Are they ready?

[stephanie]

Driving up to the vet clinic was an excited young lady. In her back trailer were two well trained horses, both retired from racing at an early age. Both were champions in their own respects, only a year apart in age.

The stallion in the back whinnied in frustration as he stomped bottom of the trailer, proceeding to kick the barrier between him and the mare named Windy or "Run with the Wind" as her show name was. Smarty Boy, as he was commonly known, had recently been going crazy over the mare, trying to find a way to breed with her constantly.

And so Stephanie realized it was time to get Windy and Smarty Boy evaluated for breeding. As she pulled up into the driveway, the two in the back were noisily shuffling their feet and whinnying. Both were in prime condition, but the question was.. Was Windy ready to bear a foal?

Tacking up their bridles and leading them into the barn, she tied them several feet away from each other. Then she walked up to the vets office door and knocked... This was it. The moment of truth!

[Nevvy]

(This is just a temporary vet at the moment until we get a character who wants to be a vet)

It was a slow day here, which was always good to Dr. Samuels. He brushed at his graying hair. Soon enough he would not be able to handle this place and would need to find somebody to take it over. It was about time he retired and enjoyed the rest of his life. Not that he hadn't enjoyed his life to the fullest, he enjoyed it immensely. All the amazing animals he treated, cared for, and unfortunately had to put into a better place. He looked over some of the files that he had done today. Two dogs and cat. Not that drama-filled, but hey all animals needed to be treated for. One had hairballs and the other two just needed shots. No life or death things going on here.

He heard the crunching of tires against the gravel driveway and looked up. Ah, so his next appointment was here. A mare and stallion, both of young ages. The owner wanted to know if the mare was ready for breeding. Right away he did not think so because of the age. Most horses were not done growing at that age, and he liked it when mares were fully mature before being bred because of other problems that could occur. But it all depended on the owner, he would give the basic facts to her. Hearing the knocking on the door, he got up, stretching a little to get the kinks out of his back. Grabbing his keys so he could lock the door, he opened it. Hello, you must be... He looked at the file in his hand, Ms. Grewell. Sorry old age is getting the better of me. I would shake your hand however there isn't a sink out there and I don't want to pass along any germs to the horses. Okay yes a little paranoid, but he would feel so bad if he accidentally passed anything to another animal. Gesturing toward the barn, he kept a good pace, hoping she would keep up. It wasn't that he didn't want to take the time, he just didn't want his barn torn apart. Can you give me a brief medical history on your mare? What does she eat, her exercise regiment, anything that she has done through her life? He wanted to know everything before he made a decision. Entering the barn, he looked briefly at the two creatures before him, noting how fine horses they really were.

[stephanie]

Stephanie looked at the vet as he answered the door. She could tell he had his own opinion, and she did not want to jeopardize anything about her horses, but she felt slightly uneasy as if he was judging her. This might be in her head... but she kept it to herself. "Old memory?" She inquired. She tried a smile. "It never shows." She joked lightly. Looking into his eyes, she listened as he talked to her and asked her questions. Thinking a moment, she thought back to the medical history. "She injured a leg in her last race, thus why we retired her early for breeding. She's a great horse. Great shape lately. She's been given vitamins and regular trots, trail rides, and, plenty of rest at night and every other day... and rub downs to keep her leg from reinjuring." She explained softly. "She's won first place in the kentucky derby. She injured in the next practice, so we pulled her out of that career. But she has great bloodlines.. hardly any health issues besides a case of collick as a foal and an injury at the practice." She said softly. "So what do you think doc? Give me your best opinion."

[Nevvy]

He walked toward the mare slowly as she talked, taking in everything. She looked in very good shape, there really was no fat on her that he could tell. Is the leg fully healed and it has not given her any problems since? He asked, although he figured he knew the answer seeing as she was ridden. As long as the mare isn't temperamental and doesn't give you a hard time, she should be fine otherwise she might give that trait to her foal and you'll have two hotheads to deal with. I usually like to wait until they mature to breed horses; however she is at the age where she can be bred and I am assuming so is your stallion over there. Watch the leg and if she shows any signs of limping during the pregnancy, I would not ride her any longer. Of course, make sure she doesn't do anything foolish in the pasture, and if the leg does bother her I may suggest moving her to a paddock with one friend, or an arena with some hay. She looks to be in perfect health so I would not see why not. He stepped away from the mare, passing her a carrot before going up to the stallion and giving him one too. Is there anything you wanted me to check over with this big boy? A tri-colored barn cat skittered away from the horses after coming out of one of the unused stalls, a few kittens following behind it. Don't mind Skittles, she doesn't hurt anybody. He would have her in the house but he found her in the barn and, well, she didn't like it in the house though he brings her in on the coldest of nights in the winter and sometimes spring. She was his "assistant" in the barn.

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