11th, Fall, 514 AV
"This is everything you'll need," Hannah explained carefully as she handed him the bucket of grooming tools. William was nervous and his new boss could see it written plainly on his face. He'd never handled a horse before, not even to pet one. His father knew the basics, but Will always blamed the animal he'd been riding the winter he died for his death, and so he was wary of the giant beasts. How he'd landed this job of all things he still wasn't sure. He hefted the bucket and peered inside, then jumped slightly when Hannah plucked it from his fingers.
"Here, let me show you." The girl procured from inside what looked like a metal circle with tiny teeth.
"This is called a curry comb. It scrapes a lot of the tougher dirt, mud, and muck off of their bodies. You have to be careful though, especially around their legs where the skin is thinner. These teeth can hurt them if you don't watch what you're doing." She rummaged inside for another brush. This one had bristles that looked almost like horse hair. It looked like something he'd use to scrub his floors.
"Bristle brush," Hannah continued. "You'll use this one the most. It will pull up dead hair and dust from their coat, and you don't have to worry about harming their skin with this one. Gives them a good shine, too."
"Doesn't seem all that hard. What else is there?" he asked, and Hannah concluded her explanation with a few more tools.
"Hoof pick to clean the hooves of course. Come and get me before you use this though because you can harm their feet if you do it wrong. Then you can use this comb to work on the mane and tail. Treat it like your hair, it's no different. All clear?"
William let out a heavy sigh and Hannah smiled, handing him the bucket.
"You'll do just fine. If you have any questions come get me," she assured confidently.
"Right."
And so he was left alone with the dirty bay mare in front of him. She was fresh off the road. Someone had sold her for extra coin, saddled and all. She still had sweat between her legs and on her back. Will set down the bucket and moved around to her head, lips pursed and fingers flexing nervously. One ear slowly followed him around while the other swished lazily, listening to other intriguing noises in the distance. They stood staring at each other for a few chimes before the mare finally mare the first move.
Curiously, she stretched out her neck and sniffed him experimentally. As skittish as an horse could be, Will leaned away from her approach and took a half-step back, fearing some kind of attack. Who knew what was really going on in that massive head? But she just watched him calmly, big brown eyes like soft pools, with her funny looking pupils and long, sad face. And he watched her back, waiting for any sign of aggression. A lunge, an annoyed flick of her tail, or a stamping hoof, but there was nothing.
When the mare moved in to nose him again, Will tensed but stood his ground. Her lips touched his chest, wiggling against his shirt and up his shoulder to the collar of his jacket. She nibbled it experimentally and gave it a tug, pulling him sideways. He stumbled and caught his balance with both hands braced on her neck before he realized where and what he was grabbing. He froze nervously in place, afraid his touch might spook or anger her. Still, she stood patiently.
Another sigh escaped him, this time one of relief.
