Meeting the Tajevitte named Balthazar

The First Ride! aka gaining his trust

The day started out like most days at the Horsemen's stable with Seth mucking the stalls and feeding the horses. With the exception of the Ashiko horse following him out to the round pen to start the task of getting him use to the saddle and bridle along with the weight of the rider on his back. Seth grabbed a specialty made saddle and bridle he had made for Balthazar as no other would fit the male with those teeth. He started out by letting the horse sniff each piece he had for him. Before rubbing the bridle along his muzzle and head getting him use to the sound and feel of the leather before sliding it onto his head and buckling it. He held off on  the reins for now as the male got use to the bit and bridle around his head and in his mouth. The large horse flicked his ears as he mouthed the bit. Seth picked up the saddle pad next and let him sniff it before repeating the rubbing process with it along his back and body. The large horse pawed the ground at the feel of the pad along his back but allowed his owner to put it on his back. The moment came for seth to clip the reins on before he brought the saddle into play. Balthazar snorted as Seth walked closer with the strips of leather for the reins. Seth slowly clipped each rein on as he petted the horse's neck."Good boy easy balthazar it won't hurt you."he said to the large horse as he let the reins hang below the horse's neck. Seth sighed out as he hadn't spooked yet but little did he know that balthazar was planning something for the moment he saddle touched his back the large horse started bucking. He threw the saddle off his back making it land a few feet away. Seth had to calm the stallion down before he got hurt or worse. "Shhhh easy Boy easy it's just a saddle!" He said grabbing the reins to get control of his head. As the stallion calms down seth ties him to the rails of the round pen as he went get the saddle again for the male to sniff. He hoped by the end of the week he would be able to ride the male. As hours pass finally he had gotten the saddle into his back and buckled. Now came the fun part of weight training the male with sand bags and pushing on his back. Balthazar turned his head to watch seth as he brought over the first sand bag which weighted half of what he did. Seth allowed him to smell it before gently placing it on the saddle. Balthazar pranced in place snorting as the bag settled in place. Seth took it as a good sign and added another gently taking the reins in hand and slowly walking the horse around the pen. He noticed that his gait was rather smooth compared to most horses he had worked with. Finally the time came to test it out for himself. Leading balthazar to a step so he could get onto his back was a little difficult but they managed. As Seth swung up into the saddle balthazar flicked his ears back towards Seth waiting for him to be in place. Seth blew out the breathe he had been holding as he settled in place he had done it he was on his back now to get him to move. Seth clicked to him and squeezed with his thighs gently to get him walking. Balthazar followed his command as they moved in the pen doing gentle circles and turns. As the days moved towards the end of the week seth began to pick up speed and different gaits as he learned balthazar and balthazar learned him. That Saturday seth decided to take him out on their first ride through the trails by his home. As they rode through the trees and brush he noticed that balthazar was calm and rather easy to lead when he wanted to be.