Equus Asinus

He paused at the door, thinking through what she'd said. "A kelpie cross? Interesting that it was abandoned, they're a farmer's best friend out here. Especially at eight weeks. Best thing to do is to start training them, get them used to sheep or cattle or both. Stockwhips and horses too. But if you've never had one, don't start with a kelpie. They're not a beginner's dog. Best find a stockman who needs a dog."

He gave a quiet sigh, reworking his plans for the morning. "Come back in the morning with the pup, I'll see what I can do," he told her. "Panicking tonight isn't going to do any good." He lifted the bowl of pasta. "Thanks for this, now if you'll excuse me." Not caring that he was probably being a bit rude, he went inside, shutting the door firmly behind him.

Shoving the bowl into the fridge, Julian simply went straight to bed, wanting to sleep more than anything. it was a good night's sleep, and as usual he woke with the sun. IN a better mood now that he wasn't so tired, it wasn't long before he was outside collecting the chook eggs for his breakfast, and working out his plans for the day.

Hearing his dogs barking, Julian took his breakfast with him to the door, hungry still. "Ah, you've brought the pup. Let's have a looksee." Putting his plate on the stool that was on the verandah, he took the little dog, and put him down on the ground, watching him. "Kelpie cross, you said? Looks to be more kelpie than anything. Could be a good worker, could turn out awful, but you never know until you try. Could use some feeding, that's for sure, he's almost too young to be away from his mother." His dogs were still carrying on, and he huffed. "Cover your ears," he advised the girl, and let out an ear splitting whistle, shutting the dogs up. "Much better."

He lifted an eyebrow at her. "Milk? He's too old for milk, honey. Eight weeks old, and they're on solids by now. Now wonder he's not feeling himself. Looks like he might have worms, his belly's big while he's still skinny. Thought the vet shoulda told you all this." Glancing down at the puppy, he sighed. "You've got no experience with working dogs, you won't know what to do. Best to find a stockman's home for him while he's still young."

"Yeah, well. He can't digest milk, so I dunno which vet you were talking to." Stretching, he shrugged a bit. "By the looks of him, he was only abandoned a week ago max. he's too small to have survived any longer, especially in this heat without water." Scratching his jaw, he thought about who might be looking for a dog. "Dunno, mate. Wilson down the way was looking for one a few weeks back, he mighta got one by now. Best thing to do, put up a few posters, spread the word. We're a small town, the grapevine's not that long."

"Nah, she probably misread." He waved off the issue, and picked up his breakfast when she'd left, finishing it off. Shaking his head over her constant excuses to come around, he put the plate in the sink, and went to finish his work with the cattle, moving them through the yards with minimal effort to drench them. They were all older cows, and knew what to do, so it was relatively easy for him. Letting them out into the small yard again, he got to work with the dun mare, hoping to be able to get her thoroughly comfortable with him.

Work with the gelding was going well, and he was finally allowing the sack of potatoes on the saddle without kicking up too much of a fuss. Maybe a week after he'd taken the cattle back up to the top paddock, Julian brought out the saddle again, resting it on the railings of the round yard before catching the gelding. There was no need now for him to send the horse trotting around the outside, he'd become accustomed to the routine, and went straight into his smooth trot without being asked. Watching him critically, Julian kept him going to warm him up, working out his plan of attack. The saddle sores were completely healed up now, so there wouldn't be any pain for the horse from the saddle any more.

Like he'd done the previous days, Julian put the saddle blanket on the gelding, then the saddle, and sent him around the ring again. The horse accepted the pressure easily now, used to the feel of the saddle on his back. Judging that he was ready, Julian let him come back to him, and mounted in a smooth motion. Not giving the horse time to think, he nudged him straight into a trot around the yard, keeping to the routine, and letting him get used to the heavier weight than the sack of potatoes.

The gelding was moving well, and Julian was just about to end the session for the day, unwilling to let it go for long when he was being so good. Sliding off, he untacked the horse when he heard the unmistakable call belonging to Ghost, and rolled his eyes. Hearing hoofbeats, his eyes narrowed, and he left the gelding in the round yard, swearing when he saw the mare. Ghost was carrying on loudly, clearly scenting that the mare was in season. The fact that the mare called out herself was no help. Ignoring her for the moment, Julian grabbed the sturdy halter he used for the stallion and let himself into the paddock. The horse was showing off, trotting around and swishing his tail as he called to the mare, and it took Julian a good few minutes to catch and halter him. Tugging downwards, he settled the horse as much as he could before moving him to a paddock further away, near where Spotlight was peacefully grazing.
Still in a bad mood about being interrupted, Julian caught the mare, and tied her to the hitching post to keep her somewhat safe. A loose horse running around would no good for anyone. Ducking inside, he made a quick call to the horse's owner, and left a rather irritated message before getting back to working with the gelding. He was more excited now, and Julian gave a sigh, knowing that the rest of the day was just going to keep going downhill.

Julian ignored the mare. She couldn't hurt herself the way he'd tethered her, and he had work to do. She'd just have to wait there until the girl came to pick her up. Cooling the gelding down, he gave the horse a sponging off, and turned him loose into the paddock before moving on to his next bit of work. His youngest dogs were in need of some work, and he'd brought a small flock of sheep up for just that purpose.

Growing thoroughly more pissed off at the mare, he paused his lesson with the dogs, and caught her leadrope. "Blasted mares. Exotic mares, to boot. More trouble than they're fucking worth." Not taking any of her nonsense, he was firm with her and locked her in the round yard. The fences there were too tall for a horse to jump out, since he worked with all kinds of troublesome horses. She'd just have to stay put out of trouble until her idiot owner turned up. Ignoring any tantrum she decided to ahve, he got back to work, teaching the dogs how to work the sheep well.

Finishing up with the dogs, Julian tossed a biscuit of hay into the round yard for the mare, making sure that she could get to the small water trough in there, and began the next thing on his list, which was the dun mare. Going in with a brush and hoof pick, he began by grooming her, letting her move away when she felt uncomfortable. Once she was groomed, he ran his hand down her leg, leaning against her to encourage her to pick it up. When she did, he praised her, and let her go, not going any further for now.