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It was another warm afternoon and as it wore on towards evening Lee found himself making his way out to Choccy's paddock for the first time in a long time. He wasn't sure what drew him there, why he ended up sat by the gate watching her graze with her friends, the mare's head collar in his hands, but he started to feel a sense of peace as crickets chirped and birds glided overhead. Three staff members were making their way across the next paddock to the woods to check on the fences, but otherwise he was alone.

That was, until, Choccy spotted him. Her head shot up, piercing blue eyes watching him for a moment before she turned and started to move towards him, first at a walk and then at a trot. Almost subconsciously, he opened the paddock gate just a little, rolling his wheelchair between the gap. The other mares were paying no attention, not wanting their pleasant afternoon to be cut short by being caught for exercise.

Choccy trotted all the way over to him, slowing down to a walk as she neared and then halting right in front of him. This was the first time he had really interacted with her since Fru's death. Looking into her shocking blue eyes reminded him of why he had been putting it off, his heart clenching tightly. It was almost like looking into the past.

“Hey, girl,” he said hoarsely as his hand came up to stroke her nose. She lowered her head to him, breathing in his scent deeply. There was a sense of grief about her, but she seemed to be handling everything well. “It's been a long time. How are you doing?” Aisha had been exercising and caring for Choccy, keeping her fit and healthy through it all. She had done a good job. The mare's clipped coat gleamed like melted chocolate in the sunlight and her muscles were well defined.

“How about we go for a walk, hm?” he murmured as he slowly lifted the head collar, the mare lowering her head even more for him. He slipped the head collar onto her and fastened it into place before stroking over the side of her face gently. He was glad that he had finally come out to see her. A tranquil feeling was settling into him at the touch of her soft fur, her velvety nose, and her warm breath.

They left the paddock and Lee rested the lead rope in his lap as he wheeled himself back towards the stables, Choccy walking patiently beside him with her head hung low, not making any effort to barge away. It wasn't until he was heading into the main courtyard that he finally ran into someone, Aisha walking right towards him. “So that's where her head collar went,” she said with a laugh as she came over, “I was just going to get her, pop her over some jumps and take her on a hack.”

“I'm sure she'd like that,” he said gently, reaching up to pat the mare on the neck. Aisha didn't say anything on his sudden interest of interacting with Choccy, but he didn't miss the broad smile on her face as she moved closer to rub the horse's nose.

“You gonna come watch the school work?” she asked cautiously. He paused for a moment, eyes watching Choccy closely. He had been watching people ride but he hadn't seen Choccy being ridden since the accident. Maybe it was time.

“Yeah... yeah I'll come over.” Aisha's face lit up and she reached out to squeeze his shoulder.

“Bring her into the stable block, we'll get her ready.”

Description

Previous | Next
STORY

It was another warm afternoon and as it wore on towards evening Lee found himself making his way out to Choccy's paddock for the first time in a long time. He wasn't sure what drew him there, why he ended up sat by the gate watching her graze with her friends, the mare's head collar in his hands, but he started to feel a sense of peace as crickets chirped and birds glided overhead. Three staff members were making their way across the next paddock to the woods to check on the fences, but otherwise he was alone.

That was, until, Choccy spotted him. Her head shot up, piercing blue eyes watching him for a moment before she turned and started to move towards him, first at a walk and then at a trot. Almost subconsciously, he opened the paddock gate just a little, rolling his wheelchair between the gap. The other mares were paying no attention, not wanting their pleasant afternoon to be cut short by being caught for exercise.

Choccy trotted all the way over to him, slowing down to a walk as she neared and then halting right in front of him. This was the first time he had really interacted with her since Fru's death. Looking into her shocking blue eyes reminded him of why he had been putting it off, his heart clenching tightly. It was almost like looking into the past.

“Hey, girl,” he said hoarsely as his hand came up to stroke her nose. She lowered her head to him, breathing in his scent deeply. There was a sense of grief about her, but she seemed to be handling everything well. “It's been a long time. How are you doing?” Aisha had been exercising and caring for Choccy, keeping her fit and healthy through it all. She had done a good job. The mare's clipped coat gleamed like melted chocolate in the sunlight and her muscles were well defined.

“How about we go for a walk, hm?” he murmured as he slowly lifted the head collar, the mare lowering her head even more for him. He slipped the head collar onto her and fastened it into place before stroking over the side of her face gently. He was glad that he had finally come out to see her. A tranquil feeling was settling into him at the touch of her soft fur, her velvety nose, and her warm breath.

They left the paddock and Lee rested the lead rope in his lap as he wheeled himself back towards the stables, Choccy walking patiently beside him with her head hung low, not making any effort to barge away. It wasn't until he was heading into the main courtyard that he finally ran into someone, Aisha walking right towards him. “So that's where her head collar went,” she said with a laugh as she came over, “I was just going to get her, pop her over some jumps and take her on a hack.”

“I'm sure she'd like that,” he said gently, reaching up to pat the mare on the neck. Aisha didn't say anything on his sudden interest of interacting with Choccy, but he didn't miss the broad smile on her face as she moved closer to rub the horse's nose.

“You gonna come watch the school work?” she asked cautiously. He paused for a moment, eyes watching Choccy closely. He had been watching people ride but he hadn't seen Choccy being ridden since the accident. Maybe it was time.

“Yeah... yeah I'll come over.” Aisha's face lit up and she reached out to squeeze his shoulder.

“Bring her into the stable block, we'll get her ready.”