Takin Out For A Spin [Nikki.LJ]

[Christopher Reed/ Mia Reed]

The morning had begun to dry the dew that had collected on the foggy silhouettes that were the blades of grass. Walking along the beaten path to White Oak Barn, Chris rubbed his eyes and yawned. He wanted to get a ride in before the rest of campus started to stir. Especially if he was riding the oldest mare, Freedom. His worn in square-toed boots scuffed along the aisle as he made his way to the mare's stall. Patting her on the neck, he sleepily walked to the tack room and grabbed a brush and curry comb, walked back to Freedom's stall and quickly groomed her. Heading back to the tack room he put the grooming supplies back and grabbed her saddle, bridle, breastplate, a heavier blanket because it was still a bit chilly and tacked the mare up. Leading her out into the patches of grass around the barn, Chris swung himself up into the large saddle. Freedom shook herself, and although it was pretty cold her tail was flying like it was July. Clucking his tongue and squeezing his legs the mare set off at a brisk walk. The reddish colored mare had her head set high as she walked along with an almost trotting pace. Once they hit the mouth of the trail, the fourteen year old mare decided that she needed to walk some more before the trail. Turning on her hunches she trotted off in the opposite direction. With a firm hand Chris moved her in the direction of the trail. The silly mare kept trotting like nothing had happened. Pulling slightly on the reins about ten feet in she slowed to a walk.

[tayjay8]

Nikki had been awaken up by her two dogs, panting and hitting their tails on her. They had been wanting to play, but Nikki had other matters; she had woken up at five thirty the past night to take them on a walk; she thought they would survive.

Dressed in a plaid colored top, blue and black, with classic blue jeans, and some nice boots, Nikki made her way out of her dorm, before saying, Be good, and behave...Dayna. she rolled her eyes, as she heard the sound of scratching at the door when she left the room. Heading out of the apartments, Nikki hoped to be up for a trail ride today.

As she neared the Red Willow Barn, Nikki saw that it wasn't busy, like during class hours. A nice and peaceful barn, was just what she needed this early in the morning.

Walking inside the stone pavement to Lash's stall, Nikki first stopped by the tack room, grabbing a saddle pad, bridle, saddle, girth, and a nicer martingale than usual. Not feeling very Western riding today, Nikki thought to herself, as she glanced at her Western saddle on the other rack by her English.

Wallking out of the room, she was greeted by a dapple grey mare, with perfectly pearl white hair, long and pretty. Stroking the mare's muzzle, after the tack was placed on the stalls door, Nikki said, Hey pretty girl. You feel up to a ride? Nikki asked her, quickly unlocking the tack trunk, grabbing a curry comb and then closing it down again.

Unlatching the stall door, Nikki rubbed the curry in small mmovements all over the mare's body, making sure to get every spot that she possibly could. Lash nickered and twirled her head around, now facing Nikki, until she stoked the mare, Lash didn't turn around.

Walking out of the stall, Nikki returned the curry to the tack trunk, and grabbed the saddle pad, placing it ontop of the mare's back, and then placed the saddle ontop of the pad, according to the shape. Then she looped the martingale through the girth, and latched it on either side of the mare, who had to be poked to reduce the heave of air she breathes in.

Taking the bit in her mouth, Nikki then latched everything up and took hold of the mare, leading her outside the stall and down the aisle of the barn. Then mounting up onto the mare, Nikki headed off down the Green Hill Trail, seeing another pair in front of them already.

[Christopher Reed/ Mia Reed]

Suddenly, Chris had guessed the mare figured it out, Freedom spun. The mare was trained in reining and this was her favorite move. Pulling sharply against her bit, her head whipped quickly the other way. Chris let the rein loose and kicked the mare. The Mustang took off towards the entrance of the trail. At this point the rider was getting very irritated and had already considered many times taking her back and bringing out Dreamer. She was bomb proof not at all like the demon he was saddled on at this point. Taking his mind off of his cantering mare and he saw a female rider and her western tacked mount moving towards the place where they had been and left, and most likely going back. A loud and annoyed sigh came from Chris's lips. Again pulling back on his inside rein he turned Freedom's nose to her hindquarters. Circling her a few times she slowly came to a walk. Sigh of relief came from Chris and the mare. Shaking his head, the twenty-one year old honest to God didn't understand why she acted his way. Keeping a tight rein on the mare, he wasn't going to give her any chance to do that again, or not as bad. Moving with a brisk long-strided walk, Freedom caught up to the other mare. The man took it upon himself to apologize for any harm he could have done to her equine. "I"m very sorry for that Miss. Freedom here does that sometimes.

[tayjay8]

Seeing that the pair in front of them spun around; Nikki held Lash back, making sure that the two were ok before they moved on. She wanted to be sure that they were both safe; not mattering the age or experience of the rider, or horse for that matter.

Seeing that he seemed to have everything undercontrol; now that his horse and him were coming back down to their spot, Nikki started Lash back up at a walk again. She could still hear the clacking of hooves and thuds that came from behind. Seeming to notice the rider behind them; Lash turned her head and nickered to the other horse behind them. With the touch of Nikki's hand on her side, Lash then turned her full attention back to the ride; and Nikki.

Then Lash threw out her back left leg, as the rider and equine rode up beside them. Hearing the man apologize for his horse, Freedom's, behavior; Nikki replied in a calm tone, It's fine, horses will be horses. No harm was done. Nikki told him, patting Lash's neck. His horse seemed to be in training still; and Nikki remembered every day of training Lash. She was a crazy thing; wild and free at the time Nikki had gotten her, but she came a long way from that time. Thankfully.

Now speaking up again, Nikki asked, Do you perfer riding alone, since you have..Freedom? she asked him. Nikki wasn't sure whether he wanted to be alone with the horse; if he was working with her or not. She assumed he would of left their side by now if he had wanted to, but who knows?

[Christopher Reed/ Mia Reed]

Chris sat deep in his saddle as the other staff, from what he had gathered, continued the conversation. Twirling the small tuft of hair that sprouted from the mare's wither, Freedom snorted and shook her head. The twenty-one year old was very aware of how far away his mare was from the other as he didn't want the Mustang to kick out for any reason. Chris nodded as she confirmed it was fine. The man still felt a bit embarrassed that his mare was acting up, as usual. Keeping a short rein still the red roan mare still tried to pull forward. "No that's fine. She doesn't have a problem with other horses, she just likes to make me work." He chuckled as a smile made its way onto his face. Looking back into their conversation it really hadn't been that long, but he hadn't introduced himself yet. "I'm Christopher Reed, but you can call me Chris." Everyone did. He stuck his right arm out to shake her hand but kept his left hand in place not to alarm the mare that she wasn't under his full power.

[tayjay8]

OOC: I'm so sorry that it took so long to reply back!

As the man riding next to her announced yet another sprout of conversation, next to hers, Nikki nodded; grinning. I'm sure she does. It's ok your not the only one who has a stubborn horse. She has a very nice frame; what kind of horse is she? Nikki asked; studying the red roan.

She noted that the man kept her a nice distance away from her and Lash; so she assumed that maybe she would kick out, as most riders were aware of that; including Nikki.

Lash snorted, and threw her head up into the air as the other horse was now staying put where she was; and then brought it back down to where her head should of been all along. Hearing that there was no problem in them staying, Nikki nodded; along with her name and a hand shake, as Chris pointed out.

I'm Nikki Fare. It's nice to meet you. she said sticking out her arm and shaking Chris's hand. She then kept her outer leg against Lash's side as she shook his hand; to avoid her moving over.