Bringing Home a Colt

Lani took a deep breath as he brushed out Magnolia. He gently scratched at her neck. He was anxious, and Spaghetti and Magnolia could tell. He'd been waiting with his mares for around three days, constantly out in the pasture and walking around with them. He was brushing the mare gently. Spaghetti was off first, perking as his father approached, something leading behind him. Lani almost squealed. He dropped the brush, Magnolia raising her head, curious what had her handler in such a tizzy. 

 

Spaghetti released a small squeal at the sound Lani made, not quite a squeal, but a high-pitched squeak. The mare immediately raced off towards their shelter. Magnolia, on the other hand, calmly trotted after Lani as he ran to the gate. Lani shoved himself over the gate, just like Yin've he launched himself over fences and gate. Magnolia slowed to a walk as she approached the gate, the young colt across the line trotted behind a very excited Yin've. Sammy was new, and Magnolia was tossing her head a few times. He was a yearling, something that she was not used to. Spaghetti had been brought as a spry two-year-old, yes, she had been here for a few months now, but she'd never met a yearling. He was gangly but bright and bouncy. He wanted to play as soon as he saw Magnolia and Spaghetti. 

 

"The ribbon stayed?!" Lani almost cried out, tears starting to go down his face as he rushed towards the spooky colt, who drew back, stepping away from Lani as the boy rushed to look at the ribbon. The ribbon was still braided, loose, but there. Lani gently started to scratch at Sammy, the stallion finally starting to calm down a bit, stepping away a bit before starting to stand and let Lani rub and pet him. Sammy shifted some, leaning into the scratching and affection; he snorted quietly. Sammy stepped closer to Lani as the boy rushed to snag the ribbon out, being as gentle and fast as he could. He wanted to frame it; it was his first ribboned horse! He laughed quietly, smiling more. 

 

"Can we put him in with Magnolia and Spaghetti? Do you think he'd mind that?" Lani asked brightly, looking up at Yin've for a moment. The man snorted. He nodded some, reaching to pull open the gate, letting Lani take the lead rope as the boy basically vibrated with excitement. Yin've shoved the gate open, waving Magnolia to step away, while he didn't expect the mare to run out, he didn't want her to get Spaghetti too close, knowing the younger one loved to try to escape. 

 

"Yes, he's still a bit young, so he shouldn't breed either of them." Yin've cooed out happily, "and we don't really have anywhere else for him, they're both pretty calm, so I'm hoping we don't have any fights." Yin've breathed out, sighing quietly as the horses just sniffed at each other, curious. They'd yet to meet, and they had been building the fencing, but it was a surprise that the stallion was brought back home so fast. Magnolia was their babysitter, and Spaghetti was still a baby. 

 

Lani happily nodded, trotting in, bouncing some as he moved to let Sammy follow him into the paddock. Sammy was quick to trot after Lani, bouncing some as he passed by the gate. The sound it made as Yin've held it, a soft squeal, earned a confused and jolty response from the colt. Magnolia tossed her head, snorting quietly as she walked towards the two, Sammy having the halter on, not wanting to risk him getting too excited. 

 

"Good boy," Yin've cooed, "you're safe, just the gate, I promise." The avian tried to comfort, tried to ease him. Lani snorted quietly, smiling as he reached to gently pull the halter down closer, to scratch at the boy's face. Sammy perked his ears, his body tensing slightly before he lowered his head slightly to snuggle into the scratches. Sammy released a low-sounding snort as he shoved his body against the avian, glad to get as many snuggles and scratches as he could. He looked over some as Magnolia approached, his body tensing as the sound of the gate caught him off guard. Yin've tried not to laugh, casually going out with the gate's closing, wanting to give his sons and his mares a chance with the stud colt.

 

Lani laughed quietly, continuing to scratch at the stallion. He glanced as Magnolia stepped closer, her ears flicking forward, sniffing at him curiously. Spaghetti was still hiding off towards the outdoor shelter they had, the black mare lowering her head and releasing a loud snort before whining at the new colt. Magnolia didn't look over towards her, stepping closer to continue sniffing at Sammy. Sammy raised his head, tossing it slightly before releasing a soft snort at Magnolia. Lani let go of his halter for a moment before reaching up, gently whistling. 

 

"Back, Magnolia, back it," Lani gently demanded, his voice hard. Magnolia raised her head for a moment before she snorted loudly, moving to step away from them. Magnolia was glad to give them space, make sure that the stallion had some space after he was initally released, she lived with Spaghetti, used to the mare sending herself across the pasture the moment she had her halter off, but Sammy didn't, Sammy stood still for a moment, releasing a soft nicker as Lani headed towards the gate, moving to give Yin've the halter and lead rope, the calmness meant he had some confidence it would go well, settling himself down on the other side the moment he felt comfortable enough to do so.

 

Sammy...just stood and stared, his ears perked up as he stared down the other creatures. The two avians were watching. Sammy snorted quietly, turning back towards a very curious Magnolia. Magnolia raised her head for a moment, stomping her foot before approaching Sammy, the colt was still not fully grown, around half of the mare's size. Sammy stepped back, quietly releasing a snort. Magnolia shoved her nose gently against the colt, sniffing before releasing a small nicker. Sammy immediately started clacking at the mare, stepping back and away. His body is a bit tense. Spaghetti raised her head, staring at them, before moving towards them. 

 

Magnolia let out a loud squeal as Spaghetti got close, immediately rushing to step between the two horses, stomping her foot with another squeal, then turning quickly to put her butt towards Spaghetti. The young mare released a loud snort, taking a bite at Magnolia's butt before she got kicked at. Spaghetti rushed back and away. 

 

Sammy froze up at the scene before him, staring at Magnolia for a moment before the mare turned back, the colt immediately started aggressively clacking again, his ears perked up. 

 

Magnolia snorted gently, shifting to start walking towards their waterer, pausing as she waited for the gangly yearly to follow after her. 

 

"I think everything's going well!" Lani chirped after getting quiet, watching Magnolia kick at and shove Spaghetti away. 

 

"I think it'll be fine, thank goodness Magnolia is a good motherly mare, it'll be hell getting foals out of any of them."

 

"Don't say that! It'll work... I wanna show off my colt and then my babies. I know it'll go well." Lani breathed, smiling some.