Post by dari on Feb 3, 2008 14:37:42 GMT -5
Lyris led Bex down the aisle and to the wash stalls. The mare followed with her nose on Lyris's shoulder. I don't know how you get so filthy after only an hour out there, she said to her horse. Bex bobbled her head and snorted. She was covered from head to hoof in sticky brown mud, some of it still wet.
Lyris turned the mare around and clipped the crossties to Bex's halter. Then she went to the hose and turned it on, making sure the water was warming up. Bex snorted and eyed the hose with a look of trepidation, as if to say You're not going to use that on me, are you? Lyris laughed.
You will feel so much better after this. I promise. Bex tossed her head as if she didn't believe her. And anyway, you want to be cleaned up for when we go out for a ride, don't you? Bex snorted, making Lyris laugh. She grabbed a grooming glove and tested the water; it was nice and warm, so she started at Bex's neck and worked her way to her legs, then her back, then her hind legs, scrubbing off the mud that wouldn't come off with water alone. The mare stretched out her neck in pleasure when Lyris reached her itchy spot, where Lyris lingered with the water and the glove for a few extra seconds.
When Bex was finally clean, Lyris put the hose away and grabbed a sweat scraper. She started at the mare's neck and worked her way back, stopping to wring out the tail and to run down the legs. That was when she saw it. A small wound on Bex's left foreleg, about two inches in length, was oozing blood. Bex put her nose on Lyris' head and snuffled in her hair; when Lyris tried to touch the wound Bex pulled up and back.
What did you do, you silly horse? She said, with a little worry in her voice. She stood up to grab some iodine and a leg bandage from the bag she kept on a peg in the wash stall, and started to clean and dress the wound. Well, I suppose this means we're not going to be schooling today, she said when the wound was cleaned and dressed. Come on, let's go to your stall. I'll have to exercise someone else until you're healed. She scratched her mare's forehead and snapped the lead on her halter, undoing the crossties. She led the mare, who was now slightly limping, to her stall and went to find Hope.
Lyris turned the mare around and clipped the crossties to Bex's halter. Then she went to the hose and turned it on, making sure the water was warming up. Bex snorted and eyed the hose with a look of trepidation, as if to say You're not going to use that on me, are you? Lyris laughed.
You will feel so much better after this. I promise. Bex tossed her head as if she didn't believe her. And anyway, you want to be cleaned up for when we go out for a ride, don't you? Bex snorted, making Lyris laugh. She grabbed a grooming glove and tested the water; it was nice and warm, so she started at Bex's neck and worked her way to her legs, then her back, then her hind legs, scrubbing off the mud that wouldn't come off with water alone. The mare stretched out her neck in pleasure when Lyris reached her itchy spot, where Lyris lingered with the water and the glove for a few extra seconds.
When Bex was finally clean, Lyris put the hose away and grabbed a sweat scraper. She started at the mare's neck and worked her way back, stopping to wring out the tail and to run down the legs. That was when she saw it. A small wound on Bex's left foreleg, about two inches in length, was oozing blood. Bex put her nose on Lyris' head and snuffled in her hair; when Lyris tried to touch the wound Bex pulled up and back.
What did you do, you silly horse? She said, with a little worry in her voice. She stood up to grab some iodine and a leg bandage from the bag she kept on a peg in the wash stall, and started to clean and dress the wound. Well, I suppose this means we're not going to be schooling today, she said when the wound was cleaned and dressed. Come on, let's go to your stall. I'll have to exercise someone else until you're healed. She scratched her mare's forehead and snapped the lead on her halter, undoing the crossties. She led the mare, who was now slightly limping, to her stall and went to find Hope.
