Jumping 2.1 (showjumping class)

[Demeter Carr]

Ok, my biggest rule with classes, if you are using a speech colour please pick a colour someone before you hasn't used. If you are wondering, Demeter uses Dark Orchid

Demeter looked around the show jumping arena. She still wasn't sure about taking over as the jumping teacher, but the class was popular amongst the students and after the last trainer had only been able to start the students before the woman had been called away, the veterinarian had been called to stand in until a new trainer could be found. Demeter shouldn't be so nervous, after all she had left Blue Ridge to train under the best of the best in dressage and show jumping so the woman knew what she was doing, it was more the fact that she had turned her back on equestrian training to focus on being a vet.

She already had the arena set up, and she was dressed in beige breeches with her Volant tall boots and a blue hunter rugby long-sleeved shirt. Her medium brown hair was pulled back into a low pony tail in case she needed to borrow a mount and her helmet was on the sidelines.

She looked at the four trot rails/poles she had set up on the ground running down the centre of the arena from D to X. The poles were set at 4' 6" apart - she would adjust them if there were any ponies in the class, but currently they were set up for the average-sized horse. At the other side of the arena (at G) was a cone - something to give the riders something to concentrate on to help them maintain a straight line.

On the outside of the arena there were seven more poles eight jump standards and cups. She didn't even know if they would even get to using more than two of the standards and cups, but she had everything she would need to complete all of the exercises she wanted to go through that day - if they got time to do it all. However, to start off, she just wanted them to work on maintaining a straight line and an active trot while holding the two-point position without throwing off the balance of their mounts.

She turned toward the closed gate as the first of the riders approached. "Come on into the arena and get your mounts moving around the outside."

[Cara-Jean Kitchi]

Cara stood in the barn, keeping out of the way of the barn hands and the other students as she prepared her mare ready for the jumping class. Pia stood sleepily in the cross ties that held her in place in the grooming stall as her owner zipped around her, plaiting up her mane into little buttons and then putting her tail into a tidy french braid, and then groomed her two toned coat until the black and white patches glowed under the stable lighting.

"There's a good girl." Cara said as she placed the shaped saddle pad on the mare's back. The pad itself was white with a golden yellow trim around the edge. That was then followed by the mare's close contact saddle - something that the girl preferred to use in lessons and general hacking while she had a jumping and dressage saddle that were used for competitions. She then held the happy mouth bit up to the mare's mouth and slipped it in when the horse happily opened her mouth to accept the bit.

Once the mare was ready, Cara left the mare as she slipped into the tack room and shed the tracksuit she was wearing to reveal the Performer Euro seat breeches she was wearing with the bark coloured long sleeved polo and matching Laurel vest. She slipped her feet into her Ariat Field boots and pulled the zip up on the back of them and snapped the zip cover closed. Tucking her white gloves into the waist band of the breeches, put her Charles Owen helmet on her head and returned to the mare - who was once again half asleep in the cross-ties.

Leading the mare out of the barn, the small girl tightened the girth, lowered her stirruips and vaulted onto the mare's back. Squeezing the mare forward, she pushed her feet into the stirrups as they walked toward the jumping arena.

Cara's eyebrows shot up when she saw Dr Carr standing in the middle of the arena, but bowed her head at the woman's words and bent down as she opened the gate, entered the arena and she walked the mare along the track on the outside of the arena. Working on getting the mare relaxed at the walk.

[Annabelle Archer]

Excited to make her way to the next class. Jumping was one of her favorite disciplines. After some time working with her new mare, Seren, Belle decided that it was time to bring her out. As soon as she could, the eighteen year old got dressed into her black breeches and light blue polo. Slipping on a light jacket, out the door she went and down to the barn. The Red Willow barn came into view and started up a quicker pace. "Hi Seren, are you ready to go to class." At the sight of her owner the mare's ears perked up and then flickered as she spoke. Lifting her hand to stroke the horse's nose she shied away. Shaking her head Belle spoke once again, "You silly thing, I'm not going to hurt you." Running to get the tack for her jumping she also grabbed a brush. Seren wasn't that dirty but it always helped to brush away the dust that collected on her thick coat. Once done with that she quickly saddle her up and ran back to put the brush away. Coming back she slid the bridle on her and led ber to the arena. "Hello Dr. Carr." A bit surprised at the fact that Dr. Carr was in the arena she followed directions. She followed in suit to what Cara had done, pulling herself up into the saddle she squeezed her legs and the mare set off to an extended walk.

[Peter Holden]

Peter walked down to the White Oak Barn soon after his academic classes ended. He was eager to get Thimble and make his way over to the show jumping arena for their lesson. Grabbing her bright cherry red halter and lead, he walked down to her pasture where she'd spent the day. Thimble walked over to him when he entered, as she'd already been close, but when he reached out to halter her, she tossed up her head and backed a few steps before coming back towards him. She played this game often with him, teasing, and usually he went along with it, but not today. He reprimanded her softly, "Be nice."When she came close again, he looped the lead over the neck to keep her in place, and she obliged. Haltering her, he led her back to the White Oak Barn and cross tied her outside of her stall.

Peter brushed her down thoroughly, paying attention to her legs and stomach, as she'd apparently been running in the mud. Once he got it all off, he picked the clumps of mud out of her hooves and got all of her tack. He used a cherry red saddle pad and his jumping saddle, tapping her stomach as always when tightening the girth. He bridled her with little trouble, even though the tall sport horse threw up her head indignantly. Leading her out, he made his way over to the show jumping ring.

Once he entered and closed the gate behind him, he nodded to the woman inside, whom he hadn't met before, and mounted Thimble. He tightened her girth one more time for precautionary measures, and moved her out to the rail at a walk, making sure that she was paying attention to him.

[ayla]

Kenzie wasn't quite sure who she wanted to use for the jumping lesson. She hadn't ridden Brian in a while, and Ellie had been worked earlier in the day. Despite her suspicion that it would be a showjumping class, Kenzie led Brian out of his stall and to the cross ties, where she groomed him and saddled him. The bay gelding nudged her in the back while she did up his girth and attached his standing martingale. All she had left to do was flip her hair under her helmet and slip his bridle on, and they would be set.

Kenzie checked the clock on the wall before setting out for the showjumping arena. She had plenty of time to get there. The cold fall air bit into her skin as she made the walk from the barn to the arena and made her glad for her sweater and insulated gloves.

The arena came into view, and with it, Kenzie saw the vet and Cara. While she had never been properly introduced to the polite, quiet girl, Kenzie saw her everywhere doing everything. Brian pricked his ears up at the paint mare and walked a little more actively. Kenzie smiled to Dr. Carr as she entered the arena and led Brian off the rail to pull down her stirrups and tighten the girth. It didn't take her more than a minute to get mounted, and once she was, Kenzie put Brian on the rail at a walk.

Brian tended to get sluggish if allowed to walk for too long, so as soon as he relaxed his back and started moving out, Kenzie pushed him into a trot. He had a massive, floating stride, but Kenzie was used to it and posted easily. The gelding mouthed the bit quietly as Kenzie guided him around the outside track, waiting for the lesson to start.

[Becca Walsh]

Becca walked down to the Red Willow Barn, her brow furrowed in thought. She was having a hard time deciding whether she was going to use Rabbit or Frye for her jumping lesson. Rabbit was a safe choice, but Frye needed working and always could use a lesson. Giving a sigh, she walked down to Rabbit's stall, relieved to see that the white thoroughbred hadn't rolled. She'd use him today, and made herself promise that she'd work Frye after her other classes, even if she really didn't feel like it.

Stepping into Rabbit's stall, she pet his nose gently and brought him out, clipping him into the cross ties outside of his stall. She got her brushes and got out the bits of mud that had collected on his legs and stomach. If the gelding had rolled, she'd be in much bigger trouble, but luckily he hadn't today. Once she'd picked out his hooves, she put on his jumping boots and grabbed the rest of his tack. She placed the deep indigo saddle pad on his back carefully, and her jumping saddle over it. He barely flicked an ear when she tightened the girth, and she bridled him quickly and led him out.

She entered the arena and closed the gate behind her. She scratched his head and mounted him from the ground. The gelding was easy to mount in comparison to Frye. She praised him, rubbing his neck, "Good boy.", and moved him out to the rail at a strong, working walk.

[Oliver Pattersen]

He'd had to use the help of one of the barn hands, but Oliver stood back as he looked at his large bay Hanoverian. The horse looked stunning in his burgundy coloured saddle pad and boots and the close contact saddle that sat on his back and even the cheek straps and browband on the snaffle bridle were burgundy.

The boy clipped the helmet closed under his chin and led the tall horse out of the barn and down to the jumping arena. The last lesson had gone alright, even though he felt like a complete fish out of water and he was looking forward to today's lesson.

The show jumping arena was set up a little different from the others and the mounting block was on the outside of the gate so that the entire arena could be used at all times. The boy tightened the gelding's girth and mounted up before he nudged him toward the gate. He looked a little worried at the closed gate, but gave the instructor in the middle a pleasant smile as she opened the gate for him. "Thanks, I was worried I was going to have to dismount for a moment there." The woman was different from the one whom he had asked if he could join, but he didn't question her as he joined the other riders on the outside rail and asked Casper to walk forward.

[madison]

Madison practically skipped to the barn, her day was going better than planned. She had talked to her parents on the way to class today and they both seemed good, her brother Sam was his usual joking self which gave Madison confidence that when she made it home things might be less stressful than when she had left, the day had only progressively gotten better when she had learned of another show jumping lesson after classes – though was confused as to why it hadn’t been issued by Ms. Fare. The day of classes that would have normally dragged on actually moved at a decent pace, she received a few assignments and her grades were high. The quiz she thought she had bombed in government was returned to her with an A- at the top of it and the small blonde was pretty much over the moon. She had rushed home and changed into her lesson attire, the jods she chose were light beige and almost white – very clean cut and her favorite brand. She pulled on a sports bra and a long sleeved well-fitting shirt, she was a firm believer in wearing tight fitting clothes in lessons to allow coaches to see your form entirely. She was lucky though, being very petite made close fitting things flattering. Her belt was name plated with both Tilly’s and Dillon’s registered names on it. Light coat went over top and her boot socks were slipped into her uggs, the tall boots she schooled in were down at the barn - she should have enough time to give them a quick clean before she had to tack up.

Pulling Tilly out into the alleyway after removing her stable blankets Madison had already gathered the mare’s tack in the grooming bay. Tilly seemed to be quite docile which was odd; she checked the horse over quickly and was happy to see the small bay mare appeared healthy. Her legs were cool to the touch and tight, her eyes were bright and her coat was sleek and shinning. Madison ran a soft brush over the mares soft coat, she went to work slipping the black fur lined boots around the horses legs – small bell boots on the front. She placed the white back on track pad on the mare’s back, Madison was a believer in the products and used them whenever she could. Half-pad was added then the Hermes saddle that fit both horse and rider well, belly guard girth was done up lightly as to not irritate the horse. Madison smirked, happy to see Tilly was normal again when she swished her tail and chucked her head at the girth being done up. Madison disappeared into the tack room for a moment to grab her helmet, gloves and slip into her tall boots. She zipped up the boots and stuck her gloves in her pocket before using a hairnet to put her hair up in her helmet. Returning to Tilly who was standing in the cross ties still calm, waiting for Madison. Peering at the clock Madi was content to see that she was running on time for the lesson today, bridling the mare she led her to the arena, slipping her gloves on her hands as she went.

She dropped a cooler for the body clipped mare on a bench that was by the gate, she took off her own coat and left it with the cooler. Heading towards the block outside the arena she halted the mare and undid her to and put them through the rings on the running martingale, she did them up again around the horse’s neck. Pulling down her stirrups on the Hermes saddle she loved so much Madison checked the girth once more. She did it up another hole and lined the mare up with the mounting block, Tilly wasn’t tall but Madison liked to save the horses back when she could. As soon as she was seated in the saddle Tilly went to walk off, correcting the bay mare Madison backed her lightly and made her stand waiting patiently. Once she cued the horse to walk off Tilly snorted and stretched down. Approaching the gate she called out before opening it

"Gate."

Once the area was clear she opened the gate from her mare's back, an advantage of her being short, and shut it behind her. Tilly handled the gate well but it was evident she was starting to grow agitated as her walk was rushed. Madison smiled towards Dr. Carr, interested to hear the woman coach, then returned her attention to Tilly and relaxed her seat knowing the mare would mimic it after a few laps of the track.

ooc: done - clothes&&tack

[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 the show jumping 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. "Hello, 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 the arena. 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.

[daine6]

“Hey boy, you ready for our first lesson here?” The teen asked the huge Warmblood as he clipped the lead to the halter and led the horse from the stall and to the crossties. “I bet you are. So am I. Look, I remembered to bring you a carrot.” The boy said, offering the treat to the horse. Steele took the bit of food greedily, crunching down on the orange morsel like it was the last piece of food in the world, causing his owner to grin widely. Chris scratched the huge gelding’s nose for a moment before heading into the tack room for his brushes and plaiting bands. This was a showjumping lesson, and he intended to be show-prepared. The teen took his riding lessons very seriously. He had chosen to come to the barn and start getting ready for the jumping lesson over an hour before the lesson was scheduled to take place.

Steele stood patiently in the crossties as his owner stood on a stool in order to reach his short, recently pulled mane to braid it into the little button braids. Chris was well schooled in doing braids and it didn’t take him too long to finish up. He thought it funny that he could braid almost expertly, yet his sister couldn’t hardly braid at all. After finishing up with the mane, Chris turned his attentions to the tail, pulling a few hairs here and there in order to tidy it up. Finishing that, the teen grabbed a grooming brush in each hand and swiftly wiped any dust from the blue-black coat, ensuring that the horse looked excellent. Chris stepped back to look at his horse a few minutes later, grinning when he liked what he saw. Steele looked to be in top show condition, his coat gleaming, the white on his legs and face almost glowing thanks to a light coating of baby-powder, and his eyes bright and attentive.

Chris grabbed his grooming supplies to take them back to the tack room. He left the horse in the crossties, knowing that Steele would go nowhere, and disappeared back inside the room, putting his things away and grabbing his schooling tack; an older, well-used dark chocolate Henri De Rivel Cesar Almeida Jumping Saddle, a white Roma Ecole Star Quilted Pad, a dark chocolate brown Kincade Flash Bridle with a Stubben Steeltec 3-Ring-Gag bit, and a set of Dalmar Lightweight Showjumping Boots, also in a dark chocolate brown color. The teen carefully carried the tack back out, as, though it was just schooling tack and older at that, he cared for his riding apparel and tack meticulously. Chris took several minutes tacking Steele up and making sure that everything was done up correctly, then he disappeared back inside the tack room to slip out of the cloth pants and loose long-sleeved shirt he wore to reveal his riding outfit underneath. The boy had taken a lot of care that his riding clothes didn’t get dirtied while he’d been grooming and tacking the big Warmblood up, and he left the clothes he’d been wearing over his riding outfit laying over his show-saddle to grab later.

Chris glanced down at his outfit, satisfied with the white Tailored Sportsman Riding Breeches, black Mountain Horse Venice Field Boots, and his black Kingsland long-sleeved Polo shirt. Since it was just a lesson, he didn’t think a jacket was required, and after affixing the Stubben Bumper Spurs to his boots, he left the tack-room, helmet in hand, and unclipped the flashy horse from the ties, leading him towards the arena where the jumping class was to take place. Chris didn’t need the spurs at all, but he’d always worn them regardless.

The teen waited at the gate for a few moments for the area around it to clear, and with a call of “Gate!” He opened it and led Steele into the arena. Chris took a moment to set his helmet on and make sure it was done up properly. He didn’t have to use a mounting block to get on the tall horse, as he was used to getting on from the ground and had never had much of a problem with Steele’s huge heights, like others had had. Chris may not have been the tallest guy around, but he was athletic and easily mounted the horse, swinging into the saddle from the ground like it was nothing. The teen then gave the woman instructing the class a friendly grin. “Hello, I’m Chris Saito.” He said to the woman, though he also spoke loudly enough for the other students to be able to hear him. Chris then asked Steele to move off with a bare tightening of his legs around the horses barrel and picked up the reins as the horse obediently started to move around the arena at a ground-covering walk. The teen could feel the horses muscles quivering as he moved and knew that, given the cue, Steele would explode over the jumps if and when he was asked.

[Demeter Carr]

Demeter greeted each rider with a warm smile as they entered the arena, walking forward to open the gate for one who looked worried. "Just keep your mount moving nicely forward around the outside track. If you feel they have been walking too long, bring them into the inside track and ask them to trot." She fell silent as another couple of people entered the arena. "As some of you know, I'm the Blue Ridge large animal vet. However while I'm in here, I'm just Ms Carr. No stethoscope and lab coat, I'm just a regular teacher." She fell silent again as she watched their progress around the arena.

"Six years ago, I was a student here at BRRA, learning as you are now. I was then selected to join a group of promising young riders who were training for the Olympics. It was there that I discovered my love for healing animals. I won't say I turned my back on my dreams, they just took a turn in a new direction." She knew that the students didn't need to know her life story, but she was talking intentionally as they warmed their mounts up, giving them a chance to get the jitters out of the animals. "Right, Cara, can you please change rein from R to C." She knew that it was a small area to use to change rein, but as the riders were all on the inside track, all they would need to do was take the outside track as they changed direction and then pass left shoulder to left shoulder.

After the group had been around the arena another couple of times she began to speak again. "As you will see in the middle of the arena I have set up four trot poles." She gestured to her poles. "Starting with Cara, as you get to E, I want you to go back to the inside track and as you approach A, I want you to move into two-point and then ride your mounts over the poles. Keep the pace steady, don't look down at the poles, I have set up the cone down the end to give you something to concentrate on so your gaze doesn't drop. Treat them as you would any vertical, and make sure you ride forward."

[Cara-Jean Kitchi]

Cara sat deep in the saddle as she encouraged Ella to walk forward, nodding as she felt the Hanoverian's stride powered forward from behind. Her elbows were soft while she kept her hands closed around the reins, her wrists supple so that her hands weren't rigid when the mare stretched forward and down. Around here, there was a bubble and nothing else existed other than her and the mare she was riding. Through her bubble though she could hear the voice of Dr Carr, and she made a mental note not to address her so in the class, and moving the mare to the inside track, at the corner she squeezed the mare into a trot and rubbed Ella's neck when the mare kept her nice outline.

As they trotted around the arena, she was aware of how many others had entered the arena, but she didn't let her concentration slip from her mount. At the instructor's words, as they approached R, she cued the mare who took the diagonal across to the bottom of the arena where she changed rein and trotted around the outside track. She made sure to keep her seat deep so that there was no chance of the mare thinking she had been abandoned and made sure to keep a good contact without restraining the black tovero's head.

She nodded her head to the woman's words, to indicate that she had heard. At E, she moved back to the inside track, and as they approached A, she moved her hips forward and into two-point position, already giving the mare the cue to turn down the centre line, maintaining the mare's speed and locked her eyes onto the cone that Dr Carr had mentioned and pushing her weight into her feet as the mare floated over the poles. They continued forward until they approached C and Cara used her inside leg to ask the mare to turn back to the track and they circled the arena again.

[Peter Holden]

Peter kept Thimble at a working walk for a while longer feeling her kept up power beneath him. After a bit, she began to get restless and he made her walk halfway down the side of the arena before asking her for a trot and taking his place on the inside track behind Cara. Peter had long grown used to Thimble's suspension, but still never ceased to be amazed by it. When he'd first started riding her, he's been shocked and very uncomfortable trotting her, as his posting seemed almost in slow motion, but he grew to enjoy it.

Now, he kept her up at a working trot at a respectable distance behind Cara. Once he reached R, he had already set Thimble up and they made their way down the diagonal to change direction, sitting for two strides in the center to change his diagonal. Thimble snatched at the bit a couple of times, already getting excited, but he collected her a bit and she calmed down rather quickly.

Once they reached E, he moved to into the inside track and continued towards A. He rose into two point, keeping his hands firm, but as light at possible when doing so. Thimble got irritated very quickly when his hands were too hard on his mouth, but had an unfortunate habit of getting too excited when Peter rose into two point, especially when doing flat work. He tried to keep her at a respectful pace, and turned her into the center, flexing her nicely. He trotted her down the center line, trying to keep his torso flexible and not stiffen up. They trotted cleanly over the poles, though Thimble's head did get a bit high, and Peter kept her moving down the center, turning her onto the rail and continuing around the ring.

[ayla]

Kenzie fell into the line behind Cara and Peter as they trotted past her. Brian wasn't happy about shortening his stride to cope with the slightly slower pace of the two in front, but Kenzie was insistent and pressed the issue until she got a nice trot. Crossing the diagonal allowed her to rebalance Brian, and as she changed her diagonal, Kenzie bumped him off her hands and asked for total self-carriage. For a few strides, Brian gave it to her, but he wasn't quite well-schooled enough to maintain the same stride length for an entire lap of the arena.

Kenzie held Brian back just a bit as Cara and Peter traversed the trot poles. She wanted plenty of room for Brian; he hadn't done poles in a long time and Kenzie wasn't completely sure what he would do. Past experience told her nothing at all, but it didn't hurt to be cautious. Kenzie rose into a two-point, fixing her leg on Brian's side after sinking weight into her heels. She turned down centerline and spent two strides just straightening the bay gelding before getting her eyes up.

Kenzie forgot that Brian was big for just long enough to let him extend his stride again. They were just a few steps out from the first pole when Kenzie saw that Brian would nick every single pole if he kept the same stride length. She quickly but gently closed her fingers and held her horse back from further extension. He still clipped the first and second poles, but thankfully she got him collected enough to not touch the last poles.

She frowned and continued down centerline, somewhat annoyed that she couldn't remember the simplest things. Kenzie turned after the other two and proceeded on the same track.

[Becca Walsh]

Becca kept Rabbit at a walk for a bit longer than the rest of the riders ahead of her, and there was quite a gap between her and them. When she felt he was ready, she asked Rabbit for a trot, which he picked up a bit hesitantly, but she continued to push him forward until he was moving at a nice, working pace. When they got to R, she turned him down the diagonal and the light grey gelding obeyed nicely. She sat for a couple strides to change her diagonal when she passed the center and brought him to the rail at the end of the diagonal.

Becca worked to keep Rabbit's power as they trotted around the ring, posting lightly on his back and keeping her calves pressed into his sides. With Frye she would have been trying to collect him, but couldn't help but grumble a bit about how lazy Rabbit was being today. He wasn't normally this hesitant and she hoped this wouldn't be a repeated happening.

When it came time, she turned him up the center and made sure to keep her hands light on his mouth and knees steady. When she reached the poles, she rose into two point, keeping her calves solid on his barrel to keep his power, and felt him hesitating at she trotted over them. Once they had completed the poles, she trotted him back out the the rail, pressing her heels into his sides a bit to try to get him to extend a bit.