Post by saz on Jul 20, 2006 6:23:31 GMT -5
River Dancer stood quietly at the cross-ties, fully-groomed by one of the grooms and sparkling. Sarah smiled as she came out the tack room carrying a black dressage saddle with a white saddle-pad underneath on her arm. Slung over her shoulder was Dancer's double bridle. Sarah quietly lifted the dressage saddle and saddle-pad on Dancer's back. Slowly wriggling it into place. She buckled up the girth, and moved onto the bridle. Slipping the double reins over her fine neck. She slipped the Kimblewick bit in the mare's mouth and smiled as she accepted it. Sliding the rest of the bridle into position, Sarah patted Dancer and fastened up the throatlash and noseband. Dancer stood eager to begin her workout as Sarah led her out of the stables towards the Dressage Arena.
Sarah led the bay horse into the arena. Small flickers of sun-rays fell on the large arena. Giving the arena a spot-light affect. Sarah smiled as River Dancer gently sauntered beside her, flicking small grains of sand as she walked. She halted the mare in the centre of the long dressage arena and patted her neck. Clipping her riding helmet's straps and securely tightening them. She tightened the girth and pulled down her stirrups. She adjusted her stirrup length until it was finally the correct length. "Good girl." praised Sarah as she gathered up her reins. Placing one foot in the cold stirrup irons, she sprung off lightly from the ground and into the saddle. Slowly she placed her other foot in the stirrup, resting the bar on the ball of her foot and keeping her heels firmly down. Once relaxed and settled in the saddle Sarah began to ask Dancer for a simple walk.
Dancer stretched out her long warmblood neck as Sarah gave her more rein, keeping her relaxed. "Lets see what you can do then.[.i]" thought Sarah. She slid her hands up the reins and kept a good grip. Giving a small indication with her heels that she wished for a trot. Dancer lowered her head, settling on the bit. Sarah smiled slightly, Dancer seemed to be very quiet although forward. Sarah squeezed with her legs and pulled back slightly on the reins, resulting in Dancer performing a collected trot. Sarah sat deep in the saddle as the mare underneath her bounced around the arena. Sarah loosened the reins, letting Dancer return to a medium trot. As they approached the long straight of the arena, Sarah sat deep and asked for an extended trot. Dancer blissfully stretched out her powerful legs and flicked up sand as she gracefully trotted down the stretch. Returning back to a medium trot again, Sarah patted Dancer. She rode her in 5m, 10m and 20m circles, sitting perfectly in the saddle as Dancer performed so well underneath her. She patted Dancer's warm neck as they began to ride serpentines and figure-of-eights in trot.
Once confident in the trot, Sarah shifted her weight and asked for a canter. Obediently, River Dancer sprung into a canter, Sarah smiled again, finding her balance and relaxing as she gave Dancer a small nudge to keep moving. The only sound that Sarah could hear was the gentle 3-beat of Dancer's hooves hitting the soft sand. Sarah guided Dancer through serpentines, circles and figure-of-eights once more, only in canter. Once at the long side of the arena, Sarah asked Dancer for an extended canter, the mare sped slightly but Sarah held a firm grip of the reins and brung her back to the speed they were at before, finally Dancer performed the extended canter down the arena. Sarah rewarded her with a pat and finally asked her for a collected canter, Squeezing back on the reins and giving the occasional light kick with her heels, Sarah requested for a collection and Dancer did so. She brung her hind quarters underneath her and made her canter slightly more bouncier.
Sarah slowed her to a trot and then to a walk. Giving her a free rein and letting her stretch. Dancer took long strides, and finally Sarah halted her. Slipping out the long dressage saddle. She stroked the mare's neck and patted her damp shoulder. Loosening off the girth and running up her stirrups Sarah smiled. River Dancer was an amazing warmblood and she hoped the mare would do well competitions.
Sarah led the bay horse into the arena. Small flickers of sun-rays fell on the large arena. Giving the arena a spot-light affect. Sarah smiled as River Dancer gently sauntered beside her, flicking small grains of sand as she walked. She halted the mare in the centre of the long dressage arena and patted her neck. Clipping her riding helmet's straps and securely tightening them. She tightened the girth and pulled down her stirrups. She adjusted her stirrup length until it was finally the correct length. "Good girl." praised Sarah as she gathered up her reins. Placing one foot in the cold stirrup irons, she sprung off lightly from the ground and into the saddle. Slowly she placed her other foot in the stirrup, resting the bar on the ball of her foot and keeping her heels firmly down. Once relaxed and settled in the saddle Sarah began to ask Dancer for a simple walk.
Dancer stretched out her long warmblood neck as Sarah gave her more rein, keeping her relaxed. "Lets see what you can do then.[.i]" thought Sarah. She slid her hands up the reins and kept a good grip. Giving a small indication with her heels that she wished for a trot. Dancer lowered her head, settling on the bit. Sarah smiled slightly, Dancer seemed to be very quiet although forward. Sarah squeezed with her legs and pulled back slightly on the reins, resulting in Dancer performing a collected trot. Sarah sat deep in the saddle as the mare underneath her bounced around the arena. Sarah loosened the reins, letting Dancer return to a medium trot. As they approached the long straight of the arena, Sarah sat deep and asked for an extended trot. Dancer blissfully stretched out her powerful legs and flicked up sand as she gracefully trotted down the stretch. Returning back to a medium trot again, Sarah patted Dancer. She rode her in 5m, 10m and 20m circles, sitting perfectly in the saddle as Dancer performed so well underneath her. She patted Dancer's warm neck as they began to ride serpentines and figure-of-eights in trot.
Once confident in the trot, Sarah shifted her weight and asked for a canter. Obediently, River Dancer sprung into a canter, Sarah smiled again, finding her balance and relaxing as she gave Dancer a small nudge to keep moving. The only sound that Sarah could hear was the gentle 3-beat of Dancer's hooves hitting the soft sand. Sarah guided Dancer through serpentines, circles and figure-of-eights once more, only in canter. Once at the long side of the arena, Sarah asked Dancer for an extended canter, the mare sped slightly but Sarah held a firm grip of the reins and brung her back to the speed they were at before, finally Dancer performed the extended canter down the arena. Sarah rewarded her with a pat and finally asked her for a collected canter, Squeezing back on the reins and giving the occasional light kick with her heels, Sarah requested for a collection and Dancer did so. She brung her hind quarters underneath her and made her canter slightly more bouncier.
Sarah slowed her to a trot and then to a walk. Giving her a free rein and letting her stretch. Dancer took long strides, and finally Sarah halted her. Slipping out the long dressage saddle. She stroked the mare's neck and patted her damp shoulder. Loosening off the girth and running up her stirrups Sarah smiled. River Dancer was an amazing warmblood and she hoped the mare would do well competitions.