First Steps <Markus>

[whirleybird86]

Hannah gently led a skiddish show horse into the small arena. The horse had an accident in the jumping arena, and injured one of it's tendons. It was close to being on the mend, and the owner had been slowly integrating riding back into it's work schedule. Only problem was, now that the horse was close to being on the mend he was starting to get cocky, and take off with it's owner. She had already poured thousands of dollars into fixing this horse, and had also being thrown several times as well. She was at her wits end on what to do, and she didn't want him to do anymore serious damage to himself and have to be put on permanent stall rest. It just wasn't natural for a horse to be inside a stall for so long. It would drive it insane, and do more injury. Thankfully, she had heard about Hannah's successful work with rehabilitating horses with this kind of problem, and immediately sent him over.

Hannah was glad that her boss allowed the horse to come here to be trained. Sometimes they had to turn away horses depending on how severe they were, even though Hannah wanted to work with all of them, but her boss didn't want there to be a liability. Hannah never wanted to turn away a horse who needed help. Ever horse deserved a second chance. She led the horse in in just a bridle, and lunging gear. She looked the horse over and noticed the scar on his back leg where he had surgery to fix his tendon. The scar never went away. Now there was a white mark on his black fur. She slowly pulled her gloved out, slipped them on, and fixed her lunge line. The horse perked his ears forward and looked around and snorted. This wasn't his barn. He snorted louder like a dragon and viciously pounded the ground. Hannah looked at him and stayed calm.

[Markus Koenig]

Markus was just getting oriented with his new job, training at Saving Grace Ranch. The place was gorgeous, but no more than he was used to. Outside in the round pen a snort and a whinny sounded. It seemed as though somone was having trouble their horse. Well, this is what he was here for right? With the best welcoming smile he could muster he started to march over to the round pen. What he found there was not what he expected at all and surprised him quite a bit.

A young woman worked with a fiesty gelding in the pen. That's not to say the woman wasn't just as fiesty by the look she was giving the horse. Markus stopped and decided to observe the situation instead. The woman was quite the looker if he did say so himself. He now leaned agaist the heavey wooden barn side, smirking like he was the best thing since sliced bread. Reaching up he tipped his hat down just a bit to allow himself a better view without the sun in his eyes. Then he crossed his arms across his chest.

Hardly paying attention to the situation all markus could really think of was, "Boy does that woman have a nice ass." She seemed to be around his age, which really wasn't helping things. Slapping himself mentally he urged himself to concentrate upon her training method rather than those lovely curves and thin waist.

The horse seemed to have been in some type of accident. He had a nasty scar on his leg for evidence. This was probably his first time getting back to work, and as warmbloods are typical of doing, was giving his handler a hard time. She had him all decked out in fancy lunging equipment and a bit in his mouth. Markus really didn't see the need for such a set up. A horse worked better and became a calmer more trust worthy horse free of forced head gear, but who was he to comment upon English methods.

Finally he decided he would go an ask the girl some questions. There was no harm in that right? He pushed himself off the wall and squared his wide shoulders. Walking to the round pen he kept his eyes firmly on the gelding, not wanting to give the girl the wrong impression, though he had already done a thorough job checking her out. He leaned up against the round pen gate just as the monstrous warmblood thundered by. Markus didn't flinch. He was used to such behavior. "Hello Ma'am." He tipped his hat politely. "I'm curious, why do you have so much gear on this gelding?" He tried to be as easy going as possible, but his deep masculine voice often came off with a bit of an edge. He hoped he didn't scare her.

[whirleybird86]

Hannah was very calm and gentle with Brogan. She slowly approached him, and the gelding eyes her, and she reached a hand out and gently touched his neck. His muscles flinched when she touched him, and his ears moved back and he backed up. If she was thinking about getting on him, then he was going to try at all means possible to make that not happen. She used a gentle hush and gently rubbed his nose. She was just going to start off with getting to know how he would react all around. Just y touching his side, she could see that he didn't like it, and would probably be worse if she tried to touch his back. She held his halter as he tried to move and she looked at him, " Hey sweetie, you're okay. I promise I won't hurt you. Trust me," she said and ran her hand down his neck.

She unstrapped most of the gear, just leaving the bridle on, and she put everything else in the center of the ring. She let him sniff her hand, and she took the line, and he sniffed it. She made him stand, and carefully yet gently she ran her hands down his legs, and under his belly. When she tried to go for the back, he spooked and bolted. She immediately grabbed the slack and held on. She kept her ground, and the gelding went around her and tossed his head and bucked. " Good, making progress," she said. She heard and voice and she looked over and saw someone was watching her. She particularly did not like being watched by strangers. She preferred the one on one time with the horse without any other human distractions. Her upper lip stiffened, and she rested her hand on her side as the gelding stopped and snorted seeing the man. " I didn't know I was being watched. I always like to work in silence. I just have a bridle on." she replied and looked at him. Great a cowboy, probably one of those Parelli junkies. She turned away and went back to working with the horse.

[Markus Koenig]

marksu watched as the gelding pulled harshly on her lead line as she tried to touch him all over. With a gelding that high in energy Markus certaintly would have made him lope several times around the pen before doing anything really meaningful. However he wasn't this horse's trainer and so it was up to the woman to make those decisions.

"I'm sorry for staring. I had just heard the commotion and decided to come look." Markus rubbed the back of his neck at her confrontation. "And I guess working in a bridle is ok. I've just never seen it done that way before. My experience is that letting the horse's head free allows for a better connnection to be made between horse and handler. Usually I work without a halter even, so it's odd to see a bit in the horse's mouth." He stopped talking, realizing he was rambling. Markus really wasn't that much of a talker, but this was his thing and he could go on for hourse. "I'm Markus by the way. The new trainer here. Mind if I stay and watch?"

Surely she couldn't object to him just watching her work with the gelding. It really didn't have that much of an impact on the horse's training and Markus always thought having distractions around the horse was beneficial. After all in the show ring he would not be allowed to be distracted by people, other horses, or the random plastic bag. Classes, and money, were often lost that way. His spurs jingled as he cocked his leg up and leaned even heavier against the round pen. His dark brown eyes now stared up at her past the rim of his black hat.

[whirleybird86]

Was he serious? Giving her tips on how to train her clients horse? Who did he think he was!? This was her.... oh nevermind. " I'm Hannah, and may I be blunt and honest. You have your way of doing things, and I have mine. This works for me. I have been doing this method for four years, and so far I have had no complaints. You are welcome to watch, just don't say anything," she said and gave him a sarcastic smile and frowned. She was a firecracker ready to pop if he got under her skin. She stiffened her upper lip, and turned back to Brogan.

She calmly worked with him, and used softly voices, and light aids. She watched his reaction to each thing that she did, to see what his personality was going to be like when she tried her aids. Hannah reached her arms to her sides, making a pushing motion for him to move out, and watched him. Brogan looked at Markus, and then Hannah. Hannah looked at Markus and then Brogan. He was not going to distract her horse! She cleared her throat, and clicked her tongue and Brogan picked up a walk. After about half an hour of work, she was done and was satisfied for a first go in the ring. She walked to Brogan and took off his bridle and left on his halter. He was good, so he deserved a reward. She hooked the bridle over her shoulder, and walked Brogan around the ring beside her.

[Markus Koenig]

The big gelding thundered around the round pen, his large hooves striking the dirt. He seemed kind of flighty, for he kept looking at Markus and other things around the area. See this is why Markus would have removed the bridle the horse was wearing. A bridle is considered a trap to a horse. His head is restricted and it literally makes him more spooky. By allowing a horse to have his head the horse feels more in charge and can then focus more on his work rather than the trap. Even a halter would have been less of a trap to this horse and less intrusive because of the bit in the horse's mouth.

However this seemed to be an effective method for horses whom were just getting ready to be ridden. Markus would probably use this technique in the future to ready a horse to use a bit. He could put the bridle on the two year old, twist the reins so they were out of the way, and hang them on the saddle horse. This would allow the horse to feel all of the tack on him before mounting. Absentmindedly Markus nodded his head. When he had a horse to train or he bought another of his own he would be trying this method.

Hannah stopped her horse and patted him on the neck. Markus truly did admire how she used as little pressure as possible to encourage her horse to do different exercises. The way she read the gelding's mannerisms was great. Unfortunately it did not seem as though she had the same ability with people. "Miss, I really meant no infraction. And I was not trying to tell you how to train your horse." She had looked at him earlier like he was the worst scum on earth. He really needed to change that impression. "I find that hearing the ideas of other trainers helps to improve my training. This method with the bridle, I think it will help me with my two year olds."

Markus really had a bad habit of pushing things a little too far though. He walked next to her with a steady stride and a smirk grew upon his face. "Of course I should know that a pretty and intelligent woman such as yourself knows everything and has no need to improve her training skills whatsoever." He extended his gait some so he was now walking off ahead of her. He hoped that he would have angered the little firecracker enough that she would bolt off after him. Meanwhile he was going to get Mouse.

[whirleybird86]

Hannah softly used her words to get the horse to listen to her. She used to watch her grandfather out in Montana break mustangs, and he used his voice to soothe their broken spirit. Much like what Hannah was doing. Once she was able to keep the gelding's attention, it was easy to get him to listen to her commands. She didn't use a lunge whip like her grandfather, The lunge line was all she used, along with her voice, and body language. She watched the horse's head and ears to watch how he responded to her, and she smiled with satisfaction. After the work with him, she raised her palm up and softly said, " Whoaaa," and the horse slowed down his trot and stopped. He licked his nose, and tossed his head. She collected the lunge line slowly, gave it a little tug, and got his attention back on her. The gelding slowly walked toward her, and stopped right in front of her. She smiled and raised her hand and stroked his neck gently. Brogan was a good horse with great potential, but since he had been kept in a stall for so long, and plus his accident he had become headstrong, and spooky. Hannah hope to calm him and make him enjoyable to ride again.

She looked at Markus as he approached her and she didn't want to say anything to him. " Okay, I'm sorry for being an honest bitch, but that's how I was raised. I just prefer to not be watched because then that takes the attention of the horse off of me, when they need to listen to the instructions given. I'm sure you have very effective methods as well," she told him. As Hannah started to make her way to the gate, she noticed he was walking in stride with her, and was getting flustered. Stop it! She watched him take bigger steps and walked on ahead of her. She stopped and watched him as he made his last comment, and she wanted to wring his neck! How dare he assume that she was a know it all! She just... ugh he made her angry. No, she would not give him the satisfaction of following after him. She led Brogan to his stall and brushed him off before going to get Firefly.

[Markus Koenig]

He walked briskly away from her. If she was going to call herself a bitch at least he didn't say it. Markus was trying to be nice to her! And he didn't accuse her of doing anything wrong and he was trying to lighten things up with a joke! Uhh, but no. She just couldn't get over the fact that she thought he was telling her what to do. He slammed his fist against the Mouse's stall door. "Why are women so frustrating?!" His low voice bounced off the sides of the barn in a echo. Shit, he hoped she didn't hear that.

A black nose nuzzled against his hand through the bars. "Oh hi Mouse." He brushed his fingers against her muzzle and smiled at her. "You're a woman, you can tell me what to do right?" She bobbed her head and whinnied and he laughed aloud. "Of course you could girl." In about fifteen minutes he had her groomed and saddled and ready to go. He was going to go out and practice reining for the upcoming show this Saturday.

As he was walking her down the aisle he saw Hannah standing by a stall door. Was this her horse? He was too curious not to go look. Markus walked so that he was standing a few feet behind her. "Is that your girl?" His voice was a low whisper. He wanted to see her passion because Mouse was definitely his. At that moment Mouse shove her nose into his back. He fell forward and managed to catch himself, only my throwing his arms around her waist. "Oh my God! I'm so sorry!" He quickly stood up, red in the face and brushed himself off, his skin tingling with her touch.

[whirleybird86]

Hannah smiled when she saw Firefly, and she patted her neck, and slipped on her halter. Firefly was the best horse she had ever owned, and the first horse she ever trained herself. Her coat was the perfect shade of grey, and her body conformation was perfect, if she were an athlete she would be like the Tim Tebow of football. She patted her neck, and heard a voice behind her, it was Markus. She turned her head slowly and looked at him, slowly nodded, and led her mare out of the stall. She looked and saw Mouse behind him, and gave a little smile. " This is my girl Firefly, she was the first horse I have successfully trained...in a bridle," she said and pointed at him before he could say a word about using a bridle.

She watched as the two mares touched noses and she gave a little smile and looked at Markus. " Did you train Mouse yourself," she asked and cleared her throat softly. She was wrong to have been that rude, and she needed to work on her people skills. She was about to say she was sorry when he was pushed into her direction, and his hands went around her waist, and she fell back into the stall wall. She looked at him in shock, and just stood there, and slowly placed her hands on his arms. " It... it's okay," she said trembling.

[Markus Koenig]

He went to pull his arms away from her, but she stopped him. Hannah's small hands laid upon his forearms and he could instantly feel every curve in them. It was an odd sensation, like a hyper sensitive feeling. His breathing hitched and whatever question she had asked him before fell completely out of his mind. Smoothly he tightened his arms around her, if only slightly. It had been awhile since he had held a gorgeous woman in his arms and he reveled in it. But his body begged for more, so he knew he had to pull away soon.

"Hannah," He took a deep breathe. This usually wasn't as hard for him. Maybe it was there current intimate position because usually he had no problem asking women on a date. Markus look deep into her dark green eyes and asked, "Would you go on a date with me?" As a man who always had to do something with his hands he worked his thumbs in circles over her small waist.

He never broke eye contact because he searched earnestly for her answer. Why did he care so much? He had never before cared like this. That's when it hit him. It was because of that moment when she looked at her horse and he saw all the love in the world shine through her green velvet eyes. Markus wanted someone to look at him like that. Ok well maybe not exactly like that. The love of a horse is a bit different than the love of a man, and that firecracker side to her had him mentally smiling in now time. He had to wait though and see what she said.

[whirleybird86]

Hannah looked up at him as her hands gently laid on his arms and she felt trapped and paralyzed. She softly gripped his arms and took a deep breath and got lost in his blue eyes. Those eyes that kept her trapped like a moth in the flame. Her heart was screaming to surrender, but her mind was telling her to back out that he was no good. Snap out of it Hannah! She closed her eyes, and looked down and then looked back at him as his eyes searched hers for an answer. She trembled slightly at his touch, and she bit her lip. She so badly wanted to say yes, but she wasn't ready to give her heart away just yet. " I...I can't. I'm sorry," she said and quickly stepped away as her hand brushed out of his like soft lace. She lead Firefly away, looking over her shoulder at the man who stood there and hurt was on her face. She didn't want to be hurt again. She turned down another part of the barn and hooked Firefly to the crossties.

She stood there for a moment when he wasn't looking and she felt her lungs tighten and she could hardly breathe. She bit her lip and tried not to scream. These emotions, and feelings. Keep them down, keep them down! She bent over and took deep breaths. Once she got herself together she quickly tacked up Firefly and went to the ring to ride.

[Markus Koenig]

"I...I can't. I'm sorry." She pulled out of his arms and walked away with her horse. Markus' eyes trailed after her. He could still feel her heat on his forearms, but it felt like she just blew away with the wind. He looked down at his hands then and wondered what he had done wrong. Dropping his arms his hands curled into fists. He clenched them and his nails bit into his palms as he dealt with the sting of refusal.

Taking in a deep breathe he looked up. Markus hated losing, but this was worse. He had put himself out on the line and she just slapped him in the face. Actually it probably would have been better if she just slapped him. What the hell did I can't mean anyway? He moved swiftly over to Mouse and tightened her girth. Throwing the reins up and over her neck he mounted her in the barn. Of course that was a big no no, but he knew this horse and she knew him and he really didn't give two shits at the moment.

Hauling on her reins he asked for a big rollback right in the isle of the barn. The rope he had tied to the saddle slapped against her flank and made her a bit antsy but she didn't mind so much, being a roping horse and all. Then he threw his hand forward, rolled his spurs up her side, and hissed at her. She flew forward. Her hooves slipped only a little on the pavement before she was off and running. He leaned down over her neckand grabbed his hat. For a quarter horse she was high strung so he knew she enjoyed it.

When her feet hit dirt and she was running down the trail Markus noticed a stinging upon his face. That's when he realized the cold wind was pricking at the tears running down his cheeks. "Dammit, I never cry." He muttered and urged Mouse to run faster, to run out his frustrations.