Vaulting Clinic (Try 2!)

[Raenn Merced]

Raenn put down the book she had been reading on her desk and stretched leisurely. She had promised those two kids at the reserve, Chris and Lindsey, that she would start up another vaulting clinic, and today was the day she had planned on. Notices had been put up, and she had reserved the arena. Hopefully she would get a nice turnout this time, and perhaps a few people would choose to join the team.

She pulled on her yoga pants and t-shirt reading 'North Valley Vaulting Show'. Looking around, she noticed her laptop and packed it as well. She could show the kids some videos if she had to, she wasn't sure yet, though. She let herself out of her suite of rooms and locked the door behind her, then headed off towards the barn. Her horses were all stabled in the first barn, something to do with their show names, something that Ray didn't mind. It was easier to take care of them if they were in the same area. Her mind went over the three horses as she walked. She was planning on using Elly and Choo, as she had the last time, because they were nice, dependable horses. Wyllo was steady as well, but she wasn't quite as accepting of beginners.

As she entered the aisle of stalls and saw her three animals poking their heads over the stall doors, Ray smiled at them. She walked to the tack room and pulled out Elly's light-grey halter and Choo's green one. She walked back and pulled the Percheron out of her stall, then set to work grooming the horse.

After almost an hour's work, her two chosen horses were both brushed and tacked up. Raenn checked the fit of Elly's surcingle, then nodded, satisfied. She left the horses standing there as she walked back into the tack room to grab everything she would need. A clipboard, first aid kit, lunge line, lunge whip, her laptop, and a few extra hair ties in case someone forgot theirs. She looked at the pile and sighed, thinking that it would be a lot to transport over. She left it sitting on a table in the tack room. She would grab it after she had brought the horses out. She walked back out and grabbed both lead lines before she headed towards the arena.

After she had entered the arena and latched the gate behind her, Raenn tied the horses' lead ropes to the rail. She glanced at both of them, "Be good," then walked towards the tack room. She came back laden with her equipment and started sorting it, putting the lunge whip against the fence, the lunge line on one of the rails, and the rest of the stuff onto the ground. The hair ties, she slipped onto her wrist. She glanced at the two horses, then picked up the lunge line and exchanged it for the lead on Ellie's drop noseband bridle. She grabbed the whip, then walked out to the center of the arena, letting the lunge line out to fifteen meters. Once she was happy with the length, she held the lunge and flicked the whip at Ellie, "Walk on." The mare stepped forward happily, her ears flickering just a moment until she settled down.

[chey]

Outfit
Walking toward the arena where the Vaulting Clinic she kind of got the chills. She was nervous about the whole Vaulting thing. She did gymnastics when she was quite younger adn thanks to her step-mother she had signed her up with a very rude coach. After being at the school all summer break and hearing about this new Vaulting Class being started up Ellie had to check it out. What would be better than doing gymnastics on a horse? She never tried it on a horse, but heck it was something new. Her red hair was braided to the side, she wasn't sure how she was supost to look for Vaulting so she just put on her Leotard and shorts and found some sweatpants and hoodie and put a hat on. Ellie was quite nervous to even be trying it, but atleast she could tell her father she tired something new today.

Ellie opened the door to the indoor arena and took off her hood. The fall winds were cold in Oklahoma, but not as chilly as these was coming off the Ocean. Ellie's boots clicked across the cement of the indoor arena as she walked toward the bleachers. She was in here a couple weeks ago working on her cutting before it got to cold and now she wished she had worked outside. Ellie saw the bleachers and began to walk up the small incline and into the bleachers. That is when she noticed that she was the only one in here."Great... was all that was running though her mind right now. What if she had gotten the wroung time or worse it was tomorrow? Then Ellie heard hoofbeats in the sand and turned her body to see a Lady warming up the horse.Yes, atleast I didn't forget.Ran throught her mind as she sat on the bleachers watching the girl. She wondered if she needed to be streaching or just wait until more people showed up.

[Christopher Alexander Serraz]

Chris pushed the door shut behind him, walking quickly towards the indoor arena. He was thrill Rae had actually set a time for the vaulting clinic now that she knew of several kids who were interested, himself included. He had been interested ever since he saw her leap onto Choo's back that day when they were all riding bareback. He had run into her again at the reserve, and she had been nothing but friendly and humble. And with a bit of encouragement to try another vaulting clinic, she had. Chris smiled, eager to learn more about the lesser known sport. It definitely wasn't reining or barrel racing, but who didn't love trying new things? Especially such cool things!

His blue eyes glanced up to the bleachers, searching for a familiar face, namely Rae or Lindsey. But the only face looking back at him was that of a sweet looking red head. He shrugged, deciding it was an opportunity to make a new friend. Today was a day of "newness."

But where was Rae? He turned to the arena once he reached the base of the bleachers and spotted her lunging one of her other horses who he instantly realized was not Choo. But he was glad to see Choo tied up farther down. He'd instantly liked the chestnut gelding when he had met him during the bareback "party." He waited, trying to catch Rae's eye and waving with a large smile, hoping she'd seen him and knew he had come.

With that, he started up the bleachers, taking a seat close to the red headed girl and smiling warmly. She seemed to be dressed appropriately for such a sport, and he glanced down quickly at his own clothing choice. Gym pants, a t-shirt, and boots. It didn't seem quite as cool as her choice, but it was the best he could do. He'd never thought to ask Rae what to wear. Shrugging it off, he returned his blue eyes to the girl. "Hey, I'm Chris," he said, smiling. "Have you ever tried vaulting before?" He hoped she'd say no, just to ease his nerves about being the only one here who had no experience with the tricky sport.

[Lindsey Bradshaw]

Checking a piece of paper out of Lindsey's bag, she saw that she needed to be at the vaulting clinic in......ten minutes! Rushing over to the indoor arena, where Lindsey had hoped that it was being held, she felt so much better as she saw familar faces in the bleachers. Sighing, Lindsey slowed down, as she wasn't going to be late now.

Having promised Raenn, or Rae, that she would be there, Lindsey wondered where she was. Turning her head, Lindsey stopped and grabbed a ponytail off her wrist, flipping her head over, Lindsey fastened it around all her hair. Starting up at a walk again, she started to step up them as she heard the soft sound of hoofbeats. Turning she saw Rae in the arena already with one of her horses, as Lindsey assumed.

Actually finishing her walk up the bleachers, she smiled as she saw Ellie, and Chris. "It's nice to see you two again. What have you been up to lately?" Lindsey asked them. She had been lucky that Ellie had checked Titan's leg for her, he'd be gone without her.

[Raenn Merced]

Raenn flicked the whip out towards Elly, "Trot on." The mare moved into the two beat gait easily, her head tucked just slightly. Rae turned with her, and suddenly caught sight of a girl sitting up on the bleachers. Well, perhaps she would have someone in her class after all. She switched the whip and lunge in her hands and held the whip in front of Elly, "Stop." The mare came to a square halt, and Raenn walked over to her, switching the lunge line to the other side and turning the mare. She walked back to her spot and sent the mare into a trot again. She saw Chris join the other girl and wave, but didn't return the gesture just yet.

After a few minutes, she stopped the mare and glanced around at the bleachers. She could see that Lindsey had joined the other two kids. She waved at them and called out, "It's so much easier if you're in the arena, you know." She collected the lunge line in her hands and had Elly stand next to her.

When the students had gathered around her, she grinned, "Okay, then. Let's run through introductions really quickly." She didn't know the red-head, but she didn't want to make the girl feel left out, "I'm Rae, this is Elly, and the sorrel over there is Choo. I've been vaulting for almost fifteen years, teaching unofficially for about ten of those years, and teaching officially for about four." She smiled and glanced at the kids, waiting for them to introduce themselves to each other.

After introductions, she glanced at the two girls, who had their hair tied back, "I'm going to ask you to put your hair into a bun, please, so it doesn't get caught in the surcingle." She patted the mentioned piece of tack, introducing it to all three, before she held out two rubber bands for the girls. She glanced at Chris, "And I'm going to ask you to go barefoot, boots aren't the best footgear."

Once that was taken care of, she smiled, "So, let's start vaulting. First we're going to work on dismounts, both the normal emergency dismount and a few fun, flashier ones." She grinned, "Ellie, would you like to go first?" She found it amusing that the girl and the horse shared the same nickname, but as she was looking at the girl, it was obvious that she was talking to the human. "You're going to mount up and then I'll send her walking around. I want you to wait one full round, to get used to the surcingle and pad, then I want you to do an emergency dismount to the outside." She glanced at the other two, "Wait at the rail, Chris, you'll be second, Lindsey, you'll go third. I'll stop her in between to let you guys mount up."

She stepped back into the center of the circle and smiled, "You can use the surcingle to mount up if she's a tad too tall, it's there for a reason." Later, they would work on mounts, but for now, the best thing to practice would be how to get off if someone got uncomfortable.

Okay, just imagine she stops Elly for each one, so all three kids can go this round of posting. :- )

[chey]

Ellie watched as the lady in the arena stood in the middle and push her horse around her. It was called lunging, but to her to was something magical. She could do it with her horse back at home, but to actual see it was kind of cool. Ellie heard the footsteps and turned to see who was coming and to her surpise it was a guy. She had never thought a guy would want to do this, yes there was guys in the olympics that did vaulting but to actual see a guy intrested in doing it now kind made shocked her alittle. Ellie scooted over for him to sit down incase he wanted to, but she did glanced him with a smile.Hello I'm Ellie

[/b]She grinned and then looked over the railing and looked at the horse and lady in the middle.Actual no I have never tried this, but I do gymnastics though.She looked over to see Lindsey walking up the bleachers to join them and gace her a smile.


Ellie almost wanted to laugh for the lady in the middle told them to come inside the arena because it was going to be alittle easier if they was inside. She could already tell she was going to like this teacher a lot. She seemed pretty laid back to her and thats what Ellie liked. Ellie pulled walked down the bleachers and before she made it out to the arena she pulled off her sweater and hat and placed it on the railing of the arena so it wouldn't get dirt in it. She wasn't sure what kind of shoes she was suppost to wear, but walked into the middle of the arena with the rest of the group and stopped infron of the girl. Ellie rubbed her hand down her bare arm as she felt a little cold chill, but other than that she was fine. It was time to be tuff what was alittle cold going to do to her? She was wearing sweatpants and a leotard what could be worse?

I'm Ellie, she grinned to the girl name Rae and then the horse that was name Elly. She kind of chuckled alittle at the thought of having a horse with the same name. Ellie shook her head and took the rubberband from Rae and inside of taking the braid out she just twirled around her fingers to make a tight bun and then wrapped the rubber band around it and she was good. Ellie almosted wanted to bite her lip at the thought of her going first, but she shook her "yes" anyways might aswell do it now than be last.

Ellie stepped forward toward Rae and listened to her as she talked about what they was going to be doing. Ellie shook her head again and then using the surcingle she lifted her body up onto the horse because really she didn't know how else to get up there she was to short to just jump and do a gymanstic move. She giggled at the thought and got her body in the middle of the pad and surcingle and ran her hands along the handles to get a better feel of it. It was kind of cool to be on a horse with just a pad and surcingle as if it was like riding bareback, but more trickier. Ellie waited for Rae to move the horse off as she did what Rae said and ride one roung to used to the feel of the surcingle before swinging her left leg over the back of the horse and pushed her hands off the horse to get to the ground and bent her legs as she touched the ground with both feet and out of habit she pushed her hands up and smiled. Ellie looked and then noticed what she did.Sorry, it's a habit I take gymnastics. as she moved away from the horse and back to the two other kids awaiting their turn. She didn't mean to show off or make it look like she was showing off it was just a habit and it was hard to break.


[/left]

[Christopher Alexander Serraz]

Chris grinned towards the red head as she introduced herself and commented that she hadn't done it. He felt a bit relieved, but honestly, she still seemed pretty gymnastic inclined judging by her body and clothing options. He doubted that she had gone out and bought that outfit just for this. As he was about to answer her, a familiar face showed up. He smiled and waved in her direction, then turned back to Ellie to answer her before answering Lindsey's question. But, again interrupted mid thought, Rae called out. He laughed softly and looked to the two girls with a shrug. He stood, but waited until the two girls had started down the bleachers to go. His mother had always told him that real men let women go first, whether they were involved with him or not. And he thought that was a pretty fair rule to live by.

Chris followed down, grinning as introductions began. He looked around the tiny group, realizing he knew everyone's name and actually knew two of them. "Hi, I'm Chris," he said, his blue eyes wandering all over the group. He felt odd introducing himself to people he already knew, but he respected Rae for making sure no one felt unwelcome over left out. He grinned at everyone as they spoke, hoping everyone knew he was friendly.

His eyes trailed down to his boots. Barefoot? Around horses? He shrugged and nodded, retreating to the railing to lean his bottom against it and yank off the boots. He tossed them over the railing, figuring it didn't matter where the beat up things landed or how hard they did so.He then returned, smiling. "Okay, ready," he commented, resuming his spot in the bun headed group.

He felt relieved as Ellie was designated the first rider. He had no idea was an emergency dismount was, but she seemed to know. He studied her movements on the tall horse, trying to remember what she was doing. It seemed simply. Swing your leg and push off. Yeah, he could do that. Hopefully. He nodded, impressed, as she landed so gracefully. "Wow, nice landing," he commented with a smile to her before stepping up for his turn.

Chris looked the horse up and down, inspecting the odd piece of equipment adorned on her back. He'd never used a surcingle, but it didn't seem as though it would be terribly hard to get used to. The hard part would just be getting used to it. He used it to hoist himself up, though his six feet and one inch were certainly in favor this time. He patted the mare's neck, settling into her walk before getting the nerve to try the seemingly simple maneuver. Finally, he swung his left leg over and pushed himself off of the horse as the red head had done before.

Success. He was off the horse... And on his butt. He grinned sheepishly and lifted himself off the ground. "I'm, uh, not as graceful as Ellie," he laughed, brushing the dust off of himself as he joined the group.

[Lindsey Bradshaw]

As Lindsey, Ellie, and Chris had all been sitting up on the bleachers, Lindsey listened as Rae had called them all down to the arena, chuckling at the way she had mentioned it. As Chris had let Ellie and her go first, Lindsey followed her down to the arena, waiting for instructions from Raenn.

"I'm Lindsey, and I've only vaulted once, but it wasn't the most graceful round." Lindsey told them, introducing herself even though it wasn't needed, as she already knew everyone. Hearing that a bun was required for Vaulting, Lindsey took the ponytail that Rae was holding out to them, with a "thanks", and then she wrapped it around her hair. Once, then twice, securing it into a messy bun. Now all ready, Lindsey noticed that she had asked Chris to take his boots off, and then told them what order they would be vaulting in. Nodding, Lindsey stepped back a bit, to give Ellie and Rae a bit of room.

Watching as how Ellie had managed to get up, and then the same as Chris, she watched how both moved easily with the horse, and dismounted. Ellie's was very nice and graceful, but Chris's was a bit rough.

Now that it was her turn, Lindsey walked up next to Elly the mare, and she used the surcingle to help herself up. Unlike most people, Lindsey wasn't the tallest at the school, but not the shortest either. As she moved her hands on the handles, and Rae led Elly around, Lindsey listened as she had been told and waited a whole round around before swinging her left leg over the horse's body, and landing on the ground with both feet planted.

[Avery Jacobs]

Avery found herself actually rushing for this class. No matter how fed up she was getting with the whole tardy thing she had going on, the brunette actually was excited for this vaulting class. She figured it would be something she would be quite good at, after dabbing into gymnastics throughout her life. Of course, her gymnastic days were long gone, but she doubted she couldn’t try vaulting. The girl was still lithe and flexible, even after the rough course of sixteen years of life. She broke into a run out of the white ribbon house, nearly fuming in embarrassment at her fast pace.

Running most certainly didn’t look classy, and Avery was thoroughly disappointed in herself for being so tardy. Still, it was her first day and hopefully that would count for something. A blue leotard clung naturally to her body, shorts on top of it and sweatpants on top of that. Above the tank top part of the leotard, the girl wore a still classy looking sweatshirt; the whole outfit giving off an athlete look. Avery sighed at how long it had taken her to get ready however, until she finally made it to the Benedict’s arena. Earlier she would’ve taken time to scoff at the names just for the heck of it but, Avery knew she was very, very late.

Finally stopping where the other kids stood, she watched the girl swing her leg off the horse in an emergency dismount before looking at the teacher. She waited for the girl to come toward the rest of kids, and gave the teacher an apologetic look. “I’m sorry about being late. My name is Avery Jacobs and I’m new.” she explained. Avery was in a bad mood from being late to her other classes and being nice wasn’t on her top ten lists. She turned to give a curt nod to everybody else before waiting for instructions or permission from the teacher.

[Stern]

I'm going to be making a new thread soon, so don't count this one, okay? You can reuse your post, Harley. :- )