#baronyofthesilverwolf

He waves back.

There are several large black horses that shake their manes proudly, a more sedate looking grey mare that whickers at they go past, and even a few black horses with reddish manes - unusual, but striking.

The stallion in the corner is tossing his head, and snorts eagerly - He apparently can smell the mares, and is not pleased to be kept aside.

"Are you coming riding with us?" Sylvi includes Delorien in the question.

"Oh I never miss a chance to ride" D'Lorean says

Danica notices Dagmar’s interest. “He’ll need a firm hand, that one. Thinks he’s the king of the herd, but he’s a relative newcomer.”

"What's his name?"

She offers out a hand for inspection.

Gwen seems to be nervous, as she handles the tack, trying to remember just HOW to do it. Carefully, the big Gelding Bandersnatch is not for breeding (Hence the gelding). Not the most attractive horse, his back is straight, form is good. There's something vaguely goofy about the animal. A crossbreeding gone slightly wrong maybe? He has no tail.. not merely cropped.. a birth defect

“Wildfire. He came with the name, else it would surely be something unpronounceable and with lots of random apostrophes,”

A chuckle. "Hey there."

The Stallion snuffles her hand.

"This is Bandersnatch" Gwen explains "He's part Clysdale, part Perchian, part Labrador.. okay, kidding on that last..."

The gelding seems almost dorkily agreeable

"That's right." Dagmar reassures, in 'horse-voice' - safe, but firm. Mares lead herds.

Wildfire paws a hoof and leans at the door. He would LIKE to be OUT.

Sylvi blinks and looks...very puzzled. But whatever that's about, she nods. "Should I take him?"

Danica leads one of the larger black horses to Colton, a sturdy mare.

"If you're worried about riding, he's a good one..." A nod "He's got some gift the baron says or he wouldn't keep him but mostly it's a mercy? he's..well, you see, no tail. Can't let that breed on"

“Linnea won’t mind if you take her mount.” And her lips twist, amused at some inner thought.

"Oh, I bet you would, yes. But you'd have to be good. And listen."

"Mercy," Sylvi repeats, and she gets a carefully neutral expression as she takes the reins. She pets the horse's nose. "Come on, Bandersnatch."

She leads him about a bit, then checks the girth again before mounting up.

Wildfire tosses his head. Yes, yes, it is time to run!

She leans to whisper to the horse, "I think you're just fine." She pats his neck.

Noticing Adam hanging back. “Apprentice - pick your mount. Unless you’re going to stay here and eat oats with the others. They could all use the exercise.” The troll Thane directs.

Bandersnatch is a friendly fellow and makes happy noises. Apparently he's just good natured. The sort of horse who would give you the saddle off his back... if you wanted it

Adam's expression fixes into an odd look, and he goes about picking a horse and trying to tack it.

The oversized black horses, a spindly but fast looking dun gelding, or that sweet faced grey mare are his choices.

"Thane Danica - is Wildfire allowed to be ridden?"

The Thane looks her over for a moment. “By a novice? Not unless they wanted to risk a broken leg. He’s not wild - just spirited. He may test you.”

The mare. And he doesn't think too much about it.

A grunt, considering.

"I would like to give him a go."

Her stall is labeled “Lobelia” and she nibbles at his collar as she is lead out and saddled. A sweet mount, perhaps a touch docile.

Sylvi calls over to the thane, "Dame Dagmar is no novice. If any of us can handle him, it's probably her."

Danica leads her own horse to the far side of the stables and loops his line around a post. “Have at, just keep him away from my Brego - posturing is one thing, but if they try to fight, someone will get injured.” She pats the rump of her large black horse.

He can get the blanket and pad and the saddle isn't too hard to manage although it would have helped if he'd arranged the stirrups properly..... and getting hold of the girth is a trick....

The Thane finishes saddling her horse and goes to check the other’s tack. She stands by Adam for a moment, watching. “A trick - offer her an apple, and watch.”

Danica reaches to a shelf and produces the treat, handing it to Adam.. The other horses heads go up.

He takes it and offers it with a flat hand, as he's been shown.

The mare reaches out to take the apple, and Danica cinches the girth several inches tighter! “she can’t hold her breath and chew at the same time. Some crafty mounts will try to keep it looser. Lobelia, you know better. It feels nice at first, but a loose saddle will chafe.” She scolds the horse like the horse understands her.

Adjusting the stirrups after gauging Adam’s height, she remarks, “Not bad.” And moves on.

As Dagmar opens the stall, Wildfire tries to push past her and finds... a wall of troll. He gives another nudge with his head, a bit of a shove.

A serious nod. "I would not endanger the other horses. If you think it is unwise, I will choose another."

“Let’s see how he does. He needs to learn to ride with a group.

Sylvi walks Bandersnatch in circles, getting a feel for the horse's sensitivity to the reins and to leg commands. A grin to Colton.

Danica allows.

"Fair." A hand against him. "Hep. Be good." Stubborn - gentle, yes, but she's unyielding.

Colton’s horse is frisky, nimble despite her size. Not unlike Linnea herself.

Wildfire snorts at her, his breath blowing her hair back, and steps back, letting her take his reigns. If she MUST. He DOES want out, and she’s in the way, so he will go along for now.

Adam leads the horse out to a mounting block. There's a mounting block, right? Please?

"That's right. If you're good, you will get to run." She leads him over to saddle him up.