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Description
The first part of the stockman's challenge!

"So, why are we going to Australia again?" Katie asked, nervously eyeing the boarding terminal where the plane was unloading it's previous occupants.
Sarah sighed. This was the third time the new girl had asked the same question, in a blatant attempt to distract herself from the fact that they would have to board a plane in a few minutes. "If you want a job at our stables, we need to know if you're good with horses from bad backgrounds. A lot of our horses are rescues, and even more are bad tempered. If you do well with the horse that you're assigned, you get the job, and you get to keep the horse you worked with free of charge. That and Jessica got held up at that three day event and couldn't catch the plane. Since we already sent my horse over, we couldn't really bail, and you showed up just in time. So off to Australia you go."
"Oh, right" said Katie quietly. she sat back in her seat and stared at all the people waiting for their flights. God, she hated planes. It wasn't the flying itself she had a problem with, but the sickly adrenaline rush in the pit of her stomach when they took off and landed. That and waiting, she hated waiting.
Sara glanced at the city girl suspiciously. She didn't know what to think of this stranger, who dressed so differently, and talked in a faint jersey accent. Sara would be the first to admit that she had trust issues, and she didn't like the idea of working in the field with someone she didn't know, not to mention a greenhorn like Katie. But the boss lady's word was law, and there was nothing Sara could do to change Cecilia's mind.
"Now boarding, Flight 19." said an electronic voice over the intercom, startling a few sleeping patrons.
"That's us." Sara said, and led Katie onto the plane.
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The entire flight, Katie had been reading through the rules and regulations, determined not to screw this up. From what she gathered, the horse she had been assigned to was an appy cross gelding by the name of dusty, who ha a varnish spotted blanket. Seeing as there were only four appy crosses, he shouldn't be too hard to find.
The pair walked out of the terminal, and collected their baggage. Sara had a car waiting outside, apparently she had a cousin near here on a business trip who rented it for them. The silence was tense as they drove out to the ranch, Sara not comfortable talking openly and Sara afraid of saying something wrong. Finally They arrived at the ranch.
"I have to go Get Iris from the stables," Said Sara, referring to her own horse, "Here's a picture of Dusty, Go find him." she ordered, handing Katie a blurry photo of her designated horse.
"Alright." Said Katie softly, taking the photo. She started off for what she hoped was the right padlock, Since it was fill of slightly scruffy horses. She recognised Dusty right away, Grazing away from most of the other horses.
"Hey there Dusty," she spoke quietly, approaching the Gedling, "Aren't you a pretty boy."
Katie had expected him to be jumpy, or skittish, or at least wary. She hadn't even imagined the response she got. or, to be more accurate, lack of response. It wasn't that he didn't notice her, but more he didn't care. He kept this up for five minutes, moving away with slow, lazy movements every time she moved closer, seeming to want nothing to do with her. After a while, though, he seemed to realize she wasn't just going to go away, and begrudgingly acknowledged her presence and allowed her to stroke his forehead.
Katie smiled, She liked him already.

Stock:
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Description
The first part of the stockman's challenge!

"So, why are we going to Australia again?" Katie asked, nervously eyeing the boarding terminal where the plane was unloading it's previous occupants.
Sarah sighed. This was the third time the new girl had asked the same question, in a blatant attempt to distract herself from the fact that they would have to board a plane in a few minutes. "If you want a job at our stables, we need to know if you're good with horses from bad backgrounds. A lot of our horses are rescues, and even more are bad tempered. If you do well with the horse that you're assigned, you get the job, and you get to keep the horse you worked with free of charge. That and Jessica got held up at that three day event and couldn't catch the plane. Since we already sent my horse over, we couldn't really bail, and you showed up just in time. So off to Australia you go."
"Oh, right" said Katie quietly. she sat back in her seat and stared at all the people waiting for their flights. God, she hated planes. It wasn't the flying itself she had a problem with, but the sickly adrenaline rush in the pit of her stomach when they took off and landed. That and waiting, she hated waiting.
Sara glanced at the city girl suspiciously. She didn't know what to think of this stranger, who dressed so differently, and talked in a faint jersey accent. Sara would be the first to admit that she had trust issues, and she didn't like the idea of working in the field with someone she didn't know, not to mention a greenhorn like Katie. But the boss lady's word was law, and there was nothing Sara could do to change Cecilia's mind.
"Now boarding, Flight 19." said an electronic voice over the intercom, startling a few sleeping patrons.
"That's us." Sara said, and led Katie onto the plane.
--------------------------
The entire flight, Katie had been reading through the rules and regulations, determined not to screw this up. From what she gathered, the horse she had been assigned to was an appy cross gelding by the name of dusty, who ha a varnish spotted blanket. Seeing as there were only four appy crosses, he shouldn't be too hard to find.
The pair walked out of the terminal, and collected their baggage. Sara had a car waiting outside, apparently she had a cousin near here on a business trip who rented it for them. The silence was tense as they drove out to the ranch, Sara not comfortable talking openly and Sara afraid of saying something wrong. Finally They arrived at the ranch.
"I have to go Get Iris from the stables," Said Sara, referring to her own horse, "Here's a picture of Dusty, Go find him." she ordered, handing Katie a blurry photo of her designated horse.
"Alright." Said Katie softly, taking the photo. She started off for what she hoped was the right padlock, Since it was fill of slightly scruffy horses. She recognised Dusty right away, Grazing away from most of the other horses.
"Hey there Dusty," she spoke quietly, approaching the Gedling, "Aren't you a pretty boy."
Katie had expected him to be jumpy, or skittish, or at least wary. She hadn't even imagined the response she got. or, to be more accurate, lack of response. It wasn't that he didn't notice her, but more he didn't care. He kept this up for five minutes, moving away with slow, lazy movements every time she moved closer, seeming to want nothing to do with her. After a while, though, he seemed to realize she wasn't just going to go away, and begrudgingly acknowledged her presence and allowed her to stroke his forehead.
Katie smiled, She liked him already.

Stock:
[link]
[link]
[link]
[link]
[link]