Post by Amery on Jul 19, 2006 13:22:59 GMT -5
Sonata waited restlessly in the cross-ties as he skittered left and right. He was convinced that he needed to be ridden. Not now, but right now. Amery giggled softly at his enthusiasm and was sure this would be an exhausting ride, for both horse and rider. She gave him a quick brush down, although he was hardly dusty.
After returning from the tack room, she gently placed a navy blue saddle pad with gold piping on his withers and slid it down until it rest comfortably on his back. She then lay a black leather a/p saddle on his back and made sure all buckles and straps were resting comfortably. She pulled the girth under his belly and did up the buckles, not too tight, but tight enough for now. She then slipped the black leather bridle onto his bold head and fastened the throat latch and noseband with ease. She took him from the cross-ties and lead him to the smaller indoor arena.
Once inside, she tightened his girth a hole on each side and it was comfortably tight. She then made sure all tack was in order. Once pleased, she placed her left foot in the stirrup and hoisted herself onto Sonata's broad back with ease. She dropped gently into the saddle and placed her other foot in the stirrup. Amery gathered up the reins and made sure everything felt good. Stirrups were the right length, girth was snug, and her helmet was on. That was good enough for her and she squeezed gently, asking Sonata to walk forward. He didn't take a single step. She asked once again, firmer this time. He leaned in the right direction, which was a start. She gave him a pat and asked one more time, this time with a firm kick. Sonata jumped a little but soon slowed into a comfortable walk. Amery tightened her reins and let him choose where they should go. Sonata walked gingerly around the arena, ears perked. This horse should be a good horse to ride, he still had spunk in him.
After Amery had walked him in circles, serpentines, and figure eights, getting him supple and flexible, she asked for trot. She once again gave a squeeze with her muscled calves and that's all it took this time. Sonata moved into a flowing trot. It could use a bit of work, a bit of muscling in different places so he moved nicer, but it was generally a nice trot, for now. She turned him in circles of 20m, 10m, and 5m and he was pretty responsive to rein pressure, as well as leg and seat aids.
Amery thought he was ready for a short canter. She wouldn't ask much of him today because this was her first time on him. Once they trotting into the corner, Amery sat deep in the saddle and placed her outside leg behind the girth and her inside leg on the girth. She gave a squeeze and Sonata leaped into the canter. It wasn't very graceful, but it would do. He cantered on the right lead, which was good, although he was a bit off-balance. After they cantered down the long wall, Amery pulled and released on the reins and sat deep. Sonata slowed to a trot and eventually, down to a walk. She gave him a loose rein and a big pat. That was a good first session.
After Sonata was cooled out, she hopped off, ran up her stirrups and loosened the girth. Amery led him to the cross ties and untacked him, putting his riggings back where they came from. She brush him down and gave him a rub in his favourite spots. Amery led him to his stall and gave him a flake of hay and fresh water. After a final pat and a treat, she closed and latched his stall door before heading out into the evening wind.
After returning from the tack room, she gently placed a navy blue saddle pad with gold piping on his withers and slid it down until it rest comfortably on his back. She then lay a black leather a/p saddle on his back and made sure all buckles and straps were resting comfortably. She pulled the girth under his belly and did up the buckles, not too tight, but tight enough for now. She then slipped the black leather bridle onto his bold head and fastened the throat latch and noseband with ease. She took him from the cross-ties and lead him to the smaller indoor arena.
Once inside, she tightened his girth a hole on each side and it was comfortably tight. She then made sure all tack was in order. Once pleased, she placed her left foot in the stirrup and hoisted herself onto Sonata's broad back with ease. She dropped gently into the saddle and placed her other foot in the stirrup. Amery gathered up the reins and made sure everything felt good. Stirrups were the right length, girth was snug, and her helmet was on. That was good enough for her and she squeezed gently, asking Sonata to walk forward. He didn't take a single step. She asked once again, firmer this time. He leaned in the right direction, which was a start. She gave him a pat and asked one more time, this time with a firm kick. Sonata jumped a little but soon slowed into a comfortable walk. Amery tightened her reins and let him choose where they should go. Sonata walked gingerly around the arena, ears perked. This horse should be a good horse to ride, he still had spunk in him.
After Amery had walked him in circles, serpentines, and figure eights, getting him supple and flexible, she asked for trot. She once again gave a squeeze with her muscled calves and that's all it took this time. Sonata moved into a flowing trot. It could use a bit of work, a bit of muscling in different places so he moved nicer, but it was generally a nice trot, for now. She turned him in circles of 20m, 10m, and 5m and he was pretty responsive to rein pressure, as well as leg and seat aids.
Amery thought he was ready for a short canter. She wouldn't ask much of him today because this was her first time on him. Once they trotting into the corner, Amery sat deep in the saddle and placed her outside leg behind the girth and her inside leg on the girth. She gave a squeeze and Sonata leaped into the canter. It wasn't very graceful, but it would do. He cantered on the right lead, which was good, although he was a bit off-balance. After they cantered down the long wall, Amery pulled and released on the reins and sat deep. Sonata slowed to a trot and eventually, down to a walk. She gave him a loose rein and a big pat. That was a good first session.
After Sonata was cooled out, she hopped off, ran up her stirrups and loosened the girth. Amery led him to the cross ties and untacked him, putting his riggings back where they came from. She brush him down and gave him a rub in his favourite spots. Amery led him to his stall and gave him a flake of hay and fresh water. After a final pat and a treat, she closed and latched his stall door before heading out into the evening wind.