Post by quinniethegreat on Mar 11, 2013 16:35:49 GMT -8
It was about 5:40 in the evening when Eleanor set out from the boarding house on Crossfire's property and headed to the barn to see Astro. Tessa was getting a well-deserved rest after a long, hard, jumping practice earlier in the day. Eleanor began thinking of the practice as she continued walking to the barn, and she didn't stop thinking about it until she was standing in front of Astro's stall, his grooming kit in hand. "Hey, buddy." She smiled gently at the gelding's surprised snort as she let herself into his stall, and set the grooming kit over the stall door. She ran his bay body over with a damp cloth first, loosening up the dust from his coat. Then, following procedure, she grabbed Astro's red curry comb and began brushing, following up with the soft and hard brushes. Then she grabbed his hoof pick, and leaned down, running her hand along the horse's front left leg. The tall gelding willingly picked up his foot, and she quickly but carefully began to pick out his hoof. She did the same with all of Astro's other hooves, without any trouble. She combed his mane and tail, and wiped off his eyes and nostrils, then exited the stall to put the grooming kit away. She returned with Astro's saddle, saddle pad, and bridle.
Eleanor placed the bright red saddle pad on the horse's back, adjusting it until it was in just the right spot. She then set the saddle down, and spend three whole minutes trying to get the girth from under Astro's stomach. He wouldn't stand still, which made it near impossible. Finally, El was able to grab ahold of the girth and bring it underneath Astro, who then stood still so she could fasten the girth correctly. Then she grabbed Astro's bridle, and slid it over his head. After working with the horse for a week or so with a bit, she realised that he responded better to a bitless bridle, which was what she now used for him. She and Astro made a good team, and she couldn't have asked to be paired with a better horse in the working student program. The only horse she loved more than Astro at the moment was her own. While the bond between Eleanor and her own horse was stronger, dynamic between her and Astro was more than amazing, considering they hadn't been working together long. She pulled the reins over Astro's head, opened his stall door, and led the gelding out of his stall and trough the barn. As soon as they reached the mounting block, El swung up onto the gelding's back. If she weren't so damn short, she would've been fine mounting from the ground, but her short legs kept her from putting her foot into the stirrup from the ground.
She nudged Astro with her heels and they were off, with apparently the same place in mind for the both of them- the trails. Astro trotted onto the path, tossing his head as he went. Eleanor smiled widely as her mount let out some of his pent energy, vowing to let him canter and maybe even gallop at some point on their journey. As the horse and rider kept trotting along, they eventually came to a fork in the trail. She pulled Astro to a halt and they stood there for a moment before Eleanor closed her eyes. "Okay, boy. Where do you wana go?" She gave Astro free rein, and immediately felt him moving underneath her. After a minute she opened her eyes to find them travelling even deeper into the forest, Astro walking down the trail seemingly without a care in the world. She let him keep the pace for a while before nudging him into a canter, and taking back some of the slack in the reins to keep him from going any faster. With a gleeful laugh, Eleanor moved the reins into one hand, holding them Western style, and let her other arm rest on her thigh, using most of her will power to resist the urge to close her eyes and enjoy the air hitting her face.
Eleanor placed the bright red saddle pad on the horse's back, adjusting it until it was in just the right spot. She then set the saddle down, and spend three whole minutes trying to get the girth from under Astro's stomach. He wouldn't stand still, which made it near impossible. Finally, El was able to grab ahold of the girth and bring it underneath Astro, who then stood still so she could fasten the girth correctly. Then she grabbed Astro's bridle, and slid it over his head. After working with the horse for a week or so with a bit, she realised that he responded better to a bitless bridle, which was what she now used for him. She and Astro made a good team, and she couldn't have asked to be paired with a better horse in the working student program. The only horse she loved more than Astro at the moment was her own. While the bond between Eleanor and her own horse was stronger, dynamic between her and Astro was more than amazing, considering they hadn't been working together long. She pulled the reins over Astro's head, opened his stall door, and led the gelding out of his stall and trough the barn. As soon as they reached the mounting block, El swung up onto the gelding's back. If she weren't so damn short, she would've been fine mounting from the ground, but her short legs kept her from putting her foot into the stirrup from the ground.
She nudged Astro with her heels and they were off, with apparently the same place in mind for the both of them- the trails. Astro trotted onto the path, tossing his head as he went. Eleanor smiled widely as her mount let out some of his pent energy, vowing to let him canter and maybe even gallop at some point on their journey. As the horse and rider kept trotting along, they eventually came to a fork in the trail. She pulled Astro to a halt and they stood there for a moment before Eleanor closed her eyes. "Okay, boy. Where do you wana go?" She gave Astro free rein, and immediately felt him moving underneath her. After a minute she opened her eyes to find them travelling even deeper into the forest, Astro walking down the trail seemingly without a care in the world. She let him keep the pace for a while before nudging him into a canter, and taking back some of the slack in the reins to keep him from going any faster. With a gleeful laugh, Eleanor moved the reins into one hand, holding them Western style, and let her other arm rest on her thigh, using most of her will power to resist the urge to close her eyes and enjoy the air hitting her face.
