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Post by ~4ever*&*4always~ on Dec 11, 2006 19:38:03 GMT -5
Kari smiled at Ashlee. "Hey great job!" She said smiling to her great preformace. She listended to Nicole then nodded to and got herself and Dream back into flawless position. She gently nudged Dream with her calves and heels automaticly getting a silky smooth canter. It was even more gentle than a rocking horse's! Kari gently turned her horse to the left and continued the canter for one flawless lap. All the while she went over the checklist in her head to keep her head up, heels down, toes in, back straight, hands closed and low, and horse happy. Even when Dream started to slow or speed up Kari used her invisible cues to correct her perfectly. She finally reached the end of the arena where she used her outside leg and inside reign to really bend Dream and did a perfect circle. She did the exact same thing at the other end making sure to have Dream bend at the poll. After the circles it was time for the flying change. Kari loved doing these because it took her so long to actuall 'get' them. She perfected her seat once again and aimed Dream toward the diagional. She gently picked up on her outside reign a fraction of an inch while using her inside leg at the same time and the exact right moment she had him switch leads. Dream did exactly as told and was completly relaxed and alert during all of it. Kari smiled to herself and then mentally prepped herself for the small crossrail which was next. She cantered once more around the arena silently going over her checklist. She aimed Dream toward the small crossrail which was nothing compared to what she jumped in the Olympics. Still she did everything just as she would even if she was being judged. As they came closer to the jump Kari counted the strides and then at the right moment got into two point. She gave Dream a gently nudge right before and that was all it took to give her the extra momentum. She gracefully lifted up her front legs and tucked them neatly under her while her back legs followed. Kari gave a small slack on the reigns making sure to still feel her mouth. As they landed softly Kari smiled at the wonderful job. She sat up straight once again silently checking to make sure they were on the right lead. They were! She gave Dream a pat and mumbled some silent words to her. Kari slowed her to a trot and expertly guided her to the middle once again.
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Post by Nicole on Dec 11, 2006 21:06:09 GMT -5
Nicole smiled broadly. "Very, very nice Kari. Dream's a challenge sometimes, you did beautifully with her." She walked over to give the horse a pat. "We'll be doing some big jumping today, you'll have fun. My only criticsm is that you need to canter her out at leasta circle after the jump before trotting so she doesn't think she can stop. Who wants to go next?"
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Post by JUiCY BRUNeTTe♥ on Dec 13, 2006 21:37:27 GMT -5
Her attention turned to Kari, whom she'd become half-friends with. Ashlee nodded with a smirk, glad that she was recognized for her actions. "Thanks. And, good luck!" She said, before cantering off to perform the flying changes once again. "I'm sorry, Nicole. I must've misunderstood. I'll do it much better with the correct steps this time." Ashlee stated gleefully with a wink. Turning Wish Maker in a 1 meter circle to go to the arena walls again, working on half halts like told to. She thought Wish was supple, but if the judge noticed a flaw, then it was her job to correct her mistakes. Loosening the reins just a little, Wish automatically arched his boa and extended his muscles, looking picturesque as ever. Ashlee knew that Wish was sensitive to the reins and snaffle bit, so it would be hardly visible, or even simultaneous, to do the half halts during her canter. Ashlee easily raised her sternum and deepened slightly in her seat. Just as predicted, Ashlee simply met her equine from her center, advancing her front-line to her hand. Invisibly, she pushed her stomach forward, keeping her pelvis upright and pushed backwards from her lumbar area without stiffening her arching her spine to stay in the neutral position. The force that Wish was evading was matched by the asking of he leg on the opposite side to the non-allowing hand to rebalance him. Good Boy, Wish. Ashlee whispered into the drifting wind into the atmosphere, glad that Wish Maker was doing so superbly. Their view was excellent; not a dead pull as a constant crunch of the abdominal or a prolonged squeeze with the leg. Ashlee secretly timed the half-halted canter, but not making it visible by syncing it on her lips. It didn't show that she was mainly focused on counting, as she held her head up high with her shoulders back with a perked back, heels down with pointing toes to top it off, just as a professional rider would look as they strone around the arena picturesque as ever, just like the two now. Ashlee became well aware of when each hind leg came forward and when it is on the ground. When it first touches down in front of the vertical, she knew and felt, the haunches flex. That is the correct moment for the half halt. As soon as the hind leg passed the vertical, Ashlee knew it would start to thrust and If she were to half halt against the thrusting leg, Wish Maker would brace against her and either go against, above or behind the bit. Staying away from faults, Ashlee made sure to half halt when the leg is on the turf, not wanting to shorten the stride and prevent the hind leg from stepping under. As Wish Maker stepped under, the result was magnificent as the couple was relaxed and balanced as one. Following the half halts, leg yielding was asked of next. Leg yielding was a familiar term used many times by her old trainer before she came to OTB. Ashlee obtained a strong memory, so the definition was well reminisced. Keeping up on the canter, Ashlee flexed the inside rein to Wish to the inside by simply curling and uncurling her inside hand gently and the reins until Wish Maker flexed. Soon enough and effortlessly, he did. Now, there was enough bend so you can just see the eye and nostril of the powerful and masculine stag. Once the bend was exquisite, Ashlee began to invisibly ask for the sideways motion. She applied her inside leg a little behind the girth in time with the stride. Ashlee knew how important it is to use the leg in the press-relax-press-relax way - a constant pressure that will cause the horse to lean against your leg and not move away from it. Timing her leg aid was simple to Ashlee, since she had been taught well. She felt her horse’s belly swing away from her inside leg, which is the point when Wish’s inside rear leg was coming underneath for the next step forward and is the only point in which she could effectively influence the equine’s stride. The outside rein was held against the neck, but didn’t do anything actively. She knew that Wish Maker would feel the outside rein against his neck and it would step him from falling out through his shoulder and diving back to the outer track. Her outside leg didn’t move from her normal and professional riding position, but could be used to ask for more forward impulsion if the canter ever fades away, but, being the champion team they were, it never did. Ashlee hoped that Nicole would watch and admire her leg-yield, as they were straight, both horse and rider. Finally, at last, the flying changes across the diagonal where up bat once again. Keeping her steady medium canter, Ashlee took Wish Maker around the arena once with the circles first, just focusing on Wish’s footing and preparing him for the coming routine. Ultimately, their test re-take was on. Rounding out the first large circle, Ashlee unperceptibly turned Wish to the diagonal. Knowing for fast that Wish Maker was on his right lead (she knew that because his right foot was further forward than her left foot and her hips were titled somewhat so that her right hip is basically lower than her left) as he circumed the circle, she knew that he would half to change to a left lead to really know the definition of flying changes. She applied more weight on her right hip, making sure he stayed on his right lead until ready to change. As the twain got prepared to switch to the left lead, Ashlee because aware of her hands, her hips, and her legs. She lifted his head with her hands, shifted her weight to the left in her seat and her hips, and cued him undetectably with her legs, just as Wish Maker replaced his right lead with the beautiful left. Wish’s breathing was steady, a slight pant through his nostrils, but that was normal for a short workout like this. They advanced through the arena, doing as they did at the first circuit as well. Enfin, Ashlee slowed Wish to a walk as they arrived at the center of the arena with a smile. Ashlee leaned over and pat Wish Maker’s robust shoulder as a reward. “Nice job, boy. I’m proud of you.” As soon as Nicole finished talking, he immediately piped in to conversation. “If it’s not a problem or an inconvenience, I’d like to do next, Nicole.” Kyle asserted, addressing Nicole properly
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Post by Nicole on Dec 14, 2006 17:34:42 GMT -5
"No problem, Ashlee. Go ahead." She watched closely, following the girls every move. As she finished Nicole smiled broadly. "Beautiful, Ashlee. I have absoluted no criticism there, I'm very impressed. Yes, Kyle, go ahead."
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Post by ~4ever*&*4always~ on Dec 15, 2006 17:43:34 GMT -5
Kari watched as Ashlee went again. She reached down and gave Dream another pat. "Good girl." She mumbled as her delicate ears turned back toward her to catch every sound. Kari waited to see how Kyle did.
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Post by Casey1o1 on Dec 15, 2006 18:03:16 GMT -5
OOC: Im sooo behind, im just gonna join up....im sorry, alots goin on......
BIC:
Casey walked her gelding to the center, patting his mucled neck softly, and her siblings came up beside her, waiting their turn.
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