Jumping 2.1 (showjumping class)

[Westin Bryer]

Westin had been rushing to keep up with Knight the first day, and seemed to get out a little later than he expected due to a talk about his disability. Walking as fast as he could, Wess tried so hard he thought that he would of broken a bone, to get ready as quick as possible.

Leading his horse down to the arena where the Jumping class was to be held, he saw riders already working their horses around the arena. He caught some of the instructors lecture, but not much; hoping he didn't miss anything important.

Calling "gate", Westin then mounted up onto his bay and walked into the arena, towards the middle to confirm his arrival and make sure he was ok to start working hsi horse. Hello, I'm Westin Bryer, I go by Wess. I am so sorry that I was late, I was getting talked to by a teacher. he told her, explaining to the point, and then awaited some response before heading off to the railing.

Knight snorted and dropped his head, seemign to expect some attention from the woman herself, embarassed by his behavior, Wess slightly pulled up the reins to get his horse back on hikm in time for the lesson at hand.

[Annabelle Archer]

Walking Seren around the arena and then stopped to listen to Ms. Carr's directions. The eighteen year old could feel the mare tense underneath her. A rider was there to give direction and keep a horse steady, and that was what Belle planned to do. Both her and her mount were a bit anxious, but the blond needed to be confident and in charge. The Thoroughbred needed to know what to do, when she was told and as far as Belle could tell she was good at doing that, when it was only her and the rider in the arena, not with a bunch of other horses and people around. Falling in behind one of the girls, she really wasn't sure what her name was but, Belle squeezed Seren into a collected trot. Reaching E the eighteen year old followed suit as instructions were given and moved to the inside track. Reaching A, Belle moved her shoulders so they were even with the mare's. With her hands still light her wrists were straight and elbows bent. Her seat slightly out of the saddle as the mare trotted on. As the pair turned down centre line, Seren's breathing was a bit heavy, not from too much movement just the amount of other around was starting to get to her. Belle kept her blue gaze locked on the cone at the other end of the arena. With the knowledge that the Thoroughbred had of jumping this was only a simple question, asked by her rider. Trotting over the poles she stepped over them one by one, not hitting a single one. Following the four riders in front of her she rode around the arena again, waiting for further instructions.

[daine6]

Chris fell in line behind one of the other riders, a girl, and he tightened his grip on the reins, performing small half-halts when he felt Steele tugging at the bit. The horse was eager to go and pranced in line for a few moments, his front end light for such a huge equine. His rider rolled his eyes and tightened his legs around the horses barrel, giving the animal a nudge while half-halting, a cue that Steele knew meant it was time to work, not play. The hge animal settled down slightly, tossing his head a bit before relaxing fully and giving to the bit, moving into frame with barely a cue. Chris half-halted again, letting the other rider go on before he let the reins slip through his fingers and asked the bold horse to move off.

Steele did so willingly, ears pricked in anticipation. Chris let the reins slide through his fingers as the horse extended his trot. as they reached the proper letters, Chris did as the instructor asked, moving to the inside track and ridig in a two-point position. The boy felt Steele's front end become 'light' as the horse began to slightly anticipate a jump, but a firm, short tug on the reins had the animal settled back down slightly. They pair floated over the poles, Steele's huge strides making them a little off, but they stayed straight and circled around the cone before following the other riders gain, around the arena as the remaiing riders followed the instructions of Ms. Carr.

[madison]

The arena slowly filled up, Tilly eyed up the other horses and Madison was mindful to give the mare lots of room. She didn’t like the backwards way of having the slow work on the rail, but she would work with it as that seemed to be the way people were riding. Where she had been trained it was left shoulder to left shoulder always, unless stated otherwise. In the arena at home people frequently asked for the rail or asked to be off it, the key ingredient in riding in a full arena was standard rules of left to left combined with communicating verbally where you were going. No matter the case Madison walked Tilly a few times in each direction, sticking to the rail she flexed her as she walked, encouraging her to stretch down long and low. She had done some private lessons with Chase and while it was helping the mare greatly she couldn’t quite agree with the man in seeing Tilly as a dressage horse. Madison thought it was a waste of a skilled jumper, while dressage work would complement the mare’s skills and allow her to get better Madison doubted they would ever set foot in a real dressage arena.

Collecting her reins shortly she found herself on the inside track trotting moments before Dr. Carr spoke, listening while posting to the horses slightly rushed trot Madison used her seat to balance the mare – pulling on her face would only encourage the horse to fall behind her leg and get cranky. Noting the woman’s request to be called Ms. Carr Madi noted but doubted she would remember, in all other settings she knew the woman as Dr. Carr – it was habit. She was interested to learn about the Olympic program, as it was honestly where she saw Tilly heading one day – hopefully she would be in the saddle. Keeping her mind on the track and pace she set for Tilly, Madi was content that the mare had settled into her normal trot, even snorted. The warm-up Chase had provided was working very well, noting the change in direction she looked for the letters – it was habit. Making sure she kept herself to the left of oncoming riders she changed reins, sitting twice the mare accepted the new bend though braced on Madison’s hands a little. Adding a touch of leg and softening her hand the mare broke over and found the long self-carriage again, driving from behind but not falling on her forehand. Adjusting her shoulders and keeping her eye up Madison was lucky that her seat and lower leg were very naturally correct, her hands were soft and schooled from her equitation lessons as well. Her biggest habit was throwing her body forward and letting her shoulders round, she didn’t have the best back and had to remind herself that giving into the pain now would make for more pain down the road. More directions were spoken, thankfully Madi wasn’t first up.

As it came to be her turn Madison shortened her reins slightly, taking a normal soft contact with the mare’s mouth Tilly was tempted to object but the soft consistent feel with the push from Madi’s spur kept the little bay mare soft and forward. Dropping more weight into her heels Madison was attentive to her body, she didn’t throw herself into the 2-point like she would have liked to instead she found the fold naturally. It was a strong position for her, she had spent a lot of time in 2 point. Eyes up she used her leg to keep the mare trotting straight and forward into the poles, the mare exaggerated each step over the poles – picking her legs up like they were 2 feet high but she managed to keep the rhythm and balance – Madison kept her eyes up past the cone and managed to maintain her position despite the horses extreme effort. Chuckling she kept the mare straight and forward after the poles, letting a hand reach forward and touch the mares shoulder she sat erect once more. Tilly was always like that the first few times over the poles, it was a baby habit that Madi wasn’t bothered by.

ooc: done - clothes&&tack