Ramona

Svea's gaze travelled over the field as she approached a nearby group of ponies when, unexpectedly, a gentle nicker from a mare drew her attention. This sound came from a pony that seemed unbothered by the wind or the other ponies surrounding her. Svea paused for a moment, taking note of how the mare raised her head, with her ears pricked forward in interest and calm eyes that indicated she was no stranger to visitors. This Teddy Cob was taller than the rest she had previously checked on, standing at 135 cm. Her coat was a striking dark seal bay, complemented by a distinctive white belly band.

 

Carefully, Svea moved closer to avoid alarming the mare, who greeted her with a curious nudge as she extended her head to sniff at Svea's clothing. The mare’s large brown eyes blinked, and then, as if she was evaluating whether or not to engage, she gave Svea's chest a light bump, signalling her desire for some attention.

 

“Hello there, pretty girl,” Svea said gently, chuckling as she reached out her hand.

 

The mare nudged her gently in return, and Svea began to stroke her neck, her fingers gliding through the thick, silky coat and the long mane. She could feel the pony’s warmth and steady breathing beneath her fingers.

 

"That one is named Ramona," called out the worker she had spoken to before, "she really is a sweetheart!"

 

"Ramona..." Svea repeated with a tender smile, observing how the mare flicked her ears back and forth.

 

As Svea continued to work her fingers through Ramona’s mane, she noticed that, despite its length and wild appearance, it was surprisingly well-kept for having been in the wild for so long. It shone and felt smooth, and Svea knew it would braid nicely. Reaching into her pocket, she grabbed a green bell ribbon and could already imagine how beautiful it would look against Ramona’s dark coat. The mare stood patiently, her head slightly tilted, as Svea gently braided the ribbon in, pulling it to ensure it wouldn’t fall out. After finishing the braid, she tied it off with the ribbon and let go of the bell.

 

“That’s it,” Svea whispered. “Perfect.”

 

Stepping back, she admired her handiwork. Just as she had imagined, the bell ribbon popped against Ramona’s dark coat, prompting a satisfied smile from Svea.

 

“Now, don’t let that ribbon come loose,” she joked, reaching up to gently scratch behind the mare’s ears.

 

Ramona leaned her head into Svea’s chest again, clearly asking for more affection, which Svea happily provided by offering her some carrots from her pocket and some scratches. She laughed softly, unable to resist the mare’s charming behaviour.

 

“You would definitely make a perfect companion,” Svea remarked, smiling as the pony stood quietly beside her. “Alright, now I should head back before Estrid starts wondering where I went."

 

As she turned to walk back to the car, Svea heard a soft sound behind her; the faint chime of a bell. Turning around, she spotted Ramona standing with her head lowered, the green ribbon still in place, the little bell swaying gently with the breeze.