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Spring started to take hold on the Angelus Estate and it got rapidly warmer as the damp chill of winter seeped into a memory. The Junither horses took great joy in wandering freely, putting leaves on the trees and celebrating the sunshine. It made the Estate look more like summer than spring, but the nip on the air as the wind rushed across the fields gave it away.

Still, there was a small stretch of bizarrely warm days and the horses and staff made the most of it with long hacks, relaxing sessions in the paddocks, and gentle exercise in the schools. Michael watched a scene unfold from Ace's back as they strolled towards the new manège that had been set up behind the stallion stable block, near the vet building, and the sun started to sink to the horizon. Chase and Michelle were riding Andromeda and Piccy behind a small herd of Junither horses, guiding them back towards the Octagon across the paddocks as they left a trail of spring wild flowers and leafy trees in their wake.

They were allowed to roam as they wished, into empty paddocks and the woodland. It was the best way to keep them happy. They were so well mannered that they didn't even bother the other horses. All they cared about was nature. With the new warm weather, they were relishing the new born animals and the budding flowers, helping Spring along with their powers.

It was probably one of the most fascinating things Michael had seen since he came to Angelus. The Spirit Horses were unusual as a whole, but watching the way the Junither horses behaved and were handled was certainly a learning curve.

There was a lot to enjoy about working at Angelus. One of the biggest pleasures was Somesmera's rather large herd of Peafowl Friesians that his own horses had happily merged with. He was yet to try riding and interacting with them all, but watching them in the fields was a joy. Ace was certainly more relaxed since he had started being around even more of his kind. Michael could feel the change in his pace and the way he carried himself.

A figure was coming towards them on the path, rolling along pretty smoothly, and Michael lifted a hand in greeting. “Hey,” he called to Lee as he rode Ace over and then halted in front of him. “You been checking on the mares?” Lee nodded and let the wheelchair roll to a halt, resting his hands in his lap.

“Yeah. Somesmera's got quite a few dropping, bagging up, looks like we've got some action coming,” he said as he fished in his pocket and produced a slice of carrot for Ace, who quickly snuffled it up. “Are you covering Vamp this year?”

“I'm thinking about it. It'd be her second.” Michael shrugged and leaned his arms and Ace's neck. Somesmera had a wide collection of Peafrie's to choose from for a covering, but Vamp was his little baby girl and finding the right stallion was hard.

“I think she'd make a pretty nice foal, if you can decide on the right guy,” Lee said with a laugh, wheeling himself to one side to give Ace more room. “I won't keep you. You better get practising for that competition.” In just a week Michael was taking three of his stallions to a local dressage competition. It was his first outing on Firelight's team.

“Yeah, but I think we should be good. Ace is doing well now. I'll catch up with you later on the night rounds.”

Lee offered a small wave as Michael straightened up and nudged Ace forwards. As he rode on and into the school, he glanced back at Lee's retreating back, strong arms pushing at the wheels with ease. He had come a long way. When Michael had arrived there had been hardly any energy in the other man, and hardly a will to do anything. Now he seemed more productive, getting back on the job as much as he could. Still, whenever getting back on a horse was mentioned he could clam up.

He could, if he wanted. There were ways for disabled people to still ride, of course. It seemed like a sore topic, however, and no one but Aisha seemed to push it any more. Michael pulled his mind back to the task at hand and leaned down to shut the school gate before starting to warm Ace up, enjoying the fluid motion beneath him that made him feel like he was gliding through the air.

Story & Art © mapal

Description

FLS Straight Flush

Previous | Next
STORY

Spring started to take hold on the Angelus Estate and it got rapidly warmer as the damp chill of winter seeped into a memory. The Junither horses took great joy in wandering freely, putting leaves on the trees and celebrating the sunshine. It made the Estate look more like summer than spring, but the nip on the air as the wind rushed across the fields gave it away.

Still, there was a small stretch of bizarrely warm days and the horses and staff made the most of it with long hacks, relaxing sessions in the paddocks, and gentle exercise in the schools. Michael watched a scene unfold from Ace's back as they strolled towards the new manège that had been set up behind the stallion stable block, near the vet building, and the sun started to sink to the horizon. Chase and Michelle were riding Andromeda and Piccy behind a small herd of Junither horses, guiding them back towards the Octagon across the paddocks as they left a trail of spring wild flowers and leafy trees in their wake.

They were allowed to roam as they wished, into empty paddocks and the woodland. It was the best way to keep them happy. They were so well mannered that they didn't even bother the other horses. All they cared about was nature. With the new warm weather, they were relishing the new born animals and the budding flowers, helping Spring along with their powers.

It was probably one of the most fascinating things Michael had seen since he came to Angelus. The Spirit Horses were unusual as a whole, but watching the way the Junither horses behaved and were handled was certainly a learning curve.

There was a lot to enjoy about working at Angelus. One of the biggest pleasures was Somesmera's rather large herd of Peafowl Friesians that his own horses had happily merged with. He was yet to try riding and interacting with them all, but watching them in the fields was a joy. Ace was certainly more relaxed since he had started being around even more of his kind. Michael could feel the change in his pace and the way he carried himself.

A figure was coming towards them on the path, rolling along pretty smoothly, and Michael lifted a hand in greeting. “Hey,” he called to Lee as he rode Ace over and then halted in front of him. “You been checking on the mares?” Lee nodded and let the wheelchair roll to a halt, resting his hands in his lap.

“Yeah. Somesmera's got quite a few dropping, bagging up, looks like we've got some action coming,” he said as he fished in his pocket and produced a slice of carrot for Ace, who quickly snuffled it up. “Are you covering Vamp this year?”

“I'm thinking about it. It'd be her second.” Michael shrugged and leaned his arms and Ace's neck. Somesmera had a wide collection of Peafrie's to choose from for a covering, but Vamp was his little baby girl and finding the right stallion was hard.

“I think she'd make a pretty nice foal, if you can decide on the right guy,” Lee said with a laugh, wheeling himself to one side to give Ace more room. “I won't keep you. You better get practising for that competition.” In just a week Michael was taking three of his stallions to a local dressage competition. It was his first outing on Firelight's team.

“Yeah, but I think we should be good. Ace is doing well now. I'll catch up with you later on the night rounds.”

Lee offered a small wave as Michael straightened up and nudged Ace forwards. As he rode on and into the school, he glanced back at Lee's retreating back, strong arms pushing at the wheels with ease. He had come a long way. When Michael had arrived there had been hardly any energy in the other man, and hardly a will to do anything. Now he seemed more productive, getting back on the job as much as he could. Still, whenever getting back on a horse was mentioned he could clam up.

He could, if he wanted. There were ways for disabled people to still ride, of course. It seemed like a sore topic, however, and no one but Aisha seemed to push it any more. Michael pulled his mind back to the task at hand and leaned down to shut the school gate before starting to warm Ace up, enjoying the fluid motion beneath him that made him feel like he was gliding through the air.

Story & Art © mapal