Skye had been at Horseland for two weeks and during that time she'd grown to trust humans again, learning that she didn't get whipped or punished if she did something wrong. She neighed happily when Will walked in to prepare their feed, delivering everyone's food to them and smoothing Skye when she finished. "I think we're ready for some weight training, what do you say?" He asked as he rubbed her nose, smiling when she snorted. "I'll be back, just need to let Scarlet and Blaze out." He told the mare before taking the mother and foal out to the field.
He walked back in and put the head collar on Skye, leading her out of the stable and passed Zoe and Chloe. "I don't see why you had a horse when you don't even ride." Zoe expressed her thoughts and Chloe elbowed her. "Ow! What did you do that for!" She exclaimed.
"Would you ride if you were in a coma? Or if Pepper-"Chloe cut herself off and looked at Will, seeing a distant expression on his face. Will brushed passed them towards the greenhouse distractedly. "Nice work Zoe." Chloe mocked before storming into the stable to groom Chilli.
Blaze ran to the fence Skye was tied to, nuzzling into her neck. "Hello sweetie." Skye greeted the foal with a smile and Scarlet walked towards them. "Hello Scarlet. Blaze, can I talk to your mom alone?" She asked with a smile and Blaze nodded, prancing around the field.
"What's wrong Skye?" Scarlet asked worriedly.
"Nothing, it's just I heard Zoe ask my boy why he got me when he didn't ride. Then Chloe said would she ride if she was in a coma, and then she stopped after saying Pepper." Sky explained with confusion in her expression. "Do you know what she meant?"
Scarlet looked downwards and sighed. "About 6 months ago Will had an accident with his horse Jimber during a jumping competition. Jimber knew what Will wanted, and Will knew when to stop pushing Jimber. They flew over the jumps in the individuals, but the sound system blew during the pair jumping. It was on the last jump, when Jimber was already jumping and it spooked him and Will. It spooked everyone in the crowd and the horses. Jimber landed with his leg out and Will fell off, Aztec and Bailey jumped over the fence and Aztec kicked Will's head before landing on his arm. Will was awake for a while but then he fell asleep, he didn't wake up for two months. After he woke up, he stayed away for another two months before coming back and he had a panic attack when he saw me, Calypso and Button. Weeks passed and then I went into labour with Blaze, Will sat with me through it all and he was terrified but he still stayed. The next day he rode Aztec, he rode him every day until you came here." Scarlet finished explaining and Skye looked down. "Will is a great rider, and teacher. When Sarah was sick for a week he taught me dressage, and he makes sure that everyone gets the rest they need, stopping our humans if they push us to hard."
Skye thought about what Scarlet told her when there was a thud beside her, turning to see it was Will putting five bag of soil on the floor. "There we go. Now, let's start getting this on you." He spoke softly as he picked a bag up, moving slowly so Skye could see everything he was doing but she moved when the bag was put on her back. "Easy girl, it's not going to hurt you." Will soothed and eventually Skye accepted the bag, Will picking up another before putting it on her back with the other. She lifted her head and neighed, it was different and she wasn't sure how to feel. "It's ok girl, it's ok." Will soothed as he rubbed her neck and rubbed her ear, making Skye relax under the affection. "I'll just go and get something, look after her Scarlet."
The mares watched Will walk into the barn. "What do I do Scarlet? This feels weird." Sky asked as she looked at the bags.
"It's to get you used to carrying things so it isn't a shock when Will rides you for the first time. I'm here with you, and Will knows what he's doing." Scarlet soothed and Will come back out, carrying a classical saddle and a saddle rug.
"Hey girl, let's see how you deal with this." He took the soil off Skye's back and put the rug onto her back before slowly lowering the saddle on, shushing Skye when her head lifted with a snort. "Easy girl, it's ok." Skye slowly got used to the saddle being on her.
Will slowly bent and pulled the girth under Skye's stomach, pulling it up so it lightly touched her stomach. "You're doing great Skye, it's nothing bad. The others wear these daily with their kids." Scarlet encouraged her.
Skye stood still, grunting when the girth got too tight. "Sorry girl, how's this?" Will asked and Skye burred in response, the feeling was foreign but natural at the same time. "You're such a good girl, let's take you for a walk." Will told her before untying the lead rope and walking Skye up the path before turning around and leading her back towards Scarlet. He tied the rope to the fence and pulled an apple from his pocket, praising Skye for how well she'd done. "Let's give you a break." Will said while petting the mare. Sky snorted and shook her head, pushing Will towards the soil. Will looked at her and picked a bag of soil up, watching as she nodded her head while she moved her neck towards her back. Will put the bag on her back, watching as she adjusted to the weight. He put another bag on her back and she took a while longer to adjust to the weight but when she did Will added another bag.
Over the course of two hours Skye was holding all five bags of soil with ease, at ease carrying them while walking around behind Will. "Let's get these off you for a while hey? Have some fun with Scarlet and Blaze?" Will smiled as Skye pushed against his shoulder with her nose. He took the soil off her back, the saddle and rug following. He led her into the field with Scarlet and unclipped the lead rope, keeping the head collar on her to be able to get her easier after he ate. He kissed her nose before leaving the field, walking towards the house for food.