Now that Leto was full grown it was time to start with his training. He was still very piggy and would do anything for a treat, all Assana had to do was distract him with a carrot and she had the saddle and bridle on him within moments.
She tested her weight on him but he didn't seem to mind at all. She took things slowly on the first day just walking him around her property and amongst the herd, letting him take her where ever he wanted. She gradually introduced him to leg aids and light touches on the reins.
((Leto is pronounced Lee-toe))
She tested her weight on him but he didn't seem to mind at all. She took things slowly on the first day just walking him around her property and amongst the herd, letting him take her where ever he wanted. She gradually introduced him to leg aids and light touches on the reins.
((Leto is pronounced Lee-toe))
Leto was great under the saddle, well behaved and had sure footing. When Assana took him out on a trail ride he didn't trip or flounder in the drifts but picked his way through with confidence.
While Assana was busy with Leto, Riley's new chore was to make sure Blizzard and Troic got daily exercise. He would take them for quick rides around the neighborhood after school.
One night during the week the burglar came back, the cops arrived promptly and she was finally captured and taken away!
The next day was the first day of Spring and it was finally time to take Troic and Blizzard to their new home. The new owners had agreed to take both grey horses, and the teenage girl was ecstatic to learn she was getting not one but two competition horses to compete with.
Assana was paid $23,490 for the pair.
Assana was paid $23,490 for the pair.
Later that same day Cloud Magic gave birth to a pretty silver dapple filly. Assana and Riley decided to call the filly Sundance for the way the sun shone off her pretty coat.
Assana took Eldorado out for a ride and ran into a man she knew from the center. He was a breeder and was looking for a new stud stallion. Assana told him that he was already successful in stud, having sired Sundancer.
The man paid $13,219 for him and Assana had Eldorado delivered to his property that day.
The man paid $13,219 for him and Assana had Eldorado delivered to his property that day.
Assana went out to watch a horse show while Riley was at school. After the show she saw the herd of wild horses hanging around at the back of the center so she took advantage of the situation and set out to befriend and 'capture' one of them.
Three of them ran off as she approached but one stayed behind, he was nervous and hesitant but he stayed and sniffed her and accepted the carrots she offered. While he was eating the carrots she patted his face and gently and slowly slipped a rope halter on him. He fought a little once he realised he was trapped, but he quickly quieted and let her lead him to a new home.
While she was leading him back to her home, she was thinking of a name. She didn't know why but she had the strong urge to call him Cuba, so she did. He was very polite and well mannered the whole time.
Three of them ran off as she approached but one stayed behind, he was nervous and hesitant but he stayed and sniffed her and accepted the carrots she offered. While he was eating the carrots she patted his face and gently and slowly slipped a rope halter on him. He fought a little once he realised he was trapped, but he quickly quieted and let her lead him to a new home.
While she was leading him back to her home, she was thinking of a name. She didn't know why but she had the strong urge to call him Cuba, so she did. He was very polite and well mannered the whole time.
While Assana was bringing Cuba home, Riley came home from school and took Leto out for some training at the arena.
By the time Assana got home with Cuba it was dark, so she put him straight in a stall for the night. He went in without hesitation and settled down with some fresh hay. She'd introduce him to the rest of the herd in the morning when there was light.
In the morning Assana let all the horses out before she let Cuba out. Cloud Magic gave him a quick greeting but ignored him for the most part, Leto sniffed a greeting and tried to entice him to play, but he was still too uncertain to join the young colt. Sundancer was more cautious and watched him from a distance, but she followed him around alot. Cuba seemed uninterested in the foal and ignored her.
Assana went out and groomed them all as they played and grazed together, to help settle things and calm them down. Cuba relaxed a great deal after being brushed and having his feet picked out.
Assana went out and groomed them all as they played and grazed together, to help settle things and calm them down. Cuba relaxed a great deal after being brushed and having his feet picked out.
Over the next few weeks Assana worked almost constantly with the wild horse. He wouldn't accept a saddle or a bit at all so she tried riding him bareback. She used a rope halter and tied his lead rope to the bottom of it to act as reins. It was crude, but it worked.
He took her weight readily and within a few days was going out on trail rides without any problems.
He took her weight readily and within a few days was going out on trail rides without any problems.
Assana was out picking up some groceries and some new books for Riley when she drove past a house with a pretty buckskin stallion in one of their yards.
She came back to the house later and knocked at the door. She talked to the young man that lived there. The stallion belonged to his Ex-girlfriend who wasn't planning on coming back for it, so Assana offered to buy it.
She took the stallion, named Ezio, back home and hoped he wouldn't fight with Cuba.
Her worries though, were for naught, as Cuba and Ezio got along well enough.
She came back to the house later and knocked at the door. She talked to the young man that lived there. The stallion belonged to his Ex-girlfriend who wasn't planning on coming back for it, so Assana offered to buy it.
She took the stallion, named Ezio, back home and hoped he wouldn't fight with Cuba.
Her worries though, were for naught, as Cuba and Ezio got along well enough.
By the time Assana got back home with Ezio, Sundance had matured into a pretty mare.
Now that Leto was fully trained and ready for some serious competing, Assana took him down to the auction ring at the equestrian center. After some intense bidding wars he finally went for $13,329.
Assana talked to Riley about redecorating his room, he wanted more bookshelves and his own computer.
Assana told him that if he help out some more and stayed out of trouble she'd redecorate the next month.
Assana told him that if he help out some more and stayed out of trouble she'd redecorate the next month.
Assana spent the next few days working really hard with Cuba. She still couldn't get proper tack on him, but she didn't plan on showing him (he was far too nervous for that) so his appearance didn't matter that much.
He had a sure and quick foot though, and while he would never see a competition arena, he made quiet an impression on the other trainers and spectators at the training grounds.
He had a sure and quick foot though, and while he would never see a competition arena, he made quiet an impression on the other trainers and spectators at the training grounds.
Every evening before bed and after dinner, Assana would relax and wind down doing the gardening. She had found some strange seeds around town and now that they were growing she didn't know what to do with them. One plant was plasma fruit (vampire food), the other was flame fruit which gave a her a nice warm sensation when she was holding it.
Over the next week Assana took Sundance, Ezio and Cuba to the training arena everyday for a good workout. Sundance flew over the jumps flawlessly and was so fast that there was no room for improvement.
Ezio was steadily gaining ability at jumping and racing.
Cuba was the real impressive one though, he was so fast now that should Assana enter him into any race she was she he would win, if he didn't have such a nervous disposition. His jumping skills had also greatly improved though he refused to jump the water jump whenever presented to it.
Ezio was steadily gaining ability at jumping and racing.
Cuba was the real impressive one though, he was so fast now that should Assana enter him into any race she was she he would win, if he didn't have such a nervous disposition. His jumping skills had also greatly improved though he refused to jump the water jump whenever presented to it.
While Assana was at the training grounds she ran into Karla. They had a few drinks in the lounge and spent some time catching up and dancing.
She found out that Karla was competing on Ronin still and had some won some advance cross country competitions. Assana had never been more proud of her.
By the end of the night Assana was seriously regretting her drink choice.
She found out that Karla was competing on Ronin still and had some won some advance cross country competitions. Assana had never been more proud of her.
By the end of the night Assana was seriously regretting her drink choice.
The next night the Strangetown Derby was being held so Assana made a late entry and entered on Sundance. But they were beaten by Leto's sire, Dune, and came in with a close second.
While Assana was at the Strangetown Derby, Riley was headed to his Prom. He had a mostly terrible night. He asked his crush to a dance, but she completely ignored him. And when another guy started flirting with her he got mad and lost control of himself and started a fight. Looking back on that night the punch bowl must have been spiked with something pretty strong.
Assana entered Sundance into the cross-country event the night after. It was more challenging then she had anticipated because Sundance had let the audience get to her and was spooking at some of the waving flags and banners. They came in 3rd over all which Assana believed was better then they had deserved.
The night that Cari Dreamer was born, a freak snowstorm hit and covered the ground in fine powder snow. The horses didn't seem to bothered by it, but Assana was disappointed about the sudden frost killing her baby plants in her vegie patch.
Assana managed to get the number of an organisation that look after tamed mustangs and gave them a call. She didn't know what to do with Cuba and she didn't have the time or the space to look after a horse that she couldn't use. The organisation sent a float out to collect the stallion and said that they would release him in a large paddock with a bunch of mares. The would mostly use him for education demonstrations on the weekends, but during the week he would be living a life of luxury.
He left the Stormcloud Ranch before the end of the day.
Assana managed to get the number of an organisation that look after tamed mustangs and gave them a call. She didn't know what to do with Cuba and she didn't have the time or the space to look after a horse that she couldn't use. The organisation sent a float out to collect the stallion and said that they would release him in a large paddock with a bunch of mares. The would mostly use him for education demonstrations on the weekends, but during the week he would be living a life of luxury.
He left the Stormcloud Ranch before the end of the day.