Vetting the Stock

Writers: Caladria, Chelle
Date Posted: 27th February 2012

Characters: Ramzen, Fraxe
Description: Ramzen inspects some runners for a cotholder who's considering a purchase.
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 6, day 2 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentor Approved

Others might be enjoying the celebrations, but some folk were working
through them. There was enough livestock in one place that Ramzen was
kept busy enough, though he might get away in time for the boat races
if he were lucky. Passing around the edges of the runner sales, he
searched the people scattered amongst the horses until he saw who he
was looking for. Raising his arm in greeting, he made his way over.

Old Fraxe was checking over a few mares he was thinking about. He was
not quite sure about which would be the best pick so he had contacted the
beastcrafter to look the runners over for any problems. Some of these
sellers
weren't trustworthy.

"These the runners you were thinking of?" Ramzen said, taking a
sweeping glance of the mares that Fraxe had gathered around him.

"Aye these are the ladies. They look strong enough, but I don't know."
His eyes roamed over their fetlocks, searching for any swelling or sores.
He had already picked up their hooves to see about them. Hoof rot was
not good.

"How old did they tell you they were?" Ramzen asked, eyeing up the
group before stepping up to the first mare, giving her a welcoming pat
and letting her inspect him.

"Said four or five turns there. Should be good breeding stock." He was
really hoping that was the case since he needed something at a bargain.

"Hmm." Ramzen opened the mare's mouth to inspect her front teeth.
"Well, she's all her adults through, so I'd reckon at five, looking at
that mouth." He let go of the mouth, offering the mare a bit of
redfruit and watching her eat. "She can use them alright, though. Can
you hang onto her head?" he asked, offering the rope to Fraxe.

Fraxe took the lead and managed, watching the other man while he was
about his business. Curious as to what he had in mind there, he continued
to maneuver his own head as much as he could to follow the proceedings.

"Got it then."

"You not after breaking any of them to riding or harness work, then?"
Ramzen asked, running his hands down the horse's leg, feeling for
anything wrong. He clicked his tongue and the mare lifted a foot for
him, letting him examine the hoof base.

"Maybe a little riding, aye, but nothing serious like. No harness work.
I got drafts for that." Fraxe didn't think the little things would be able
to pull anything like that really anyway lest he put two of them to it.

"They broken for it or are you after doing that yourself?" Ramzen
asked, tapping the bottom of the hoof to check for sensitivity.
Satisfied, he let the mare put her hoof down and gave her a pat to
thank her for her willingness.

"Said they was placid and calm enough-should be fine to ride and
breed. Seem like they are. One of them was ridin' that one there earlier."
Fraxe had thought that proof enough at the time.

"They seem fairly even tempered," Ramzen said. They were standing
calmly enough in the middle of a Gather, after all. He repeated the
leg checks on the other three legs. "Paces seem okay when they were
being ridden?" he asked. If they were being bought for riding work, he
might have wanted to see them move, but the group seemed sound enough
as they walked round the pen.

"Had a good trot to 'em. Didn't see anythin' faster." Of course it had been
impossible with no room to ride. The old man fingered his marks pouch,
considering the purchase. They certainly needed the runnerflesh. His other
mares were getting too old and they wouldn't be able to throw any more
foals, he was certain.

"Well, if you're happy, I'm happy," he said eventually. There didn't
seem to be anything wrong with any of them, even if he hadn't seen
them at full paces. "Should do right for you for breeding stock."

"Thanks crafter. Here's a few marks for your trouble." Fraxe handed him
over a few 32nds and then settled in to haggle for the price of the runners.
The old man would never give them what they were originally asking. That was
just not how it was done.

Last updated on the February 28th 2012

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