"I like your name!" She commented while petting Darla. Out of all the horses in the main barn, Darla was one of her favourites for her upbeat personality. "It's going amazing today! My new foster just came in! How about you?" Ria was very excited about Skull. He had so much potential, and she was really happy that she could help release it!

"Oh for real? Who's the new foster?" Liam asked, admiring how enthusiastic Ria seemed to be. "And thank you." He added, almost forgetting to reply to the compliment.

Darla fidgeted for a second, but seemed to calm almost immediatey at the girls touch.

"I'm doing good. I've not really got too much to do today, ride Darla, sort feed out, fill haynets etc. Chores really. Good luck with your foster, though." He smiled at Ria, before hauling the saddle onto the big mare, before finishing with the bridle.

"His name is Skull, and he is a paint gelding!" She told Liam. "You're the new stable hand?" She asked politely. "Just so you know, Darla always spooks at the large willow tree on the far right corner of the ring!"

"Ah, thank you. I'll be sure to keep her in check then." He said, relieved he had at least some advice. He needed it. Being new was always tricky, but luckily Ria seemed to be quite helpful. He appreciated that.

"What are you planning on doing with Skull seeing as he's a foster? Just training him up or what?" He enquired, as he unclipped Darla from the cross ties. She became excited, and he had to work to keep her still as him and Ria carried on their conversation.

"Well, first I'm going to get him used to me and this place, then I'll see what he likes best and train him in that!" She replied eagerly. His bloodlines were unknown but he still deserved to be worth more than 500!

"I see. Well, good luck with your foster, i hope everything goes well. I'll come catch you after i've ridden, see you" Liam gave a friendly smile before leading Darla off to the mounting block, and getting on. It felt strange being on such a tall mare. He was used to having to back unbroken 15hh cobs and mustangs, being on top of a broken in taller mare was different. He swivelled Darla round, toward an arena, and entered, keeping her in check.

Although she was mostly complient with what Liam had to ask, she felt very fresh, and on top of the bit, and he knew he had to somehow train that out of her.

"Bye!" She called to Liam. Today she was going to work with the 5-year-old gelding Sergeant. The red roan stallion was rather short, 13.2 hh. He was a Hackney pony crossed with an Icelandic horse. And luckily, he had two extra gaits, the park trot and the tolt.

She quickly grabbed him from his stall in Ria's barn and gave him a quick brush down. Sergeant was not yet ready for the saddle, so Ria always rode him bareback.

The best part was, he loved jumping!

After putting on the bridle, she went over to her arena and set up a simple jump course. Sergeant knew what was happening and was already ready, he was prancing, pawing, and even doing little crow hops.

With a swift bop on the nose, Ria calmed him down so that she could get on him. After warming up, she nudged him into the canter and brought him smoothly over the first jump, going into a gallop for the second.

Soon enough, Liam had warmed Darla up, and was ready to begin the flatwork. Ria wasn't wrong- she did spook at a certain willow tree, but luckily thanks to her, he'd known and managed to keep her under control. He was plannong on some basi gait work today, and, with certain amount of strength, managed to pull Darla back now and then. She was strong.

.

After she'd been thoroughly warmed up, he headed to the centre of the ring and asked for walk. Immediately, Darla walked forward, extended her gait massively. Liam shook his head.

"Not an extended walk, walk. " He mused, and asked again, this time a little more gentle. The mare seemed to understand the more gentle kick, and slowed to a normal walk putting her head down gracefully. Liam smiled, proceeding to ask for a trot, and then canter. It was clear she was going to need a lot of gait training before he could start jumping.

After the first run of the course she slowed the roan gelding down to a tolt which then got switched with to a park trot.

"Hey sis!" Her brother's deep voice cut through her thoughts.

"Tyler!" She called to her brother while walking Sergeant over to the fence.

"Good girl." Liam said softly as the mare trotted round the ring, her tail held high. He had to cut off the willow tree corner each time, but that wasn't too much of a problem. He was just working on the gaits for now.

As he asked for another canter, Darla snorted and did her best to bolt off, clearly not understanding what she was asked to do. Liam pulled lightly on the reins, steering her so she wouldn't be able to shoot off, until she came to a halt.

"Looks like some groundworks gonna be needed with you." He said, and smiled. "I'd say thats enough for today, come on."

.

He led the big mare to the outside grooming area, and started working on her, taking off her tack and gently wiping her down with a damp cloth. He spotted Ria, for a second, and smiled before going back to doing what he had been before.