirrups have to be before you get on. It's harder to adjust large measures of them when on the horse." He said as he showed her how to adjust the leather straps of the stirrup. He stepped aside, standing near igor's head. "why don't you do that now? Just like I sowed ya?"

[Letixia Raigner]

Now that he was teaching her more about equipment instead of how to interact with the horse, she was absorbing the information a bit better. She was making a mental checklist, and continued to add to it and run through it. First put in the bit and reins, then begin saddling. Brush down the fur, put on the pad, put on the blanket, put on the saddle. Adjust the girdle, adjust the stirrups. Seemed simple enough, if she could go about putting on her full armor every day, she could manage this. She'd learned the hard way of what could happen if you improperly wore your armor. She stepped up next to the horse, just as Olaf had shown her. She patted it gently, not sure if she was trying to relax the horse or herself, though likely the latter. She put her right hand on the saddle, and the stirrup was nowhere near her armpit. This didn't surprise her though, she was taller than him after all. Her fingers then found the straps and slowly, clumsily began adjusting them. The first time around, she'd done it the wrong way, making them longer, rather than shortening them to her arm pit. Finally she got it just about right, and also used this time to check the straps using the two finger method he'd shown her. Learning by doing was always her preferred method. She continued inspecting everything about the saddle and reins that she could. Lightly tugging at straps, checking the positions compared to others, she even noticed that the bit settled in a little space between the horse's teeth. She pointed at this, "Is this gap in the teeth natural, or are the teeth pulled for this?" She hoped it was the former, for the latter just seemed cruel. After she was content with her meager inspection, she looked back to Olaf for further instruction.

[Olaf]

"Gap in the teeth what are you talking about? Igor didn't have any gaps in between his teeth last time I checked. Oh dira." olaf's tone wasn't just nervous anymore, but he sounded downright scared. He lightly grabbed Igor's head and put a bit of pressure on the horses cheek. "Come on Igor. Open your mouth so I can see." The horse working with and opening his mouth so olaf could do his job. He carefully inspected the horses teeth. "I don't see anything, you sure you saw right.." then the pieces of what she said and what he was seeing clicked together in his mind and he let out a sigh of relief. Releasing Igor's cheeks and letting the horse close it's mouth. Giving it a few reassuring pats on the head. "Oh those gaps." He said, embarrassed over his overreaction. "Yeah those are natural. Horses are herbivores, so they don't need anything but front and back teeth to chew their food. Unlike us. So they don't grow em. Coupled with their long skull it ends up creating those gaps. You really scared me when you told something was wrong with Igor's teeth though. Horses with bad teeth can't graze anymore, or eat very well anymore. So if something really bad happens to a horses teeth we have to put it down. else they starve to death." He awkwardly shuffled his feet. Trying to find a way to slide back to the lesson and away form this morbid topic. He never minded talking about death, he dealt with dead people every few day's these day's. More when he was younger, but other people usually didn't like talking about such things. "So, if you're getting on a horse. It's not that hard really. Put your foot in the stirrups. Loosly hold the reigns so you don't have to reach over for them. Though make sure not to tug on it, otherwise the horse starts walking. Grab the horn of the saddle and swing yourself on the horse." He hadn't found a way to smoothly go back to the lesson. So he just opted to brute force it instead of standing around with an awkward silence. "Got it? It's your turn. Don't worry about the reign's. I'll hold them and igor in place you're a beginner. Also remember, when you're in the saddle sit straight, don't slump over!" He said as he dismounted and stepped back to the horse's head. Giving Letixia space to try and mount the horse.