Mounted Games 2.0

[Becca Walsh]

When instructed, Becca put all of the brushes away and grabbed her tack. She positioned the saddle pad on Chris's back and placed the saddle on a well. She was especially careful when tightening the girth, knowing that if the gelding was even a fraction like Frye, she would have a chance of being bitten. Really, she was wary around any horse because of Frye. Chris didn't seem to have an issue with having his girth tightened, for which Becca was grateful. She put his bridle on, and the gelding only protested weakly before putting his head down for Becca so that she could tuck his ears under it.

She led him out the the arena, very excited for the coming class. She patted him when she got there, pulling her stirrups down a vaulting easily onto him. Chris was tiny in comparison to Chris's towering height. She tucked her feet into the stirrups, and gather her reins, guiding him out to the rail. She tried to get a feel for him, and it was a little weird, being so close to the ground. Frye and Rabbit were so giant compared to him, and Chris was also rounder in comparison to the thoroughbreds. To her surprise, Becca liked it.

[daine2]

Bronwy smiled happily when Mr. Ropata answered her questio and made a mental note to ask him near the end of the gaes if she could ride the mare later that week and learn her better, that wy she and is could work as a better team when they rode. She grabbed a comb and began brushing out the mane and tail of the mare, taking her time as she did so, seeing as how she had a few extra minutes on hand. She finally had the mare's coat glossy an shining and her mane and tail tangle-free and put all the brushed back before stepping back to admire her work. Bronnie had a thing about any horse she rode having to look its best.

She glanced around and noticed that several other students had already saddled up ad were in a group together, to she grabbed Ish's tack and began affixing al the stuff of the mare. She checked the girth twice and rechecked all the buckles on the bridle to make sure everything was as tight or as loose as need be and then pulled on her helmet, leading the mare towards the others who had already tacked up. As she got closer to the group, she stopped the mare and mounted up before picking up the reins and walking her on up to the group, where she gave the other students a happy grin and wave.

[William//Adrianna Gibbson]

Ria saw Rory give her a wave and waved back happily, then went back to combing Gloria's mane. As Mr. Ropata told them to saddle up their ponies and bring them into the arena, she hurried to comply, making sure to try and tighten the girth, as Ms. Carr had taught them. She could hear the other students talking about riding the ponies outside of class, but didn't pay attention, as she had to concentrate on the tack she was putting on Gloria. As Gloria puffed out her stomach, though, and wouldn't let out a breath again, Ria couldn't get her to behave. She looked over at where Cara had been with her pony, hoping that the girl hadn't led Ripple out to the arena yet, but she had. She was about to turn around to ask Rory for help when Gloria went back to playing nice and let out the air she had been holding in. Ria hurried to tighten up the girth, then grabbed her helmet and buckled it onto her head before grabbing Gloria's reins and walking her over to the arena. Once she had stopped by the mounting block, she walked Gloria close to Cara and smiled at the older girl, "Me and Gloria are ready this time!"

[Monique//Aurora Chambers]

Rory squealed in excitement when Mr Ropata said they might be able to ride their assigned mount in between classes. "You and I could get to know each other outside class, Yoko." She told the mare as she continued grooming her.

When they were told they could start tacking up, Rory wasted no time in getting the mare ready to be ridden. "Quit it!" She growled as the mare blew out her stomach. So that she didn't end up doing something she could get yelled at for, she looked around to make sure she wasn't the last one, and it seemed that Ria was having the same trouble as herself but then Ria got the girth done up and was headed toward the arena. "Come on, Yoko." She begged and then the next thing she knew the girth was tight and the mare was ready.

Before leading the mar out of the yard, she went over the tack to make sure everything was in the right place and then led the mare out of her yard, feeling sorry for the ponies who were still in their yards. She then led the mare to the arena and entered.

Finding an empty space, she checked the girth, pulled the stirrups down and attempted to vault into the saddle, but just ended up hitting her chin on the saddle. She could feel her burning as she quickly stuck her foot in the stirrup and mounted before squeezing the mare forward.

[John Ahearne]

John hurried to Mounted Games, cursing his luck. Of course he had gotten lost the first time he had to come to this arena, and now he was running late. He finally found the arena, with people already mounted in it, and a scattering leading their mounts in. Grimacing, he walked over to the man who seemed to be the teacher, "Excuse me, sir. I'm sorry for my lateness, I had some trouble finding my way here." He looked at the few ponies still left in their yards, with no one tending to them, and wondered which one he would be assigned to. He was glad that they didn't have to use their own mounts for this class, because he knew that his own mount was unsuited. She would be off in a flash, which wouldn't be safe. He looked into the arena, seeing a few younger-looking girls among the normal-aged students, which surprised him. He wondered briefly who they were, and why they were a part of the class, then realized that it didn't matter. They seemed as at-home on the ponies as any of the students, so it wasn't like they would bother anyone, he hoped.

[Bruce Ropata]

Bruce stood in the middle of the arena as he supervised his riders mount their ponies and begin to get settled into the saddle. He noted how many of them used the stirrups and wondered if rather than his intended game, he should be working on vaulting instead.

He watched a boy approach him and chuckled as to how he was addressed. "My father is Sir, I'm simply Mr Ropata." He replied. "And lateness can be excused when you are new. I am guessing that you would be John?" He knew that he had two more new students and the other was female, he could easily say that this boy was not her. He looked at the riders again and addressed them. "Okay, everyone walking clockwise around the rail (which means your left side should be on against the rail), once the leader reaches F, and then each from then on, you can trot."

Turning back to the young student again, she nodded his head toward the yards. "Come this way and I'll introduce you to Rocky." He led the way to the yard where the dappled buckskin was dozing. "He'll only need a quick sweep with the brush to remove the dust and then you're good to go." He rubbed the pony's forehead as the gelding shook his head, waking up, and stepped forward to investigate the new person. "He's really friendly. His only downfall is that he gets distracted easily while being ridden. Not dangerously, but just enough to become annoying. I'll meet you back in the arena."

Once back in the arena he took his space in the middle and watched as the now trotting riders worked their horses around the arena. "Okay, at H, I want you to cross the diagonal and change reins. As you approach H again, I want you to ask your pony to canter, then rein them in at A and come a line up in the centre." He knew that this would mean that John would now need to warm up Rocker by himself, but that wouldn't be a bad thing with the Connemara gelding.

[Cara-Jean Kitchi]

As the instruction was given, Cara nudged Ripple, asking the grey gelding to bring his haunches under him and really move forward. Ripple had other ideas though and clamped his dock down, swishing is tail in annoyance at being asked to work. Not in the mood to cajole the gelding into doing as asked, Cara applied more pressure until she finally gave the pony a good boot with her heels and instantly released the pressure from her legs and heels as the gelding finally started working from behind and strode forward.

Two strides from F, she tightened her abdominals and deepened her seat and within two strides, Ripple floated forward into a trot - with a slight swish of his tail as though to say he would never dream of doing anything else. She enjoyed the gelding's trot, and instead of posting to the trot, she remained sitting.

When the instructor returned to the arena, she turned her attention to him - keeping her eyes between the gelding's ears - and as they approached H, she moved her right leg back ever so slightly and closed her right hand on the rein, cueing the gelding that she wanted him to turn, and like an angel, Ripple turned perfectly as the hit H and they headed down the diagonal. As she wasn't posting, she didn't need to sit to change diagonals, but at X, she began posting.

Changing rein, they headed back down the arena. Two strides away from H, Cara once again tightened her abdominals and sat deep, she asked for slightly more collection with the reins before closing her legs on the grey's sides, inside leg on the girth and outside leg slightly behind the girth.

At the corner, the gelding made a perfect strike off with his outside hind leg and leading with the inside foreleg. She sat to the pony's canter, allowing her lower body to absorb the movement of the gelding, before she sat deep as they approached the top of the arena, and asked him to transition back to a trot and a walk before moving to the middle of the arena and asking for a halt. Dropping the reins, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around the gelding's neck as she patted his chest for all his hard work.

[monarch]

Sadie walked up to the mounted games arena. She put her sandy colored hair into a side braid. She couldn't wait to meet new people. She also couldn't wait to see the horse shed be riding. She smiled well at least attempted. She had on her holey jeans and neon orange tank top. As Sadie walked up she looked around. She liked the place. Though she knew Raven and Bella didn't. Phoenix was adjusting. Sadie was also adjusting she was OK hear but wished she could learn some people and have a friend. She finally reached the gate she stood there watching everyone. Sadie wasn't happy but she wasn't sad ether she was just uncomfortable. She didn't know why but she was. She shrugged that thought off. Her thoughts went to the people shed seen so far. She had seen a few girls they had seemed nice but non like her. The guys shed seen were cute though. She smiled as she though of how good that was. She just hoped at least one was nice. It would be good to move away from her last boyfriend and on to a new one. Maybe one that may be with her for a good while. Sadie sapped out of her newbie daze and watched the arena in front of her suddenly worried about that.

[Bruce Ropata]

Bruce watched as the students warmed up their ponies, he was very pleased with the way the students seemed to get the best out of the ponies. He was wondering what Cara was going to say when he told her that she was warming Ripple up for another rider who was joining the class late.

He looked across the arena at the approach of a girl, not the one he'd just been thinking of, and frowned at her attire. Shaking his head, he headed over to the fence and arched an eyebrow. "I am guessing that you are Sadie-Mae?" He didn't wait for a reply as he continued. "I'm Mr Ropata, I instruct this group. You need to return to your dorm and then come back in jodhpurs and a shirt that has sleeves." He knew the damage that could happen coming off a pony at speed, and wasn't going to be responsible for students skinning themselves with friction burns. "When you return, with your helmet, I'll introduce you to your mount." He hoped that the pony he was going to pair the girl up would be a good choice for her, and if not, he would see what he could do about shuffling some of the other mounts around, even though the riders who had been with him for the last couple of lessons had already bonded with their mounts.

OOC: I am hoping that Chey (Eloise) is going to reply soon and I tell them both at the same time who their mounts are.

[monarch]

Sadie looked up and nodded to him "yes sir and sorry". She returned not very much later in the correct attire. She braided her hair down her back and then put on her helmet. She felt worried. She didn't know what cloths she should have worn and then she comes hear and embarrasses herself. Wow great first impression Sade. She shook her head. Her mind jumped to the horse she would be ridding. Her horses were a mixed bag of personalities. Which of hers would the horse be like? She didn't know but she hoped it was like Valentino or at least Raven. She wouldn't be able to handle another Bella. The spooky mare had dumped her at least 3 times every ride. That would be to embarrassing to be doing that in front of these people who were probably remarkably good at the mounted games. Sadie grabbed her braid over her shoulder and twirled the end of it nervously. But she knew as soon as she was in a saddle it would all fade away. She would focus and be in tune with the new horse. That thought sent her nerves away and excitement reined.

[Bruce Ropata]

Bruce shook his head to her apology. "It's Mr Ropata. And from the looks of it, no one told you what you should have come to the lesson in, so you needn't be sorry."

He looked at his watch as he waited for the girl to return and his last student to turn up. As Sadie came walking back, and still no sing of Eloise he shook his head, knowing he couldn't wait any longer. Striding across the arena, he stopped at the head of Ripple and took the reins. "Cara, the girl approaching the arena, her name is Sadie-Mae, she will be riding Pop. Can you please introduce her to Pop and go and saddle Bonnie for yourself. Our one missing student will take over riding Ripple."

He walked back to the arena fence, leading the gelding. with Cara behind following. "Sadie, this is Cara." He stepped aside and gestured to the small student who was no beside him. "She will take you over and introduce you to the pony you will be riding. Then the two of you can warm up your mounts. Cara just follow the same pattern I set." He flashed them both a warm smile and walked back to stand in front of the other students, with Ripple in tow.

[Cara-Jean Kitchi]

Cara was working on getting Ripple to stand nicely while they waited for Mr Ropata to address the group. She noticed the man walk away, but her eyes didn't follow him. She was still concentrating on Ripple that she jumped when there was pressure on the reins and she blushed as she realised that the instructor had taken hold of the reins. She nodded and swung out of the saddle.

Following the man and pony to the fence, she bowed her head toward the new student. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Sadie-Mae." She said, her clipped English accent whisper soft.

She then led the way over to the yards and stopped outside the yard of a Buckskin Tobiano, Arabian, pony cross. "This is Copper Gold, or Pop. He's really sweet, just needs the confidence that his rider will keep him safe. His things are just in front of his yard." She bowed to them both and then headed to the yard of a flaxen chestnut New Forest Pony.

After she had Bonnie groomed and looking perfect - just the way the mare liked it - she tacked her up and then led her back to the arena where she vaulted easily onto the mare's back. She waited for the arrival of the other pony and rider to be ready and she nudged Bonnie forward.

She led the way around the arena at a walk, at F she asked for a trot, glad when the mare flowed into the faster gait. At H, she went down the diagonal, sitting for a stride at X to change diagonals and changed rein at F, then trotted around on the other rein before she turned the mare in at A, asked for a walk - earning buck for asking her to slow down - and rode up to the others.

OOC: Sadie, Pop isn't scared of a lot, but if he think there might be something hiding behind a bush and isn't confident of his rider's ability, he will shy wildly to the side. So pretty much, you could have him being a brat the entire lesson while they get to know each other if you want.

[monarch]

Sadie smiled at the gelding "hey pop" she greeted him. She led him to a post, tied him and groomed him. After thoroughly grooming the beautiful kluging she went and got his tack. She tacked him up and led him to the arena. She saw Cara. She vaulted onto Pop's back and petted his neck. Pop nodded his head. Sadie smiled at Pop knowing this would go better then she feared. She kicked him into a walk. Soon she was behind Cara. She kept up easily. She completed the moves with ease. Pop and her connected quickly. Sadie was grinning at the gelding. Sadie kept up her confidence, afraid the gelding would freak. And just that second Pop flew side ways and Sadie fell to the ground. "ugh" Sadie looked up to see pop gazing at her with sorry eyes. Sadie sighed "good move boy". Pop walked up to her and nuzzled her. Sadie stood and shook her head. Sadie smiled and kissed the boys muzzle. She went to his side and vaulted back on"you wont pull that move on me twice boy" she smiled.

[Leonardo Jacobs]

Leo listened intently to Mr. Ropota as he explained the few instructions. Excitement was coursing through him at the prospect of doing something new. Mounted games was most certainly something quite new for him. The brunette gave Joe a gentle nudge, pushing him forward. The dressage side of him immediately attempted to get Joe to walk into the contact of the bit. The pony, somewhat confused did as asked however, but was nowhere near relaxed as Avi. Leo didn’t mind. He supposed mounted games probably was the last place you wanted to act all relaxed and smooth anyway.

He rode behind Cara and readied his mount to trot after Cara started. Joe swished his tail at the boy’s shortening of the reins, but Leo pushed the pony into the contact once more and got him working quite collectedly. Leo smiled softly, refraining from giving him a pat until they finished. He still said a soft praising word to show the youngster he was happy. So far, mounted games wasn’t too different from the warm up exercises he usually did. He knew they would go into things later on however and he had a lot to learn due to the fact he was a total beginner with it.

Leo finally asked for the trot, waiting for his diagonal to post and pushed his pony to go fast enough to be prepared for turns and other things. When they cut across the diagonal, the brunette made sure his pony went into the corners and then turned him easily back onto the rail as Cara began to canter. He slid his outside leg back and half halted, allowing the pony to collect himself so he got a supple, well balanced canter. Joe easily transitioned without the tedious amount of fast trots Leo had gotten in the past and he let himself relax his seat and move with the horse. Finally, when they reached the stopping point, Leo slowed his horse back down to a trot and eased into a walk. He lined up beside Cara and her mount, giving his pony and good neck rub. “Good by Joe.” Joe snorted and lowered his little head.

[daine2]

Bronwyn steadied her mare, Ish, and fell in line behind a boy she had yet to meet. She was still not quite used to the Rocky mare, but they rode together much easier this time than their first mounted games class. Bronnie asked for a nice walk, perhaps a little too enthusiastically, but the mare only swished her tail and snorted lightly before doing as her rider had asked. The girl grinned and lowered a hand to lightly scratch Ish's neck, near her mane.

At the marker they had been told to trot at, Bronwyn held the mare back for a stride, letting the boy and his mount get ahead by a little pace before letting the mare go on into a fast-paced, actiony trot. Bronwyn concentrated of slowing the mare down and was a little slow to post when they were supposed to, but she caught up quickly enough and gave the instructor a small grin as they moved across the diagonal, the mare doing perfectly now that her rider had straightened things up.

The girl let the mare pick up a nice, solid canter at the rail, asking the horse with enough force that the mare moved smoothly into the canter with very little trot strides in between. Upon reaching their stopping point, Bronwyn sat back in the saddle, as she could with her own mare, and the horse she rode slowly stopped, a bit confused by the unfamiliar cue to stop, but doing so. Bronwyn lined the mare up alongside the other riders and petted the mare for a moment, scratching her neck again before turning her attention to the instructor.