First Snow - Prompt Party

The sound of shod hooves clicked in a steady rhythm against the stone floor as Svea and her horse, Primavera, made their way into the stable. After completing a trail ride in the nearby forest, Svea had removed her jacket despite the chilly air. She stopped the Buttermilk Buckskin mare in the closest crossties and started taking off their tack when she noticed a clicking sound. Inside one of the stalls, Frida, the new stablehand at Lysehamn, was standing on a stool and shutting the large window.

“Leave some of them open,” Svea called out, “or the horses will overheat!”

“But winter is just around the corner,” Frida replied, looking confused, “it’s freezing out there.”

“Horses aren't as sensitive as we are, and these are Loshenkas. Come over and see how warm Primavera feels after just a stroll in the woods!”

Frida walked over to the blue-eyed mare and stroked her soft, pale coat. It felt as if she had touched a warm furnace when her fingers sunk into the fur, reaching the skin. Primavera remained unfazed as the cold fingers ran over her warm back and withers. Frida looked surprised but only nodded and opened some of the windows, she still had much to learn about the unusual breed.

Once grooming was done, the girls stepped out together, with Svea guiding Primavera using a loose lead rope. As they followed the gravel path, it unexpectedly started to snow, prompting the group to pause and admire the shift in weather. Primavera lifted her head and stood perfectly still, as if captivated by the twirling snowflakes. For a couple of minutes, neither of the girls could coax her into moving and could only watch as she seemed to welcome the arrival of the first snow.

Eventually, the mare agreed to head out into her pasture where she set off in a gallop to meet her herd. They ran in circles as their handlers watched on and shivered.