Private Dressage Lesson (Chase)

[Henrietta Charleston]

The girl’s boots softly padded against the barns cement floor, causing various equine interests to pop their heads out of their stalls. Henri smiled at each one until she got to the only stall in which a horse was not paying attention. Cisco stood dully in his stall, enjoying the space it had compared to his old one. The brunette sighed at the angry animal before reaching into her pocket and pulling out a carrot. She then held it at the base before holding it out to the horse. The gelding turned his head her way, giving her a dry look before coming up and snatching it out of her hand; and then moving quickly away. Henri chuckled at his antics and praised him before moving onto her other horse.

Hutch pawed his hoof rudely before Henri snapped at him to quit it. It wasn’t his turn for a carrot just yet. The girl grabbed the horse’s grooming kit before slipping through the door and starting to hard brush him. Obediently, the horse stayed put, mainly chewing on the remains of his hay. Henri chuckled at the animal, Hutch never failed to make her laugh. Finally, after about fifteen minutes, Hutch’s usual shiny coat was impeccably clean as were his hooves, mane and tail. The brunette checked her watch, and then hurried to throw his tack on. She made sure to keep his girth loose till they came to the arena.

After placing her practice helmet over a messy bun, Henri moved off to slip on his bridle and they were off. She checked her girth and stirrups before swinging on and clip clopping toward the indoor arena. She yelled gate before entering to find there was nobody inside. Her instructor didn’t seem to be here, though she had never seen what he looked like other than the name she was given. While, dressage wasn’t what she did, it was something she really needed to help with anything.

While she waited for him, Henri pushed Hutch into a quick warm-up; making him go in both directions and sitting at a two point. Her focus at the moment was to warm her and her horse up both. Pretty soon, the pair moved into a trot, she posted on the right diagonal, doing a few circles and changing rein before doing walk-trot transitions.

[chase]

Chase had found himself busy through the morning, doing exactly what? He couldn’t quite pinpoint as it was one of those days where you felt like nothing dire had been established. He had arranged some lessons, scheduled a few more things and answered a few emails. Steffen had sent some promising prospect footage via email and Chase would admit to having wasted quite some time admiring the horse flesh he should be working with – though this was for him. He didn’t have time to be a trainer and bring along 3 and 4 year olds; he had thanked Steffen for the temptation and carried on with his morning of doing little bits of what felt like nothing. He had taught a group lesson right after class let out, the students were progressing though not many seemed to have the appreciation and dedication to the discipline that he had at their age – they would stumble upon the importance sooner rather than later. He looked to his schedule and noted another lesson almost directly after his group, a private lesson with a Miss. Henrietta Charleston – the girl didn’t sound familiar.

In the short break between teaching he took a few calls he had missed throughout his first lesson and popped by to see Donny and Calvin, the horses had both settled and would be worked after this private lesson. Popping into the tack room he pulled on his ankle boots and half chaps and pulled a pair of gloves over his hands, it was chilly out and standing still coaching always made him shiver. He was dressed in his usual “business attire” full seat jods, one of a million pairs and his favorite barn coat with a scarf wrapped around his neck. Long legs carried him to the arena, he was just a few minute behind schedule not more than 5 but it still felt wrong. Calling “gate” as he entered the arena he shut it behind him and found himself at the center watching whom he assumed was Henrietta on a bay gelding. His tone was warm, business like but still warm.

“Afternoon, I apologize I am a few minutes behind today! Glad to see you took this time to warm up a little, now I am assuming you are Henrietta Charleston and by now that you know I am Chase Mathies - but please call me Chase!”

He paused to watch the pair for a moment, they were well suited and seemed to be in tune – the horse was evidently of good breeding, his basic confirmation stood out as correct and designed to work correctly. He could of course tell that she didn’t school dressage regularly, starting with her stirrup length and the geldings natural carriage – but those were all things they could improve, they had the basics and the tools to do so.

“Can I get you to come into the center for a moment, I would like to start with dropping those stirrups a hole or two and would like you to tell me about yourself and your gelding.”

He smiled, he was a chatterbox yes but it was in his nature. Running a gloved hand through his hair he waited patiently for her at the middle of the arena.

ooc: if you aren't okay with something I post let me know, though in doing lesson threads I usually have to make some "assumptions"
outfit[

[Henrietta Charleston]

Henri smiled as the horse stopped immediately after she stopped posting, right on the “C”. That certainly was something quite new. Hutch was the type of horse to have to get those tiny walk steps in before even thinking about stopping. The brunette patted the warmblood’s neck, in praise for his patience. She then, nudged him with her heel. Hutch, having done the walk-trot transition exercises for the past five minutes, immediately bounced into a trot. Henri grinned, pleased with her warm up. She was quite aware circles and transitions would help her and her dressage problems, though the girl knew she had a long way to go. Henri mainly only knew the basics.

The sound of a voice yelling out gate caused the girl to turn her focus on the man entering the arena. He looked like her instructor, and since he was in an arena where she was supposed to be having a lesson at the exact moment, Henri assumed the man was Chase Mathies. Henri was still quite unsure of what to call him as she had never met him before, though the girl was hopeful the lesson would turn out well. She’d had private lessons all her life before she came to BRRA, and Henri was held her expectations for herself quite high for them.

She smiled politely as the man introduced himself, forcing herself not to make a face at the use of her full name. Henri nodded as the man asked to be called Chase and assumed this was her time to tell him what she wanted to be called “I go by Henri.” she said, giving Chase a happy smile to show she wasn’t mad at all about that because he obviously didn’t know what she went by before.

At the instructor’s request, Henri obliged, moving Hutch a medium walk into the center. There, she put her leg in front of the saddle and lengthened her stirrups two holes. They were quite spaced apart, though they didn’t fall too long for her legs. Each stirrup met a little under her ankle, which Henri supposed was the proper dressage stirrup length. It felt weird to be putting her feet in lower stirrups due to her short jumping length, but she was ready to begin. “Well, as you can probably tell – me and Hutch, over here, are hunter/jumpers for the most part. I’ve actually never done dressage schooling other than my first years of riding.” she chuckled before adding “Please just bear with me as I get back into it.” It had been too long. “Also, Hutch isn’t exactly your perfect dressage mount. He doesn’t really know anything other than the basic things required to complete a smooth jump course.” she told the man, her voice becoming less shy with each sentence.

OOC: Lol, understandable, I probably won't ever have that issue but if I do, I will let you know. :)

[chase]

Standing still at the center he shifted his weight from one leg to the other as the girl and her horse approached. He was still smiling, eyes looked over the bay horse still analyzing he noted the potential. Most horses benefited from dressage and were capable of low levels, though the bay warmblood that approached the center was probably quite capable of some of the bigger movements, assuming the time was put into him. Never the matter he felt like the girl was probably a dedicated jumper, so even the idea that she was accepting of the good influence some dressage lessons could have in her over fences work was a small victory for team dressage. Her correction on the fact that she went by Henri was noted, he hinted a touch of heat there but left it be.

“Of course, note made and Henri it is.”

He smiled, watching her adjust the length he was quite happy she was willing to drop them so quickly. Starting with just one would have been fine, but he liked the commitment and try she seemed to have so he kept his mouth shut. He did note her jumping saddle and would mention later on if she wanted to borrow a dressage saddle to continue lessons in he had a few kicking around that he wouldn’t miss – he was a tack collector. He smirked when she spoke again about it being obvious, it’s true he could spot them a mile away. It wasn’t a bad thing, from what he could tell the horse was suited to its discipline of choice and was likely very talented over fences. Chase was just excited to help another individual improve their rides, the fact that she had some knowledge of dressage basics would help significantly. He nodded to her and spoke in turn once more.

“Obvious? Yes. A bad thing? No. I can respect that hunter/jumper is where you guys both excel. I will admit that I think with some work Hutch will make a lovely dressage mount, but for now let’s focus on the basics and some things that should help your rides overall and find your inner dressage rider once more."

Chase smirked and moved towards one end of the arena, he was silent for a moment as he thought of the simplest way to explain the exercise he wanted to start with.

“Since you guys are already kind of warm let’s get you started on a 20m circle around me. We are going to work on some transitions and adjusting and controlling Hutch’s gait and rhythm through your seat and body.”

Pausing he waiting for the pair to find themselves on the track of the circle, his tone hit the air once more – a more serious tone found its way into his voice as he taught.

“He naturally wants to step up, so lengthen your reins and keep him at that walk. Carry your own hands and sit a little deeper, if he goes to invert above the bit correct him with your leg but otherwise leave his face alone for now. Once he is stepping up from behind into the medium walk ask him to collect slightly, just a little hesitation in the step. Don’t use your hands but your body; slow yourself down and he should follow. If he ignores you go to your hand, but ask first with your seat and leg. Once he comes back to you for a few strides use your seat to send him into the regular medium walk once more."

It was an activity that he still used with his horses, making sure that the way he used his body meant something. That when he slowed the motion in his body his horse followed, or ideally that was what happened. Some days Donny liked to pretend he couldn’t feel a thing that Chase was doing.

“Henri, that’s good. Make sure you are square in the saddle and even on your seat bones, soft supple hands and arms to follow his mouth. If you don’t understand something or have a question just say so!”

ooc: okay good, but let me know if I cross a line or make an incorrect assumption!
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[Henrietta Charleston]

While the Trakenhner had really been only taught to jump, Henri knew there was no doubt the horse couldn’t do at least a little bit of dressage. Hutch did get a bit whiny about shortening his strides and such, though that was most definitely needed for jumping. Stride shortening was somewhat inevitable for the horse and the brunette had made him realize it. Another one of their big weaknesses were leg yields, while that was also needed for jumping, Henri still had to use some form of a crop to get the horse to move his hind legs as well as his front. Still, in time, she hoped these things would be fixed with the help of Chase.

The girl chuckled softly in spite of her heated words as the man declared somewhat calmingly that he would call her Henri. The brunette wasn’t exactly sure why she was so defensive about being called she wanted. Whatever it was, there was no denying the resentment at her real name. Usually, she wasn’t so tight about little self-conscious things as such, though the girl did have her buttons. She nodded to his instructions, dropping her stirrups quickly. She was quite willing to do whatever the man asked because that just was how she was brought up. Never to question the elder, just do. Though for the past few weeks, she could find herself thinking quite the opposite.

Henri had nothing against Chase however and listened intently to his words. The girl nodded at the prospect of Hutch becoming a nice dressage mount. She supposed he could be, and she would definitely love to try it out. It was good to try things in the equestrian sport. Henri chuckled at the thought of finding her ‘inner dressage rider’, but the words sounded good and she was excited to get started.

The girl’s body did just as Chase said, nudging Hutch before taking him in a measured circle. She completed one full round to get the feel of her circle. The man’s assumption of the horse stepping up was quite correct, and Henri lengthened her reins in mild surprise. She hadn’t used this technique before, but to her surprise it worked beautifully. Hutch brought his legs together a bit more before Henri did her best to sit deeper. She was a jumper and sitting deep wasn’t really the thing she did, at usually a half seat. Still, the girl moved her hip to tell her horse what to do.

Henri moved her hip slower along with the horse’s motion to collect him, the first time she had ever done it without using contact on his mouth. Hutch slowed down a bit, but didn’t collect his walk. Henri sighed before trying once more to make her point clear before finally using her hands just a bit to help. The horse collected his stride at that finally and she sighed once more in frustration. Well, she and Hutch could work on that. At getting back the medium trot, Henri made her hip a bit more active easily sending the horse faster. The girl smiled and nodded as Chase reminded her with a few tips. She constantly checked her arms and hands, making sure they were soft and not resting against his neck.

[chase]

Chase was attentive; he was in the zone so to speak. Watching the horse and rider he analyzed their weaknesses and strengths, the horse being a jumper should be adjustable which should make the idea of extension and collection a little easier. The gelding knew how to use his hind end, the muscles where there he just needed to engage it on the flat to match how he did to get over a fence. He had a nice step, good impulsion and natural cadence. He was schooled with a different mindset and ridden like a jumper but Chase couldn’t hold it against the handsome gelding or his rider – he was going to work with what they presented. Eyes looked Henri over, she adjusted her seat and Chase could see that it was different for her but she was listening and applying what Chase asked, that was all that mattered. He did these private lessons because people asked for them, if they weren’t going to listen they could find help elsewhere.

“Good Henri, relax your shoulders and back – don’t force the posture.”

It was a habit for a lot of riders, when they were asked to sit up and deeper they forced their shoulders back and tried to drive their seat into the horse. Moving your shoulders and adjusting the posture with your breathing was a good way of ensuring you didn’t stiffen and in turn restrict your horse. Henri let Hutch step forward and into the contact, it was good but could be better. Making a mental note he watched her bring the horse back with her seat, there was a slight response but she was correct to go to her hands when the horse ignored her other aids.

“Good correction, but go more with the extension the quicker he is with his hind end the easier collection will be – this doesn’t mean he needs to be running.”

He waited for her to oblige, most people wanted to please and were quick to re-act. He wouldn’t hesitate to tell them otherwise, horses and dressage especially was not something you could achieve at without putting in the time and taking the criticism you had asked for in the first place. No matter the case Henri seemed to be soaking things in thus far, no complaints, no objections and no excuses – she was abiding by the rules he had yet to set. Tone hit the air once more, mannerly yes but the focus was still there.

“Make sure you let him stretch down, longer with his neck.”

The difference this warm-up made in most horses stride and way of going was impressive, he could already see the gelding gain the airtime in his hind legs and it just excited the man even more. Containing his excitement he studied the rider and horse once more, expression warm though evidently serious – he stayed quiet for a few moments while waiting for the pair to do as he asked.

ooc: sorry slow, not super great!
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[Henrietta Charleston]

While jumping and dressage were two very different disciplines, there was no doubt many dressage disciplines were used in jumping techniques. Henri had learned to ride with a dressage trainer, starting on basic dressage first before moving onto leg yields and above to get through her jumping courses cleanly and efficiently. Despite her early training, the girl hadn’t been through much dressage practice lately, and it was very healthy to go and review and learn more to do with Hutch. The horse most definitely had the ability to perform in dressage and Henri was excited to get him started. She was quite thankful that Chase had private dressage lessons for the students that needed to get back on track.

As Henri moved to try and set her shoulders back and sit deep in the saddle, she was indeed forcing her position. It was something quite entirely new at, and she felt somewhat like the first years of her riding career. The girl nodded as her teacher instructed her to relax her shoulders and her seat. Henri took a deep breath, calming her stiff seat and upper body. The brunette relaxed deeper into the seat, still keeping her rhythm with the horse and calming her shoulders down as well.

She turned attention back to the circle as Chase asked her to let him lengthen. Henri obliged, still finding this new way of collection quite interesting but attempted it, letting the horse lengthen his stride, but keeping a medium walk. Much to her evident unsurprised, the horse sped up in which Henri brought him back using her seat. It was nice to get a refresher of this gait and rhythm exercise. She knew even this would help her a lot. At the man’s last of instructions, she nodded, making her reins longer and letting the horse put his head down.

Hutch was pretty good at stretching his neck down, especially as he bended around the circle. Henri smiled at her mount, this much he could do quite well. Hutch bobbed his head, tugging a bit on the reins as he pulled his head down to the ground. Henri sighed as she failed to realize the horse slowing and moved her hip a bit faster to tell him to go. She kept him on the long rein as they went around the circle once more, Henri reminding herself over and over to keep her hands up and sit deep and relaxed in the saddle.

[chase]

The horse was moving nicer now, Chase grinned as he watched the girl apply the corrections as she relaxed herself it allowed the horse to move out better under herself and relayed the relaxation to him. Chase expected the horse to snort anytime now, his walk had improved greatly. It could get better yet and with consistent work of this nature he knew it would, smile highlighted the man’s features as he turned, his eyes on the pair at all times – soaking it in the silence was a good thing for them both. He didn’t feel the need to constantly be talking at his riders; he found the more he spoke the easier it was to ignore them. The same way that the more you nagged a hose with your leg the easier it became for them to ignore the cue all together. He didn’t feel the need to waste words; he didn’t want them to lose their effect. Praise, criticism and correction were reserved for situations where he needed to step in. Providing individuals the time to sort things out on their own made the learning more impactful, and his job was then more effective. He did feel the need to interject at the moment that Henri relaxed,

“Good, better – if you are relaxed Hutch can be too.”

It was something people often forgot, yes horses sensed fear, and nerves when we did but they also took on our stiffness and general tension more than we realized. Watching the pair move out into a more forward walk still he smiled, activating the hind end was essential to getting collection, ensuring a horse was moving properly from behind and over the back should always be step one. Quickening the hind end also allowed for increase cadence and improved the horses quality of gait, the horse stretched down even more as requested and in effective his hind end overstepped his front even more. So when Henri sat back it was easy for the horse to gather himself, and as a result he responded better. The pair went forward once more, and Chase smiled.

“Better, that is what we are looking for – without changing the walk change reins.”

Evidently he would adjust himself going through the corner but Henri needed to keep him going forward and it needed to be the most pressing thing on her mind. By overthinking it now she would apply it correctly when she rode on her own, once the pair were reversed and circling him again Chase gave the next set of directions.

“Okay, without losing that walk and too much length of his neck shorten your reins about 10 cm then ask him to trot. Remember to stay relaxed through the transition, keep him stretching down and forward in the trot – post.”

ooc: done.
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[Henrietta Charleston]

A small grin lightened the girl’s features, it had barely been a few minutes and she already liked her new dressage instructor. He didn’t feel the need to talk all the time so she would mess up because she wasn’t putting the majority of focus on her horse. Henri did usually find the discipline of dressage somewhat frustrating, though she understood what dressage riders lived for. The amazing feeling of connecting with a horse and then the amazing feeling of satisfaction when you performed well. This feeling took quite a while to harvest however, and over the years, Henri had become somewhat impatient with it. She was ready to attempt again however and she wanted to improve her skills; especially since she was on the team now.

Henri nodded as the man reminded her of that special sixth sense horses had. She had heard of how the horse’s managed to feel emotions wavering throughout their riders and those around them. The girl had witnessed it herself. Hutch knew when she was in a bad mood, and on his good days tried to make her feel better though on the bad days, it was obvious the horse realized he got a free lesson to himself. It wasn’t that the warmblood was bad, he enjoyed pleasing his rider if they rode him well enough. While the rider approved him, he approved the rider. As Henri relaxed into the saddle, Hutch relaxed too changing the course of the ride to become smoother.

The brunette smiled at their progress before Chase asked them to change rein without losing the walk. Henri bit her lips nervously, she had always found it difficult to keep the horse the same way when she was moving onto something else. However, she had done it before and she knew exactly what Hutch would do. Cutting through the circle, Henri moved her hip faster to keep his walk, though his head came up. The girl started to walk him around the circle once more in a different direction and the horse lowered his head again.

Henri nodded as the man asked her to shorten her reins a tiny bit before asking for the trot. Obediently, Hutch actually brought his nose closer to his chest as she picked up the trot. The brunette posted as she went, glancing down for a half a second to check her diagonal before keeping him bended around her inside leg. She grinned in amazement at his bent neck; she hadn’t seen the horse do that before. Henri wondered what he had been up to before Mr. Charleston had bought him for her.

[chase]

Chase found himself in a zone when teaching, it was similar to the zone he channeled when riding. If his student was re-acting appropriately and riding as he asked the lesson flowed. With that flow he became very focused, though got excited as well lessons whether he liked it or not were something he was good at. His style didn’t suit everyone, he was direct and liked to let you figure things out – he would correct and praise accordingly. Watching someone he had coached succeed was almost as rewarding is succeeding himself. Henri moved as asked and Chase smiled, the silence between them was not awkward – it made sense as they were both focused. Chase watched her nod, though as they changed rein through the walk he spoke once more just after the horse lifted his head.

“Make sure whenever you ask him something you are feeling and riding the perfect response, even if you think he will lift his head or hollow out, visualize it going perfectly.”

The horse walked around him now in a different direction, he watched the cadence and was satisfied with the activity. Hutch would get more accustomed to the walk and it would improve even more if Henri worked on it each time she rode, for today it was good – he didn’t want the horse running or stressing about the concept of walking. The pair picked up the trot, the transition was very nice a 7 in his mind; added activity to the walk would improve it the few extra marks.

“Good transition, don’t surprise him with the change in contact – make sure you are pushing him into your hands with your leg.”

He observed the gelding accept the change in contact and work with it accordingly, he seemed to be pleased to work this way – Chase didn’t want to rock his world too much, he was taking everything so wonderfully.

“His trot looks good, soften your hand – but keep the contact. If you relax your shoulders and elbows it will be easier to follow the natural contact he is looking for.”

Horses didn’t generally like it when you threw the contact away suddenly; it was one thing to give and another to lose the contact. The pair was going well, Chase wouldn’t mind teaching Henri at all in the future – assuming she continued to ride to this standard. His extra dressage saddle popped into his mind once more, he must not forget to offer it to Henri to borrow for lessons and schooling if it fit her handsome bay gelding. Once more his attention was on the lesson, he let the pair make a few more circles of this size and nature around him wanting the horse and rider to grow comfortable with the trot.

“Now, increase the size of the circle. Good, increase that trot slightly and if he wants to lengthen his neck allow it and then play with the flexion – flexing him from the left to the right, not too quickly though. Repeat this in both directions – remember visualize the change in bend going perfectly.”

ooc: .
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[Henrietta Charleston]

To her credit, Henri did grow frustrated quite easily due to her need for perfection. Of course it wasn’t as intense as some of the other people at BRRA, but it was certainly up there. She couldn’t help but think of failure. Which, in turn, at times, brought it to her. She bit her lip and nodded as Chase went onto tell her to see her doing the move perfectly, so her body would respond and act that way. Henri attempted this, though as usual there was that obvious nagging string pulling at her brain. She nearly groaned in exasperation. Henri wasn’t too proud of her nervousness. It was definitely not one of her finer traits here. The girl took a deep breath to soother the nerves growing in order to keep Hutch relaxed and smooth.

Henri listened intently as the man asked to get the natural contact. She then attempted to relax her shoulders and arms despite the very many stresses holding on her. She eventually did after a few tries and she felt it slowly getting there. Hutch seemed to have walked into the contact instead of her pulling it back onto him. Henri realized how Hutch would realize what he did made a difference on the amount of contact, and the brunette smiled at her progress. The Trakehner had been in a fairly competitive home before and the girl was quite thankful to have a horse that seemed to know what she was attempting to do.

Henri frowned, her jumping saddle hadn’t been meant for the long legged seat of a dressage rider. Still if nothing, it did strengthen her leg a bit to put it back there and maintain the “line” through her shoulder, hip and heel. She constantly checked it, knowing her balance and leg cues would be put off if she came off it. Henri had been depending on the line for nearly all of her riding career as it was one of the first and basic things she learned. After time, the sixteen year old had realized it was also one of the important things she’d learned as well.

Henri nodded at the next set of instructions, using her inside leg firmly against the warmblood’s side. Hutch moved out of the circle, and the brunette kept the outside rein as a barrier once more. She turned his head inside to make him flex, putting pressure with her inside leg to keep him from falling in. Hutch snorted, lowering his head a bit with the flexing in which he fell in a little. Henri sighed at her mistake of taking her leg off and pushed him out again. She then attempted to flex him the way in which he nearly drifted out, but her outside leg pushed to her inside rein. Henri kept him flexed this way for a bit, before crossing through the middle and changing rein the other way. She sat her post for a beat to get her diagonal and did the same flex in this direction. Hutch generally was better in this direction, and lowered his head as he flexed for her.

OOC: Sorry that reply took forever.

[chase]

Chase was impressed with the way the individual was riding, it was just lesson one. It would be a shame if Henri didn’t want to keep up with the dressage lessons, they were going to be frustrating at first but both horse and rider had the talent if they wanted it. Applying yourself in such a demanding sport could be more than infuriating, Chase had days that he simply had to get off and review why exactly he subjected himself to such a lifestyle. Riding had so many variables, so many that you couldn’t control – just re-act to and manage appropriately. Training yourself to re-act and adjust aptly was the trick, one in a million riders had that natural ability; Chase was forever jealous, he worked for what he had. Henri’s frustration was understood, he smiled to her – holding his tongue for a moment he let her soak in the moment and feel and then figure out how to manage it.

“Good Henri, you are doing a great job don’t worry I would tell you if this was a waste of my time; so far it’s not.”

He could see the feeling and improved way of working the horse flow through her, as soon as Henri relaxed and allowed the horse function completely from behind it was like a light bulb. Once more silence on his part, he didn’t want to interrupt the feeling that the discovery brought – the response in the handsome gelding was immediate. Even horses without formal “dressage” training re-acted well to being ridden this way, it was the basis of a good riding foundation. It wasn’t going to be easy for anyone, but that was what Chase liked about the sport - it was truly something you had to practise to get good at and be in shape for. Someone could be in the best physical shape of their life, but still struggle to ride – the muscles were near impossible to develop as needed outside of the saddle.

“Good correction of position, that saddle isn’t making it easy – you are working well with it, I do have a dressage saddle that might fit you if you want to borrow it in the future.”

He watched Henri work the horse as asked, changing the circle size and flexing him properly – it was nice to see her make the correction without needed to be prompted, her feel was very correct in that sense. He didn’t want to correct something she was obviously aware of, the change in direction went well – even if this was the horses preferred direction it didn’t discredit Henri’s improvement. He nodded to her, the pair looking wonderful Chase couldn’t wait to watch them progress even further. He spoke once more, his tone excited to be teaching – it was evident this was the man’s growing passion. Smile clung to his handsome face as he spoke.

“Okay Henri, he looks great this way too – his preferred direction I assume? The quality of his trot has improved greatly. Let’s move up to the canter, shorten your reins slightly to keep the soft contact through the transition. Send him forward, same idea of a longer lower frame. Don’t worry if he feels fast, as long as he is balanced it’s probably the ideal canter to warm up in.”

ooc: .
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[Henrietta Charleston]

Henri quirked her lips in concentration and frustration as she kept Hutch flexed when Chase’s reassuring voice hit her ears. To her surprise, it actually did help a lot to have his input in her lesson and knowing she was doing alright, the girl relaxed a bit more in the saddle. Instead of taking the hard driven, intense, focused looked she had been carrying usually; it had been replaced with a calm one. She looked as if she knew what she was doing, and for once there was a bit of truth behind these words. Henri made an attempt at a smile as Hutch obliged to her signals, loving her horse beyond measure.

It was quite the feeling to her and Henri could see where dressage riders got their drive to well from. To feel the positive change in show of something they were doing right was nearly like being handed a present for Christmas. While the brunette hadn’t reached such a great achievement, she was beginning to get a taste of what it felt like and she liked it. Henri’s smile turned genuine as the gelding trotted on, relaxed and fluid. While there was probably multiple things wrong with it, the brunette couldn’t help but feel as she had just gotten it much better.

Her eyes looked up in surprise as Chase commented on perhaps letting her borrow a dressage saddle so it wouldn’t be so difficult to keep her position in dressage. She smiled sweetly at this, very thankful for his offer. “Oh, I would appreciate that so much. Thank you.” she replied, remembering to keep her attention on what she was doing. She had gotten this far, there was no need to lose the impulsion she had just built up. Henri nodded as the man also commented on how Hutch looked much better in this direction. She grinned, happy to have him realize this.

Henri nodded once more, her face once more returning to the same focused, but calm expression. She was feeling a bit edgy with a speedy canter due to Hutch’s earlier crash in with a jump, and tensed up a bit in the saddle. Still, the girl sat deep, shortening her reins and sliding her outside leg back. Having done it a bunch of times, Hutch shot forward causing Henri to unconsciously tug back on his mouth bringing him back to a trot. The brunette sighed, before picking it up again and forcing herself to relax in the saddle. After concentrating on her breathing, she moved easily with him and kept the horse flexed as she cantered around the circle. Hutch collected and reached a pace as they rounded the second time, Henri kept his back end working in it as well in order to not let him fall on his front end.

[chase]

Chase was silent, pleasant though concentrated face watched the pair. It made him excited when his students did well and found the drive to do so. It was exciting that the students here wanted to be in his class, he had no patience for individuals who didn’t want to learn or accept his critique. He found excuses as useless as the riders that made them, neither were welcome in his lesson. The horse seemed accepting of the riders cues, it made Chase like the animal even more. This was most likely different from the way he was normally schooled and the gelding was handling it with ease. Chase could nag and nitpick at multiple tiny things, he didn’t feel the need as the pair was doing wonderfully for their first lesson and Henri seemed relaxed. Her interest in the dressage saddle was a good sign, he nodded and spoke once more.

“Excellent, I’m sure I will have something that fits you both.”

Chase, a tack hoarder? Never! Okay, well maybe a little. If it made things any better he only held onto quality tack. Chase watched the pair carefully, Henri tensed and while he wanted to call her on it the man decided to see if she would figure it out on her own. If his lessons and words were sinking in the individual would relax on her own as soon as she realized why the horse was re-acting the way he was. It didn’t take her long to correct herself and in turn the horse, the pair was moving much more nicely now. A smile lit his features as he watched the horse, athletic he had a nice canter – it could be improved but the forward was good.

“Good canter; use the forward let him stretch his neck out a little still.”

Running a hand through his hair Chase smiled, he would have them canter the other way and walk – the gelding was probably starting to work up a bit of a sweat. He didn’t want to over work the horse totally on their first lesson, he would probably get them to finish with some sitting trot work, more collected so she could feel the difference the quickening his hock exercise was. The horses more collected trot should have more suspension and animation – though the change might not be huge immediately she should be able to feel some difference. Chase watched them continue, still smiling he called out to her once more.

“Circle around me a few more times then ask him to walk, keep the forward through the transition stay soft and relaxed. Then reverse and we will canter the other way, same canter you have this way – longer in the neck if you can.”

ooc: .
outfit[

[Henrietta Charleston]

When Henri rode, she attempted not to think of other things. It seemed to be the only different thing she did from her sister as Clarence had always tried to do everything to please the instructor. After all the years she’d done riding, the brunette had just learned that the end result was done from her and it wasn’t only to please her parents in, but to please herself as well. She valued her instructors immensely and made an effort to get to know them back home. She had figured she’d do the same at BRRA as well. Henri smiled as she rode, nodding along to Chase’s answer. Henri was quick to realize she was really going to like this instructor.

The girl focused all her senses back on her riding as she worked up her post. Hutch’s ears stood attentive as usual, except for the occasional flickers this way and that to figure out some sound that Henri hadn’t heard. The warmblood was quite an amazing horse, though he did have his bad sides. What Henri was quickly figuring out, he seemed to be doing okay with dressage. In contradiction to her assumption he’d be impatient with the circles and stuff she needed to do, the horse was actually finding it somewhat difficult to focus so much on his gait. Difficulty kept him trying however and nothing was better than a horse that had the will to do well.

As they moved into their canter, she kept Hutch’s reins somewhat short as he usually liked to fall on his forehand. Still, as the man instructed her to otherwise, Henri made a slight nod to acknowledge she’d heard him before letting him lower his head a bit. Due to how collect and balanced she’d managed to have gotten him, Hutch kept his pretty gait, speeding up just a tidbit. She kept going around Chase for a bit before nodding to his next instruction.

Nodding was her go to response with instructors as it allowed her to respond that she knew what he’d said and keep focused on her animal. Henri slowed the horse to a walk, but kept her leg on a bit to keep him forward. Her hands allowed the warmblood to lower his a bit into the bit and he kept the even pace she’d had him with before as Henri turned him with her body to switch across the circle. With Hutch, you simply couldn’t pull the animal around. He needed someone that could ride with their seat and legs as well. Henri had learned quite a bit working with the horse. She began to start her trot in the other direction, correcting her diagonal and getting back the same sort of thing she’d achieved before as Hutch lost a bit of it back in the change rein.