Rifaima

RIFAIMA a rich chestnut mare, with a star and a stripe and just a tiny little sock on her left hind leg.

She's is a grand old lady who will certainly die with her boots on. She'd done about everything there is for a mare to do in life -- she's crossed the mountains and back again, retired from riding, she spent several years as a broodmare and is back on active duty. She loves to go - no trail is too daunting for her. Because of her age and the hard use she's seen in her life, she has a little bit of a limp on her left hind when the mornings are cold, but she doesn't like to let that slow her down.

She's a big mare and high energy. Although she can be gentle enough for beginners, she takes a light hand on the rein and a light leg behind the girth and beginners are usually too strong with their cues, and get more reaction than they meant to ask for. For an experienced rider, she's a dream come true.

She's respectful of people and easy to handle on the ground and she has a sweet habit of scruffing the end of her nose on someone to show affection.

Suhayla

Her name is Suhayla.

She was born a warm chestnut but has slowly faded to her natural grey color with every year. She is now a silvery grey with chestnut freckles that hint at her first color. What used to be a pronounced blaze on her face has blended with the grey and can be faintly seen by those who know it used to be there. Long eyelashes and a pink nose highlite her feminity.

History
She comes from a long line of royal blood and was born to the royal stables. When still a foal, her mother was killed protecting her from an attack by a pack of wolves. Barely escaping with her life, she disappeared into a forest where she was discovered by a family. They adopted this stray, and hand raised her. They named her Suhayla, which means soft and flowing, because she appeared to float as she ran. But with the family having no other horses, she never learned to be a “horse”, and is more comfortable with human companionship than with others of her own kind. Several years later, her true owners finally found her, as they had never stopped searching for the last daughter of their favorite mare. While the family who raised her loved her greatly, they gave her up so she could follow her destiny serving in the royal stables. She now has found a home with a small band, but feels more comfortable living on the ‘fringe’ of the group, rather than really being part of it.

Personality
This unique history is reflected in her personality in many ways. She is independent and not ‘herd bound’. She is a leader, confident and brave like her mother. She has led many less mature horses on a great many journeys. Horrors that send other horses spinning and bolting in fear, she will blow past without hesitation. Her one fear though are dogs or wolves, which have haunted her dreams since the wolf attack.

She tends to be serious and practical. She likes to work, and doesn’t see the point in wasting energy on something with no purpose. This means when her herd is playing and galloping around their pasture, you’ll find her on the side calmly observing. Some will think that means she’s lazy, but given a job and a challenge, she’ll push forward with relish until its done. On a journey, she won’t be the fastest horse, but her great stamina will carry her farther and longer than the others.

She develops strong bonds with one person and will tend to only listen to them.

To ride her is like floating. Her trot is soft and easy, her canter is so smooth, it’s like being rocked to sleep.

For a rider, her independent nature can be good and bad. She can easily be ridden away from others toward another path. But she will also make her own decisions on the best way to go. This may result in her suddenly choosing a shortcut through the woods when the rider is cantering down a road or thru a mass of tree limbs. She has a strong sense of direction and can find her way back to camp or home very easily. Unfortunately, she may decide the best way back is across a ravine or through a thorny hedge.

Many Thanks to Cindy Stafford for allowing Zoey to be available as a Fantasy Horse in our stable.

Mireyenion

MIREYENION means Jewel of the Ages and she is indeed a rare treasure -- the kind of mare that countries may go to war to possess.

A unique golden bay, Miree is a true jewel, one of the rare breed who shines with an inner beauty that compliments and even enhances her gleaming, shimmering coat and deep honey-golden eyes. The regal blood of Nahar shines through in this young lady, not only in her regal nature, generous to those she loves, but in the way her coat shifts in the changing light from soft cream to a rich shimmering chocolate.

She's a young mare, still growing and just started training, but shows the promise of an elegant build that will be fleet of foot or do well in leading a royal procession. She'd be an excellent choice for an Elven-lady or Queen due to her gracious acceptance of admiration.


She's already shown the heart to be fierce in battle, but in this her beauty and rarity will be a curse as it's unlikely a king would allow such a treasure to face real danger -- if he has the choice. Miree is strong willed and strong minded and likely to take matters and handle them in her own way rather than bend to the will of someone she judges to be wrong. This bent causes problems in every way from her position in a lineup, to the color and richness of the jewels of her tack, to the order at feeding time.

While she is generous and loving to those who pay her her due, she's incitefully jealous and has been known to discipline individuals for paying too much attention to other horses while she is at hand.

Woe betide the forces of Darkness should they covet and steal this indomitable filly as she would be likely to meet the rescuing army with the Dark Lord's bloody crown proudly clenched between her teeth.

Fioro'imo

Her name means "Hunting Hawk"

Description: Fio is a liver chestnut mare who fades from chocoloate through bright red to orange in the summer sun. She has a wide blaze that covers her forehead and runs down over her nostrils. She’s of average height, but stout and full-bodied.

Training and experience: Fio is a true Alpha Mare and not a mount recommended for the faint of heart. Aggressive in battle, attacking with teeth and hoofs both forward and back, she requires that a rider match her fierce spirit, unflagging endurance and bold fearlessness. She’ll acquiesce to handling by underlings and will tolerate such with gentle nobility as long as they maintain a respectful demeanor.

Slow to show affection, she demands it be earned. And when on pasture with the herd, she rules with a firm hand. Vistors must first greet her and beg permission before haltering another mare and taking her away.

She has been kept home at times, and has produced six extraordinary foals who have grown to proven themselves as war-mares and stallions in their own right. A mare that can produce as well as she herself rides and fights is worth her weight in gold and would be worth going to war over.

Fioroimo would be the match of a bold captain, a wandering Hero or an Elf-lord as she gives as much, or more, than she demands. The warrior with the strength to ride her into battle would hold her heart and have her unfailing loyalty at his command.

Naharion

Description: Naharion is a black stallion, although his color shifts and shades from rich dark chocolate to glistening gold, reminiscent of the mighty Nahar himself. He has gleaming golden eyes, the color of raw honey, that captivate and enchant any who look into their depths. The unwary find themselves bent to his will, scratching his neck and feeding treats. When they're forced from his side, they find themselves forever longing to return.His only marking is a bright white four-pointed star on his forehead, with the lowest point extending about halfway to his nostrils.

Training and experience: Naharion and all his family suffered greatly in the hands of Darkness prior to their being recovered while Naharion was still young. The band was held, tucked in a far valley, in the loving care of a small family who kept them wild. Naharion was pressed into service as a mature stallion accustomed to caring for his own. He’s generous and kind-hearted with a strong work ethic, but he’s also highly opinionated and sometimes requires a delicately balanced blend of patience and firmness.

While Naharion is harness trained and elegant in fine harness, he has the strength and work ethic to be put to the plow during times of peace. Additionally, he’d be an excellent choice of mount for a Ranger or wandering Hero, having lived through the Darkness and in the Wilds, he’s especially tough and self-sufficient.

He’d be an equally excellent choice as a war horse and would probably be taken in by the lord of a house if not the King himself. He’s fierce and aggressive in battle and requires a warrior who is both an extraordinary fighter and rider to match his rage in the heat of battle.

Personal habits: He is quiet for a stallion. While he does keep a careful watch when he's in a new area, he isn't prone to call and fuss like so many stallions do. He will pace and fret if he's stalled alone and knows there are mares nearby. He works well alongside other stallions under saddle or in harness but can not be pastured with or near other stallions without fighting.

his real-life homepage: ALI-ZEUS at Aelfleah Farm