Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Sasuke...

Warnings: Shounen Ai/Yaoi, swearing, angst and subjects which may offend some readers.

Part 12: Anywhere but Down

Naruto greeted the coming of the next day with a strange mix of apprehension and anticipation, and he wasn't sure what had brought the feelings on. After Raidou had found him, Naruto had joined the others in watching movies and playing games and drinking. He'd gotten slightly tipsy, but had stopped drinking after that and retired to his room for the night. Shikamaru and Kiba had joined him after awhile, and they'd lazed about in his room until two in the morning.

All the while, Naruto had felt like he was carrying some dirty little secret around. He knew that if anyone should find out about the blossoming feelings he had for Sasuke, there would be trouble. Sakura would be unbearable, as she always was when she felt she had been slighted in some way. Kakashi wouldn't yell at him, but Naruto was sure that his disapproval would be felt in ways other than that. Genma would be furious, Raidou upset, and Kiba would probably scream bloody murder about how Naruto had been manipulated and abused by 'that scheming Uchiha bastard.'

Not that any of that really mattered. Naruto was well aware of the consequences his actions could produce, but at the thought of Sasuke, all of it seemed insignificant.

To say that Naruto was distracted that morning would have been an understatement. His mind was on other things- namely Sasuke and his flashbacks of last night. It all seemed...distorted somehow, as if reality had somehow been warped when he wasn't looking. When had Sasuke become such a large and important part of his life?

For the fifth time that morning, Naruto shook his head and tried to refocus on what he was doing. The early morning cold helped him with that. He shivered in his overlarge jacket, and hoped that the early morning fog would clear soon. It was so thick that the moment he had stepped outside that morning, he had been faced with a wall of white.

Taira was restless and irritable. Naruto had a hard time getting him to stand still for long enough so that he could check his fetlock to see how injured it was, and if it needed further treatment.

Kakashi poked his head over the stable door.

"What's up, Naruto? Make it quick, I have to place the order for this weeks feed."

"Could you check his leg for me? He strained it yesterday when Sasuke was jumping him. It wasn't bad last night, but I thought maybe you'd want to check it."

Kakashi entered the stable and crouched down beside him, quickly and expertly checking the joint. Naruto waited patiently and quietly, knowing that Kakashi was irritable when he was hung over. The only person who didn't go out of their way to please him on such mornings was Iruka. No one took on Iruka lightly, especially if something was your fault. Genma graciously pointed out that Kakashi was no exception, because he was whipped.

Naruto had seen that Kakashi and Iruka were indeed involved in a relationship last night when the two had been sitting in the same armchair and holding each other. Everyone had been focused on the movie they were watching, but Naruto had glanced over at them and had seen Kakashi sucking on Iruka's neck, with his arms wrapped around the younger man's stomach. Iruka's eyes had been closed, his teeth digging into his lower lip, and he had been flushed and struggling to keep quiet.

Naruto had been burning with uncomfortable questions since then, which he hadn't dared to ask anyone. Like, how did two guys have a relationship in the first place? Was it like a guy and a girl being together? Or was it completely different? He knew that he was shamefully ignorant in many respects in regards to relationships and he was just too shy and embarrassed to ask anyone for fear of them asking questions he wasn't willing to answer.

Although he was beginning to accept what he felt for Sasuke, he had no idea what to do with such feelings or what they could lead to. Maybe he should ask Iruka about it. Iruka wouldn't laugh or ask questions. He would try to help Naruto understand and he would be supportive as any parent could be.

And he had no idea that he was becoming close to Sasuke, so maybe he was the best solution to his dilemma.

Kakashi said his name, and Naruto was jerked back to reality unpleasantly. The pale man next to him was frowning at him.

"Sorry?"

"I said that he's fine. Make sure that you walk him out and warm him up properly before he's ridden again and it shouldn't be a problem."

Naruto nodded and silently cursed himself for getting so distracted yet again.

"What's wrong with you today? You're spaced out," Kakashi asked, with a hint of annoyance.

"I'm sorry. It's nothing. I guess I'm just tired," he apologized contritely.

"Hmmm. Don't let it affect your work. We've got a lot to do today."

Kakashi stood and left him abruptly. Naruto stood up and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Don't let it bother you kitten," Genma winked as he led a horse by Taira's stable. "He's a just being the cranky old bastard that he is."

Naruto smiled at him as he slipped out of Taira's stall to walk beside him.

"I know. Am I the only one who didn't get drunk last night?" he asked.

Genma chuckled ruefully. "Well, you and Kiba and Shika. In fact I don't think I've ever seen you drunk, kitten," Genma said thoughtfully.

Naruto cringed silently beside him. There was a reason for that, and one which he'd vowed to abide by for as long as he could. It was only because many people spilt their deepest secrets when they were drunk, and Naruto's secrets were dark and laced with fear and pain. He had no wish to have anyone find out about them when he was unaware of it. So he studiously avoided drinking to the point of intoxication.

"Anyway, you'd better go and work Ani if you're going to do it today. Kakashi's being anal about getting everything done before five today, and if you're going to exercise him you'll have to do it soon before he gives you something to do." Genma informed him as he led the horse out into the stable yard.

Naruto hurried off to do take his advice. All the arena's were currently in use, even at this early hour (it was just 7.30) and Ani had never worked in an arena with other horses present before, and Naruto was unsure if he was ready to face such an ordeal. Ani could spook easily if he was tense or nervous and Naruto didn't know if he would accept such a situation so abruptly without preparation. If it wasn't so foggy he might have taken him away to a quieter area to work him, but it would be hazardous in such heavy fog.

He set a grooming kit down by the stable door and went to greet Ani briefly, scratching at his favourite spots. Naruto laughed when Ani rubbed his head affectionately against Naruto's shoulder. He staggered back a pace before he regained his balance and pushed Ani's head away, laughing still.

Regretfully, he ended their brief moment of play and grabbed a set of brushes. Working as quickly as was possible around a young horse, he stripped Ani of his stable rugs and began to groom him. The white silken coat beneath the brush shone like pure ivory, glistening and rippling whenever Ani moved. Ani was obviously enjoying the attentions being lavished on his, for his eyelids drooped lazily, and he stood hipshot (1) and leaning into his brushstrokes.

"Naruto."

Surprised, he looked up to see three people looking back at him. Kakashi stood a little to one side, and Sasuke was standing beside a woman with whom he and Itachi bore a striking resemblance to.

It could only be Uchiha Mikoto, Sasuke's mother. She was a stunningly beautiful woman, with long hair which was so black it seemed to have a blue sheen. Sasuke had her dark eyes, and her pale skin which was like the finest porcelain. She stood at medium height with a willowy, sensuous build and an innate grace which anyone of royal blood would envy. She exuded dignity and quiet self assurance, and she inspired respect in all who laid eyes on her. Lady Mikoto was famous for her manners and her kind character. She treated all she met like an equal, and that was what made so well liked among the staff, as well as the social circles the Uchihas kept company with.

Naruto had heard things about her from Genma and Raidou and Kakashi, who had all met her before, but he had never met her in person. Strangely enough, he wasn't intimidated in the slightest by her, as he had been with all the Uchiha males that he had met, and this was something of a relief to him.

She wore her hair half up, half down, with very little make up, simple pearl earrings, a white business woman's shirt and an ankle length navy blue skirt and she was everything and nothing that he had expected a lady of rank to be like.

Naruto stood at almost the same height as Lady Mikoto and he met her eyes briefly, which were alight with the same sharp intelligence which she seemed to have passed down to her sons.

Sasuke towered over them both by several inches and he was watching the two of them very closely.

He quickly left the stall to stand before them both, unsure of what to say or do next, but Kakashi solved the problem for him.

"Naruto, this is Lady Mikoto. Lady Mikoto, this is Uzumaki Naruto."

Still confused and surprised, he opened his mouth to reply somehow, but Lady Mikoto beat him to it.

"Uzumaki-san, I've heard good things about you. It's nice to finally meet you at last," Lady Mikoto said with a warm smile.

Naruto relaxed slightly as it became evident that he wasn't in trouble of any kind and he smiled back, albeit a little shyly.

"Thank you, Mikoto-sama. It's nice to meet you too." he replied, watching as she turned her lovely eyes to Ani.

"I bought her to see Ani, Naruto," Sasuke said to him.

"Oh.

"Well I'll leave you to it then, Lady Mikoto," Kakashi said, bowing respectfully before leaving.

Naruto silently cursed him for dumping such a surprise situation on him and deserting.

"He certainly is beautiful. He is everything you said he was Sasuke."

"I thought you might like him, Mother."

Naruto watched the two quietly, noting that, despite his detached tone and blank eyes, he remained relaxed and comfortable around his mother. He also noted the affectionate way in which they addressed each other. Wherever the Uchiha heirs got their cold superiority from, it wasn't her. And she didn't seem like the type to encourage that sort of thing in her sons, so Naruto concluded that maybe it was their father that did so.

"Would you mind bringing him out for me Uzumaki-san?"

"Of course not, Mikoto-sama." he hesitated for a moment, glancing at Sasuke who was watching him steadily. "P-please call me Naruto."

She smiled at him once more, and nodded her agreement. He went in and quickly haltered Ani before he led him out. Ani followed him eagerly, regarding the scene with pricked ears and alert eyes.

"How old is he Naruto?" Lady Mikoto asked softly as she approached Ani and let him smell her hands before she laid them on his face.

"Almost four now, Mikoto-sama."

"And you're the one who trains him?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Mother's looking for a new pleasure riding horse," Sasuke said to him. "She hasn't been able to ride a lot during the last few years because she's been travelling."

Naruto nodded, uncertain now, but knowing what he wanted to say.

"Lady Mikoto, if I may..."he began hesitantly.

"Go ahead Naruto-san. I'd value you opinion."

"Anikhetos is a sweet natured horse, and he has a wonderful character, but he's still young and untrained in dressage and jumping. I'm not sure if he's ready yet..."

"But with work and time he'll make a good riding horse?" she asked as she smoothed a hand down Ani's neck and ran critical eyes over his shoulders and back.

"Definitely, ma'am. But at the moment..."

"Sasuke will help with that," Lady Mikoto interrupted calmly.

"What?" Sasuke asked, obviously surprised. He'd been watching Naruto before but when Lady Mikoto made that statement, his eyes shot to rest on his mother, who smiled at him gently.

"Yes. I want you to work with Naruto and help to train him. You didn't expect to spend your break doing absolutely nothing but going out with your friends did you?"

"No, but that's beside the point..."Sasuke began.

"You don't have a problem with Naruto then, do you?"

Naruto waited with baited breath to hear the answer to that question. Part of him wished he could sink back unnoticed to blend with the wall, but the other part wanted to stay and witness the scene unfolding before his eyes. He never thought he'd be witness to such honest emotions between Lady Mikoto and her son, and the love he saw that existed between them both made him ache and long to be with his father once more. He'd forgotten what families were like, but to be reminded of it by two Uchiha's was very unexpected.

Sasuke snorted inelegantly. "Of course I don't."

A wave of relief swept through Naruto when Sasuke said that with such conviction, and a pleasant warmth spread throughout his body. He felt for sure that he was flushing, but there was little he could do about that. He was still uncomfortable about being the topic of their conversation, but he didn't mind all that much now that he knew nothing was wrong.

"Then what's the problem?" Lady Mikoto asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Mother, Naruto is doing well without me. He doesn't need my help," Sasuke explained with a bite of impatience. "Besides, he's busy enough without me hanging around."

"All I'm asking is that you keep an eye on how it's progressing and update me every once in awhile. That's all." she said, with an indulgent smile for her son.

Naruto shifted uneasily, wondering if Sasuke was going to resent being forced to spend time with him. He watched as Ani lowered his head to scratch at his foreleg with his nose, and then began to sniff the ground. When he went to move away, Naruto gathered the lead rope and pulled his head up, his mind refusing to stop wondering what would happen if Sasuke really did mind working with Naruto.

"Fine," Sasuke sighed

Lady Mikoto reached up and patted his cheek with a light laugh.

"Now Sasuke, don't take on so. I'm going to find Hatake-san. You help Naruto here. I'll be back shortly."

Sasuke and Naruto stood in silence for a moment after she left.

"Sorry I sprung that on you," Sasuke said after a moment of thoughtful silence. "I would've given you some warning but..."

"It's okay," Naruto said quickly. "I don't mind."

He paused for a moment. "Your mother is a lovely lady."

Sasuke's eyes softened. "Yes she is, isn't she?" he looked at Naruto sideways. "Come on, I'll help you saddle him."

Naruto retied Ani up and hurried off to fetch his tack. When he returned Sasuke was picking out Ani's hooves with a hoof pick.

"He'll need to be shod soon, I think," Sasuke commented as Naruto threw the saddle over the stable door and draped the saddled clothes over it.

"I was thinking about getting it done soon. I'll talk to Kakashi about it tomorrow."

Sasuke grabbed a saddle cloth and threw it over Ani's back, and Naruto then helped him to settle the saddle in place.

"I hope it doesn't bother you," Naruto said softly, swallowing the lump of nervousness in his throat.

Sasuke frowned as he fastened the chest plate (2) to the saddle.

"What?"

"I hope you don't mind working with me. I mean, you don't need to if you don't want to. I can manage on my own."

"Its fine. Besides, I'd like to. It'll be interesting," he glanced at Naruto, and Naruto averted his gaze quickly. "Besides, it gives me a reason to get away from Ino for a bit. She can be a little...overbearing at times."

Naruto wasn't sure what to say to that so he nodded and stayed quiet, focusing instead on bridling Ani. It was no easy feat, because it had gotten into Ani's head that Naruto was there to play, and he was constantly nuzzling and nudging him, lowering his head to sniff out treats. Naruto was constantly pulling his head down or up, trying to get him to stay still for long enough to get the bridle on. Nevertheless, he couldn't quite suppress the smile that was threatening to break out at Ani's antics.

"How's Taira this morning? "Sasuke asked.

"Kakashi thinks that he'll be fine as long as he's warmed up properly. I'll walk him out a little later, but if I were you I wouldn't ride him for today, just to be safe."

Realizing his mistake, his eyes shot up to meet Sasuke's. "I'm sorry..."

Sasuke frowned again slightly and stepped back from Ani, frowning as he inspected the tightness of the girth.

"You don't have to be afraid of sharing your opinions with me, Naruto. I'm not going to bite your head off if you do."

"Oh. It's just..."

"What?"

"I don't want to get you in trouble with...anyone. For being so nice to me," Naruto stammered, struggling to control the furious blush that had bloomed on his cheeks.

"My father, you mean?"

Naruto nodded, and looked down at his hands, hating reminding Sasuke of his strained relationship with his father. Warm fingers lifted his chin, and he gasped in shock, his eyes as wide as a kitten's. Sasuke forced him to look into his eyes.

"You don't need to fear my father. He's not around. And besides, I won't let anything happen to you because of me," Sasuke murmured as his eyes ran over Naruto's face. After a moment, his hand dropped onto Naruto's shoulder and squeezed gently.

"Come on. Mother wants to watch you ride Ani..."

"Oi, Naruto! Kakashi wants you to saddle up Mika. We're going out on one of the trails," Kiba called out as he passed Naruto turning off a tap. He'd just finished his afternoon work of cleaning the stables allocated to him and refilling the empty and scrubbed out water troughs of each. Sasuke and Lady Mikoto had left hours ago, and Naruto was still having trouble getting his thoughts away from the unexpectedly warm relationship between Sasuke and his mother. Maybe getting out in the fresh air would solve the problem.

"Ten minutes!" Kiba said as he disappeared into the other stable block.

He grabbed a grooming kit and Mika's tack. They'd been flat out for the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon too, exercising the horses in the arena's and trying to get all the work done before it started to rain. The mist had lifted awhile ago, only to reveal that the heavy clouds of last night had not disappeared. It would be a rush to fit the ride in before it began tipping down.

Not to mention that Mika was a temperamental and highly spirited little mare who rivalled Taira for difficulty when it came to handling. Kakashi didn't let Sakura or Tenten or Kiba ride her because out of all of them, they were the riders with the least experience, and Shikamaru refused to, claiming that she was too much trouble for him to handle. The sorrel mare had taken a disliking to Genma for some reason, so it was usually Raidou that rode her. And seeing as Kakashi usually sent only the younger of the stable hands out on the trails to exercise horses, Raidou wasn't going.

Mika was a beautiful mare, but she required an experienced rider because she had a sensitive mouth and required the use of a lot of leg and seat to get her going. She could be placid enough in her stall but once saddled and with a rider on her back, she turned into a raging ball of energy and tension, ready to explode at the slightest provocation.

Naruto made quick work of saddling her. As a precaution, he wrapped her lower legs in exercise bandages in case she decided to misbehave during the ride and injure herself somehow, and he pulled on a rain jacket in case the heavens opened when they were out.

"Naruto, you ready yet?" Tenten called from the stable yard.

"I'm coming."

He led Mika out of the stall and joined the other four who were mounted and waiting for him. Naruto set his foot in the stirrup after passing the reins over her head and swung himself into the saddle, immediately gathering the reins and pulling Mika to a halt as she surged forward.

"Keep that little monster away from me, Naruto," Kiba warned, eying the mare with misgivings. "She hates me."

"It's not hard to do," Sakura muttered to herself.

Kiba glared at her and she feigned innocence, looking the other way and struggling to smother her giggle.

"C'mon, lets go. I'd like to get this over with before it rains," Shikamaru said grouchily.

"Would it kill you to enjoy yourself for once?" Tenten demanded as they moved off.

Sakura and Naruto were in the lead, with the other three a little ways behind.

"I do. I just so happen to not like rain," Shikamaru replied.

Naruto smiled as he listened to them arguing. Whatever issue or crisis he was dealing with in his life, he could always rely on things to remain the same with his friends.

The horses were energetic and lively, so as soon as they reached the trees, they urged their horses into a brisk trot.

The forest was bursting with lush green growth, and Naruto managed to appreciate the scenery while keeping an eye on what Mika was doing at the same time. The trails were undisturbed and hard packed from the rain. The trail they were following took them around the edge of the vast Uchiha property, crossing several small streams and cutting through quiet glades and crofts and winding it's way through the tall trunks of ancient trees. The best time to ride the trails was in autumn, or spring, when early morning fog hung over the ground, painting a magical and captivating picture. It was one of the most peaceful times he could think of, and he didn't mind enduring a bit of cold just to drink in the serenity the early morning forest granted him. He found himself longing for those mornings to return once more, because he desperately needed to peace that came along with them with all turmoil he was experiencing since Sasuke had returned

But as the wind whistled through his hair and ears, Naruto felt some of the tension that he's been carrying dissolve and his spirits lift. Everything was right, and nothing mattered except himself and the warm, living and breathing animal underneath him. He was with friends, and there was the exciting feeling of a storm approaching in the air.

Sometimes things got so complicated and twisted in his mind that he couldn't think properly, and when it felt like he was going to snap or break down from confusion and fear, all it took was something like this to remind him of how simple things actually were. Nothing had to be as complicated as it seemed. All that really mattered was what he felt and what was before his eyes. Everything else was secondary. Sometimes he forgot that in all the hustle and bustle of daily life, and all he needed was something or someone to remind him of the realities that surrounded him. Instead of getting stuck within his head and being so scared all the time, he needed to focus on what was going on around him.

On the last stretch of their ride it began to rain, small and scattered drops.

"Come on! Let's get back before it gets worse!" Sakura cried.

"What's the rush? A little water never hurt any one," Kiba protested from behind her.

"If you had any idea how long it took me to blow-dry my hair this morning you wouldn't be saying that," Tenten grumbled.

"I'll race you," Sakura spoke with a stroke of genius.

"You're on."

As one, they spurred their mounts into a gallop and thundered down the trail and out of the trees. The roaring wind and the drumming of hooves on the earth was the only sound in his ears, and exhilaration flooded through his system as he urged Mika forward. Light-footed and as fleet as a deer, she pulled out to the front and took the lead, stretching out completely. Naruto crouched low over her neck and gave her a loose rein, letting her go as fast as she wanted to. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Sakura gaining on him to his left, and he turned his head momentarily to grin at her. Her dancing green eyes caught his and they both laughed out loud as the rain began to pour down.

Soon they were flying up the road towards the stable complex and they were forced to slow down. Mika fought him for her head, wanting to keep running and after a brief struggle, she grudgingly dropped back into a canter then a trot as they entered the stable yard. Genma and Raidou dashed out into the downpour to help them get the horses into the shelter of the stables.

Mika, however, had other ideas and she refused to stand still long enough for him to dismount. She danced and skittered with her head held high until they were the only ones left in the heavy rain.

Eventually, Kakashi ran out and managed to grab her bridle, forcing her to stay still so Naruto could jump down and take her from kakashi.

"Thanks," he gasped as they ran for cover.

"No problem," Kakashi waved it aside. "Get her unsaddled and dried then go and get changed. You're wetter than the rest."

Naruto nodded and walked Mika back to her stall. The saddle was relatively dry, seeing as he'd been sitting on it, but the leather bridle was soaked. He dragged the saddle off Mika's back and set it aside before using a sweat scraper to remove the water from her coat. He unwound the mud splattered exercise bandages before using dry towels to rub her legs down, and throwing two warm rugs over her steaming body to make sure she kept warm.

The late afternoon was so dark that the lights had been turned on. Kakashi, Genma and Raidou had done the afternoon feed already, so Naruto dried off the tack and put it away before he headed towards a hot shower and a warm meal to help ward off the chill of the afternoon.

After dinner that night, Naruto curled up in bed to read one of the books that Sasuke had lent him. The sounds from the television drifted faintly through his closed door and outside the rain was still drumming down steadily. It was freezing outside, but he was toasty warm under his blankets, and his room was lit by the golden glow of his lamps.

There was a knock on his door.

"It's Sakura. I've bought hot chocolate."

"Come in," Naruto called as he set the book aside and sat up. She opened the door and closed it carefully behind her, expertly balancing two mugs of steaming hot chocolate as she did so.

He scooted over closer to the wall to make room for her when she approached the bed and set the mugs down. She sat next to him and slid under the blankets, pulling them over her legs and she settling against his side.

"Burrrr! It's so cold. I hate this weather!" She said as she handed him his mug. "I thought you could use some company, being holed up in your room like this."

"Thanks Sakura," he said gratefully as before taking a sip. "As usual your hot chocolate is delicious."

"Flatterer. The horse whisperers on TV. I thought we could watch it together," she offered with a bright smile.

"Sounds like a plan," Naruto agreed as he reached for the remote control and turned on his television set.

Naruto loved it when Sakura or Tenten or Genma came and kept him company before they all went to bed. Sometimes he and Sakura would read together, or he'd talk with Tenten for while. Or they'd watch movies together until they fell asleep.

As they watched the Horse Whisperer, Naruto's mind inevitably turned to Sasuke. He knew that his feelings went deeper than mere attraction to the slightly older Uchiha, and although he couldn't quite put a name to it yet, he knew that it wasn't something that could be ignored for long. It was all so new and strange to him, but it didn't unsettle him half as much as he'd expected it would, because it felt...right. Natural in a way, and although he didn't understand why, it didn't seem all that important.

Naruto glanced at Sakura, whose eyes were glued to the screen, and he worried his lip uncertainly. He knew that if Sakura learned of Naruto's feelings, it would cause problems of some sort and there was no way he wanted to put their friendship in jeopardy. Sakura too, had feelings for Sasuke, and if nothing else, Naruto respected and understood that.

But the real question was, was he strong enough to put some distance between Sasuke and himself? Could he resist the feelings he had for him and deny the growing attraction to him in order to save his friendship with Sakura? Was he willing to pass up a chance at love for the sake of sparing a friends feelings? Naruto wanted to be selfish for once. He wanted to grasp something that he could call his own and cling onto it for all he was worth but he just couldn't bring himself to. He didn't have it in him to ignore the needs of others, especially someone he cared about.

But he wanted Sasuke so badly! He wanted him more than he'd wanted anything before. And he was burning to know what it was like to feel his touch, and to touch that perfect skin in return, to worship him in any way he could.

He had no answers to all the questions that spun around in his head, but he knew he needed to come to a conclusion soon, so he could do something about it before it was too late, before he caused irreversible damage to some one else, or himself.

Maybe Iruka could satisfy some of his curiosity. He reminded himself that he needed to have that talk with Iruka tomorrow, before forcing his attention back to the movie, which was already half finished. Beside him, Sakura remained engrossed, unaware of the treacherous nature of his thoughts.

1)Hipshot- the official definition of hipshot is 'having the hip dislocated; hence, having one hip lower than the other' This doesn't mean that Ani's hip is dislocated! Just that he's resting one of his back legs, and all the weight is distributed to the other three legs. Make sense? Good!

2)Chest Plate- (also known as a breast plate) a piece of tack with straps that attach to the front of the saddle, run down over the horses shoulders and between their front legs to attach to the girth. These are intended to stop a saddle from moving backwards when a horse is being ridden.

Another chapter done, and in much less time than the last! I hope you enjoyed it, and if you have any questions, you know how to find me!

Leave a review on your way out people, and I may just love you forever!

Ja Ne!