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Post by huritt on May 16, 2010 4:38:11 GMT -5
The small building's fan whirred across the small reception office, glaringly empty. Huritt had moved into town a few days ago, with the promise of his own quarters and practice building to get him started, nearly rent-free. The dusty tile floor and closeness of the room made it clear why everything was so cheap. He sighed and got up from a lone chair after shutting off a near-ancient computer.
He was actually quite happy with the setting and all he'd been given. While it wasn't much to look at- the fan and a couple open windows were the only sources of cooling, for now- the place was on quite a bit of land. Three acres outside, 1/3 gravel parking, 1/3 grass field, and 1/3 pens and this building. There was a garage in the building, but it was obviously built for two cars, side by side. He felt it would make a good work area, if the back wall was taken out. It was something he could work on.
Now, to wait. The clients would come, supposedly, they said. However, the only ranches he'd seen around here had been pretty high class stables, with magnificent horses. Huritt had little to no record as a farrier, so it might take a long time to prove he was good with horses, and careful with their feet. Still, he felt good about being here, confident someone would hire him soon. This was a fine facility, but if he got a phone call, he'd gladly go out to wherever the horses were.
Who knew, maybe he'd find one he liked and be able to buy it.
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Post by kallik on May 16, 2010 9:36:09 GMT -5
Hannah left Heartland Ranch early thismorning, she wanted to get her chores done in order to get some practice time for the gig that she had tonight at Horseshoe Tavern downtown. She looked around, she was mounted ontop of her chestnut Quarter Horse mare, Bubbles. She thought about riding bareback today, but it didn't sound comfortable with what she was doing so she saved it for tomorrow, or some other day. She loosened the western reins on Bubbles' bridle, and searched through her black and colorful bag hanging over her right shoulder.
Hannah searched throughthe bag until she found her paperwork, list of what to do, and the flyers she would pass out, advertising Bubbles as a brood mare. She plodded along the rode on her chestnut mare, and turned left onto Farrier Lane, where she could visibly see the small building and mass of land from the treeline. She broke Bubbles into a trot, and slowed her as she came to the building. She dismounted the horse, looking around. "Hellooo?" Hannah looked around and leaned against her horses' hefty hip. She looked at her watch, 11:00AM, normally, she would be waking up at this time, but no, not today.
Bubbles whickered as she looked around, her chestnut coat rippled when she turned her massive skull to look at her surroundings. She pawed the ground impatiently when she suddenly stopped, hearing the familiar noises of another human.
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Post by huritt on May 16, 2010 15:56:03 GMT -5
The sound of hoof beats on small gravel was Huritt's first notice of someone approaching. It hadn't seemed to take very long- he'd put up a bulletin (sloppily handwritten on lined paper, but a bulletin nonetheless) yesterday, but someone must have seen it already. He grinned and looked out the window from the small cozy lobby to the parking lot, spotting a grand chestnut mare and her rider dismounting. He ran a hand through his hair, straightening it for a moment, dusting it out if any dust was in it from this place.
He took a moment to compose himself, reminding his mind that he had to be businesslike about this. he was too fresh out of high school still to have a serious demeanor about himself, but he could manage it at times. Smiling and laughing were much more fun than being businesslike anyway. He pushed open the unpainted wooden door to the brick building, striding out slowly as Hannah called out a 'hello'. He grinned, waving slightly to not spook the horse, if it might be the frightened type.
"Welcome. My name's Huritt, anything I can help you with?" He spoke evenly, approaching slowly and holding out a hand to shake with confidence. Of course, it might have all been a bluff- he was truly nervous about his first customer. She, after all, would spread news faster than a bulletin, and a person's review went farther than paper.
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Post by kallik on May 21, 2010 8:47:32 GMT -5
Hannah smiled, her hand shook his. She pet her mare, who whickered to Hurritt. "Hello, Hurritt. I am Hannah, this is Bubbles." she motioned towards the big Teddy-bear of a horse. Hannah set her keys in her pocket, unraveling the paper, it was indeed the flyer that Hurritt and put up yesterday. She explained Bubbles situation.
"Bubbles just needs new shoes, and we are willing to set you up at Heartland Ranch as our farrier if you do well." She hoped that the man was better than the last farrier, who nailed one of Bubbles' shoes in crooked. She smiled sweetly, looking up at Hurritt. She felt like she was being flirtatious, but he was good-looking, so she didn't hesitate any longer.
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Post by huritt on May 23, 2010 2:57:23 GMT -5
Huritt grinned and shook Hannah's hand, turning to watch Bubbles as the mare whickered. He dug in his pocket a moment and produced a small apple-treat, barely a nibble but still enticing, and held it out to the mare- "If I may..." he asked quietly before feeding the horse. Some people didn't like their equines fed by others, for reasons he could understand well.
"Odd name for such a mare. I would have expected something more majestic. Thanks very much for your offer, I hope you find me up to standard." He winked, chuckling softly as he turned toward the building. Until the garage could be transformed into a shoeing area, the hitching post out front would have to do.. or a pen in the back. He hadn't cleaned them yet, though, so he motioned to the post, indicating Hannah could tie her mare there while he retrieved his tools.
For a few moments Huritt rummaged around the garage, sorting out the basics he had with him. they'd cost a lot and weren't top of the line, but the nails and shoes were. The files and clippers could use some sharpening, but they would work fine for now. After all, if they were too sharp they could be too dangerous, and it would be too easy to clip the hoof short. He started the furnace, and a low roar swelled as the fires blazed, just yards from the mare. It faded slightly and Huritt reached out to pat Bubbles' neck, hoping to calm her and getting ready to lift her foreleg. His attention seemed to be on the mare, but he was listening quite attentively for anything Hannah would say- customer service was very important.
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Post by kallik on May 24, 2010 8:18:41 GMT -5
Hannah smiled as Huritt offered Bubbles the treat. The pig-of-a-horse hogged it down, nosing at Huritt as she tried to hunt down some more. The chestnut mare sighed, her chest heaved a bit, and looked at Hannah, resting her head on her shoulder. Hannah stroked the mares cheeks lovingly, smiling. Everyone thought Bubbles was an odd name, and it was, yes, but everyone did admit that they liked it. Hannah smiled the whole time, not entirely certain what to speak, so she just went with silence until she thought of something. "HLR Fancy Bubbles, for ya, She was born at my old best friends ranch, where I trained horses for her, when Bubs was born, she said I could keep her, so I did. I taught her everything she knows." Hannah smiled. "Then we moved here, and I don't see much of the woman anymore, I only get calls from her about once month. But that's alright, I'm too busy to visit anyone anyway, I just got the ranch up and booming, and got my band collected again, and just re-entered the Gymkhana Horse shows — my favorite nine-month-long western competition." Hannah finished on a strong note, and tied Bubbles to a tie ring that was hanging off the hitching post. She smiled, watching Huritt. Bubbles stayed calm the whole time, she wasn't like any of the other horses. She was lazy, loveable, and really quick if you give her a small squeeze. Hannah stroked her mares head, running her hand along the white blaze that streaked down her face, starting narrow at the top, and growing fat at the bottom.
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Post by huritt on May 26, 2010 15:25:00 GMT -5
Huritt chuckled as Hannah spoke, bending down to lift the mare's hoof. He was pleasantly surprised when she lifted it at the lightest squeeze, and set to work picking out little bits of gravel she picked up from the driveway. They were otherwise impeccably clean- he approved silently. After cleaning her feet he got the pliers and tugged out the old shoes, putting them out of harm's way on a shelf, chatting back to Hannah as he worked.
"A gift horse, eh? The best kind, especially from a friend. I guess 'Bubs' won't ever let you forget your old friend even if you two aren't in touch anymore." He grinned, bringing out a big pair of clippers and trimmed Bubbles' feet quickly and precisely. The discarded keratin hit the floor and he began filing the hoof to the right shape, taking out little cracks and wear from everyday activities.
"How many times have you done the Gymkhana Shows before?" He asked, curious as he continued to work. He hadn't been in any horse shows, really, but was a little interested in competing. Not sure with what, but the more he could learn about competition, the better.
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Post by kallik on May 26, 2010 20:09:59 GMT -5
Hannah smiled, running her fingers through her mares brushed flaxen mane. She smiled, reflecting back to the day she saw Bubbles, a tiny wonderous foal. She chuckled. Bubbles lifted her foot when she felt the light touch Huritt held against her leg. She looked down at the farrier, a twinkle in her soft brown eyes.
Hannah nodded, recounting all the shows she had done with Bubbles. She shrugged, cocking her head, looking at the working farrier. "At least seven, we only started last year, the beginning of the season just started in March, we just finished the closest show on Saturday, the next one is in two weeks." Bubbles flicked her tail, her eyes half open as she dozed off half-conciously. Hannah pet her mare sweetly, looking at Huritt. He was a great worker, his work seemed fantastic so far, he seemed like he's been doing shoeing for long years, though Hannah figured he hadn't been doing the job for so long, if he was not officially registered in the farrier barn yet.
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