Men called horse - Chapter 6 - Mouth shy
This story is rated explicit, for warnings, please check out chapter 1.
Here is chapter 6, which can also be found on AO3.
The introduction to the new stable turned out to be a success. Neal and Peter like their new stable, it is quiet and cozy. Peggy and John re-painted it and with the fresh hay it is comfortable and light. They even have warmed waterbeds to sleep on, built in the floor. Peter thinks he once saw them in a cow stable.
They fall in a comfortable routine. The boys join John to Vesta stables whenever Peggy doesn´t have consultations at the home practice.
But John noticed that Neal starts getting mouth shy again. He still isn´t wearing a bit, the hackamore is more than enough restrain but something is not right. When Neal arrived at Vesta Stables, Peggy diagnosed him with Mandibular Periostitis.
But because Neal is still young and was in poor condition at the time, she had decided to give his jaw a rest and hope that it would heal on itself.
But when John notices that Neal is tossing his head, he suspects that Neal is in pain again. He calls Neal to the kitchen door. Neal walks over and John moves his own face close to Neal. He can smell Neal’s bad breath. He feeds Neal a piece of toast and John can see it hurts Neal to chew;
“You are in pain, aren´t you?”
Neal hesitates.
“I will do something about it, no worries, but you are in pain, aren´t you?”
Neal nods.
“When Peggy wakes, I will ask her to take a look. For now I want you to drink a protein shake. Neal smiles looking forward to the treat.
* * *
“Peter!”
Peter walks up to John.
“Can you stay next to Neal? Peggy needs to check his teeth, because they are hurting him.”
Peter snickers and stays close to Neal. Peggy puts on examination gloves and explains that she will first examine him. She won´t do anything invasive. She puts in a mouth spreader so Neal won´t be able to accidentally bite her in a panicked reaction. He shuffles nervously on his hooves. His eyes are wide with fear. It is more than obvious that Neal has had bad experiences with dental work. John can only imagine that his previous owner didn´t have the horse´s wellbeing as a first priority.
“Neal, try to relax, we need to see what is hurting you.”
Neal is shivering and a flush enters his cheeks when he starts drooling. The mouth spreader makes it hard to swallow. John puts on a soft fleece coat so Neal with be more comfortable.”
Peggy continues by palpating the area and can feel the thickened raised area where the inflammation is underneath.
“Neal, you have what we call Mandibular Periostitis. It is cause by bit damage. I know it sounds scary but the treatment is normally rest, but in your case that didn´t help, so I suggest we perform a simple surgery.”
She removes the mouth spreader and pets Neal.
“I promise that you will be pain free once the surgical sites are healed. Until then, it will be tender and the wound flushing can be unpleasant, but I will make sure you are comfortable.
Neal whines and looks at Peter.
“I know sweetie, but it is for the best.”
John knows what Peggy is planning and he holds on to Neal´s halter. Before Neal can pull away, there is a prick in his buttock. The sedation is fast working and Neal wavers on his hooves. John catches him and puts him on the examination table.
“You want to sat Peter? Or shall I put you back in the stable?”
John can see the conflict in Peter.
“It´s OK, Peter, I know you want to stay, but I promise Neal is in good hands.”
He guides Peter back to the pasture where he starts to run along the fence. John walks back to see if Peggy needs assistance.
* * *
Neal can´t work out where he is. His head is spinning and he is dizzy. Now that he thinks about it, his head aches all over, his mouth in particular.
He opens his eyes and sees Peter looking worried at him, but the stable moves around him, so he closes his eyes again.
He feels sick and he hopes he doesn´t need to vomit. He can feel Peter laying down next to him and he moves into his warmth and thinks he ‘d sleep a while longer.
“Neal… Neal!”
He snaps his eyes open. He wonders how long he slept and if he is in trouble; His heart rate picks up and he only calms down when he can hear Peter reassuring snicker.
“Don´t try to stand.”
John rearranges Neal on his side and adds a blanket.
“You need your medication.”
A baby bottle is pushed between his teeth and a sweet liquid trickles out. Neal slowly suckles it with his tongue until the sweetness is gone and the teat removes from his mouth. He feels fuzzy and warm and let´s himself be pulled under.
* * *
Neal tries to fight the restraints that prevent him from escaping his predicament. He doesn´t know how long he has been here, but whoever kidnapped Peter and him is crazy.
Neal stills, he can hear people approaching. He can´t see them due to the leather blinder, but he can hear them. The posture collar they have on him prevents him from moving his head, but it is the shock collar underneath that spooks him. He has had several shocks and they were very unpleasant, to say the least.
“What do you want?” He asks them.
A piece of wood is pushed between his teeth and Neal tries to back away but he is restrained very well, these guys know what they are doing.
“STOP8” is what he is trying to say, but it sounds garbled. Suddenly something metal is pushed in his mouth and his jaw is cranked open. Fear grips his heart and Neal can feel his heart rate accelerating. Whatever they are planning, it can´t be good.
His struggling must have alerted Peter, because he can hear Peter shouting, but he sounds not in the vicinity.
A gloved hand puts something metal in his mouth and he tries to pull away again. It only results in arms that take him into a head lock. There is a sharp pain in his mouth and the taste of blood on his tongue. It makes him gag. Blood and drool spill from his opened mouth. The pain hits him like a train and he howls like a wounded animal. It doesn´t sound human, not even to his own ears.
“NEAL! NEAL!”
He can hear Peter fighting his restraints. There is laughter around him.
“Don´t worry, you are next.” Someone calls out, presumably to Peter.
The plier goes for another tooth, grabbing it and pulling hard. Neal can feel the pull in his skull. Two more times on the other side of his mouth and then the clamp is removed and he is released from the hold.
Neal gags against the blood that flows from his raw gums.
“There, that should accommodate the bit nicely. So, that one is next?”
“”Peter!” Neal wants to cry out, but it sounds distorted by the fact Neal does his best not to swallow the blood.
Neal silences when the shock of the collar hits him. They must have turned it on again now that they are finished.
Blood keeps pooling from his mouth along with drool, since he tries to avoid swallowing. He can hear Peter grunting and crying out as well and he starts weeping softly. He can´t make sense of it all, he tried to ask what they want from them and everything hurts, so bad.
He doesn´t realized he sort of passed out, until an electric shock wakes him.
“Get up, you useless piece of shit.”
It takes Neal a couple of tries to get to his feet. He still isn´t used to these hooved boots and without the use of his hands… He is pulled up by his collar.
He can feel hands near his face again and he starts thrashing, the chock chain under his collar is pulled taut and cuts in his skin.
“I´ll kill you.” He threatens.
“Oh, will you now?” a voice taunts him, “let´s try a different approach, shall we?”
Suddenly several men grab him and pry his mouth open. They wear thick steel gloves, like butchers do. Neal tries to chomp down on the fingers in his mouth, but more hands keep his mouth open.
Something metallic is pushed between his teeth and he wails when it comes into contact with the barely closed wounds in his gums. He realizes it is a bit before it is strapped behind his head and they let go.
It hurts. Tears spill from his eyes. When someone jerks the reins attached to the bit, the pain is excruciating.
* * *
“Neal?”
Neal wakes to his hair being stroked and someone saying his name.
“Shh. You have a drink with your meds, then you can go back to sleep.”
Something is rubbed on his lips and Neal opens his mouth for the soft drinking teat of a bottle.
“Drink slowly, we don´t want you to get sick.”
Neal shivers and not much later, he can feel the temperature of the warm water bed increase. He relaxes, the warmth and silence is calming and the sweetness of the drink is delicious. Neal let´s it sooth him, his eyelids growing heavy.
“Go to sleep Neal.”
* * *
A couple of days later, Neal eats better, they are still feeding him soft foods that are easy to chew, but Neal is a happier horse already. The wound flushing isn´t pleasant, but Neal is smart and knows Peggy does it to make him better, not to torture him.
While Neal was under, Peggy immediately took care of his chipped teeth, filled cavities and cleaned his teeth thoroughly. She also cleaned Peter´s while she was at it, but he was happy to open his mouth once he understood what she was planning.
It is more than obvious that Neal feels much better and is no longer in pain. John can tell he is much more relaxed.
John and Peggy are now the owners of two gorgeous stallions. While Neal is still healing, John decides to pick up their training schedule once again.
While he watches Neal and Peter on the thread mills, it is clear that they are both used to running and that they must have used it to keep in shape.
John is determined to find out about more their previous lives.
Here is chapter 6, which can also be found on AO3.
The introduction to the new stable turned out to be a success. Neal and Peter like their new stable, it is quiet and cozy. Peggy and John re-painted it and with the fresh hay it is comfortable and light. They even have warmed waterbeds to sleep on, built in the floor. Peter thinks he once saw them in a cow stable.
They fall in a comfortable routine. The boys join John to Vesta stables whenever Peggy doesn´t have consultations at the home practice.
But John noticed that Neal starts getting mouth shy again. He still isn´t wearing a bit, the hackamore is more than enough restrain but something is not right. When Neal arrived at Vesta Stables, Peggy diagnosed him with Mandibular Periostitis.
But because Neal is still young and was in poor condition at the time, she had decided to give his jaw a rest and hope that it would heal on itself.
But when John notices that Neal is tossing his head, he suspects that Neal is in pain again. He calls Neal to the kitchen door. Neal walks over and John moves his own face close to Neal. He can smell Neal’s bad breath. He feeds Neal a piece of toast and John can see it hurts Neal to chew;
“You are in pain, aren´t you?”
Neal hesitates.
“I will do something about it, no worries, but you are in pain, aren´t you?”
Neal nods.
“When Peggy wakes, I will ask her to take a look. For now I want you to drink a protein shake. Neal smiles looking forward to the treat.
* * *
“Peter!”
Peter walks up to John.
“Can you stay next to Neal? Peggy needs to check his teeth, because they are hurting him.”
Peter snickers and stays close to Neal. Peggy puts on examination gloves and explains that she will first examine him. She won´t do anything invasive. She puts in a mouth spreader so Neal won´t be able to accidentally bite her in a panicked reaction. He shuffles nervously on his hooves. His eyes are wide with fear. It is more than obvious that Neal has had bad experiences with dental work. John can only imagine that his previous owner didn´t have the horse´s wellbeing as a first priority.
“Neal, try to relax, we need to see what is hurting you.”
Neal is shivering and a flush enters his cheeks when he starts drooling. The mouth spreader makes it hard to swallow. John puts on a soft fleece coat so Neal with be more comfortable.”
Peggy continues by palpating the area and can feel the thickened raised area where the inflammation is underneath.
“Neal, you have what we call Mandibular Periostitis. It is cause by bit damage. I know it sounds scary but the treatment is normally rest, but in your case that didn´t help, so I suggest we perform a simple surgery.”
She removes the mouth spreader and pets Neal.
“I promise that you will be pain free once the surgical sites are healed. Until then, it will be tender and the wound flushing can be unpleasant, but I will make sure you are comfortable.
Neal whines and looks at Peter.
“I know sweetie, but it is for the best.”
John knows what Peggy is planning and he holds on to Neal´s halter. Before Neal can pull away, there is a prick in his buttock. The sedation is fast working and Neal wavers on his hooves. John catches him and puts him on the examination table.
“You want to sat Peter? Or shall I put you back in the stable?”
John can see the conflict in Peter.
“It´s OK, Peter, I know you want to stay, but I promise Neal is in good hands.”
He guides Peter back to the pasture where he starts to run along the fence. John walks back to see if Peggy needs assistance.
* * *
Neal can´t work out where he is. His head is spinning and he is dizzy. Now that he thinks about it, his head aches all over, his mouth in particular.
He opens his eyes and sees Peter looking worried at him, but the stable moves around him, so he closes his eyes again.
He feels sick and he hopes he doesn´t need to vomit. He can feel Peter laying down next to him and he moves into his warmth and thinks he ‘d sleep a while longer.
“Neal… Neal!”
He snaps his eyes open. He wonders how long he slept and if he is in trouble; His heart rate picks up and he only calms down when he can hear Peter reassuring snicker.
“Don´t try to stand.”
John rearranges Neal on his side and adds a blanket.
“You need your medication.”
A baby bottle is pushed between his teeth and a sweet liquid trickles out. Neal slowly suckles it with his tongue until the sweetness is gone and the teat removes from his mouth. He feels fuzzy and warm and let´s himself be pulled under.
* * *
Neal tries to fight the restraints that prevent him from escaping his predicament. He doesn´t know how long he has been here, but whoever kidnapped Peter and him is crazy.
Neal stills, he can hear people approaching. He can´t see them due to the leather blinder, but he can hear them. The posture collar they have on him prevents him from moving his head, but it is the shock collar underneath that spooks him. He has had several shocks and they were very unpleasant, to say the least.
“What do you want?” He asks them.
A piece of wood is pushed between his teeth and Neal tries to back away but he is restrained very well, these guys know what they are doing.
“STOP8” is what he is trying to say, but it sounds garbled. Suddenly something metal is pushed in his mouth and his jaw is cranked open. Fear grips his heart and Neal can feel his heart rate accelerating. Whatever they are planning, it can´t be good.
His struggling must have alerted Peter, because he can hear Peter shouting, but he sounds not in the vicinity.
A gloved hand puts something metal in his mouth and he tries to pull away again. It only results in arms that take him into a head lock. There is a sharp pain in his mouth and the taste of blood on his tongue. It makes him gag. Blood and drool spill from his opened mouth. The pain hits him like a train and he howls like a wounded animal. It doesn´t sound human, not even to his own ears.
“NEAL! NEAL!”
He can hear Peter fighting his restraints. There is laughter around him.
“Don´t worry, you are next.” Someone calls out, presumably to Peter.
The plier goes for another tooth, grabbing it and pulling hard. Neal can feel the pull in his skull. Two more times on the other side of his mouth and then the clamp is removed and he is released from the hold.
Neal gags against the blood that flows from his raw gums.
“There, that should accommodate the bit nicely. So, that one is next?”
“”Peter!” Neal wants to cry out, but it sounds distorted by the fact Neal does his best not to swallow the blood.
Neal silences when the shock of the collar hits him. They must have turned it on again now that they are finished.
Blood keeps pooling from his mouth along with drool, since he tries to avoid swallowing. He can hear Peter grunting and crying out as well and he starts weeping softly. He can´t make sense of it all, he tried to ask what they want from them and everything hurts, so bad.
He doesn´t realized he sort of passed out, until an electric shock wakes him.
“Get up, you useless piece of shit.”
It takes Neal a couple of tries to get to his feet. He still isn´t used to these hooved boots and without the use of his hands… He is pulled up by his collar.
He can feel hands near his face again and he starts thrashing, the chock chain under his collar is pulled taut and cuts in his skin.
“I´ll kill you.” He threatens.
“Oh, will you now?” a voice taunts him, “let´s try a different approach, shall we?”
Suddenly several men grab him and pry his mouth open. They wear thick steel gloves, like butchers do. Neal tries to chomp down on the fingers in his mouth, but more hands keep his mouth open.
Something metallic is pushed between his teeth and he wails when it comes into contact with the barely closed wounds in his gums. He realizes it is a bit before it is strapped behind his head and they let go.
It hurts. Tears spill from his eyes. When someone jerks the reins attached to the bit, the pain is excruciating.
* * *
“Neal?”
Neal wakes to his hair being stroked and someone saying his name.
“Shh. You have a drink with your meds, then you can go back to sleep.”
Something is rubbed on his lips and Neal opens his mouth for the soft drinking teat of a bottle.
“Drink slowly, we don´t want you to get sick.”
Neal shivers and not much later, he can feel the temperature of the warm water bed increase. He relaxes, the warmth and silence is calming and the sweetness of the drink is delicious. Neal let´s it sooth him, his eyelids growing heavy.
“Go to sleep Neal.”
* * *
A couple of days later, Neal eats better, they are still feeding him soft foods that are easy to chew, but Neal is a happier horse already. The wound flushing isn´t pleasant, but Neal is smart and knows Peggy does it to make him better, not to torture him.
While Neal was under, Peggy immediately took care of his chipped teeth, filled cavities and cleaned his teeth thoroughly. She also cleaned Peter´s while she was at it, but he was happy to open his mouth once he understood what she was planning.
It is more than obvious that Neal feels much better and is no longer in pain. John can tell he is much more relaxed.
John and Peggy are now the owners of two gorgeous stallions. While Neal is still healing, John decides to pick up their training schedule once again.
While he watches Neal and Peter on the thread mills, it is clear that they are both used to running and that they must have used it to keep in shape.
John is determined to find out about more their previous lives.