Let Me Out! | Phase 1

Aslan took his eyes off the road for a brief second, checking his watch. He and his partner Hawley were perfectly on time for picking up their horses for this year's Loshenka makeover. He had seen his pick on the rescue website, and decided the mare would be a better pick of the two for his lifestyle, experience (or lack thereof), and riding preferences.
As they pulled onto the rescue's driveway, the sight of several horses in the collection pens gave Aslan a jolt of nerves. He shook them off, however, and the two made their way out of the truck and towards the main area after parking up.

When time came for Aslan to load his horse into the trailer, the mare balked. No amount of walking circles or handfuls of hay could convince her. She held her head high, nostrils flaring and body tensed. The volunteers eventually decided moving the trailer to the chute would be a better idea, and so Aslan got the trailer lined up with the entry, desperately hoping this method would work.
In the end they succeeded, and as soon as all four of the mare's legs were onboard, the volunteers shut the door behind her. Aslan was far beyond relieved that they were one step closer on the horses' path to rehabilitation.

When they got home, Aslan peered through the window of the trailer. His gaze met his mare's wide, terrified eye, and Aslan knew he needed to get her out of there quickly. With lead rope in hand, he opened the door and muttered reassuring words to the mare as he approached her and clipped the lead rope onto her halter. He smiled at Hawley and took a step forward before the mare leaped off the trailer onto the grass, rearing and pulling at the lead rope with fear and desperation, her blonde tail thrashing side to side behind her. She was in complete panic now, and Aslan had no choice but to go along with her, guiding her to the smaller temporary paddock with their more mellow and friendly horses. She followed Aslan through the gate and he took off the halter, watching the pinto trot off to the far edge, whinnying and trying to make sense of this new place she had found herself in.