Read the excerpt from The Land, Part 2."Whoa there, Wind," I said softly as I tried to get near the stallion. "It's me, boy. It's Paul." I extended my hand slowly. "Let me take a look at you now. It’s all right. It's all right." The stallion pulled back at first. I kept talking, and he finally allowed me to touch him. He whinnied just a bit, and I patted him gingerly, trying to make him know me; then, when he was still, I took a closer look at his leg.
Paul speaks softly and approaches the stallion slowly, then pats him gingerly. The word “gingerly” means carefully and gently, showing that Paul is trying not to frighten or hurt the horse. So the best choice is gentle; “careless” would mean not paying attention to caution.
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