dressage lesson one [students]

[chase]

Chase stood at the center of his lesson, ready to finally get to work he was patient with his students thus far but time was ticking and he wanted to get going and accomplish more than a walk today. The horses needed to be warmed up properly to his standard and he needed to learn names, this exercise of having everyone in a circle around him was usually beneficial. Working on the walk was the first step to every successful ride the man had on his horses. He nodded to each person as they passed, staying quiet he didn’t like to bombard his students with critique. If he was quiet it meant you were doing good, he didn’t have any corrections at the moment and keep it up, if the man praised you he was very happy and well you would know when he was mad.

“Good everyone, a little more length of neck and impulsion all round. Nice to meet you Cara, you and Ember look good, I like the walk. It’s forward but not rushed, you can flex her a little each way every now and then to keep her loose – Keep your hands closed though, soften your elbow as a reward. We might not get to lateral work today but if you have questions speak up. That goes for everyone, don’t understand? Just ask!”

Chase smiled, hands were something he caught because he had struggled with it too. He always wanted to open his hands to soften the contact for the horse, when all that did was let the reins slip through your hands and force you to gather them abruptly and interrupt the contact. Before the next student could speak Chase found himself bombarded with more late students, he looked to his watch. They weren’t that far off but it was still frustrating none the less, the first boy had an Australian accent and Chase smiled to him trying to keep the upset tone from his voice.

“Yes, today I am giving out free passes so you get to keep your stirrups. Join the circle, long low and energetic walk. Introduce yourself and your horse in turn.”

He smirked to the boy, Chase wouldn’t be above taking stirrups or other aids for tardiness – he liked to make people want to be on time. Removing vital pieces of tack was a good way of doing so, he remembered a coach in the past had taken Chases girth and when the boy went to ride bareback he got a verbal lashing on the spine damage and had almost made it half way through the lesson before his horse spooked and him and his girth-less saddle were left in the dirt. Fond memories, quite honestly Chase didn’t know how he was still in one piece most days. Next Leo and Avi, the mare responded nicely to the long and low walk. Many horses with prior schooling in the discipline did and it was evident to Chase’s schooled eye that Avi had some dressage in her muscling and mind. She was of light build, thoroughbred most likely compiled the majority of her breeding if not all of it. Chase spoke up once more, he was calm and warm.

“Pleasure Leo, Avi looks like she has done some of this before – nice mare. This long walk should help relax her, forward but not racing. As for your seat sink into your pockets and breath, don’t force yourself the tension will feed through to Avi – breath into the change and relax your hips and pelvis. Easier said than done, I know – most importantly relax and breath; don’t over think it.”

He smiled, the circle was growing and while he didn’t like stragglers he was happy to see the interest in the class was bigger than initially thought. It was a good sign for the man, he watched his circle content with the improvement going round, he was getting ready to give his own introduction and ask the group to reverse when an individual stood at the gate caught his eye. He looked for a second longer, from his place in the center he could see the braids and he arched a brow. The horse was something he would like to see in action and with further inspection he noted the tack and waved the girl in.

“If you are in this dressage lesson please enter, mount and join the circle. Free passes on lateness today, next offense expect to lose something you like – think stirrups folks. Anyways as mentioned before I’m Chase the dressage coach. I’ve been riding dressage most of my life - luckily with a few fantastic trainers and can fairly say I still have a long way to go in the sport – as do all of you. I am going to start off simple, walk trot canter and group lessons from level and experience from there.”

He paused to catch his breath and clear his throat.

“I don’t like to nag, silence is good. I like to praise or correct and leave you to figure it out. When I speak again it will be in further praise or correction. If you don’t think I have noticed you, you are mistaken you just haven’t done anything to either warrant praise or correction. Please ask questions as you think of them, just don’t interrupt. Our focus for today is going to be working through your gaits first with forward and some length of neck.”

He looked to the last two riders whom had arrived and mounted, he nodded to them hoping they would find spots and follow in suit.

“Once everyone has introduced themselves lets change directions, don’t change the walk though. Feel free to play with some change in flexion at the walk as well.”

ooc - if you have issues - let me know!
clothes

[Cara-Jean Kitchi]

Cara bowed her head in response to the man's words. She did however slightly disagree with them, as if she always kept her hands closed she forever had a constant pull on the mare's mouth and opening them ever so slightly gave the mare the relief that even a softening of the elbows wouldn't help with. She may disagree, but she would obey.

She kept the mare's pace steady, asking her to flex her neck to both the inside and the outside of the circle by closing her hand even more on the rein of the side she wanted Ember to flex. She worked on the mare's lateral flexion every chance she could get, encouraging the mare to fight the urge to pull against pressure and to submit to the pressure, and every time she did, the girl instantly released the pressure. She even thought that she'd really test the mare and asked for a vertical flexion, nodding when the mare gave with her poll and lowered her head before lifting it again.

Once everyone had introduced themselves, she crossed the circle and changed rein. As they hit X, her legs subtly changed and she asked the mare to bend the opposite direction as they worked on the other rein. She could feel that the mare was a little stiffer on this rein, which was her main problem with lateral work, but with a good seat and soft hands, she encouraged the mare to engage her hindquarters and find her balance. She waited for the nod, and as soon as she spotted it, she softened her elbows - rather than opening her hands - and allowed the mare to stretch forward into the contact. If she hadn't been in a lesson, she would be beaming from ear to ear. Once the mare found her stride, the girl asked her to flex to the outside as well as to the inside while she was stretching her neck out.

It was times like this that she wished her instructor from St Mary's could see how far she had come since she was in Birmingham two years earlier. However, that thought also made her think of Bunny, and how much she would rather be on the Avangelise mare than Ember. Mentally shaking her head, she put her complete concentration back on what she was doing. She watched the arena through the mare's ears as she kept the mare in their forward moving walk, keeping her hands closed on the reins and softening the elbows to give the mare relief when she needed it.

[daine5]

Ashleigh winced as she glanced at her cellphone. She was horribly late for her Dressage lesson. She knew that, this time, it was completely her fault. She had the feeling that the Dressage instructor would like a well turned out horse, and had arrived at the barn early so she could figure out what to do with July's mane. The Arab influence in his blood made for him to have a very long natural mane, and she hated to pull it… she'd spent the last half/hour trying to do a nice running braid and failing miserably. It was kinda funny, her brother could do a perfect running braid in the horses manes, but she couldn't. She had finally chose to fishnet the long white mane, and she was very glad that July was a patient gelding.

Ash unclipped the crossties and looped an arm through the reins, leading the horse towards the arena. She entered the arena quietly and gave the instructor a small smile, though her look was completely apologetic. "I'm so sorry I'm late, sir. It won't happen again." She said fervently, leading the Morab to the mounting block and mounting up. She hadn't brought any artificial aides with her, as she didn't ever use them. If she and July had an issue, they worked through it without the use of aides. Ash had heard the instructor speaking and followed through with what he'd said, joining the group riding and letting July warm up. She could feel the eagerness in his walk. He was moving very forwards and into frame nicely, even though she wasn't asking for it. His walk was animated and he stepped lightly, the Arab blood influencing. He was an eye-catcher… not to the degree of her brother's Warmblood, but July had his own style that caused people to look twice at him. The horse was a 3-day-eventer and he was best at the Dressage portion, though it was probably a little odd to see a Morab excelling in Dressage.

[chase]

Posting order from here on out please (if the person before you hasn't posted in 24 hours you may post):
Chase
Cara
-Luka-
Leonardo
Taylor
Hannah
Peter
Ashleigh
Nina
Bethany

[warrie2]

Zeke walked into the barn wearing his white breeches, white button down black jacket and black boots his outfit looked quite expensive. He headed straight to his handsome gelding Basile Ignace who bobbed his head and whinnied. He patted the geldings neck before clipping the lead rope onto his halter and leading him out of his stall and tying him on the cross ties before going and grabbing Basile's tack and grooming kit. He set the take on the stall door then set the grooming kit at his feet before beginning to groom the black and white tobiano, friesian and paint cross. Everyone including Zeke found the gelding really handsome and charming be the way he liked to cuddle but getting to know him better one would learn he is quite a handful.

After he finished grooming Basile he put on the english saddle pad then saddle and bridle. The tack looked expensive just like Zeke's clothing but Zeke payed little attention to the coast and more attention on how it made him and his horse feel. Once Basile was tacked and his girth and everything was tightened and in place Zeke bent down and wrapped the geldings legs. He then walked Basile out of the stables put in his helmet then mounted up and walking him toward Benedict's arena. Basile did as he was asked without fighting it as if he knew he was headed into a place he needed to look and act his best. Entering the arena Zeke turned Basile toward instructor knowing he would have to introduce himself. "Sorry I am late, I am Zeke Warrick i'm new here." He said his french accent was strong showing he was from France. Zeke turned Basile before walking him around following the others around as he did as they did and warmed up their horses. Basile did more of a handsome prance then walk but he was being good so Zeke let him do it knowing he would top when class began.

[Leonardo Jacobs]

Leo didn’t ever really get nervous unless he was put under pressure in front of others. If it had been a private lesson, the boy would’ve probably been completely relaxed. Due to his want to look alright in front of others, the seventeen year old had gained some tension in his body unconsciously. Which in turn, spoke down to Avi. The mare, fiery as usual hesitated a moment before relaxing her body as much as she could. Her ears were upright and completely alert. Leo sighed, he knew what happened on days like that. The boy eased his horse, telling her soft soothing things in a low voice.

Avi relaxed a hint more, but her ears were as ready and cocked as ever. Still, the mare’s walk was pretty much the equivalent of a ballerina’s had she been human. The thoroughbred simply had that natural, graceful tone to her gaits as well as the extra she had earned from practice with Leo. The boy nodded, immediately realizing his tenseness. He made a determined face as he tried to get the effect the man was talking about, but as horseback riding generally was – it was indeed easier said than done. Leo finally decided to take another route to lose the tenseness and took a deep breath. It worked well and Avi’s tenseness calmed a bit more.

Leo smiled softly to himself as the teacher spoke, taking note of his name again. He was immediately starting to like how the man taught. He had never particularly enjoyed chatty instructors, especially when he was riding unless they were trying to correct or tell him he was doing something right. Leo waited as everyone introduced themselves and followed Cara as she changed rein. Avi dropped her head into his contact, causing the boy to nod to himself. Flexing certainly sounded like a nice idea and he flexed the mare to the inside first. Having done it many times, the horse easily bent her neck and he pushed her out with his inside leg. Avi had a habit of falling in to the inside. After one side of flexing to the inside, he did to the outside which brought a much easier flex. Avi liked flexing to the outside and obliged without a second though. Leo kept his leg on throughout the whole thing, making sure the mare kept forward, but not too forward it was going into a trot.