Giving It A Go (Open)

[Samantha 'Sam' Lawrence]

Sam sat on top of her newest gelding, debating on which arena would be best to work with Des. She hadn’t squeezed in much time for her new horse. She knew he could handle the high jumps with relative ease, but the problem was, could Sam with a new horse? Her eyes clenched tightly shut then she mumbled to herself. ”Fine, if anything goes wrong, we will just go to the lower jumps. No biggie.” She exhaled, then smile as she guided Des towards the ring. Slowly they warmed up, starting by riding along the rail for a while. The light bay gelding pranced along the rail eagerly to get started.

After working the rail for a few minutes Sam lined Des up to a rather small jump in a line of jumps that were set up. Her eyes fixated on the jump ahead when she squeezed him into a steady canter to approach the jump. Easily the gelding launched himself over the jump with Sam tucked into him, making sure to perfect her form. Sam’s gloved hand patted Des’s neck in between the previous, and next jump. The next jump was slightly higher than the previous one. Sam eyed the jump momentarily then prepared to go over the jump. Her hands tensed up on the reins as she leaned forward off of her horse’s back. Des easily cleared the jump and Sam grinned wickedly. ”Ah, I don’t need to be worried about you, huh, boy?”

Sam began walking the rails with Des again, calming herself down more than the horse. She wriggled in the saddle quickly, then dismounted by the gate. Her hands fumbled with the girth as she tightened it slowly. Immediately she turned to stretching his legs, making sure nothing was pinching. Again she mounted then walked Des to one of the larger jumps.

[Nina Joel Dobrev]

Nina ran a grooming brush through the dark bay Quarter Horse, Hope's, coat as they were getting ready for today's training. She finished grooming the mare as she closed the grooming kit and went to get the tack. She slid on the saddle pad and aligned it neatly on her back. She strapped on the saddle and fiddled with the notches. She really hasn't spent much time with Hope lately, and this is her chance to apologize to the mare. She grabbed the bit from the matching bridle and had a hard time getting Hope to accept it.

She groaned after the third try. She praised the mare finally before tricking her into the bit. She brushed off her hands. "There we go.. Now just have to trick you into training.." She laughed softly and teasingly towards the mare. She packed up her stuff before grabbing the reins and leading Hope out of the White Oak barn. She smoothed her slightly wrinkled riding jeans before mounting up. She put her right foot on the stirrup, and grabbed some rein and mane, before pulling her weight off the dirt ground. Her leg swung over to the other side and made sure it was in the other stirrup. After checking up, she clucked the mare towards the arenas.

She wondered what disciplines they should train on today. As she halted Hope and went to go on deciding on which arena, the mare whinnied and shook her mane, trying to get the reins out of Nina. She let out a sigh, and finally decided to head to the Show Jumping arena. As they entered, she didn't notice someone else was in the arena. She seemed to recgonized her, but from where? "Oh sorry, I didn't know you were already using the arena.." She spoke a bit embarressed but went on with it. Hoping the girl wouldn't mind.

OOC: May I join (:

[Savannah Grace Paxson]

Savannah walked down to the barn, glad to see that the groom she had asked earlier had done his job. She made sure to leave a tip in his mailbox before she left, which might have made it happen, but nonetheless, Dutchess was all tacked up and ready to go, waiting for Savannah in her stall, a small side chain which was clipped to her halter over top of her bridle keeping her from laying down. Her ears perked forward as she saw Savannah walk over, knowing now that it was time to go work.

The girl pulled on her white leather gloves and slipped out of her Joules Carrick Wellys, into her Ariat field boots and slid her riding crop into her left field boot before pulling off her New Market Horseware pink and black stripped hat. She placed it on the tack box outside of Dutchess's stall, reminding herself to pick it up after her ride. In it's place, she pulled on her brand new GPA First Lady Helmet, which had just arrived from her family up North.

Dutchess waited patiently as Savannah prepared herself for a ride, and finally came into the stall to take off the halter and take the reins in her right hand, looking out into the aisle quickly before backing out of the stall, leading her 16 hand Dutch Warmblood black piebald mare into the aisle of White Oak Barn and then out to the riding rings. She planned to work her jumper over the obstacles which she had seen set up in the Show Jumping ring the previous day, but as she neared the ring, she could see it was already being used by two girls. She stood with her mare for a moment, making up her mind. She had two choices; she could go do flat work with trot poles, or she could puff out her chest and see what these girls were made of. She chose the latter and walked her mare over to the gate, opening it and walking inside before closing it again and then swinging up into her close contact saddle. "Hope you don't mind another pair." She said to the girls already inside as she started trotting her mare around the outside of the arena.

[Samantha 'Sam' Lawrence]

Sam had just come off of the large jump when she heard a voice come from near the entrance. She glanced over, seeing a girl she recalled being Nina. Though they didn’t formally meet, she remembered her from the ghost hunt over the summer. ”It’s alright, no worries. I’ll try not to get in your way. No promises though” She smiled lightly, trying to seem friendly . She began looking over the horse that the girl had with her. A slight grin appeared at the corner of her lips. Ha, I am not the only one who rides a quarter horse for jumping. Quickly she turned her gaze away from the horse, and walked Des around the edge of the ring.

As she was about to start jumping again, another girl appeared at the entrance of the arena. Sam glanced over at the girl who was already trotting the horse around. ”Nope, not at all.” Ok, that was a lie. She didn’t really want anyone else in the arena, but she stuck it out and just half heartedly smiled. Her attention left the girls as Des was getting anxious to go. ”Easy, bud.” She guided him to a 3’5 jump on the farther end of the arena, and let him show off for a moment.

Des cantered swiftly to the jump, and launched himself over the jump, easily clearing it. Sam did her best to look awesome in the saddle as they landed, letting her fingers entwine in the gelding’s mane. As he came off the jump he bounced and snorted happily, looking for his next job. Sam looked down grinning, as she knew that was beautiful and patted Des’s neck. ”Good job handsome.” She praised the gelding several times as they walked the fence, looking for a nice set of jumps lined up. She stopped him as her eyes landed on a nice triple, with the first two jumps the same height, and the third slightly higher.

OoC: Of course you may Joel
Bah, sucky post

[Nina Joel Dobrev]

She grinned towards the girl and gave a slight laugh towards her comment about 'no promises'. She just gave a nod back in thanks. "I think we've seen each other around Blue Ridge, but I don't think we've formally met.. I'm Nina.." She decided to introduce herself to the girl if they were going to share the arena and be around each other for a while. "Oh, and nice horse.." She commented before finally quieting herself and letting the pair be. She then started to warm up her mount by walking around the arena.

She soon looked over as she heard another pair of hoof beats. It was another girl entering the arena. She somewhat think three's a crowd yet she has never thought of that when meeting new people before. She let out a deep breathe and shook her thought away from that. She gave a nod as a positive answer towards the girl of her question about joining us as well. "Don't mind at all.." She responded. She then picked up the pace for the quarter horse from a walk to a trot, canter, and gallop, before going back into a slow trot and halting from where they started. She looked over at the other girl who was trotting her horse outside of the arena. She just gave a soft grin towards her before praising Hope to try some jumps.

She let the mare do a low jump first to continue their warm up. She used the low jumps that the other brunette wasn't using. The quarter horse flew through the first jump quite well as they continued to go into higher jumps each time. It was unusual for a Quarter Horse to be learning to Show Jump. Yet sometimes a breed can be capable to do unusual disciplines. If this training doesn't work, then it's for sure that Hope is not meant for Show Jumping. Yet not the time to judge yet. As they continued on working on higher jumps, the girl made sure they weren't in the way of the other riders and their horses.

OOC: Thanks (: Sorry, bit of a bad post x.X

[Savannah Grace Paxson]

As she trotted Dutchess around the arena, she heard some reserved hostility in both girls' voices. Perfect She thought to herself with a smug smirk which neither of the other two could see as she had her back to them at the moment. She loved a bit of anger in the arena when she rode. It made everyone perform to their best ability... and then some. She checked back to make sure no one was coming as she reached the far turn, and judging by where the other two were in the arena, just starting a line, she figured she was okay to pick up a canter. She moved her inside leg back and sat back in the saddle before Dutchess started to rock back and forth and Savannah moved with her.

They made it around the turn and were already a fourth of the way down the next side when they passed the brunette on the lighter bay Quarter Horse who was just about finished with her large jump, instead of doing what Savannah had originally thought and gone down the line. She eyed the jumps up, seeing which ones she and Dutchess would start with, and finally decided on the 3 foot jump in the middle of the arena. When she was clear of running into any of the other riders, she mare her way around the turn and once she reached the other side of the arena, with each rider either well down their line or far behind her, she turned in between two of the jumps in the line by the rail and headed straight for the 3 foot jump, which perked Dutchess's ears straight up in anticipation. She loved to jump, no matter what the size. Her muscles coiled up as they got closer, head up high, and she sprang into the air, knees up by her chin. Savannah pushed her hands up high on the mare's neck, trying to give her the right amount of release, since her trainer's usual complaint was that she barely gave her any at all. With her heels still down and her knees still on the knee rolls, she landed back lightly and continued to canter her to the rail, slowing her down to a trot to make sure she wasn't too close to either girl, already eyeing her next target, the line of jumps on the far side which got taller and taller with each jump. She gave Dutchess a pat on the neck as they started to canter again, waiting for the others to make it clear which jumps they were headed for.

[Samantha 'Sam' Lawrence]

Sam smiled as she suspicions were confirmed, and the girl introduced herself. ”Nice to meet you formally, Nina. I’m Sam.” She was ready to turn the Welsh Cob away from the girl when she spoke up again, complementing Des. ”Oh, thanks, I could say the same about your horse.” She grinned lightly, and patted the gelding’s, proud of her sister’s ability to pick out a horse. Nina’s horse was nothing to snuff at either, a pretty horse, and very nicely built. After Nina also approved of the girl being in the ring, she continued on her workout.

Des lowered his head and snorted as they stood in front of the triple, which led to where the unnamed girl had just left. Sam patted the horse’s neck, and squeezed lightly with her legs. They approached the jump at a fast canter, clearing the first, and taking an extra stride to reach the second jump. Des sped up in between the second and third jump, causing him to over jump. After they landed, he let out a playful buck, knocking a few poles off of the jump. Sam cursed under her breath, and circled the gelding around, slowing him to a stop and dismounted. ”You gotta take it easy, bud.” She collected the fallen poles, one by one, putting them back into their place.

Once the jump was reset Sam returned to the Welsh Cob who had been standing next to the adjacent jump. She rubbed the gelding’s face with a small grin on her face. ”Your just full of it huh?” Sam sighed heavily, and lead Des to the rail where she checked the saddle quick, then remounted. Instead of taking him back to jump, she trotted him along the rail, trying not to get in anyone’s way. Her mind was fixated on calming the horse down as she made her way down the left side of the arena.

[Nina Joel Dobrev]

Nina gave a small smile towards the girl, who comfirmed to be Sam. She gave a nod in response. She thinks she has talked enough, since she kept interrupting the girl away from her training from her horse. She then decided to break her silence by just responding to the girl's comment about Hope as well. "Thanks.." It was all she got out before turning the Quarter horse away along with the girl. Her horse was really a nice Welsh Cob. She hasn't seen a breed do Show Jumping, well yet. Now she has seen it.

The horse was actually pretty good at the discipline. She glanced over once in a while over towards the pair. She then took a deep breathe and focused back on Hope. She urged the slightly stubborn mare towards the 3' they continued into a 5' jump like a small course. The dark bay went into a canter towards the 3' jump and flew over easily before going over the next. Nina was happy with the results so far until the five foot. The Quarter was a bit skittish as the brown haired girl urged her mount forward. They took a dare but the pair made it over neatly. She halted the mare and gave a sigh of relief. Maybe this new discipline might work for the mare. She then urged the mare on into higher jumps, which were the double oxers.

Yet as they head over, Nina wondered about the other girl who was outside of the arena, warming up her horse. She wondered what her name was. She hasn't seen her around Blue Ridge as much as Sam. Maybe the girl was still a bit new to the school. She'll found out sooner or later about her. Right after she continued training Hope.

[Savannah Grace Paxson]

Savannah watched the other pair, consisting of the brunette on the quarter horse, as they finished up their line, and then headed Dutchess around the corner and the far wall again. She wondered for a brief moment who these girls were, but that curiosity wasn't strong enough for her to give it a second thought. She continued riding down the wall of fences and eyed up the jumps, wondering which of the lines would be more fun to ride.

She decided on the a line which she had just cut through, meaning one more lap around the arena. As she cantered her mare she looked around and watched the two other riders and their horses who, though they were smaller than Dutchess, did a fairly decent job moving over jumps. They were obviously not very well acquainted either with each other or the discipline, whichever one, it was clear.

Dutchess perked her ears up every time she saw a jump in their path but Savannah held her to the rail until they got back around, at which point she tightened up the reins a bit and pointed the eager mare straight for the ascending line. The Dutch Warmblood coiled up, muscles bound tight, ready to spring into the air once she found the right distance. Savannah stood up, leaning forward over the mare's neck and dropped her hands down and forward on her neck, one on either side, in an automatic release: one which she'd been working on for a while. The girl smiled as they went over the first jump and then took two strides to the next obstacle, and they kept flying over each jump like they never touched the ground. She loved the feeling she got when she jumped a horse... though she'd never admit that to anyone who asked.

[Samantha 'Sam' Lawrence]

Sam continued riding Des along the rail on a slightly tight rein. He was obviously feeling good and needed a nice lunging before they came out to the ring. The teenager also felt bad, thinking that she had expected to much of him before she had gained his trust. She kept the gelding moving along the rail until they made their way to the smaller jumps. The pair lined up with a set of two jumps. The last jump rounding off near the unnamed girl. It was cutting it close, but at this point Sam couldn’t care less, since it wasn’t going to harm anyone, or the horses.

The pair cantered toward the first 3’5” jump quickly, launching themselves over it perfectly. Sam slid her hands up higher on his neck than before, remembering advice from one of the girls she met in the arena not long ago. They landed equally as well, and she loosened up on the reins, letting him stretch out a bit more. His stride grew right before the second jump. Easily they cleared the jump, and Sam veered the gelding away from the other girl’s horse. ”Jeez, be careful. You need to watch it.” Sam was talking about Des, since he corrected himself out of the way a touch later than Sam wanted, but she didn’t make that fully apparent.

Sam was ranting in her head that there was to many people in the arena, though it wasn’t actually that bad. She had gone from nervous, to happy, to annoyed in a very short period of time. Major moods swings at the moment were allowing her to consider smacking her face off of a pole. Sam leaned over and buried her face into the Welsh Cob’s mane and neck, making herself laugh at stupid things that have happened lately.


OoC: Sorry it's all over the place