Post by Cara-Jean Kitchi on Nov 12, 2012 1:52:01 GMT -6
Cara massaged Ella's coat with the golden rubber curry comb, and then ran her soft body brush over her coat to remove the dust before she settled the saddle pad slightly over the mare's withers, followed by the close-contact saddle, which she then slid back into place so that the hairs were lying flat under it - since the mare's winter coat had come through in full force - and she then lifted the bridle up. Removing the cross ties, she slipped the reins over the Hanoverian's neck and smiled when the mare happily accepted the bit.
Once the horse was ready, in her tack and her protective all-weather boots, the girl slipped her helmet on over her hair, which was in it's normal french braid and wound into a bun, and fastened it under her chin. Leading the mare out of the barn, the girl stepped up onto the mounting block and vaulted onto the mare's back. She then fussed with the girth and pushed the stirrups down before slipping her feet into them.
Taking up the reins, she clicked her tongue and gave the mare the lightest touch with her calves and the mare walked forward happily, bobbing her head as they headed toward the trails.
They stood at the beginning of the trails as the girl mentally went over the different trails. Not wanting to strain the mare too much - or at least not put her under too much stress - she turned Ella toward the Green Hill trail. She hadn't been down the easier trails in a while, and today she wanted to see the mare's reaction to the wild river that one of the trails that forked off the Green Hill trail led to.
The girl sat tall in the saddle, looking like she should be in the arena, rather than a teen relaxing on the trails, but that was hoe she always rode. She used her seat and legs to guide the mare, keeping a good hold on the reins, but giving the mare the opportunity to look around them at anything that caught her attention. Sure, it could be seen as letting the mare pick her out route, but Cara didn't want to keep the mare on a tight rein and make her think that there might be something in those bushes that was indeed going to attack her.
It didn't take long until they turned down the path that led to the river, and before much longer they were following a path that had trees and bushes to the left of them and the mighty river to the right as they followed the way it flowed. She took both of the reins in her right hand and rested her left on her thigh as she let the mare plod along the path. She knew that the path eventually led into a meadow and this was where the girl intended to do some schooling with the mare, and they would use the ride home as the cool down. Right now though, she was just happy to spent some quiet time with the mare relaxed and chilled out.
Once the horse was ready, in her tack and her protective all-weather boots, the girl slipped her helmet on over her hair, which was in it's normal french braid and wound into a bun, and fastened it under her chin. Leading the mare out of the barn, the girl stepped up onto the mounting block and vaulted onto the mare's back. She then fussed with the girth and pushed the stirrups down before slipping her feet into them.
Taking up the reins, she clicked her tongue and gave the mare the lightest touch with her calves and the mare walked forward happily, bobbing her head as they headed toward the trails.
They stood at the beginning of the trails as the girl mentally went over the different trails. Not wanting to strain the mare too much - or at least not put her under too much stress - she turned Ella toward the Green Hill trail. She hadn't been down the easier trails in a while, and today she wanted to see the mare's reaction to the wild river that one of the trails that forked off the Green Hill trail led to.
The girl sat tall in the saddle, looking like she should be in the arena, rather than a teen relaxing on the trails, but that was hoe she always rode. She used her seat and legs to guide the mare, keeping a good hold on the reins, but giving the mare the opportunity to look around them at anything that caught her attention. Sure, it could be seen as letting the mare pick her out route, but Cara didn't want to keep the mare on a tight rein and make her think that there might be something in those bushes that was indeed going to attack her.
It didn't take long until they turned down the path that led to the river, and before much longer they were following a path that had trees and bushes to the left of them and the mighty river to the right as they followed the way it flowed. She took both of the reins in her right hand and rested her left on her thigh as she let the mare plod along the path. She knew that the path eventually led into a meadow and this was where the girl intended to do some schooling with the mare, and they would use the ride home as the cool down. Right now though, she was just happy to spent some quiet time with the mare relaxed and chilled out.
