Doku stood up in his stall, now fiddling with the lock. How does Belles get these stupid things unlocked. He thought, snorting, clearly unamused with a mix of confusion. He then just simply bobbed his head on the lock, actually unlocking it finally. He nickered in accomplishment, trotting out of his stall. 'Bout time I actually unlock my own stall, perhaps I'll turn out like Belles. Unlocking..Nope. Not gonna happen, just gonna get a new lock on each thing I actually unlock. Uugh. I should just stay in my stall. He grunted as he thought to himself, deciding on what to do now. He nudged his stall door closed, actually kinda bored now that he actually accomplished something.

Snowfire watched as the other stallion opened and walked out of his stall. Do all of the horses know how to unlock their gates? he thought. He nickered a greeting from his spot beside Chelsea.

Chelsea giggled. No...I think Belles has just taught him that. She breaks him out of his stall a lot. She said. She leaned against a wall and sighed. She loved her job.

Snowfire snorted softly and looked back out of the door where Belles had left. She sounds like trouble. he thought, amused. He walked up to Chelsea and nudged her arm before looking over his shoulder at his back. He wanted to go for a ride.

Chelsea patted his neck. Tack, or no tack? She asked him. She walked into the tack room, and came out with various items, andwent back and got the same of everything, only in different sizes. She also grabbed her grooming box. We aren't going anywhere until we get you cleaned up, mister. She thought to him.

Snowfire pranced at the sight of the tack, excited. At Chelsea's words he looked down at the muddy, dirty mess he had become from being at the sale barn. He hadn't really noticed how thin and beaten up he had gotten, his ribs were becoming visible. His only thought while he was there was to survive to the next day.

Chelsea giggled, and and grabbed a brush from the box. She walked over to Snowfire, and touched the brush to his coat, moving it in a circular direction. She sighed, and moved it across his pelt, watching as the clumps of mud and dirt fell to the floor of the barn.

Snowfire stood still as she brushed him, his head lowering in contentment at the old familiar feeling. His sides heaved with a long sigh as his eyes closed. He only shifted a couple of times whenever Chelsea touched a sore spot, snorting slightly. The stable hands at the sale barn had not been shy with their whips, cattle prods, and sticks. His high spirit had earned him numerous beatings during his stay and he had become slightly wary of men.

Chelsea watched Snowfire intently, lighting up on her brushing as she noticed his shifting. She finished, and grabbed another, softer brush. With this, she went along his body, being sure to avoid the visible wounds. She'd clean those up once she hosed him off a little. On a hot day like this, he'd probably be grateful for the cool water.

Snowfire snorted softly as she went over him again with another brush, enjoying the feeling. He swung his head around to look at her and stretched his neck to nuzzle her arm in gratitude. He tossed his head and looked over to the tack she had brought out before looking back at her.

Chelsea smiled, and stroked his nose with one hand while she brushed him with the other. She finished, and looked down at his hooves. There was no way they were going riding again until he got his feet taken care of. She put the brush back in the bin, and grabbed the hoof pick. She gently tapped his front right hoof, seeing if he was trained to lift.

Snowfire snorted warily when she tapped his hoof, but lifted it off the ground. His hoof was rough and a few pieces of horseshoe nails stuck out of it. The people who had stolen him from his old home had painfully ripped the horseshoes from his hooves in an attempt to help hide him from being recovered by his old owners. They had figured that no one would look twice at an emaciated, unshod horse when they were looking for a prize winning show horse. Despite the fact that having horseshoes put on did not hurt, the way the men had removed them had nearly frightened him out of his mind since several men had held him pinned against a fence while they yanked on his feet.

Chelsea took her hand away once Snowfire gave a nervous snort, but smiled once he lifted his hoof. Her smile disappeared once she saw the condition of his foot. There were bits of nails, and this angered her. How could anyone treat a horse this badly? They were gentle, loving creatures. She gave a disgusted grunt, and began gently scraping the dirt from the hoof. You'll feel better soon. I promise. She said to him, a look of sincerity crossing her face,.

Snowfire shifted uneasily when she started to scrape at the bottom of his hoof, but at the sound of her voice he kept himself from moving away. He lowered his head and snorted softly. He didn't like the idea of anyone touching his hooves, but he knew she meant him no harm unlike the men who had ripped his shoes off.

Chelsea began humming, getting immersed in her "work". She made sure she got most of the dirt and mud. The farrier could get the rest once she called him later. She tapped the next leg, and waited patiently with her hand ready to hold his hoof.

Snowfire had stood still while she cleaned off his hoof and when she tapped the next hoof he lifted it without hesitating. He was getting comfortable with Chelsea holding his hooves. The next hoof was just as bad as the first, but it didn't cause him much pain. Only a slight discomfort.

Chelsea cooed, telling him he was such a good boy, and that she'd make him feel better. She'd never let anything like this happen to him again. She gently began scraping the dirt from Snowfire's hoof, being sure she kept away as much as possible from the nails that were sticking out.

Snowfire stood silently, his head drooped in a relaxed way. His ears flickered as he listened to Chelsea's words.

Chelsea finished with the hoof, and patted his withers, before moving to his hinds, petting him so he knew where she was when she was in his blinds pot. She then gently tapped a hoof, while talking to him,something about giving him carrots when she was done, and how, once the farrier had come, and if his hooves were okay, she take him out on a trail ride.

Snowfire snorted and shifted his weight, but obediently lifted his back hoof. He didn't understand everything she said, but he nickered when he heard her talk about carrots. He liked carrots even more than he liked his oats.

Chelsea smiled, and patted his leg , before she began picking the dirt from his hoof. You're such a good boy. She said, knowing how uncomfortable this must be for him.

Snowfire nickered softly and turned his head to watch Chelsea. He let out a deep sigh before lowering his head and sniffing at the ground, his ears flickering at any small sound.

(Are Snowfire's real owners gonna pop up in the story?)

Chelsea finished and tapped the last hoof. She wanted to hurry up and get this done, so the poor boy'd feel better. (Meh. Short)

(Do you want them to? It may make it a little interesting. What if we wait until Chelsea gets him all healed up and strengthened up and then she can take him to a show and they can recognize him there. What do you think?)

Snowfire shifted his weight over and lifted his other hoof. He let out a sigh of relief when he realized she was almost done.

(Hm... I LOVE IT )

Chelsea giggled. She knew he was glad it was almost over. We still have the farrier to go before you can be ridden. She said, patting him as she finished with his hoof. She placed the hoof pick back in the bin, and grabbed a peppermint from a baggie, and held in out to him. For being such a good boy. She said smiling.