Rescued [[Nicola Philippaerts]] #wattys2017

The Appaloosa Stallion

He turned his head towards me and walked forwards nervously. I reached my hand out with a Polo mint and let him take it out of my hand. He jerked his head up and bounced on his front legs as if to defend himself.

"It's alright baby. Come on." I cooed. He stepped towards me again and allowed me to put the headcollar onto his head.

"Good boy." I said and rubbed his greasy neck. He nickered and followed me out of the corral, kicking out at Austin on the way past.

"See ya Austin." Nicola called as he walked with me and the stallion towards the horsebox. The stallion showed no aggression and loaded peacefully into the box and began to eat some of the wet hay we had hung in there for the journey back. Me and Nicola secured the doors and hoped back into out seats to begin the two hour journey back home.

"What will you name him?" Nicola asked.

"Um...I don't know. Maybe Pepper." I said.

"Do you want some salt with that?" Nicola smirked.

"Very funny Nicola." I said.

"What?" Nicola asked.

"I'll call him Pepper because I saw an Appy named Pepper in The Saddle Club so I'll name him Pepper." I said.

"Pepper. I'll get used to it when I have to bring him in from the field?" Nicola said slowly.

"Cool. Pepper for his stable name but for his show name, Rule The World."

"Good choice." Nicola said. I nodded and continued to monitor my new horse in the horsebox camera that all the Philippaerts Horseboxes had installed in them. He was beautiful and I knew he wasn't dangerous. But he would become possibly the greatest jumper in Philippaerts Stables possibly. Maybe even as great as H&M Challenge.

When we arrived back at the yard, Nicola cut the engine and helped me lower the ramp. Most of the workers and Nicola's mother, father and brother were stood by the barn, waiting to see the new horse. Nicola smiled at me and nodded as I slipped into the horsebox.

"Meet Pepper." Nicola smiled as I led my new horse down the ramp and stood him in the yard.

"Let me guess, Austin's Livery?" Ludo said, stepping forwards and inspecting Pepper.

"Yep. Bang on." Nicola said. Pepper nuzzled my hand and nickered affectionately.

"Well, all he needs is new horseshoes, correctly fitted tack... and a bloody good bath." Ludo declared as he patted Pepper.

"You wanna help me Nicola?" I asked.

"Sure. I'd love to." He said and looked at his dad.

"Me and Chelsea are going to bath Pepper and then find some stuff for him." Nicola said as I led Pepper to the cross tie area. I clipped the cross ties onto the sides of Nicola's headcollar and then picked up the hose line.

"Alright baby. Time for a bath." I said as I turned the water on. He stood still whilst I poured the water over his body and soaked him.

"Babe. I've got Shampoo, Conditioner and grooming kit." Nicola said as he began to tip some shampoo onto Caramel's body. He handed me the bottle afterwards and I did the same, turning off the hose beforehand. Then, me and Nicola began to scrub the shampoo right into Pepper's spotted fur. This was going to be a long afternoon.

After using a whole bottle and a half of shampoo, we decided that Pepper was clean and grease free. We gave him another rinse off to make sure that there was no remaining bits of shampoo in his coat before working on his mane and tail. Nicola insisted on doing the mane so I did the tail which was quite easy.

"I like this." Nicola said after a while, flicking some water at me.

"What?" I replied, flicking some back at him.

"This... Spending time with you." Nicola stated.

"Oh. Same here." I said and continued to rub the mane and tail conditioner into Pepper's tail. He was a good horse and didn't swish it too much but I couldn't take my eyes off of Nicola.

Once we were finished with bathing Pepper, Nicola led my new horse over to the large indoor dryer and attached him to the cross tie. It was only a 10 minute wait for Pepper to be dry until me and Nicola took him back over to the grooming cross tie and began to brush him with the various brushes and combs we had with us. Pepper was good with his feet but not so sure with his head so I let Nicola brush Pepper's face whilst I brushed through his mane and tail.

After an hour and a half of grooming Pepper, me and Nicola stood back to admire our handy-work. Pepper was shining and looked as sleek as H&M Harley did. Nicola turned to me as I turned to him and did something I was not expecting. He grabbed the front of my t-shirt with one hand and crushed his lips onto mine. I kissed back immediately until we heard a wolf-whistle. Nicola turned around but pulled me behind him protectively. I peeked out from behind his arm to see a man I had never seen before.

"Babe. Take Pepper to his stable then go to H&M Challenge's stable and stay in there with him. I'll come and get you when it's safe." Nicola whispered very quietly to me. I nodded and walked over to Pepper, unclipping him from the cross tie and taking him into the barn. I led him inside Cherry's old stable and shut the door. I then walked as quickly as I could to Challenge's stable. I crashed into Olivier as I was turning the corner.

"Whoa Chels. What's up with you?" Olivier asked, holding my shoulders gently.

"A man appeared in the yard and Nicola told me to wait in Challenge's stable until he came to get me" I said, slipping from his grasp and going to Challenge's stable. The large horse I had grown to love, was laying down peacefully and nibbling the hay on the floor.

"Hey big boy." I greeted him with a smile. He nickered and extended his nose up to me. I was careful as I sat down next to him and laid my right arm across his back whilst my left hand stroked his nose.

"What a beautiful animal." Someone said. I looked up and saw the same man Nicola told me to hide from. I got up quickly and backed up to the back of Challenge's stable. Challenge also got to his feet and stood in front of me, throwing his head up and flattening his ears.

"Who are you?" I asked nervously.

"Please my dear. Do not be alarmed. I am Jackson. I came to congratulate you on your riding at Spruce Meadows." He said in a sly tone.

"Listen. I don't know who you are and I don't know where my boyfriend Nicola is so could you please leave. You're upsetting my horse." I spoke firmly. Challenge reared up and struck out.

"Babe!" I heard Nicola call. He jogged up and appeared with his father and Olivier. Nicola came into the stable with me whilst Ludo and Olivier physically got 'Jackson' off of the yard. Nicola checked me over and held me close to him.

"That man is James Giles. He's a stalker, rapist and murderer rolled into one. I'm glad he didn't hurt you." Nicola said, hugging me tightly. Ludo came back and leaned on the bars.

"Well. He's our new client unfortunately and he's stabling next to Alaska. I can't deny him the right to want to stable here so I want you three to look out for each other." Ludo spoke.

"Ha! She's not leaving my sight." Nicola said seriously, holding my hand. I smiled and leaned into him. I could tell, I was now in danger as long as Nicola was not near me.