[D1 LA] Taking the horse out

[Matsu Yurio]

"We don't. It was only a couple of lessons at the beginning of my schooling and nothing since. We do have some cavalry but it is for the more seasoned and experienced warriors. As a rule very few samurai count a horse amongst their possessions."

The lack of lessons was apparent as he was totally at a loss of how to even make Poppy speed up.

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

Meanwhile Dong-Ha was happy the Lion didn't try canter. He didn't feel like running after his horse in case something went haywire. "Does Matsu-san know why that is so? One would think that warriors would benefit from getting one place to another without tiring themselves."

[Matsu Yurio]

"For the Lion it is simple. We do not have enough horses for the number of samurai we have. Never mind the ashigaru and other auxiliary units."

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"That would be a limiting factor... and I guess you don't have the grazing lands either..." Especially now that the Unicorn occupied a large chunk of what had once been Lion lands.

[Matsu Yurio]

"Our lands are mostly given up to farming. Fortunately they are fertile and provide much that we need."

Even with a large swathe of said lands now turning purple.

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"That is good." What else there was to say. "Just tell me when you want to hop down and I'll keep Poppy in place." Not that there was any real risk that she'd bolt but he wasn't sure the Lion trusted himself enough to dismount on his own. Especially as he had issues with his reach.

"So, horses are only reserved to the high and mighty?"

[Matsu Yurio]

"Not entirely. More to those that are deserving and have the skills or need."

He gauged the distance to the ground. The only heights he was used to were watchtowers and trees. Both had easier options for dismounting than his current height multiplier.

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"I see." Truly the Empire was a strange place, though it sort of reminded him of Medinat al-Salaam. Not everyone had camels, even if everyone seemed to agree that camels were great. Then again, many were impoverished and could barely afford to eat. Perhaps the same was true for Rokugan?

Seeing Yurio look down Dong-Ha placed his hand on Poppy's snout, bringing the her to a halt. Now the Lion could climb/jump down if he so wished...

[Matsu Yurio]

Stationary platform and not that far a drop. Yurio saw no reason to show too many of the cards he had up his sleeves at this point and merely slid one leg across the saddle and jumped down. As he fully expected a test of horse skills at some point he saved the acrobatic dismount for then, (and because the day has flipped and there is no more show off rolling allowed for Day One.)

He bowed and almost . . . . almost smiled at the Unicorn mystic.

"My thanks Iuchi-san, that was a very different experience to my previous attempts at horse riding."

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

An eyebrow rose in reaction to the acrobatics shown. Maybe the Lion was not a Shinjo, but at least he seemed to know how to fall on his feet. "You are welcome, Matsu-san." He grabbed the reins once more, moving to pat Poppy's flank. "Just don't try this with one of the Otaku steeds. They are a picky lot about who gets to mount their horses." A soft chuckle followed. "Not that I think you'd try that without permission anyway."

[Matsu Yurio]

"The Lion Clan never does anything that is not proper or without permission."

Well except that, that and maybe that. However, the winner wrote the Histories (or in this case, the Ikoma wrote the histories no matter what happened) so the Lion were all good.

"Are these Otaku mounts easy to distinguish?"

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"Of course." He had had the inclination that things might be like that, if one considered Akodo one eye. On the other hand, there was also Ikoma himself to consider. Even if half of the legends concerning the man were true, he had done more improper things without permission than most of the Dong-Ha's extended family combined.

"They are tall, taller than even Poppy here, though less sturdy. And when they gallop it is as if wind itself carried them. The legends say that the horses were not natural, that they were created by magics. But I think they are just horses." Dong-Ha shrugged. "They are intelligent too, never abandoning their rider. Or so the Otaku say."

[Matsu Yurio]

"Bi . . bigger than Poppy?"

He looked honestly stunned.

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"By half a foot or so." Dong-Ha nodded. "There's a reason they are considered the finest horses in existence."

[Matsu Yurio]

He smirked again.

"Bigger is not always better, Iuchi-san."