Phase 2 - Patient Progress

It took several hours of resting in the field to coax the mare closer. She was hesitant, weary, even when she finally did give in to curiosity and left her pacing at the fence to investigate the quiet human interloper resting in her field.

Alene had smiled, voice gentle as she introduced herself and offered treats just for approaching her.

The mare’s blue eyes glinted, gleamed, her steps slow and cautious like she was approaching a predator or other potential danger, ears twitching and alert for the slightest wrong move.

It was nearly sunset by the time Alene managed to get the halter on, the mare clearly unhappy with the development even if she wasn’t fighting the human yet.

With the bribe of a peppermint to help lead her, the mare did eventually let the human lead her out of the pasture. Trailering was another issue, but they managed to get it done with enough patience.

Luckily, the ride to her new home was quiet for the mare, who stepped out of the trailer with wary eyes. The vet visit waiting for her had proven difficult, but with enough patience on Alene and the vet’s part and plenty of treats for the wild Loshenka they’d all made it through unscathed.

After that, she was turned out in a small paddock. Alene had already arranged for a couple of the stable’s other resident mares, Blue Sky and Valentine’s Sweetheart, to be temporarily moved from their larger pasture to stay with her.

Hopefully some new friends would do the mare some good.

Alene gave it a couple of days after that, visiting daily to offer treats and watching the formerly entirely wild mare lose hesitance in approaching her, following the lead of the other mares as they got to know one another.

It would be slow going, the mare still quick to dart away if they moved too fast with unfamiliar things, but it was a process that was showing progress.

The name Mist quickly became attached to the mare, not that Alene was complaining. It seemed like a good name for her, with her flickering nature and soft presence.

Eventually though, after a couple of weeks at the stables, they had at least progressed so that Alene could usually get the halter on Mist without too much of a struggle. Peppermints had quickly proven to be the mare’s favorite treat, and a good way to bribe the mare into remaining calm as they practiced various things.

She stuck with simply petting at first, then the halter, and then the next step had been a proper grooming. Mist had been more cooperative with that than expected after she realized the hose and associated water was harmless, as were the brushes Alene let the Loshenka investigate.

Eventually though, further progress had to be pushed for. Mist was learning to follow well on the lead, so Alene decided to up the training and try some basic lunging. It had taken a few days for Mist to catch on and willingly comply, but…

It seemed to be going well, at least.