Maltera & Zula

The round up of a herd of horses hadn't gone entirely to plan but they did manage a nice grouping this time.

a mare and filly they named Maltera and Zula were one of the ones rounded up. Some of the horses would be branded and released back into the wild but as this was Maltera fourth round up she would be going to auction and since Zula wasn't old enough to seperate from her mother she too would be going up for auction. They were put in their own individual pen. Maltera snorted and snaked her head out at any two legger who got close

In a pen next door a six month old blue roan colt was put as they tried to figure out how to treat a nasty bite wound the colt had recieved from a stallion on the trip in. The mother had been lost in the stampede of horses so they couldn't just put him back in since they weren't exactly sure who his mother was. They had named him Raider

Luke Anderson

Luke had kind of made a name for himself in his horsemanship skills and his ability to bond with the wild mustangs that they caught out on their roundups. He had taken in quite a few of them over the last couple of years, everything from ones that had been injured during the roundup to those who showed some promise, to those that he just saw something in. So, they tended to call him in when they brought in the newest batches and he made it his business to come check them out.

He had just gotten the call a couple of hours ago that they were bringing in another batch and he had headed to the corral where they always brought them soon after. He was making huge strides with the last bunch he had bought from here, some were even able to be ridden by this point in time. But mostly, he just worked to gain their trust and make sure they knew they were in a safe place. He was amassing quite the herd at this point, but he had the room and the means, so why not?

He had the trailer hooked up to the truck just in case, he very rarely came to look at these types of things without leaving with something. He spoke to the wranglers like they were old friends as they showed him to a couple of the horses. One had a pretty bad looking wound and then there was a mare and foal... The mare didn't seem happy to be there and he just let her be for the moment, the colt was the one that seemed to need the most attention and it seemed like the others just wanted to stand around talking about how to help him.

"My guess is he needs a vet." He said in his normal drawl, keeping his tone quiet as not to startle the animals, his whole posture was relaxed but confident. The colt would probably need tranqued so that the wound could be stitched up from the way it looked. "What's his price?" He asked, knowing the colt would probably just be 'field patched' and sent to auction if he didn't make the decision.

Maltera & Zula

Raider snorts as he shakes his head sending some of the fresh blood flying. He paws teh ground as the humans try to figure out the cheapest way to patch him up.

Human: We have a vet but he doesn't have tranquilizer left They growled slightly. 500 thanks to his woundHe said. Normally it would be over 1000. Of course he'll need to be castrated unless you plan on letting him breedHe said.

Maltera eyes the humans and she snorts in warningif any ever come too close for her comfort. She shields hr filly from them.

Luke Anderson

Luke listened to the response that came from the wrangler, it was a decent price from what he could see. Sure, the vet bill would be decent but the stud colt was a good specimen with beautiful coloration and good muscle, sturdy build. He would be worth it, Luke was sure of it. So, he nodded. "You've got yourself a deal, then. I'll get the wound taken care of and he'll be as good as new." He assured the man, not that he probably cared much about anything but the paycheck he would get from them.

"While I'm at it, how much for the mare and foal?" He asked, knowing that the way she was warning people off that someone who didn't have the proper skills with these animals wouldn't be able to do anything with her, and there was a high risk that someone could be injured. He had dealt with those that were aggressive before, it was a fight or flight reflex and they had nowhere to run. He patiently looked between the two pens, watching to three horses to get a feel for how he was going to handle this.

Raider

The wrangler nodded then looked at the mare and foal.1500 for the pairHe said.

Raider walked around the enclosur in boredom wandering wher his family was.

Marly and Zula for the most part ignored them.

Luke Anderson

Luke took out a check and filled it out for the total amount without batting an eye, he then handed it to the man, waiting for them to clear out and put a sold sign on the fence before he moved off to his truck where he had a bag of carrots and a rope. He went back to the pen where Raider was and let himself into the pen, making sure not to appear threatening as he just stood there, waiting for the colt to get curious enough to come to him.

Raider

Raider stopped moving when the man entered and he snorted. Being six month old however, he was very curious and not having an adult horse with him that he respected or knew his curiosity got the best of him and he slowly edged toward the man. His ears flicking back and forth.

Marly and Zula weren't watching.

Luke Anderson

Luke knew that in situations such as this, it was best to focus on one situation at a time, he would work with the mare and foal in a bit, but for now he had to keep his full attention on the colt. He was completely still as the colt finally became interested enough and then approached him. It was the first step, at least. Sometimes even that step could take weeks. He had high hopes that this colt could be tamed relatively easily. At first he didn't move still, just letting the horse gain confidence in sniffing him, though he held a carrot in his hand, waiting to hold it out to the colt when he seemed calm enough.

Raider

Being young he had fight in him but he didn't have all the caution an adult horse would have so he sniffed at the man his ears forward and on him. His eyes watching his every move. If the man even so much as twitched he'd back off ears going back.

Luke Anderson

Luke knew at this point it was just a waiting game. He remained confident, he remained still. He wasn't giving an inch but he wasn't trying to take an inch either, he was just playing this by ear and waiting for the colt to relax. He knew that one wrong move would cause them to lose any progress they had made, so he just waited, waited for the colt to be confident that he wasn't a predator, that he wasn't going to cause him pain or harm.

Raider

He snorts after a little and goes about searching on the ground again for something to eat. One ear on the man at all times.

Luke Anderson

When the colt finally became comfortable enough that he was looking on the ground, Luke slowly held a chunk of the carrot to him, knowing that he was probably hungry and there was no food in the pen for him to find, it was all dirt. His movements were slow, meant to not cause alarm.

Raider

Raider eye picks up his movement and his head shoots up even through the pain. His nostrils flare as he eyes the man again and then slowly his muzzle moves toward the mans outstretched hand and sniffs at the carrot before attempting to take the carrot.

Luke Anderson

Luke's movements were slow, calculated to not scare the colt any more than need be. Wild horses like him were easily spooked, he knew that. But the colt didn't run, so that was a plus. It had been a calculated risk to move to holding out the carrot so soon, but it seemed to have worked out as the colt tried to take the carrot from his outstretched palm. "Thatta boy." He said in his calm, deep voice as he just waited for the colt to take the carrot.

Raider

Raider made to take the carrot and eat all the while keeping his ears on the man. He doesn't know what this man wanted with him but he had food so he must be safe?

Luke Anderson

Luke was pleased that the colt took the carrot and chomped down on it. The first bit of trust had been earned. The next step was getting the colt to allow him to touch him. Ever so slowly, he moved to get another chunk of carrot for him and when he went to take it, he tried to slowly reach out to gently touch him, wanting to show him he would not harm him and get him to a point where he could be taken to the ranch where he could have a vet out to see him. It was a slow process but he continued to try to gain his trust then get him loaded up to head home.

Raider

Raider reeached for the second one and began to take it but when the mans fingers touched him he backed away his ears going back as he studied him again.

Luke Anderson

He had moved a little fast, though it had been a calculated risk. The wound needed to be looked at and the vet would be waiting back at the ranch for them whenever he was able to get the colt and the mare and foal loaded up. He held another carrot out to him, repeating the whole process again. It was all he could do until he could gain the colt's trust enough and get him loaded up.

Raider

Raider snorted at him and took the next one.

One of the sellers approached.If you want to just back your trailer up to the chute we can send him down it. It maybe a little more stressful but it would probably work faster for both him and the mare and foalHe said.

Luke Anderson

Luke had hoped that he would be able to win the colt over before loading him up so that he would be a bit calmer on the drive, but when the guy approached him and spoke, he just nodded. "Yeah, we can do that." It might be a little scarier for them now, but he didn't have a few days to keep coming back to visit them until they trusted him. So, he left the pen where the colt was and then went to his truck, backing it over and working with the sellers to get the three loaded into the trailer safely before thanking them and heading towards the ranch where Raider could be looked over by their vet.