h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*lil lets me and Seph loose in the paddock*

Wa-hay!! And boing and bounce and kick up the old heels! Time to run around! Come on Seph, let's get a drink then go hang out under those trees. If we get bored we can always jump the fence and head out.

*watches the horses buck and gallop around then settle down and put their noses in the grass*

That Seph is light on his feet. I need to find out what Mike would like to do with him, because he would make a grand cowhorse.

*turns away and heads for Rimshot's box*

I'm just looking around to see what the Gnu facilities are like...

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The gnus are free range at the moment. Would you like to ride out with me and have a look over the herd?

Hi Lil, hi Bluebottle! I just checked on Cookie, she is very happy in her box. Look at Ferrari! Isn't he beautiful? ~sighs~ Horses are lovely animals.

Hi Mari-Rae, hi Lil.
I'd love to have a look over the herd, thanks for offering. Is it far?

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mari-rae, she seems quite happy with her new companions! Would you like to come with us on Cookie or one of the school horses?

BB, it's just an hour's ride down into the heart of the bluegrass valley where the gnus like to hang out. I have a number of nice horses available for non-horse owners to ride. Which one would you like? Have you ridden very much?

I've never ridden a horse before. A few donkeys when I was young, but never a horse.
So, could I ride your most donkey-like horse to the Bluegrass Valley?

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I have two nice beginner horses, Shamrock and Benny. They prefer not to do any independent thinking unless they suddenly find themselves alone with just you. If you happen to be, er, on the ground, then they will come galloping home and bring someone back to fetch you. If you are still on board and you don't seem to be communicating clearly (because of being a beginner) then they will politely but firmly turn toward home and take you back. But as long as they know there are other ride members about they will stick with the ride.

They are both very nice and get embarrassed when people fall off them.

Shamrock is a chestnut horse, kind of short (15 hands). Benny is the bay, kind of lanky and taller at 16.1 hands. We'll give you an Australian stock saddle so you feel secure fore and aft! Which one would you like?

Benny sounds a more Gnu-like name, so Benny will be fine, thanks.
I'm still not sure about this riding business, though....

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I'll saddle Cookie, not forgetting to tie a red ribbon to her tail. She sometimes kicks at the other horses. The ribbon is a warning to the other riders to not crowd her.

*moves along with mari-rae to saddle up Benny the Bay, beckoning to BB to come over to the loose boxes and asking a groombot to fetch all the tack*

mari-rae, as Cookie doesn't like being crowded, you can have pole position on the trail. That's ideal, anyway, to have the novice between us.

BB, horses are easier to ride than camels or donkeys! I'll adjust the saddle so that the stirrups are comfortable and supportive and you won't have to worry about steering cos Benny will stay with us. I'll put a neck strap on him, though, so you have something to grab onto if you have a confidence crisis -- try to remember not to pull on the reins to keep your balance.

I'll leave you with mari-rae then, while I go to South Boxes and get Rimshot.

Okay - I should be fine with Benny.
I'm just wondering who mentioned camels....?

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Me! I thought if I brought camels to mind, you would think of swaying back and forth alarmingly, way high off the ground, and be grateful to only be on a horse.

*leads Benny out of his box. Benny stretches his head out with a friendly expression and sniffs at Bluebottle, then looks impish and pretends to eat some of BB's hair*

Horse humor. They always think it's such an original joke! *leads Benny over to mounting block* You just go up those steps to where it will be easy for you to pop a leg over, and then I'll adjust your stirrups for you.

*Stands beside BB in case he needs help.*

Thanks Mari-rae.
*BB manages to mount the horse okay, and despite Benny's "let's make him think I'm going to sit down" horse humour, manages to get the hang of the basics quite quick*.

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*Lil leads Rimshot out of his box, tightens the girth, pulls down the stirrups, gives the bridle a last-minute check and mounts up*

I can see already that you and Benny are going to get on fine!

Now I reckon the best way to go will be down past the quarantine barn, over the creek and through the woods a little ways until the horses have warmed up. Then we will find a stream, if I remember the path aright, and we can go alongside that. mari-rae, are you ready? Bring a riata if you have one! *pats the rope coiled up on the side of her own saddle*

*a groombot rolls up with a pair of saddlebags* Ah! sandwiches.

Erm.... why is it a Quarantine barn?

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Whenever you have a sick horse, or a horse arriving from out of state (or out of planet), you keep that horse well away from the rest of the horses, so they don't catch anything. It also gives the new horse a chance to acclimatise to his surroundings without immediately enduring the pecking order, and the "homie" horses conversely get used to the stranger.

Also, the boxes for sick horses are a little more protected. They are more secluded, so that the horse will get plenty of rest.

I need to add a foaling barn, eventually.

Let's go!

*Lil and BB have been in the central yard all this time: now Lil leads the way, at a walk, through the indoor school and past the dressage ring. A groombot opens the gate to the pathway alongside the quarantine barn (empty), then closes it behind them, and they head out*

*Follows Lil, having a look around at the surrounding area.*
So, how much do you know about gnus dietry requirements?

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