Schooling the Next Generation

It was another cool foggy morning, the wet air clung to everything. The red mare stood outside under the dying apple tree, letting the wet air hang on her. The air was starting to cool, heralding the coming of winter, the mare knew soon she’d have to spend more time inside the barn, while she did not love being inside the shelter, it had its benefits, especially in storms. Still she longed to be wild again, and truly free. But such was not the way of life, she belong here, with the people. So the flaxen red mare enjoyed her time outside in the paddock that was her home in the warmer months, these people seemed happy to leave her outside when the weather was fair. They were kinder than her previous owners.

The red mare was just starting to doze off again, when the sound of the gate to her paddock swinging open, then closing caught her attention. As she swung her head in that direction, she heard her name called with a greeting.

“Goodmorning Zorya.”

In truth it was the name the people had chosen for her, it wasn’t her birthname, but it was the name the people had given her.

It was the younger human, she since her favored mare had given birth to a little winged filly, this human had been spending time working with the red mare, probably because she too had wings. Maggie was this one’s people name. She was a kind girl, who was always careful with any of the animals no matter how small. And for that the mare liked her.

Today Maggie had brought out the mare’s saddle, which could only mean one thing. The human was too small to climb onto the mares back alone and she normally used the wooden fence or a rock as a boost. The red mare turned and slowly plodded her way towards the human. More time to be the patient teacher. She was sure that soon she’s too be teaching the little winged filly how to fly too. The mare couldn’t help but feel some small amount of satisfaction at being able to teach this young pair, she was sure they would make a great pair. Part of her we jealous that she’d not yet found her ‘human’ yet. But she had neared the fence and she could smell the carrot that maggie had brought for her like she did every day. Being a teacher did have its perks.