September 11, 1910

"Easy… It's okay….. I'm not gonna hurt ya…."

Bright blue eyes dodged a large hazel eye. The blue eyes were soft and kind. The hazel, wide with an old, instinctive fear.

"Shhh….. Nobody's gonna hurt ya…"

A large chestnut head rose high, shying away from the human hand, nostrils flared. It was obvious the creature was reacting with instinct. An ancient instinct that coursed through its veins, it simply started: Fight or flight.

"Relax…. I am asking for your permission, Mustango…. Will ya let me?"

The large head lowered and let the hand stroke the mud-stained fur. The large hazel eye closed, a soft blue eye did the same as its companion, a hind leg resting slightly.

"Thank you, Bravado."

Withers quivered slightly as if a fly landed on them.

The hand grabbed a brush and gently flicked the mud off the muscular creature. To anyone in their iron horses going by, this amazing performance would have been missed and discarded as they sped past by.

But no one sped by in iron horses or in steam engines. No one stopped to admire the beauty of man and beast. No one was there to witness this majestic art, except a playful breeze that toyed with the grass and the mighty oaks that witness this act before and will witness it plenty more times.

Once the mud was removed, the beautiful red coat shone in the light. White wrapped three of the creature's sturdy legs. White, also, covered his face in a way that some would describe with the words 'bald face' in the future. Blotches of white covered his under belly. A few smaller blotches were scattered artfully over his hindquarters.

The man gently slipped a bridle on the creature's beautifully carved head, and then tested his weight on the creature's back before swinging his leg over.

"That's it…. Good boy…" the man said, stroking the creature's neck.

With gently squeeze and soft murmuring of reassurance, the creature walk hesitantly walked forward. Even though the creature hesitated with each command the man gave, the first ride was smooth and extremely willing to please.

Soon, they were trotting, cantering, and dancing around the small clearing.