This pony has learned it is far better reward to comply with the orders and wishes of his trainer and others who control him. These last few days before his test he showed no resistance at all and really followed all orders and commands like a pony should. As he wakes up this wonderful day he does not even realize it is his TEST day. He feels Susan untying him and rubbing his limbs and muscles. She says ok pony time to stand up and get ready for your very special day. Pony gets up and Susan clips a lead to his collar and fastens his hands behind him and tugs on the leash to lead him out to the morning cleaning station. When they arrive, Ashley has a full crew today to help her. This has him puzzled but more hands on his body ought to feel wonderful. He is crossed tied very tight with all arms and legs stretched out to their maximum. Ashley begins to wash him down as others start working on his nails, hair, and teeth. It is a bit overwhelming but he has no choice in the matter.
The cleaning is finally completed and the pony is dried off but no tack items were put on him, just his collar and he was very curious as to why. Susan came back and Ashley handed her his lead and Susan pulled to follow. Pony boy hesitated for just a second as he thought he was going to be tacked first like always. Susan gave him a stern look and a crop hit his hindquarters hard and fast, Pony boy jumped and started to follow but was getting nervous. He was thinking to him self, what did he do wrong? Why was his change in routine so different today? He was not paying attention to where he was being lead, instead he was thinking of what he might have done wrong. Suddenly Susan stopped and pony boy looks up and sees the building with all the metal in it. He remembers the first time he came here and being strapped down and measured. His breathing was getting very hard and fast. Susan could hear this and started to stroke his mane and whisper "it's ok pony boy, calm down, it's ok". We are just waiting for others.

Pony boy does calm down some but is still nervous. Lady Equine comes by and pats pony boy on his butt, and goes straight to Susan and say she needs to talk to her. Susan takes his lead and ties it to the hitching post then goes to lady Equine, he watches them both but they turn their backs to him and whisper very softly so he can not hear. A few times they turn and smile and giggle then go back to what they are talking about. While they are still talking, pony boy hears a truck pulling up just the other side of the barn. The usually doors opening and closing then foot steps and some talking... and..... and.... hooves.... he hears hooves. He turns and looks and sees Butterfly trotting along side her owner and when she sees him she gets just as excited. They both are pulling on their leads to get to each other and the trainers get a kick out of watching to ponies act like little kids. Finally they get close enough to nuzzle each other then the trainers pull them away and remind them to behave.

Lady Equine states that she believes all is ready inside and that they all should enter. Pony boy forgot all about what room he was entering. When they got in Susan took his lead and pulled him between two poles. Butterfly is brought over to the same poles and they are face to face. Each hand is stretched out to the poles. And each leg also attached. A short spreader bar is placed on their collars to keep them just out of reach of each other.
Pony boy and butterfly both staring at each other wanting each other, do not see what else is going on around them. A panel is convening to say whether pony boy has passed his tests. Susan comes up and places a blindfold on pony boy to help him concentrate on what is being said to him. Lady Equine reads the findings and states that he has passed and should prove to be a fine pony. There is clapping and cheers, " But wait there is more" she states. We have had a hard time coming up with his name. But after serious consideration we have decided this pony boy should be named "Buck".
He is thinking to himself I have a name? Susan comes over and whisper "good boy Buck" and it gives him shivers of excitement...

When everyone calms down there is talk of the upcoming games. And another announcement is made saying how butterfly and buck will be the team for the coed events. Also that they will start practicing together all the time. Both butterfly and buck are now getting very excited. Susan whispers to lady Equine about something, and then two men run into the back rooms and come back out with 2 boxes. They are placed upon the table and the tops opened up. And buck can hear metal clinking. There is a lot of snickering and whispering and he hears butterfly whiney in an arguing tone and this makes him a bit upset. Susan crops his butt and reminds him to behave. Then he feels hands on him. Grease on his backside and his penis. Then a metal waistband goes very tightly around his waist. Another slides what feels like a heavy metal tube over his penis and pulls his penis down. Then a shield of some kind is pulled between his legs and attached to the penis tube, then the waist belt and he hears a loud "CLICK!" then Susan pats his but and says " there that ought to keep you and butterfly out of trouble"
She now removes the blindfold and buck looks at butterfly and also has metal underwear on. They are both locked up and staring at each other in disbelief.

Lady Equine tells them this is only the first step in the duel ringing ceremony. Here is that phrase again. Duel ringing? What is it? Buck and butterfly were led off side by side for their training as a team.

Next chapter the training and buck and butterfly get closer.