Phase 3 | We've Come So Far

A year and a half... a year and a half Ophelia had been working with this mare who she had known to come to the name of Úna, but also came to Lamb. It had been so very frustrating to try and calm the mare's fears of getting away from the barn and they were able to go on adventures by themselves. There are some hiccups sometimes but Ophelia had learned how to handle herself in those situations. She was forever grateful to John  who had been there for most of their journey. Ophelia looked up from her book as she watched Lamb graze.  She remembered how scared she had been to even get up on the mare's back, but now she got on with mostly no hesitation. She closed the book, she wasn't even concentrating on it anyway and set it aside. The woman got up and dusted off her skirt before going up to the mare and patting her side. "Lamb, should we go back home? Or are you enjoying yourself ?" The mare got a sparkle in her eye and looked at the sun as if she was trying to tell the time and licked her lips as she looked at Ophelia.  "Yes, yes. You're right. It's probably time for your snacks,"  The mare was on her heels as she went back over to the tree and pulled the bridle off a low branch. 

The mare greedily sucked the bit into her mouth to get it on faster  as Ophelia redid all the buckles and clasps before throwing the rein's over the mar's bare withers. "Easy now, yo don't want to do circles out here in such a nice place do you?" The mare nickered and flicked her ears back before pawing the ground. "That's what I thought," She said with a small laugh, now let's get going," She said as she picked up her book and slid it into the pocket of her skirt and moved over to the mare  who lowered herself down on her knees so that Ophelia could throw her leg over with some effort  and fix her skirt so it wasn't so breezy. Lamb got back to her feet and shook out her coat which caught Ophelia by surprise as the mare lifted her lip in a cheeky grin.  They made their way back slowly to the barn but before they were even out of the pasture John was coming towards them with a camera. "Let's get a photo of you and her together, for the file and the rescue," He said as he stood there. Lamb lifted her tail and struck her best pose. "See, she's all for it," John said as he raised the camera. 

Ophelia made a small smile as the camera flashed which startled Lamb, but she only side stepped a few paces before Ophelia corrected her. "There we go, easy easy. See, nothing is wrong. Very good," She said as she stroked the mare's neck and shoulder. John was alredy walking away so she urged lamb after him, when they got to him Lamb reached out and lipped the long hair sticking out from under his hat . "Ok, ok, cut that out. I have your treat but you'll get it when we make it back at a normal pace."  He chuckled as he said this, patting his left pocket with his free hand which had carrot greens sticking out of it. Lamb snorted but walked beside him, keeping pace so he couldn't get away with her treat.  Ophelia looked at John and smiled. "You were right, she's a good horse," John nodded and smiled back at the woman "You just have to get to know them,"