Equine Connection - Chapter One -
#1 of Equine Connection
Savannah, a early 20 year old Anthropomorphic Friesian Mare volunteers at a horse rescue and rehabilitation ranch. She adores the broken, the frightened and the untrainable, using her own natural equine skills and mind to help, soothe and heal. That is, until one day, something happens to change everything - for better or for worse...
Equine Connection
Chapter One
© Cederwyn Whitefurr
23rdOctober, 2021
All Rights Reserved.
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Equestrian** Connection**
A young anthropomorphic Freisian mare held the lunge line in one paw. Dressed in loose slacks that covered her from hips to ankles, the hint of her black feathers poking from beneath the cuff of the slacks. A light khaki shirt with wrist length sleeves covered her modestly, her furred breasts pushing the chest of the shirt out.
She was perfectly at ease in the round yard, holding the loop of the lunge line lightly in her black furred right paw. Patiently, she stood on her black hooves, watching the filly through deep brown eyes that she kept downcast, looking down her long muzzle. Thankfully, being a equine, Savannah had the binocular vision they all shared.
At the end of the lunge line, stood the trembling grey filly, who blew through her nostrils and shivered.
"Easy sweetheart," Savannah murmured. "You're alright now, nobody will hurt you again, I promise!"
Moving cautiously so she wouldn't scare the filly any worse than she already was. Savannah's watched the filly's body language.
"Good girl, that's it, okay, forwards - " Savanna made a clucking noise and gently flicked the lead rope.
Reluctantly, the filly took a step then froze again, ears twitching nervously.
"Good girl! Come up, up!" Savanna repeated the command, gently lifting the lunge rope.
With a frightened squeal, the filly leap forwards and Savannah's paw powered.
"Interesting... Confirms what I believed, you poor thing. Alright sweety, its alright, shhh..."
Savannah kept her paws level with her hips, as she clucked at the filly again and got her to move forwards. Smiling, she soon had the filly willingly trotting at the further-most end of the lunge line.
"Good girl!" Savannah encouraged her, her own ears pricked forwards as she carefully turned in circles as the filly did. "Excellent!"
Either something about her voice, or maybe her scent, seemed to work on the Filly, who pricked her own ears forwards and broke into a canter.
For three quarters of an hour, Savannah worked with the filly, slowly building a bond between the two equines. At last, Savannah brought the filly to a stand and quietly walked her, helping her cool down.
"I'm so proud of you!" Savannah smiled, as she held her fingers out to the filly. "You've come so far little one!"
Nostrils flared, the Filly sniffed at Savanna's furred fingers, then shied away.
"Hey, its alright, nobody will hurt you ever again, I promise!"
Timidly, the young filly followed Savannah, sensing in this two legged black furred equine, that everything would be okay.
*
Put into her paddock, Savannah watched the filly for a while, then laid her ears back and shook her head. Her luxurious black mane flowed from side to side as she sighed.
"How can people be so cruel..." Savannah muttered to herself, draping her forearms over the middle railing of the fence.
One tubular ear snapped backwards as Savannah heard the click of the gate behind her. Turning her head slightly, she smiled and turned about as her boss walked up behind her.
"Not wise to try and sneak up on a horse - " Savannah chuckled.
"I like to think you're a bit more evolved and sensible," Answered the Wolfess, a she crossed her arms over her chest and watched the filly. "How'd she go?"
Savannah turned back to watch the filly and shook her head slowly. "Monsters... what they done to her! We'll be months teaching this filly...but I believe she truly can be saved."
A paw landed on Savannah's shoulder and gently squeezed.
"Easy Savannah, you may be a Freisian, but I swear, you have the heart of a Percheron within you. You're right, what that poor filly endured... well, those who did that will never again see the outside of a jail cell."
"Good - " Savannah growled, her eyes narrowing and her hooflets clattering on the steel rail. "This filly needs a lot of love and affection, if she's to come back..."
Shaking her head, the Wolfess patted Savannah on the shoulder. "She's in good paws, I'm sure of it..."
*
Over the next few weeks, Savannah spent as much time with the young filly as she could - without neglecting the duties of exercising and working with the other equines in the sanctuary. All of them had been mistreated, abused or worse - rescued by Savannah's boss and brought here.
Most were rehabilitated and in turn, sold to riding schools, at least those who had a calm, gentle demeanour. Others were sold as Savannah's joking refereed to it, as 'glorified paddock bums'. They'd live out their years as companion horses where their owners would love and cherish them.
Savannah had a knack for horses - being one herself, not withstanding. They just seemed so much calmer around her, from the moment she met them when they were floated to the sanctuary, or brought in on trucks...
All that changed the day they got the unexpected...
A male Grevy's Zebra stallion was brought to their sanctuary...
TO BE CONTINUED