Post by ashlea on Jul 24, 2006 15:06:41 GMT -5
It was early morning when Natalie showed up at Hidden Valley, and today she knew would be physically straining as she had to work both of hers and Niole's horses. I'll exerciseMidnight first, she thought with a grin, her love for Cross-country showing in her hurried walk and wistful eyes. The stallion gave a joyful whinny as he recognisesd Natalie's footsteps, and his head appeared over the stall door as he saw that she indeed, carried his tack. "Come boy," she said as she entered the stall and placing the saddle and saddle blanket over the partition, clipped a lead rope onto Midnight's halter and tied him in the crossties. Natalie had already procured Midnight's grooming kit, and so after removing the stable blanket, she set about giving the stallion a good brush. After about ten minutes of solid brushing, Midnight's coat gleamed like polished mahogany as Natalie quickly tacked up the stallion, crouching down to fasten both his brushing and tendon boots. "Good boy", Natalie praised as the stallion stood obediently waiting for her signal, and she was proud that after only several days of work, the stallion was beginning to become more calm and relaxed. Natalie unclipped the lead ropes and pulled the reins over Midnight's head, leading him out of his stall and towards the daunting cross-country course.
Natalie rocked to the steady ryhthm of Midnight's canter, as she circled the stallion in the large grassy area before the start of the course. Midnight tossed his head and gave several good natured bucks, Natalie checking him, although not too firmly as she knew that the stallion was just as excited as her. "Don't make me look bad Midnight," Natalie said with a laugh as she slowed the stallion's pace to a trot and then walk. Natalie felt Midnight tremble beneath her, and she laid a reassuring hand upon his neck. Gathering the reins and tightening them, Natalie squeezed her calves around the stallion's barrel and urged him into a gallop. Midnight responded with a burst of speed, and she crouched over his withers as they headed towards the logs which served as the first jump. Without even needing to collect or check the stallion, Natalie put her trust in the horse's ability, and Midnight didn't disappoint. The stallion slowed and then in a single leap cleared the stack of logs and without breaking stride, landed on the sandy soil on the other side. She turned the stallion towards the next jump, an irish bank, and Midnight pivoted on his haunches for the tight turn needed. Natalie slowed the stallion to a canter as they grew nearer, as he knew that if they went any faster the stallion's legs would be damaged by the force of landing. Midnight flicked an ear back and he slowed, and then Natalie felt that familiar sinking sensation as they leapt out into mid-air. The landing was good, and the stallion picked up the pace a few strides after, Natalie leaning backwards as they headed down the hill towards the tyre jump. Midnight's weight shifted to his forehand, and her mind screamed collect, collect, and so she used the pulley rein to circle the stallion. Natalie knew that if Midnight reached the jump all strung out, there would be no impulsion to clear it with. The stallion regained his balance, as she gave him a slight tap with the riding crop and aimed him for the jump. The stallion jumped a little too early, but he seemed to twist in midair, drawing his hindlegs up so that he would not hit the solid obstacle. Natalie felt a surge of pride, three jumps down, four to go. Midnight raced along the narrow forest path, and cleared the next jumps perfectly, a small water jump and tiger trap. The stallion was lathered from the exercise, and Natalie's arms ached for she knew that she was not as fit as she once had been. Only two more left, Natalie thought ruefully as Midnight surged up the hill with her crouched over his withers urging the bold stallion on. The ditch loomed ahead, and Natalie counted the strides carefully, knowing that with the jump positioned where it was atop this hill, Midnight could be hurt if they left the ground at the incorrect moment. "Now boy," Natalie said as she leant forward and released the reins as she gave Midnight his head. The stallion jumped it like an old-hand, and Natalie saw that his knees were even. I guess grids really do work,she mused, but then there was no more time to think, there was only time to focus. The last jump appeared ahead with the flags marking the finish, and Natalie felt Bonnie shift gear into a pace that brought tears to her eyes. The brush jump was the largest and most intimidating jump on the course, and she felt the stallion falter in his stride at the site. "No Midnight," she commanded as she urged the stallion on with both voice and legs, and the stallion regained momentum and bounded over the jump with a scornful leap, as if he had know all along that he would clear it. Natalie slowed Midnight as they passed the flags, and he tossed his head and pranced along as shecooled him off, the excitement of the jumps still running through his blood. "Steady boy," Natalie said as she rode the stallion at a walk to cool him off thoroughly, and ensure that there was no stiffness or lameness.
Midnight nudged Natalie tiredly as he stood in the cross-ties, and she produced a small lump of sugar and lay it on her hand, smiling as the stallion gently lipped it, chewing on it with some enthusiasm. Midnight's coat was still shiny after being hosed down, and so Natalie set about with the body brush and rag to both dry and clean him off. After picking out the stallion's hooves and wrapping bandages around the stallion's lower legs to stop fluid retention, Natalie carefully placed Midnight's stable blanket on, and with a quick adjusting of the buckles, unclipped the stallion and left his stall. Now just Dallas and Lucy left, she thought as she hurried up the aisle to ready the gelding, who had been resting for the two previous days.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Natalie rocked to the steady ryhthm of Midnight's canter, as she circled the stallion in the large grassy area before the start of the course. Midnight tossed his head and gave several good natured bucks, Natalie checking him, although not too firmly as she knew that the stallion was just as excited as her. "Don't make me look bad Midnight," Natalie said with a laugh as she slowed the stallion's pace to a trot and then walk. Natalie felt Midnight tremble beneath her, and she laid a reassuring hand upon his neck. Gathering the reins and tightening them, Natalie squeezed her calves around the stallion's barrel and urged him into a gallop. Midnight responded with a burst of speed, and she crouched over his withers as they headed towards the logs which served as the first jump. Without even needing to collect or check the stallion, Natalie put her trust in the horse's ability, and Midnight didn't disappoint. The stallion slowed and then in a single leap cleared the stack of logs and without breaking stride, landed on the sandy soil on the other side. She turned the stallion towards the next jump, an irish bank, and Midnight pivoted on his haunches for the tight turn needed. Natalie slowed the stallion to a canter as they grew nearer, as he knew that if they went any faster the stallion's legs would be damaged by the force of landing. Midnight flicked an ear back and he slowed, and then Natalie felt that familiar sinking sensation as they leapt out into mid-air. The landing was good, and the stallion picked up the pace a few strides after, Natalie leaning backwards as they headed down the hill towards the tyre jump. Midnight's weight shifted to his forehand, and her mind screamed collect, collect, and so she used the pulley rein to circle the stallion. Natalie knew that if Midnight reached the jump all strung out, there would be no impulsion to clear it with. The stallion regained his balance, as she gave him a slight tap with the riding crop and aimed him for the jump. The stallion jumped a little too early, but he seemed to twist in midair, drawing his hindlegs up so that he would not hit the solid obstacle. Natalie felt a surge of pride, three jumps down, four to go. Midnight raced along the narrow forest path, and cleared the next jumps perfectly, a small water jump and tiger trap. The stallion was lathered from the exercise, and Natalie's arms ached for she knew that she was not as fit as she once had been. Only two more left, Natalie thought ruefully as Midnight surged up the hill with her crouched over his withers urging the bold stallion on. The ditch loomed ahead, and Natalie counted the strides carefully, knowing that with the jump positioned where it was atop this hill, Midnight could be hurt if they left the ground at the incorrect moment. "Now boy," Natalie said as she leant forward and released the reins as she gave Midnight his head. The stallion jumped it like an old-hand, and Natalie saw that his knees were even. I guess grids really do work,she mused, but then there was no more time to think, there was only time to focus. The last jump appeared ahead with the flags marking the finish, and Natalie felt Bonnie shift gear into a pace that brought tears to her eyes. The brush jump was the largest and most intimidating jump on the course, and she felt the stallion falter in his stride at the site. "No Midnight," she commanded as she urged the stallion on with both voice and legs, and the stallion regained momentum and bounded over the jump with a scornful leap, as if he had know all along that he would clear it. Natalie slowed Midnight as they passed the flags, and he tossed his head and pranced along as shecooled him off, the excitement of the jumps still running through his blood. "Steady boy," Natalie said as she rode the stallion at a walk to cool him off thoroughly, and ensure that there was no stiffness or lameness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Midnight nudged Natalie tiredly as he stood in the cross-ties, and she produced a small lump of sugar and lay it on her hand, smiling as the stallion gently lipped it, chewing on it with some enthusiasm. Midnight's coat was still shiny after being hosed down, and so Natalie set about with the body brush and rag to both dry and clean him off. After picking out the stallion's hooves and wrapping bandages around the stallion's lower legs to stop fluid retention, Natalie carefully placed Midnight's stable blanket on, and with a quick adjusting of the buckles, unclipped the stallion and left his stall. Now just Dallas and Lucy left, she thought as she hurried up the aisle to ready the gelding, who had been resting for the two previous days.