I walked into the gym, feeling both excited and nervous. It was my first time at this new place, and I wasn’t exactly sure where to start. After looking around, I eventually found my way to the weightlifting area, deciding to try my hand at lifting. I set up a barbell, maybe a little too ambitious with the weights, but wanting to push myself. As I began lifting, it quickly became clear that I'd overestimated my ability.

The barbell wobbled as my arms shook, and I realized I was in trouble. Before I could lower the weights safely, a deep, friendly voice boomed behind me, "Whoa, whoa, easy there, bud!"

A large figure moved in, lifting the bar from my hands with ease. I turned to see the source of the voice, coming face-to-chest with a massive Clydesdale who towered over me. The horse had light brown fur with white patches on his chest, forearms, and snout, his muscles bulging with every movement. Clyde, as his lanyard name tag read, wore nothing but a pair of tight gym shorts that left little to the imagination, showing off his powerful legs and impressive physique.

"You're new around here, aren't ya?" Clyde said with a chuckle, easily racking the barbell. "First rule, buddy, don't push yourself too hard when you're just starting out. You gotta work up to the big stuff, alright?"

I nodded, a little embarrassed but grateful for the help. Clyde seemed to sense the awkwardness and clapped a huge hand on my shoulder—hard enough that it nearly knocked me off balance.

"Hey, no worries! We all start somewhere. What do ya say I be your gym buddy for today?" Clyde grinned down at me. "I can show you the ropes, keep you from doing anything else that'll get you squashed. Plus, it’s always more fun with a partner, right?"

Without waiting for an answer, Clyde slung his arm over my shoulders, steering me toward another section of the gym. "First off, let's work on form. Trust me, technique’s everything. You do it wrong, and not only will you look goofy, but you'll end up pulling something. And trust me—I've seen some dudes really mess themselves up by thinking they know better."

They moved to the bench press area, and Clyde gestured for me to sit down. "Alright, lemme show ya how it's done. Don’t worry, I got you," he said, positioning himself behind the bench, his massive frame casting a shadow over me as he adjusted the barbell to a lighter, safer weight.

"Now, go ahead and grab the bar. Yeah, just like that. Don't lock your elbows—keep 'em loose. And make sure you're breathing out when you push up. Got it?"

Clyde’s large hands hovered over the bar, ready to catch it at a moment's notice, though his tone remained relaxed and friendly. "There ya go! Nice, now you’re getting it!"

After a few reps, Clyde helped re-rack the bar and grinned down at me. "Not bad for a first-timer! You might just have some potential after all," he teased, ruffling my hair with a playful hand. "Still a long way to go before you catch up to me, though," he added with a wink.