Post by saz on Jul 20, 2006 14:12:38 GMT -5
Sarah sprung into the black eventing saddle. Tightening the girth and adjusting her stirrup lengths. Finally, once she was comfortable, she began to warm up Lady. She walked her around, keeping an eye on the way Lady reacted to certain aids, she wasn't as soft-mouthed as Dancer and often liked to show-off slightly and misbehave. Sarah played about with her crop until it was finally comfortable in her hand. She nudged Lady into a trot, the bay moved her weight swiftly and began to trot, flicking her tail and hopping slightly, eager to move faster. Sarah held the reins with a tight grip. And as Lady settled in the trot, requested for a canter. Lady tossed her fine head and began to canter, taking eager strides and almost eating up the ground as she covered it. When Sarah finally thought she was warmed up enough, she guided her to the beginning of the course, and they began.
![]()
[http://www.tourbloke.com/elandlodgenewithphotosInUse/400/CC_SleepyDitch400.jpg/img]
Lady moved in an eager canter, snorting loudly. Sarah sat quietly, focusing her attention on the jumps ahead. The first jump, consisted of 3 different heights,a small for the younger or less-confident rider, a medium height for the intermediate or confident rider and a larger one for the more confident and eager. Sarah lined Lady up immediately for the medium height, wanting to start her off gently. Lady seemed to eye up the larger fence but decided to go over the smaller. Sarah leant forward in the saddle and gave Lady the clear sign she was ready. Lady sprung off the ground, performing the perfect arch and cleared the fence easily. Sarah sat back up in the up-right position and searched for the next jump.
Next came the trough jump. Again there was a choice of three heights and Sarah chose the medium height. She wanted to settle Lady before asking her on the larger jumps, although she knew she was capable. Again, Sarah leant forward and Lady sprung neatly over the jump, clearing it easily.
Sarah held Lady back slightly, giving her more time to see what was ahead. She couldn't see or judge it clearly so she bravely put her trust in Lady. She used her legs to indicate the jump and felt as the big bay underneath her changed her stride and gathered herself up for the jump, although again it was only the medium sized. As they drew nearer and nearer Sarah moved into her jumping position and sat tight as Lady soared over the pallisade. Once they landed Sarah sat back up and patted Lady, with a grin on her face. She felt like Lady was beginning to listen to her and also she was beginning to trust her.
Now came the logs with the ditch. Sarah didn't seem to bother much, leaving it to Lady as she found she was better at judging. "3, 2, 1" said Sarah aloud, but her words were drowned by the breeze that caught her words. Lady flickered her ears and slowed down slightly, springing off lightly and clearing the jump again.
And it carried on that way, Sarah riding Lady to the jumps and then giving Lady her trust to get them over it safely, it seemed to work too. Lady began to behave better and stop becoming so eager, knowing that eventually Sarah would giver her the opportunity to shine.
Sarah smiled as they neared the last jump, Lady had proven a lot to her and even though she wasn't her own horse, it felt-in a way that she was! They cantered around the corner on the path, heading towards the log. Lady lengthened her stride as Sarah pushed her on slightly. She leant forward and looked ahead, inbetween Lady's ears as the mare took off and over the log. She sat back in her up-right position as they landed. Lady snorted and slowed down as Sarah pulled her up passed the finish line.
She slowed her to a halt and smiled. Patting her neck warmly. "Good girl!" she praised. They'd completed their first course.
Lady moved in an eager canter, snorting loudly. Sarah sat quietly, focusing her attention on the jumps ahead. The first jump, consisted of 3 different heights,a small for the younger or less-confident rider, a medium height for the intermediate or confident rider and a larger one for the more confident and eager. Sarah lined Lady up immediately for the medium height, wanting to start her off gently. Lady seemed to eye up the larger fence but decided to go over the smaller. Sarah leant forward in the saddle and gave Lady the clear sign she was ready. Lady sprung off the ground, performing the perfect arch and cleared the fence easily. Sarah sat back up in the up-right position and searched for the next jump.
Next came the trough jump. Again there was a choice of three heights and Sarah chose the medium height. She wanted to settle Lady before asking her on the larger jumps, although she knew she was capable. Again, Sarah leant forward and Lady sprung neatly over the jump, clearing it easily.
Sarah held Lady back slightly, giving her more time to see what was ahead. She couldn't see or judge it clearly so she bravely put her trust in Lady. She used her legs to indicate the jump and felt as the big bay underneath her changed her stride and gathered herself up for the jump, although again it was only the medium sized. As they drew nearer and nearer Sarah moved into her jumping position and sat tight as Lady soared over the pallisade. Once they landed Sarah sat back up and patted Lady, with a grin on her face. She felt like Lady was beginning to listen to her and also she was beginning to trust her.
Now came the logs with the ditch. Sarah didn't seem to bother much, leaving it to Lady as she found she was better at judging. "3, 2, 1" said Sarah aloud, but her words were drowned by the breeze that caught her words. Lady flickered her ears and slowed down slightly, springing off lightly and clearing the jump again.
And it carried on that way, Sarah riding Lady to the jumps and then giving Lady her trust to get them over it safely, it seemed to work too. Lady began to behave better and stop becoming so eager, knowing that eventually Sarah would giver her the opportunity to shine.
Sarah smiled as they neared the last jump, Lady had proven a lot to her and even though she wasn't her own horse, it felt-in a way that she was! They cantered around the corner on the path, heading towards the log. Lady lengthened her stride as Sarah pushed her on slightly. She leant forward and looked ahead, inbetween Lady's ears as the mare took off and over the log. She sat back in her up-right position as they landed. Lady snorted and slowed down as Sarah pulled her up passed the finish line.
She slowed her to a halt and smiled. Patting her neck warmly. "Good girl!" she praised. They'd completed their first course.
