Old Bob had spent his whole life breeding, training, and caring for the Ranger's horses. He had seen the transition from a young foal to a courageous horse prepared for whatever came it's way countless times. Some of the horses he had worked with himself went on to become almost as famous as their riders. And yet he wasn't as young as he used to be. No one could deny it takes a great deal of work to raise horses, and Ranger's horses needed more training than any other horses in the kingdom. It was time he took on an apprentice. Not just any apprentice, but an apprentice who knew horses, who understood them inside and out, and who could train them in the unique skills required of Ranger horses.
Jared Evanson was the son of Timothy, Meric Fief's Horsemaster. His father, as all men do, had trained his son to eventually take over his role. As long as Jared could remember he had been by his father's side learning everything there was to know about the creatures. Battlehorses were his father's specialty; he would train the naturally skittish horses how to behave in battle. The things he could get a horse to do were stunning. Now that he was fifteen his dad had been having Jared train more and more horses. It was a welcome change from mucking out stalls, but he wasn't interested in just battlehorses. He found something to admire in every horse. He noticed every horse.
Which is why when the fief's Ranger, Gilan, Jared thought his name was, and his bay mare moved from Meric, he noticed. The mare had been plain enough, but she had intelligent eyes and Jared had a feeling she wasn't just your average horse. The Ranger who replaced Gilan, Peter also had an unusual horse. This horse was a bit shorter but just as sturdy looking. He was a dun, and as soon as Jared laid eyes on him he was curious.