2024-12-03 - Horses and New Tricks

It's a quiet time at the park, that gap between Thanksgiving and when the Christmas holiday tourists start flooding in and so there's somewhat of a respite in the crowds. Christopher takes some time to wander through the various areas, poking around between shows to see whatever he can see. Sometimes, he gets shooed out when he goes looking. Sometimes, he runs into someone who is bored enough to talk to him.

He's dressed in a pair of dark washed jeans, a white long-sleeved t-shirt, and a dark blue jacket over it to help with the chill a little. The show for the afternoon only ended a few moments ago and a few guests are still lingering as they slowly make their way out.

It'd be hard to say if Spencer is bored, or she's just the sort that realizes that without the tourists coming to the shows....her horses starve and she's out on the streets. When she spots those that are lingering, she keeps an eye on them to make sure that none of them are up to any kind of mischief as she walks in circles with the big black horse she had with her during her performance.

It's easy to spot her for who she is, not even just because she's got the big horse with her, but also because she hasn't changed out of her costume, only thrown an actual cape on over it so that she's not going to freeze to death in the chill air.

Christopher wanders over toward the edge of the ring and watches as Spencer leads the big horse around, equally interested in the horse as the rider it seems, watching him with interest. When they aren't too far away he asks, "What kind of horse is he?" Then he pauses. "If you don't mind me asking. If you're not busy." The politeness is kind of an afterthought to the curiosity but at least it's there. "Your show was really cool. Those tricks must take a while to train."

Spencer is used to people asking those kinds of questions, so she doesn't seem too surprised when he finally comes around to asking them, but she also doesn't stop her slow walking to let the horse cool down, either. Which means that she waits until she's circled back around to give him the answer, "Amadeus...he's a Friesian." One hand reaches up to give the side of the horses neck a rub before she redirects him out of the circle they've been walking so that she can approach Christopher where he's standing. "Most of those tricks have taken a few years to learn, and get right...Some are easier than others, of course."

"He's really beautiful," Christopher says and there is some part of him that realizes that she's probably answered that question a million times and that he's probably just bothering her. He watches though as she and the horse approach and he looks up at him. "I like to ride but I don't think I could ever do those sorts of tricks. Have you been working at the park long? Or did you work with him elsewhere before here? And.." he finally admits, "If I'm bothering you and you're tired.. You can tell me to get lost."

"I've worked with him for a very long time...he's mine, not the park's." Spencer replies with a bit of a smile, moving to where she can guide the horse close enough so that she can indicate that he's got permission to reach out to pet the horse, "We have been at the park almost since it opened, so a little while now."

Spencer tilts her head a bit, looking curious, "How long have you ridden horses?"

"Oh really?" Christopher asks and smiles, "I guess that must help to develop that kind of a trust and to really know each other well." When Amadeus is brought closer he reaches up one hand and lightly pats along the horse's shoulder, a gentle touch, as he looks up at him and smiles. "That's really cool. I haven't been here very long. I'm just visiting. But I'm really enjoying getting to see some of what goes on behind the scenes as well where I can."

As for how long he's been riding? "I used to go to a summer camp when I was a kid where we'd go riding and then when I went to college, I had a friend whose family had horses out in western Mass. And I'd go riding out there with them. Never had my own horse, though."

There doesn't seem to be any judgment for not having owned horses, she's not that kind of horse person who judges non-horse people. Instead she just smiles, nodding, "That's really great...those camps that have horses are really great. Not many have the ability to own a horse, it's kind of hard to keep one in an apartment and they are atrociously expensive to board somewhere." This, this is potentially the voice of experience.

"Good to hear that you're enjoying things here...if not, I'm pretty sure there's someone that you can talk to. The park is pretty good about really being interested to hear feedback from the guests to make sure they are all having fun."

Christopher chuckles, "Much less a dorm room. But it was nice knowing people who had them and being able to visit and help care for them, even if it was just for a while." He continues to lightly pat Amadeus as he studies him.

He glances over to her and smiles, "I'm sure there is. But I have had any problems since being here. Everyone's been very nice. I mean, I kind of get that they have to be -- it's their job. But even beyond what they have to be."

"That's good." Spencer doesn't disagree that it is their job to be nice to the guests, if they weren't nice they'd probably be fired and there'd be no more park. But, that doesn't change the fact that she also, genuinely, feels that it is a good thing that he's also had really good experiences still. "What all have you gotten to see so far?"

Petting is good. Amadeus is quite content with his petting, as is his due.

"I've spent some time in the midway getting to know some of the folks who run the games there, visited the arcade, come here to the circus. I did meet one of the hospitality folks who suggested I go to some of the events at the castle, and I met one of the bartenders from Lucky's, the bar on the employee island, but I haven't been there. I met her here on the midway," Christopher says. "And I visited the stables at the resort, but I haven't gone riding yet. Oh, and I checked out the gryphon race roller coaster which I think is my favorite in the park." He then asks her, "Do you get a lot of time to just enjoy the park? Or is it mostly work for you." He smiles up at the horse and seems happy to pet along his neck and shoulder so long as the horse is willing to entertain him.

"That's quite a lot, so far." Spencer looks mildly impressed that he's managed to get in that much experience in the park so far. Even if she has no real reason to actually be impressed, or not.

There's an easy shrug of her shoulders at his question, though, "I enjoy it I suppose. But when you've got four very opinionated horses to deal with...that eats up a lot of your time. So, I work a lot too." She then gives Amadeus a rub down across his shoulder before she adds, "You should get to the stables and book a ride if you like horses as much as you seem to."

Christopher smiles and says, "I'm really enjoying it. Four? Nice. Are they all Fresians like Amadeus?" He lets his hand fall and takes a step back finally. "That sounds like it's a lot of work. Though, if you love horses then I imagine it's worth it." Then, without thinking he asks, "Could I meet them sometime? The others? Are they part of your show?" But he nods when she mentions the stables and says, "Oh yeah, I have plans to this weekend. It's been quieter this week so I was able to boo some time."

"No...Andalusian and two Lusitano." Spencer replies with a shake of her head, "They are all good at ...different things?" She pauses, trying to find a way to explain why she's got to have so many horses that are different. "They are all saddle broke, for standard saddles, and you can of course ride them. But they each have different tricks they know, or are comfortable with me performing on them... But, sure, if you'd like to meet them sometime. I don't see why not.." She answered the question of if they are all in the show, right? She seems to assume that she does because she nods at his mention of it being a quieter week, "It'll pick up the closer to Christmas we get."

"That makes sense," he says when she explains that they have different tricks and things that they're comfortable with doing. "They're like people, I guess, with their own preferences and things that they're good at. That's so cool." He sort of assumes that it means that they're all part of the show, just doing different things during different performances. Then he looks a little surprised when she says he could meet them, "Yeah, that'd be cool. You know, if you get a little time during this slow period before things get real busy."

There's a bit of an amused face that answers that, and Spencer shakes her head, "I mean...I have to take them all out to exercise every day, so it's not so much if I get the time as....when is the time happening?" She's not entirely certain that it makes much sense to anyone but her, but she still follows it up with a confirmation of sorts, "You can come meet them tomorrow if you'd like. I'm going to be running them through a new routine I was working on for when it gets warmer."

"Well, if you let me know when the time is," Chris says, "I can be there. I mean, provided that I can get into the park at the time that the time is." He squints just a little bit. He's pretty sure she understands what he means, since he can't just walk in when the park isn't open, after all. "But I can try! Tomorrow would be great!" His smile lights up at the idea, seeming to be pretty excited about the prospect. "I'd love to see it."

The time the park opens....it's a good thing he mentioned it because she might, honestly, have entirely missed that crucial bit of information judging by the pause and thoughtful look. But then after going through opening time, show times, who else might be needing the space, and a number of other internal factors, she offers, "Nine? Would...would nine work? I know it's early, but it's early enough that we shouldn't be in the way of anyone else, but still not as early as I usually take them out for work."

"Nine works," Chris says with a grin. "I'll just head right here as soon as the gates open and I should be able to get over here pretty quick. I'll meet you by the entrance over there?" He gestures toward where guests need to queue up before they can be let in. Once the arrangements are made he says, "Thanks! I'll see you tomorrow!" Then he gives a small wave before backing away and then heading out, the last of the guests to leave, leaving her and Amadeus to go back to their regularly scheduled business.