Regina had always adored her horses. She had grown up with them back in the Enchanted Forest, and horse riding had always been a form of escapism from her harsh reality. So of course she had continued to care for horses when she'd moved to Storybrooke with her curse.

The stables and the fields around them became like a sanctuary to Regina. A place to get away from the rest of her life and responsibilities, even just for a little while. When she could feel like a young girl again, caring for and riding her horses. There weren't many who had the privilege of being allowed into the stables, with them being so special to Regina. A few carefully selected stable workers, and Henry, of course.

But more recently, Regina had begun to entertain the idea of bringing someone else into her sacred sanctuary. Someone who, despite the defenses she put up, had always managed to break down her walls. Who saw, not the Evil Queen that everyone else saw her as, but just as Regina. They'd wormed their way into her heart, so much so that Regina didn't know what she would do without them. So, she'd decided to allow them in.

The reason for Regina's visit to the stables this time was to check on Onyx, the black mare that she had been caring for since a few years into the curse. She was due to give birth soon, so Regina had been checking in with her more frequently.

"She's quite shy around strangers, so just be careful. Try not to scare her."

Regina informed her partner as they approached the stables, her tone stern, but not unkind. She was rather nervous to see how they would act around the horses, and how the horses would act around them. Though she would never admit it.