Chapters <--- --- --->
Summary
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I had been tasked to house and care for a herd of very small Horses. I had found the news quite exciting, as I had been reading the letter.
Checking up, on the size and needs of these Horses; I had instantly ordered a set of Dog houses, as silly as it may sound, to the uninitiated. I had also acquired the regular set of equipment I will need to house and care for my new friends.
Furthermore; I had hastily initiated the preparation, for the ground where the Horses were to live and spend most of their time.
I had ordered the lot excavated; in order to be able to prepare everything, to the best of my abilities. From there; I had spread Gravel to the depth of a foot, whereupon I had spread three inches of sand over the gravel to drain the ground. With that out of the way; I had spread a foot of earth over the sand; aside from where I place the Dog houses, where I replace the earth with peat for comfort.
I had also applied the gravel over the entrance to the pastures, in order to ascertain the entrance stays dry; both for my own comfort, and for the comfort of all the Horses. Trotting over mud is not fun, but rather a health issue in the long run.
Naturally; I have sand where I intend to feed them Hay, in the cold season. You don’t want to make the hay expire prematurely, after all. I had also dug a hole, in which to place a regular bath tub the Horse could drink from; only to draw water, in order to be able to keep the tub full at all times.
Each Horse will have a Salt Lick in their respective Dog house (or shelter), aside from the Salt lick I had placed in the larger wind shelter, of course.
I had planted a few trees along the line I intend to use for fence; stringing up the electrified fence around their entire enclosure. Some Horses seems to find it entertaining; to topple the fence for some reason. Try to topple the living tree, ten years old or more, if you like.
I had chosen to plant a selection of trees, friendly to Horses inside their enclosure, as well.
Furthermore; I had separated their pasture into a large, general area where they can Horse around to their hearts’ content; and a set of smaller pastures I can open to supply them with a full menu of everything a Horse needs to stay healthy. (Alot of effort. I know, but this is an initial investment; that will save me both time, money and work along the way.)
Naturally; I had placed a stable, a barn and a greenhouse on one side of their enclosure, so that I have everything available in a single place.
Once the Horses finally did show up, I had everything ready and prepared for them. I watch them, as they trot out of the trailer, out onto the pasture, I had already prepared for them.
I count a Stallion, three Mares and a Filly trotting out onto the pasture, slowly exploring their new home I had managed to prepare for them, before they had arrived.
A Dog house sounds like a strange idea, for Horses? But; when the horse is only two foot tall, the dog House proves to be just right, for them.
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Pass: Profoundly prophetic purple prose promptly proliferating profusely!
Entry
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Prologue
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Of course; I had managed to prepare everything; before the animal transport even arrives.
The pastures, the shelters, the fences and even the stables. I had ended up making the stables into two stores for them, while I can still reach everything, from what is the ground floor to me. Granted; I am storing the feed in the attic and the equipment in the basement. Well, why not? Why waste space, when I really don’t have to.
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“These horses truly are small.. ” I ponder, as I see the vehicle driving up to the newly erected stable.
Rather than a standard sized vehicle with a trailer, it’s just one large SUV. The girl from the shelter is driving up to the path up to the stables, opting for the docking bay I had prepared for this purpose. The vehicle soon backs up to the ramp, before the girl is switching the ignition of; before she is opening the door on the driver’s side and steps out of the vehicle, before she is approaching me in a slow gait.
“Greetings, Fluttershy!” she exclaims, as she sees me walking up towards her large vehicle.
“Greetings..” I respond; “all the Horses you were to deliver are doing fine, I take it!” I put forth.
“Yes, Fluttershy..” she responds; our Veterinarian gave them a green bill of health, clearing them for this transport and handover!” she confirms.
“Thank you!” I respond.
“Let me open up the transport, so they can trot over to you..” she suggests; “then we can guide them over to your stables, before you sign off on them!” she concludes.
“Yes, please!” I respond, whereupon the steps over to the back of her vehicle, opening the back so that I can finally see all the lovely little Horses. (Miniature Horses.)
“While I am on a schedule, I really do want to see them into the stables safely..” she points out; “I really can’t just dump these lovely Horses on her, and dash the next instant! ” she ponders, shuddering at the mere thought.
Once she had opened the large outer doors on the back; I can see her reaching in into the back of the vehicle, before she is finally opening the door to the first internal transport stall. (They don’t have much space to move; but I guess it is safer for the transport, limiting the shock if she had to make a sudden break.) I really could not stand it, knowing they could get hurt, because she had to break suddenly.
“This is Black Beauty..” she presents the Stallion, as he is trotting out of the back of the SUV.
“He is such a lovely Beauty!” I respond.
I flip a switch; opening up the path to his box, so that he can trot home, on his own.
“Quite the modern stable, you have there!” she responds, giggling in delight.
“Yes, but I could only provide them with the best; and they are so small, it is a bit hard to walk them like Horses!” I suggest.
“Yes, they truly are small; thus Miniature Horse, is what they are referred to!” she puts forth.
“Like regular Horses, but the size of the Medium size Dog!” I muse.
“You could have them pull a Dog Slay..” she suggests.
“You could, I guess!” I respond, casting my gaze down, in embarrassment; “I guess I could pet them, like a dog or a Cat, too!” I then supply, hopefully, with a short giggle.
“Uhm, I guess you could do that, too!” she agrees; “I am sure, they may be enjoying that, as well!” she then continues.
I follow my stallion’s progress on the screen of my Phonie’, waiting for him to enter his box; before I close the door and open the gates, for the next Horse.
There is a distinct, audible click; as the door is closing behind the Stallion known as Black Beauty, denoting that he has reached his box safely.
“Oh..” she exclaims, “does this mean; that he has reached the box, safely?” she inquires.
“Yes..” I respond; “so I will give him his introductionary first meal; letting him associate the box with Home and Safety!” I explain.
“Good, good..” she exclaims; “then I can let Rarity out, now!” she responds, as she is opening the stall in which the white mare is standing, waiting to trot home.
“Yes, please!” I respond; watching the first mare step out, before she is trotting into the stable, following the path open to lead her home to her own box.
While I don’t know the inter-relations between these horses; but I could always relocate them, to new boxes if it proves necessary. (I just hope, it will not be required.)
Step-by-step, Rarity is trotting daintily towards her new box; the Home, where she will live until further notice. (If nothing happens, she will enjoy the rest of her stay in this box.)
A moment later, I can clearly see that Rarity has arrived at her box safely; her first meal provided, whereupon she is examining the offerings placed before her. She soon starts to eat, enjoying the fresh hay before her.
With a click, I open up the path to the second mare: Chocolate, who has a richly chocolate brown fur. Once the girl had opened the stall; Chocolate eagerly trot out, on her merry way home.
I can hear the distinct Neighs following the mare, on her way; this mare seems rather quite eager, to see her new home. As expected, she is served her first meal; which she is eagerly sampling, just a moment after it had been placed before her.
“This is fun..” the girl supplies; “If only this was the norm, for how this reintroduction process is to develop!” she concludes.
“You will just have to relish and reassure the times, when it does work like this!” I point out.
“Yes, of course..” she responds, as she is opening the stall to the last mare, Silver Lining.
The mare neighs excitedly, as she is trotting down the path to her home; as if some Horse had already explained, what a lovely box she had been given.
“This is Phoenix..” the girl explains, as she is directing my attention to the filly she had brought over.
“She is such a cutie..” I respond; as my gaze is reaching the red and yellow filly, waiting to reach her home.
“She certainly is.” the girl responds; “and I am happy I can offer her the home you have prepared for her!” she concludes.
With a click, the path for the filly is opened up; the girl opens the stall up, permitting the lively and chromatic filly out, so that she can finally find her way home.
Plenty of Horse Noises are heard, as the filly is trotting all the way to her box. (Her very first box.) The door is closing behind her, whereupon the meal is presented. The filly soon finds the hay, eagerly grabbing her first bite and thoughtfully chew.
The girl closes the final stall, before she is closing the doors to the back of the SUV.
“You would like to see the Horses, and where they will be living?” I inquire.
“Yes, please!” she responds, as she is carrying the form for me to sign over the responsibility for all these lovely little horses.
I lead her over to the entrance, with her in tow; opening the door, permitting her to enter the stable. She is eagerly following me, as I am leading her to see the stable; stopping before each box, watching the horses happily enjoying their first meal.
“I guess it is time, to sign on for the delivery..” I suggest.
“Of course..” she responds, as she is producing the clipboard with the form for me to sign.
I carefully sign for the animals, returning the clipboard to the girl.
“Thank you..” she responds.
“You are quite welcome!” I respond, as I follow her back out of the stable.
Once outside, she is walking over to the now empty SUV; opening the door and step right in, only starting the engine, once she had closed the door behind herself. With that, she is driving back; knowing these Horses have found a loving and caring home, where they will be safe and cared for.
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Pass: - "Faux Pas" Confirmed..
Prologue
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Home – A Home Comming: 3 (of snorts)
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Prologue
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I had stepped into the transport, with the rest of my herd. (Nothing new, or strange about that; we had been on these transports often enough.)
Only, this is the last time, we will enter this transport; even if I do not know, or understand it right now. Not as if I had minded the transport all that much.
The trip over, to what is to be our new home had been uneventful enough. No complaints there. She takes care of us, takes us to all the places we need to go; including the vet: Veterinarian, if and when we need to go. (Which we do need, every once in a while; any Pet owner will know this.)
Once we had arrived, at the new home; she had led me up to the gate, opening by itself. I had followed the path; leading to the box, intended to be my home. (At least, until further notice.)
The path is leading me step-by-step, to the box marked as my home. There is just the one path, open; I trot along this path, slowly. No point in trying to force it; the path only opens once step at the time; closing behind me, as I had cleared the gate to the next section.
I know my herd is waiting, behind me; ready to follow me, as soon as they are permitted. They will come, they will follow me; as soon as they can, as I am all they have. They are all I have, in turn.
I guess I can wait, so long as it is within reason.
The door to my box is sliding up, opening before me as I am reaching it, only to slide shut behind me, as I had entered my box.
There is only the scent, of the one girl; the girl intended to care for me, to take care of us.
The box is clean, to the point of feeling sterile; yet, I have everything I need. Water, food, salt lick, soft bedding and fresh air. Oh, not to forget; I expect to be able to see the rest of my herd.
This is a box, intended for longer stay, unsupervised; not a stall, intended for short-term, only.
While I am waiting, for the rest of my herd to come after me; I make myself at home, enjoying the food I had been served. Aside from sniffing and spreading my very own scent over the stall; rubbing myself against the walls in the process.
Since this box had to be brand new, based on the utter and complete lack of scents and other markings; I am the first resident, in this box. It’s a bit of a strange feeling, to me; breaking new ground, for myself and my herd. Well; at least, I will be reunited with the rest of the herd, shortly.
The door to my box is sliding up, opening before me as I am reaching it, only to slide shut behind me, as I had entered my box.
There is only the scent, of the one girl; the girl intended to care for me, to take care of us.
The box is clean, to the point of feeling sterile; yet, I have everything I need. Water, food, salt lick, soft bedding and fresh air. Oh, not to forget; I expect to be able to see the rest of my herd.
This is a box, intended for longer stay, unsupervised; not a stall, intended for short-term, only.
While I am waiting, for the rest of my herd to come after me; I make myself at home, enjoying the food I had been served. Aside from sniffing and spreading my very own scent over the stall; rubbing myself against the walls in the process.
Since this box had to be brand new, based on the utter and complete lack of scents and other markings; I am the first resident, in this box. It’s a bit of a strange feeling, to me; breaking new ground, for myself and my herd. Well; at least, I will be reunited with the rest of the herd, shortly. (Snortly)
While it is a bit lonely; but the food is still good; both they hay and everything else.
After a while, I can hear the distinct noises of little hooves on the floor; one Horse after the other, trotting over to their new homes, in their respective boxes. (Just that none of them is very close to me, my box) At least; I know they had arrived safely, everyone had moved in into the same stable.
I can hear the Whinnies, Snorts and Snickers from the Mares and the Filly. My Mares and My very own Filly.
The noises change, after a while; the first Mare is lead out of her box, towards the green pasture just outside. Once she had arrived safely, to the pasture; the next Mare is heard trotting along the path to meat up with the first in the pasture. Now the Filly is lead to the pasture, meeting up with the two first Mares. Once the Filly had arrived, the third and final Mare trots over to the Mares, awaiting her.
I can clearly hear them calling for me. Finally, the gate is opening up for me; I follow my path, expectantly, as I am trotting towards our pasture.
I do arrive, and they are all there; safely.
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Once I finally do arrive, at the pasture, they’re all waiting for me. Patiently, but somewhat worried. (I guess I should have been expecting this.)
I greet them, happily and they greet me in turn.
Relieved, to see me back in the herd. I can understand their worries; I had felt them, myself too. How could I not? What had you been expecting?
What loving father would not worry, in a situation like this.
“The grass is green and luscious!” my first mare explains, once the greeting had been concluded.
“We also have water and shades!” my second mare continues.
“It is all so delicious..” my Filly burst in to explain, before she returns to enjoy the grass.
“I think, we can grow to enjoy it here..” my third Mare suggests, eagerly and a hint of excitement.
“Good, good..” I fill in; “it would seem, we have been granted a new lease, and a very pleasant home!” I conclude.
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Pass: - "Faux Pas" Confirmed..
Prologue
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