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Post by Trophyhorse misses kmsnead on Aug 6, 2011 9:28:37 GMT -5
Angela walked out to the riding ring and checked her watch, waiting for Bree and her horse Cookie to arrive for their lesson.
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Post by Peanut Loves EVERYONE!! on Aug 6, 2011 18:39:45 GMT -5
Bree led Cookie down to the ring. She saw Angela already there and cringed, hoping she wasn't late. Cookie had played hard to get in the pasture. Walking into the ring, Bree smiled to her instructor, and gave Cookie a quick scratch under her chin.
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Post by Trophyhorse misses kmsnead on Aug 6, 2011 19:43:00 GMT -5
Angela looked at Bree and smiled brightly. "Hey, how's my favorite student doing today?" she asked, walking forward and giving Cookie a nice pat on her neck.
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Post by Peanut Loves EVERYONE!! on Aug 6, 2011 19:59:21 GMT -5
Bree laughed quietly. "Hi," she said to Angela. She smiled at Cookie. "We're both great," she said with a giggle. Cookie nickered softly to Angela and nuzzled her, wanting more pats. Bree laughed at her horse.
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Post by Trophyhorse misses kmsnead on Aug 6, 2011 20:10:09 GMT -5
Angela ruffled Cookie's forelock, smiling. "Well, let's get this party started!" she said, clapping her hands together.
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Post by Peanut Loves EVERYONE!! on Aug 7, 2011 2:18:07 GMT -5
Bree laughed, nodding. Cookie snorted when Angela clapped her hands, making Bree laugh more. "So, what are we doing in this lesson?" she asked Angela, pulling down her stirrups on both sides and rechecking Cookie's girth. As usual, the mare had puffed out, so Bree tightened it a few holes until it was snug.
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Post by Trophyhorse misses kmsnead on Aug 7, 2011 8:07:12 GMT -5
"Jumping," Angela said, grinning mischievously at her. She pointed to the siz jumps set up around the ring. They were all around three and a half feet now, but she planned on raising them to at least four feet by the end of the lesson.
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Post by Peanut Loves EVERYONE!! on Aug 8, 2011 1:02:42 GMT -5
Bree laughed at the look on Angela's face. She smiled to herself and then slid Cookie's reins gently over her head, mounting up. Bree looked around at the jumps spread about the ring. They didn't look too big to her, but she knew that they would probably seem bigger as she was riding towards them. She wiggled her feet in the stirrups and beint to stroke Cookie's neck, excited to jump her again.
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Post by Trophyhorse misses kmsnead on Aug 8, 2011 8:37:11 GMT -5
"Okay, warm her up," Angela said, giving Cookie a quick pat on her neck.
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Post by Peanut Loves EVERYONE!! on Aug 9, 2011 1:47:16 GMT -5
Bree nodded to Angela, and gently squeezed her legs against Cookie's sides. The mare walked forwards, going to the edge of the ring as directed by her rider. Bree gave her a slightly loose rein, but kept her contact with the mare, and tried to push her into an energetic walk by using her seat. Cookie's walk increased in pace, but she remained relaxed, looking around the ring with interest. Bree smiled, letting her hands move with the mare's neck as she walked. After circling the ring once, Bree turned Cookie inwards, in a half circle, and walked the mare back the other way. Cookie tossed her head, stepping back out and stretching out her neck to cough.
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Post by Trophyhorse misses kmsnead on Aug 9, 2011 11:38:02 GMT -5
Angela nodded as she watched her. "Okay, try a walk then canter."
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Post by Peanut Loves EVERYONE!! on Aug 12, 2011 2:09:49 GMT -5
Bree nodded, and sat deep in her saddle. She used her hips to push Cookie into a lively walk, then shifted her leg slightly so it was just behind the girth. She gave Cookie a tiny half-halt with her reins, and then nudged the mare with her legs, at the same time rocking forwards. Cookie jumped into a canter, but landed on the wrong lead. Before Bree could do anything about it, the mare performed a flying change on her own to correct herself. Bree smiled softly at the clever mare, and rolled along with the paint's upbeat canter.
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Post by Trophyhorse misses kmsnead on Aug 13, 2011 10:42:32 GMT -5
Angela laughed quietly. "Nice correction," she said, nodding.
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Post by Peanut Loves EVERYONE!! on Aug 13, 2011 18:30:37 GMT -5
Bree smiled. "That was all her!" she said proudly, reaching down to stroke Cookie's neck as they cantered around the ring. Bree was grateful that the mare had such a wide spread of disciplines. She wouldn't have known what to do with a horse that didn't know dressage, and she was lucky that Cookie could jump as well.
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Post by Trophyhorse misses kmsnead on Aug 16, 2011 15:35:01 GMT -5
"Okay, why don't you try that three foot spread?" Angela said, pointing to the jump.
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Post by Peanut Loves EVERYONE!! on Aug 17, 2011 2:11:52 GMT -5
Bree nodded, turning the mare with her body as well as the reins. Cookie pricked her ears towards the jump, and Bree collected her, stopping the mare from rushing it. They cantered towards the jump, and Bree rose into her two-point position and reached her hands along Cookie's neck as they cleared the spread easily.
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Post by Trophyhorse misses kmsnead on Aug 17, 2011 10:09:11 GMT -5
"Perfect, Bree!" Angela said, nodding approvingly. She pointed to the next three jumps. "Now, go over that 3'5 oxer, 3'9 spa, then over that four foot spread."
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Post by Peanut Loves EVERYONE!! on Aug 18, 2011 4:11:30 GMT -5
Bree quickly followed Angela's pointing, and nodded. Keeping Cookie at a controlled canter, she turned her for the oxer, mentally reminding herself to push her heels down and her shoulders back. As they neared the jump, Bree pushed Cookie on a little more, and the mare cleared the jump effortlessly. She swallowed hard as she looked at the 3'9 jump, it looked big to her. Pushing her rising fear down, Bree gritted her teeth and pushed Cookie onwards with her seat, riding the mare forward. Cookie gathered herself and sprang over, and Bree again rose into her two-point. She smiled when Cookie landed, and felt her confidence bloom again. She turned the mare for the spread and gulped. It looked huge to her, although she knew in reality it wasn't that much bigger than the previous jump. Cookie's ears flicked back, sensing Bree's nervousness. "Come on, girl," Bree whispered, guiding the mare for the jump. Cookie faltered, but picked up her pace as Bree refused to be scared away from the spread. As the mare leaped it, Bree got left behind for a second, unprepared at Cookie taking off a stride too early. She lost a stirrup as they landed, and leaned back in her saddle to slow the excited mare, struggling to regain her balance. Cookie slowed to a trot and Bree jammed her foot back into the stirrup, sitting up straight and regathering her reins. She glanced sheepishly at Angela, trotting Cookie around.
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Post by Trophyhorse misses kmsnead on Aug 18, 2011 9:49:17 GMT -5
Angela grinned, nodding. "That was good, Bree, very good!" she said. "Why don't you try it again, see if you can make it a bit better?"
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Post by Peanut Loves EVERYONE!! on Aug 19, 2011 2:23:04 GMT -5
Bree gave Cookie a rub on the neck, and then glanced back up to Angela, nodding. She hadn't thought it was a good jump at all, and she was a little angry at herself for being so sloppy. Stop being such a perfect little dressage rider she scolded herself, nudging Cookie back into a canter and guiding her determinedly for the spread. "Don't worry, girl. You can do it," she said to Cookie, although she was more trying to convince herself. She kept her legs firmly closed against the mare's sides, and gave her an extra tap with her heels so Cookie would get her striding right. This time the mare jumped from the right place, and Bree leaned up and over Cookie's neck, reaching with her reins to give the mare her head. Cookie landed with a grunt, and Bree straightened, allowing herself a little grin. She slapped Cookie's neck gently, rewarding her. "There we go!" she smiled, ruffling Cookie's mane. She'd known the whole time that the mare could take the jump, but there was no way of Bree admitting to herself that she'd been the one to make the original mistake. She rolled with the mare's canter around the ring, then brought her back down to a trot and then a walk, looking to Angela for her next instructions.
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Post by Trophyhorse misses kmsnead on Aug 21, 2011 11:04:06 GMT -5
Angela nodded, smiling at Bree. She had watched the horse and riders moves very closely, and everything she saw was very satisfactory. "I'm going to raise the spa to four feet," she said, walking over and raising the poles. "I know it seems like a lot, but it really isn't."
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Post by Peanut Loves EVERYONE!! on Aug 23, 2011 19:28:27 GMT -5
"Um, okay," Bree said, rubbing Cookie's shoulder as she watched Angela raise the jump. Cookie pawed at the ground, and then pricked her ears as she followed Angela with her gaze. Bree smiled down at her mare, running her fingers through her mane. She nodded to Angela, looking at the jump. "It's not that big," she whispered to herself.
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Post by Trophyhorse misses kmsnead on Aug 24, 2011 15:55:14 GMT -5
Angela backed away from the jump and nodded to Bree. "Whenever you're ready," she said, crossing her arms over her chest and watching her and the mare.
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Post by Peanut Loves EVERYONE!! on Aug 31, 2011 5:48:09 GMT -5
Bree nodded to her instructor and nudged Cookie forward. She glanced at the jump and settled in the saddle, letting her body roll with Cookie's movement. She breathed out, relaxing herself, and brought her position up bit by bit. First she sat up straighter, making sure her soulders were back. She pushed her heels right down, making sure only the balls of her feet were in the stirrups. Looking ahead at the jump, Bree stared determinedly at a point on the fence just beyond it. As Cookie cantered swiftly towards the jump, Bree kept her legs on the mare. She leaned up and over the mare;s neck as she soared over the spa without a problem. Bree nearly laughed at how easy it had been. When she didn't talk herself out of things, jumping was easy! Bree straightened again, and slowed her mare down to a collected canter, and then a trot. She leaned down to hug Cookie's neck and rub her shoulder while the mare was still trotting. "Good girl Cookie!" she praised the mare, her eyes glowing with happiness.
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Post by Trophyhorse misses kmsnead on Sept 3, 2011 10:01:38 GMT -5
Angela clapped her hands together lightly. "Fantastic!" she said, nodding and smiling. She glanced around the arena, then nodded firmly, thinking to herself. "How about some dressage? Just to remind us both of what you and Cookie can do?" Her dark brown eyes were twinkling brightly as she watched her student.
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Post by Peanut Loves EVERYONE!! on Sept 4, 2011 1:10:53 GMT -5
Bree blushed slightly, then looked up at Angela and grinned. "Yeah?" she asked, a smile breaking across her face. As much as Bree was beginning to love jumping, dressage would always be her passion. Cookie snorted and tossied her head, her mane flying into Bree's face, making the girl giggle.
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Post by Trophyhorse misses kmsnead on Oct 14, 2011 19:21:22 GMT -5
"Totally," Angela said, beaming at her.
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Post by Peanut Loves EVERYONE!! on Oct 15, 2011 6:26:17 GMT -5
(YOU'RE ALIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!! I missed youuuuu!!! ;D ;D ;D )
Bree grinned and nodded, stroking Cookie's neck. "That'd be cool," she grinned, excited. She was already starting to push her heels down more, and make sure her position was absolutely right. Bree lived for dressage, and she liked to do it the best that she could.
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Post by Trophyhorse misses kmsnead on Oct 15, 2011 9:14:05 GMT -5
(I missed you toooooooooooooooooo!!!! <3)
"Show me your moves, Bree. Anything and everything you know," Angela said, beaming at her student.
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Post by Peanut Loves EVERYONE!! on Oct 15, 2011 22:34:26 GMT -5
Bree smiled and walked Cookie onwards, then lightly pushed the mare into a trot. She sat deep in the saddle, then closed her legs around Cookie's sides, using her legs and seat to drive the mare forwards. At the same time, Bree closed her hand around the outside rein and flexed the inside rein. Cookie almost immediately lowered her head, and Bree felt her soften as she went on the bit. Smiling, Bree relaxed the pressure but kept Cookie collected, trotting around the ring with her head lowered. As they trotted around the ring, Bree brought Cookie in from the track a little. As they trotted down the long side of the ring, Bree's outside leg pushed Cookie's hindquarters away from the track. Bree's inside leg then closed around Cookie's side, and her inside rein collected the mare and gave her an almost perfect lateral bend. Around every corner Bree did the same thing, warming Cookie up and keeping her flexed for the next few moves. As Cookie was now bent inwards and moving forward well, Bree put some pressure just behind the girth with her outside leg, at the same time keeping the mare moving forwards with her inside leg. Cookie obediently performed a half pass, moving forwards and sideways across the arena at the same time. Bree rode towards the outside rein, but kept Cookie bent and flexed with the inside rein. She released the pressure once Cookie had travelled halfway across the ring, and gave the mare a quick pat before she continued. Pushing Cookie into a collected canter, Bree rode down the long side of the ring and then collected Cookie's quarters under her. Collecting her a little more so the mare was barely cantering, Bree twisted her body the tiniest bit to the inside, and flexed her inside hand. Her outside leg slid back and pushed, her inside leg staying on the girth to maintain Cookie's impulsion. Bree concentrated hard, she hadn't performed this move with Cookie yet, but she was sure the mare could do it. With each stride Cookie took, Bree used her outside leg to control her haunches. With her inside leg, Bree prevented Cookie from leaning in on her shoulder. With a deep breath, Bree gave Cookie a small squeeze with the outside leg and moved her outside hand slightly to the inside. Cookie was cantering in a tiny circle, and Bree used her seat to slow it a little more. The mare bounced around, her hind legs barely moving, in a canter pirouette. Bree kept her inside rein low to keep Cookie bent, and grinned when the mare completed the pirouette without dropping out of a canter. "Good girl!" Bree exclaimed, giving Cookie her head and letting her canter at her normal pace. Bree performed a collection of shoulder-ins, turns on the forehand, and another few half-passes before she brought the tired mare back into the middle of the ring. Cookie sighed and lowered her head, puffing from the effort of all the work she'd just done. Bree's face was flushed, and she laughed a little breathlessly as Cookie shook herself like a dog, shaking the saddle and Bree with it. She smiled to Angela and rubbed Cookie's neck, holding the reins at the buckle to give the mare her head. "I know she can do more than that," Bree said, "but I haven't tried that much with her yet." She smiled and stretched her shoulders back, loosening them after keeping them in perfect position the entire time.
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