Post by ashlea on Jul 26, 2006 15:00:32 GMT -5
Natalie climbed out of her car, and headed for the barn, her coat slung over her shoulder and helmet in hand. She quickly found Midnight's stall, and she smiled when the stallion gave an indignant whinny and pawed the ground, demanding release. Natalie laughed and grabbed the lead rope that sat neatly on a peg beside the stall, and kicking back the bolt and pushing the stallion away with her free hand, Natalie entered the stall and clipped the lead rope onto Midnight's halter. She hooked the stallion to the cross ties and grabbed the grooming kit, which one of the grooms must have left out for her. Rifling through it, she pulled out the body brush and she began to give Midnight a thorough grooming. Dust danced through the ir, visible only as they passed through the shafts of sunlight that had wandered through the stall window. About ten minutes later, Midnight's coat shone like polished mahogany, and his mane and tail were neatly brushed. Dropping her coat onto the bench that was located opposite Midnight's stall, Natalie picked up the grooming tote and carried it back to the tack room, where she was also going to have to get Midnight's tack and jumping equipment.
Natalie placed the saddle pad gently on the stallion's back, followed by the close contact saddle that she took several minutes to fit correctly and snugly, making sure it was not putting pressure on Midnight's spine. Natalie tightened the girth, making sure that the stallion was not holding his breath, and then she slid the bit into his mouth and pulled the bridle carefully over his ears, buckling it at the cheekpiece. Strapping on tendon and brushing boots, Natalie took a moment to run her eye over the equipment and check that none of it was faulty. Grabbing her helmet from the floor, Natalie buckled it up and unhooked Midnight from the crossties, leading the stallion out towards the arena.
When they stood in the arena, Natalie sprang nimbly onto Midnight's back and slipped both feet into the stirrups. Gathering up the reins, Natalie shifted her seat and pressed on with her legs, moving the stallion into an extended walk. Letting the stallion lower his head and give several excited snorts, Natalie sat quietly, a picture of the perfect rider position. As they passed A for the second time, Natalie took up more contact with the bit and nudged Midnight with her heels as in two strides the stallion broke into a trot. Natalie posted easily, her muscles well practice and honed for riding. Making sure that Midnight was on the bit, Natalie trotted across from M to K and shifted her seat, sitting to the rather jolting gait. Circling him at A, Natalie sat for two beats and began posting again. After some suppling and agility exercises, Natalie brought Midnight to a halt and loosened the reins, a reward for a job well done. Looking over the course of jumps with a practiced eye, Natalie studied the height and distances, where she would need to urge Midnight on to gain impulsion, and where she would have to slow and turn sharply. There was a small cavaletti and cross bar that Natalie had set up as warm-up for the jumping course, and she took Midnight over these from both a trot and canter, stopping when the stallion was listening to her aids and focusing on jumping. "Now for the real stuff," Natalie said with a smile as she shortened the stirrup leather by several holes and then tightened her hold on the leather reins. Circling Midnight at a trot, she applied pressure with her outside leg and pressed the stallion into a canter, heading for the stile that marked the start of the course.
Midnight gathered himself and Natalie moved into her two-point, allowing the stallion the freedom to stretch himself over the brightly coloured poles. Landing smoothly, they headed for the oxer and the brush jump, Midnight taking both in his stride and Natalie allowed herself to grin as they headed for the parallel. The stallion flicked his ears back and his fast pace faltered when the jump grew closer, and Natalie drove him on with her legs and gave him a tap with the crop. Midnight jumped and cleared it, though barely, and Natalie was a little off balance on landing. Righting herself in the saddle and readying her hold on the reins for the last jump, a vertical, Natalie leant up over the stallion's withers, smiling in delight as he soared over it scornfully and landed perfectly on the other side. "Whoa boy," Natalie said as she loosened the reins and allowed Midnight to walk slowly around the arena, ensuring that he was cooled and showing no signs of lameness before dismounting and running the stirrups up. "Come on boy...time to get your lunch," Natalie said and she gave Midnight a pat and led him back towards the barn.
Natalie placed the saddle pad gently on the stallion's back, followed by the close contact saddle that she took several minutes to fit correctly and snugly, making sure it was not putting pressure on Midnight's spine. Natalie tightened the girth, making sure that the stallion was not holding his breath, and then she slid the bit into his mouth and pulled the bridle carefully over his ears, buckling it at the cheekpiece. Strapping on tendon and brushing boots, Natalie took a moment to run her eye over the equipment and check that none of it was faulty. Grabbing her helmet from the floor, Natalie buckled it up and unhooked Midnight from the crossties, leading the stallion out towards the arena.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When they stood in the arena, Natalie sprang nimbly onto Midnight's back and slipped both feet into the stirrups. Gathering up the reins, Natalie shifted her seat and pressed on with her legs, moving the stallion into an extended walk. Letting the stallion lower his head and give several excited snorts, Natalie sat quietly, a picture of the perfect rider position. As they passed A for the second time, Natalie took up more contact with the bit and nudged Midnight with her heels as in two strides the stallion broke into a trot. Natalie posted easily, her muscles well practice and honed for riding. Making sure that Midnight was on the bit, Natalie trotted across from M to K and shifted her seat, sitting to the rather jolting gait. Circling him at A, Natalie sat for two beats and began posting again. After some suppling and agility exercises, Natalie brought Midnight to a halt and loosened the reins, a reward for a job well done. Looking over the course of jumps with a practiced eye, Natalie studied the height and distances, where she would need to urge Midnight on to gain impulsion, and where she would have to slow and turn sharply. There was a small cavaletti and cross bar that Natalie had set up as warm-up for the jumping course, and she took Midnight over these from both a trot and canter, stopping when the stallion was listening to her aids and focusing on jumping. "Now for the real stuff," Natalie said with a smile as she shortened the stirrup leather by several holes and then tightened her hold on the leather reins. Circling Midnight at a trot, she applied pressure with her outside leg and pressed the stallion into a canter, heading for the stile that marked the start of the course.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Midnight gathered himself and Natalie moved into her two-point, allowing the stallion the freedom to stretch himself over the brightly coloured poles. Landing smoothly, they headed for the oxer and the brush jump, Midnight taking both in his stride and Natalie allowed herself to grin as they headed for the parallel. The stallion flicked his ears back and his fast pace faltered when the jump grew closer, and Natalie drove him on with her legs and gave him a tap with the crop. Midnight jumped and cleared it, though barely, and Natalie was a little off balance on landing. Righting herself in the saddle and readying her hold on the reins for the last jump, a vertical, Natalie leant up over the stallion's withers, smiling in delight as he soared over it scornfully and landed perfectly on the other side. "Whoa boy," Natalie said as she loosened the reins and allowed Midnight to walk slowly around the arena, ensuring that he was cooled and showing no signs of lameness before dismounting and running the stirrups up. "Come on boy...time to get your lunch," Natalie said and she gave Midnight a pat and led him back towards the barn.