Our Jumping Practice

[Super <3]

As Gracie and I trotted into the ring, it gave us a since of safety from the hard rain that had just begun to fall from the cloudy sky. The day we thought was perfect, had just defeated us. The cover of the jumping ring had been left on over night and the ring was kept dry. Luck for us, no signs of a storm were approching and Gracie wasn't scared of the rain. My hanovarian is the most bombproof horse in the world. She does not spook, buck, rear, or misbehave which is very fortunite. As I picked up the mounting block, Gracie eyed it cafefully. Setting down by her legs, I but my boot in the stirrup and swung my leg over her back. With the heavyness steady, she began to walk. I always made sure that we were properly warmed up before doing anything. We circled around the ring three times and then I gave her a small tap and a cluck to start her off at the trot. When we crossed the diagnal, I asked her politely for a canter. With the canter, I was free to begin to jump. A two foot vertical stood before us as we rocked forward, increasing our pace. Me heels stayed down and locked while my eyes held themselfs up and over the jump. I could feel her front hoofs pick up and her back hoofs brace for the pressure. We flew over the jump and landed, making no sound which increased the focus of the rain. The next jump was about four feet tall and caused me no scare. Gracie was absolutly possative that we would make it over like usual. The same drill occured this time except my half-seat was higher this time to let Gracie slide over it. With a soft thump, we picked up a gallop and glided over another jump. We made a turn and headed for a jump that looked about five feet tall. With a flick of Gracie's tail, we were in the air and over the jump. My eyes craved to wander about but I forced them to look ahead. When we landed, I let her slow to a trot and then a walk. Gracie didn't look tired but I rode her over to a water trough that waited out of the way of the jumps. She took long sips that made me smile because I knew that she was thirsty even though she never hinted it. I spend the rest of my time, cooling her out and letting her chill. I decited that I would ride her back up to the barn in the rain. Being her usual self, Gracie did as I wished and headed back to the stable through the water the cooled her off.

[tonkatoy]

The farm seemed deserted, I could see no one, though one of the barns was filled with horses due to the rain. I could hear a slight thump, more rythmic than what was normally found with the beat of the rain, which was more erratic (okay yes i know that was a total under statement). I strode toward the steady noise, the three rolling beats of the canter. I looked into the covered arena, A woman was jumping with a big hanoverian, soaring easily over the fences and loping away. It was beautiful to watch her. I wanted to stay longer but I heard someone call "annabelle! Annnabelle?" through the rain. I knew the voice well, my adoptive father, my former employer. I stole one last glance at the rider as they flew over a fence that looked to be about at my chest height or five feet. "yeah dad?" I approached my family, my many half siblings, all from the same mother not a one from the same dad, they were lucky not to be totaly brain damaged since mom was on crack when she had most of them, and my adoptive mother. "we just wanted to wish you good bye annabelle," he hugged me and all of my siblings joined in "We'll miss you Annabelle." they choursed. "Hey I'll see you guys, why don't you come visit me in a few weeks or something?" the all nodded vigorusly, and I laughed, i kissed each one on the head as I always did, long ago before I sent them off on the school bus, in those days when mom was usualy off somkeing crack or something. When I finally was released from their death grip, I turned to my adoptive mother, who was a better mother than my real one was. because of her i ha to be the adult at age seven, adn then she went and got herself killed. On the bright side, we got a better home with my loving new parents, my real parents. I hugged her tightly as we said our good byes, and watched as they drove away, my eyes a little bleary from the salty water gathering their.
I turned back to the barn and found the woman and her horse. "Hi, I'm Annabelle, the new student."

[Super <3]

As I was leaving the ring, I saw a new car in the parking lot. My heart skipped a few beats as I relized that it must be the new girl! Only when I looked around, did I see the a girl about 14 years of age. I jogged over, followed by Gracie at a small trot and gave her a warm, inviting smile. "Hi, I'm Annabelle, the new student." her voice matched her body in every way. I noticed her beautiful brown hair and the streaks that wove through it. Taking a mental note of her would result in, very spunky. The expressian on her face showed excitment which only improved my mood." Hi, it's very nice to meet you! I'm Gena, the owner of Starry Skys!" I reached out my long arm and opened my hand hoping she would shake it. Only in few experiances had the other not taken my hand which was very rood! When she took it I gave it a jerked shake and pulled away. "Follow me and I will show you the barn!" I had to turn to speak because I was already walking. The barn was not a very long and we were almost there already. A wave of wind rushed by us carrying the scent of horses and new hay. Suddely, I remembered to grab Blueberry from the lunging ring. I had put him in there only because I knew of his love of fresh air. "Just a second, I have to go get Blueberry." With the excitment of the new student, I had to rush to get him. Tossing Gracie's reigns to Anna, I began to jog over to the tall-sided ring. Blueberry lay as streched out as a horse could be, on the ground. When he heard me, he jumped up and looked at me with his wide eyes. "Come on boy!" I latched the lead rope onto his halter and led him out to Anna. "Thank you! Hey, do you wanna have some fun??" My voice was filled with the idea that was about to take place. I don't know if she was ready but I looped Blueberry's lead rope around and tied it to the other side of the halter resulting in reigns! My arms flew to Anna's shoe and shoved her up and onto Blueberry. Knowing that he was a fairly calm gelding, made me decide that it was fine to let her mount. Swinging my leg over Gracie had never been easy but from so much practice, I easely glided into the saddle and have her a slight kick. I know that Anna wouldn't ever do anything that she wasn't ready for so I set off at a canter. Circling around her as I went left me deviesly smiling. "Are you okay??" I decided that it was sutable to make sure that she didn't wish to dismount.

[tonkatoy]

OOC: kind of powerplayed there. I don't mind though

I was kind of bewildered when Gena handed me the reins to her horse and just ran off. She didn't even know me, for all she knew I could be some psycho who's going to run off with her horse right this second. When she returned she held a blue roan mustang. The woman looped the lead rope around, turning the halter into a kind a sorta bridle and flung me up before I even had a chance to react. I settled into the horses back, sliding a bit more forward than I would have been in a saddle so I could sit in the slight hollow behind the gelding's whithers. "Yeah I'm fine." I grinned broadly. 'I'm going to like this woman' I thought.

[Super <3]

OOC: Yeah, I know but we needed a topic and I didn't wnt to loose muse. haha

By the look that the new girl had given me, she didn't mind how caotic I was being. I was begining to like this new girl, she had a since of humor. "Have you ever ridden?" I needed to know of her abilities before I begun to teach her. When we entered the stable, I rode beside a stall and went over the dismount and waited kindly for her to hop off. Gracie and I walked over to the other stalls to make sure everyone who needed to be in, was inside. "Are you going to be living in an apartment?" I asked her, making sure to know where my student would be staying. I looked over tomy large, rich house that was more like a manison than anything. I could see the lesson barn's reflection on my large glass windows. The horse that was carved and painted into the arch above the front entrance, showed no signs off chipping. Gracie let out a loud whinny as a rider cantered by the lesson barn on a lesson horse. My thoughts snapped back to Anna to make sure she was doing alright.

[tonkatoy]

"Yes I've ridden for four years now, I do mostly eventing." I smiled urging Blue berry after the woman. We clopped down the isle until Gena dismounted, I followed suit landing lightly on the concrete floor. The scent of horses flowed into my nose comforting all my nerves, my thoughts that were starting to edge on home sickness floated away. Because where ever this scent was, was home. I watched the woman checking the stalls and the horses inside as I leaned against the big mustang letting him lip at my jeans pocket. "Yeah I'm staying in the apartments, and I don't exactly have a horse of my own, so are you going to need to see me ride or something?" I replied to her question my voice casual though I was tremoring with excitement inside, I despreatly wanted to see which horse I would ride. I heard the steady beats of the canter get steadily louder until they began to fade away, and we were left in silence.

[Super <3]

"Oh, thats great! You can just leave Blueberry here for the night." A grin spread over my freckled face at the new student. I was really warming up to her and she seemed to like me too. "When would you like to show me your riding" I questioned her even though I had realized that she would have done it at any time. "I have your room number and keys in the office if you would like to rest up first. We will probibly try you on a medium horse to figure out how good you are but then we will go through the horses to find your bond." I hoped that she knew the feeling of a bond with a horse because it was one of the most importend things about riding. "We can go find a horse for you to ride or you can go to your room and try tomarrow. Your choice!" For some reason, I figured that she would want to today but I wouldn't push her into anything. At the look of it, she had developed some muscles from riding and they showed. I was the same way but mine weren't obvious except for when I wore shorts. Looking back to Anna, I listened for her replies.

[tonkatoy]

I smiled and lead blueberry into his stall patting him gently as I took off his halter I closed the door gently watching the mustang turn to inspect his feed bin hoping to find a scrap of hay or a pellet of grain. Rest sounded good but the idea of getting assigned to a lesson horse one I could work with as if we were one not to beings, energized me making me itch with anticipation. I wouldn't get any sleep if I didn't at least start searching for my partner in crime today. " I think I'll start riding." I grinned wide my lips curling across my face I was ready to start life here at starry Skyes

[Super <3]

A grin crossed my face at the thought of a horse for Anna. With not a second to lose, I threw Gracie into a stall (carefully) and dashed over to a stall that was only 10 feet away. "I know just the one!" I called Anna over to me to see the mare that I had picked out for her. "This is Starfire, she's very good in the ways of jumping and flat work but she is pretty fast. All you need to do with her is to train the speed." I pointed over to the nearest tack room which was filled with brand new tack. "Go ahead and pick out some tack. I will be in the office getting some paper work to fill out!" I left her in the isle in front of Starfire, hoping that she would begin.

[tonkatoy]

I watched gena walk off to the office and turned to Starfire, she was beautiful brilliant chesnut. Her ears swivled to listen me as I stared at her for a while. Taking in her body the shimmering coat muscular body everything about her was gorgous. "be right back girl." I smiled at the oldenburg and slipped into the tack room grabbing an all purpose saddle a square quilted saddlepad that was white with black edging. And a girth that looked about right and the bridle that was hanging onthe hook that read 'starfire' above it before walking back to the mares stall.

When starfire had been groomed throughly I tacked up placing the saddlepad and saddle on the right place on her whithers strapped on the girth and slipped on the mares bridle she took it pretty well though I did have to shove my thumb into the back of her mouth. "good girl" I cooed as I slipped the leather reins over her head and lead her towards the office "GENA I'M READY!!!"

[Super <3]

A loud scream from outside the office made me giggle. "The door is open, Anna!" I walked out to meet the two, holding a paper on a clipboard to take notes on. "Okay, lets begin! Lets meet in the jumping ring and you can show me some flat and jumping skills, ok?" Pointing to the ring that was standing tall and clear in front of us, "That is our jumping ring!" We had been there already but I was still helping her figure it all out. My steps sounded soft on the dirt grounding on the way to the ring. It had been made like that to be okay on horses hoofs. "I only want you to show me what you know. Don't do anything that you have never done before please." I didn't think that she would but I wanted to be on the safe side just in case. Starfire was looking very clean and well groomed which caused me to place a check mark on the sheet of paper with my number two pencil. The jumping ring was still left with all of the jumps up and ready but I had to lower them down for her level from mine. "When you are ready, the mounting block is right there!" I sat down on the bench that was off to the side of the ring and got ready to write.

[tonkatoy]

I nodded to her appreciatively and turned to Starfire performing my normal premounting routine I pulled down her stirrups adjusting them to fit me and tightened her girth before leading her to the mounting block and swinging up. Gena had mental it when shed had said that Starfire was fast I could feel her energy bubbling beneath her smooth fur. Maybe I should have lunged her I thought but I wanted it to start riding so I nudged her lightly asking for her walk. She complied but I could tell she wanted to go fighting for her reins so she could pick up the pace but I firmly told her no pulling back on the reins until she begrudgingly obeyed. "Good girl" I scatched the bottom of her crest and then as a second reward for listening I asked for the trot. We glided around sometimes sitting others posting before I picked up the canter turning a few circles even peforming a few flying lead changes. When I felt we had done well on the flat work I asked her to pick up the pace a little so the collected canter I had been fighting to maintain flew out into a much faster one. It was more fun more exhilarating more natural as we sped towards the jump. Heels down eyes up shoulders back a little leg at the base go into twopoint and we flew over in perfect timing.

[Super <3]

"Beautiful Anna!" I complaminted as she showed off ehr flying lead changes. he pace was amazing, especially for Starfire! Anna was doing great and when the pace was picked up a little too much, I understood how hard it was to keep Star back. "Good, good." I told her after she had cleared a jump about 2 foot 3. Just pull back a bit and under the jump, dont push her just wrap your legs around her. Pull her back just a bit before taking the next one and she should obay. If you want to jump the 3 foot jump, thats fine just hold her back before it or you will have to circle." I instructed her, I wanted to see her up to her ull potental. I could tell she was enjoying it but working hard also. "Your doing amazing Anna! You really are!" Giving her complaments seemed to help her in my eyes. I watched her head for the next verticle on Star.

[tonkatoy]

I took in her advice and decided to follow it she knew Star better than I did, I pulled her back just a bit, I could feel her mouth harden a bit as if saying 'No I don't wanna!' but I put on more pressure and the speed slowed as we aproached the jump this on aproxamently 2'6. I wrapped my legs around her but did not apply too much pressure and we soared over easily, clearing the jump with room to spare and landing in a quick paced canter. I reigned her in again as we approached the next one a 3ft vertical we flew over that too in synch with each other. I came to the corner and turned in to the diagnal aiming for a two six oxar I could feel Starfire starting to unwind beneath me as we approached the more intimidating fence but then I remembered how Gena had praised me and didn't want to mess up this last fence I wanted her to see just how good I was. I pulled lightly on the reins and pushed my heels down as far as physichally possible collecting her just enough that when it was time for take off that we were able to make it over just barely though I heard the distintive thunk as her back hoof clipped the top rail, I slowed her to a trot and waited no poles came down we had gone clear.

[Super <3]

When I saw her move to the next jump, a small oxar, I knew that she would clip it but not too badly. Her heels were fine but I saw where improvment was needed in her hands and leg positioning. The jump didn't fall but the sharp sound was clear in the ring. "Good Anna. Now come over to me." I noted the last jump and shook my head to myself. "You will start in the intermediete class everday." Walking over to Starfire, I stroked her neck, she loves that. Then I walked to her front and kissed the center of her head. "Okay, lets go untack Starfire and you can ask me about any questions that you have!" Starting for the barn, I turned to check for Anna.

[tonkatoy]

I smiled a nodded, at my old barn I had been advanced but this was professional school, they weren't as slack as my old stables. Intermeadiate was a pretty good start in my books. I watched Gena start to leave "Uh I'm going to cool her out first!" I called when the tall woman looked back at me before turning to the rail to let Starfire's muscles loosen up a bit, though I could feel mine tightening as she tried to work her way back into a trot. When I could feel not even a prick of warmth in Star's bright orangey brown chest, I turned to the center and performed an emergency dismount at the walk as usualy did, stopping just wasn't as fun. I loosenend the girth a couple holes and ran up the stirrups to the mare's saddle. Pulled the supple reins over her head, and walked to the stables.
Her bridle was off and a halter in it's place she was secure in the cross ties and greedily chewing the treat I had fed her. She was sponged and sweatscraped the tack put ack in it's place. Star was all set and so was I.

[Super <3]

I was grinning widely at her words refering to her care of the horses health. I would have spoke the same thing but it hadn't come to mind. "Thank you Anna!" After that was over, I turned her around in my head. Noticing her ways of improvment and spots that were flawless got me thinking, this is going to be one of my most deticated riders! I grabbed a schedual from the wall and filled her in for everyday. She would begin with one horse and then move on to the next untill she found the one that would really connect. I noted down that we would need to have a look around for her first ride tomorrow. Placing the clip board back on the wall, I swiched the lights off and began to shut the barn down for the cool night that was already beginning.