I think I can fly...(Open)

[mothernature]

Rain entered the indoor at about 7 am with Joker. She had been at the barns for about an hour already. Her plan was to ride her two trouble makers then clean their stalls and feed them before heading home herself for some lunch. She was thinking about signing herself and her boy up for some dressage lessons. Jumping she had practically learned on her own but now she was coming to realize dressage may be her biggest riding challenge yet. Of course, my little red head was going to accept that head on then tackle to the ground.

She stood in the middle of the arena and watched a few others milling around the barns doing various things. She threw the reins over the pinto's head and rub his neck gently. Joker could be a spooky sort at times so it was important she pay attention to her surroundings and anything he may think was a monster. Rumour she could just get on and go and push the little mustang through anything. She was a courageous little pony. She slipped her foot in the iron and mounted the horse as he danced a little. Of course the arab in him was ready to haul butt around the arena and take the first jump but Rain made him walk. Warming up his muscles was more important then the horse getting what he wants. She did a few circles both ways then squeezed gently with her calves and he went right into a trot.

The horses head was up but his chin tucked in. Rain loved his tail carriage, his movement, his color, his personality. He was the exact opposite of Rumour and she could work well with both horses. She pushed the gelding into a canted but held him back, he was still ready to bolt. She took him around the arena a few times then pointed him at the first jump. The horse took several strides towards the jump but launched himself early. Rain held on and continued to squeeze with her legs to push him through. He nicked the jump and they had a rough landing flinging Rain onto his neck. Lucky he stopped and she regained balance. She patted the young horses neck and cooed to him. It wasn't his fault and she would never blame him. She grew up learning it was always the riders fault. She must of asked him to early.

She cantered him around the arena again and pointed him at the same jump. No point in moving on til they could do the first one correctly. As the drew near she reined him in a bit and waited to percisely the right moment to apply the extra pressure. The horse soared over it without an issue. On to the next he started to spook side ways at something. She pointed his nose as straight as possible and pushed him over it. The landing wasn't beautiful but they made it. She took him over and third, fourth, and fifth all flawlessly. She reined him in and asked him to do his prancing little trot and chill out a bit.

[tiger]

The reins whistled through the air as he swung them in front of him, his boots scuffing against the barn floor. Leo gave a loud snort, the air the horse expelling making his neck hot and sweaty. Making a scrunched up face he reached behind him to rub his neck, dipping his head in greeting to a few girls dressed in jodphurs that were staring at him. Pursing his lips together into a hard line he glanced down every stall isle that he passed, English tack and apparel making up most of the scenery. He did see a few western saddles sticking out like sore thumbs and it made him feel slightly self-conscious as he stopped in the large hallway to turn and look at his own equine.

The splashy white markings were etched sporadically, though beautifully, across his gelding's orange hide and his mane was mo-hawked because he had the annoying habit of rubbing it off on stall walls. Reaching out to tap the horse on the nose, he watched as Leo's eyes got wide and the horse began scrambling backward. Planting his feet firmly, he whispered a few things to the equine before following he spooky animal's gaze. He chuckled when he saw the lime green saddle pad that another girl had set out on a saddle rack. Shaking his head, he let his hair cover his smiling face as he took hesitant steps with his partner to get past the 'monster."

Finally reaching the indoor arena, he unhooked the dusty Bass Pro hat from his belt, fixing it firmly on his black haired head before pushing the door open. There were a few girls leaving, though there was one with what his grandma would call a 'hot headed rascal'. The though sent another chuckle flitting from his lips as he remembered her saying the thing same about Leo but he continued walking his paint along the wall to get his used to all the new sights and smells. Clucking softly at his horse, he halted him with a pat on the chest as he backed a few steps to check the girth.

Hitching it up a few inches he scowled at the gelding who was upturning his lip at what appeared to be a joke. Poking the paint on the shoulder, he gathered his reins and put his boot in the stirrup, bouncing a few times before easily fitting himself into his creaky saddle. Adjusting the buckles and straps he had just enough time to look up to see the girl being thrown on onto her horse's neck. Leaning forward to say a piece, he sat back when he saw her command the equine to move off. Resting his elbow on the saddle horn he watched her tackle the jump again, coming out clean, and then move on to the next sets.

Smooching to Leo a few times, he didn't bother to pick up the reins as he nudged him with a light foot in her direction. Clapping lightly he flashed a toothy grin before letting his drawl slip out. "Now I would've came off that pretty pony of yours in a second. You wanna throw that thing in reverse and give me somethin' to call you instead of missy?" The end of his sentence was punctuated by a soft snort by Leo, the gelding's ears pricked at the girl and her steed.

he's wearing a red/grey/black plaid button up, dark blue jean, brown boots. Bass Pro hat. first good sized reply in a while, hope you like it

[mothernature]

Autumn and Joker landed the last jump. As always the little gelding bucked up his back end just a bit whipping his tail around. That was his victory buck. It was all in good fun. She had been concentrating so hard on what she had been doing she hadn't even noticed the young man join her. She looked up at him just in time to catch his words. Of course her Merry Prankster was all worked up at the moment and had no desire to stand still and chat with this other paint gelding. Now perhaps if it had been a mare he'd be a little more willing to oblige. Autumn finally got him to basically jig in a stand still so she could speak with the guy.

"Well it's all in the legs and you're reaction. I started bareback and rode western way before I started doing this. And my name is Autumn-Rain, or just Rain if you prefer."

The red chestnut pinto pulled at the bit and even lifted his front legs almost as though he was threatening to rear. Autumn wasn't phased by it. If anything eventually she could use this for the dressage training she wanted to start with him. Finally he stretched his whole body out like a big dog with his rump in the air, yawned, and stood still eyes closing ready for his nap. He could be the energizer bunny one minute and sound asleep the next. Granted that's not always the best with a horse but he could go from one extreme to another. Some days he was a hot head english horse and other days he was as laid back as a western pleasure horse which she did do with him from time to time. Then again when he took these naps he was often startled awake and would spook. It was only a matter of time.

"And what is your name?" Her lips curled into a smile and her eyes were playfully looking at the horse as though to hint she was in no way interested in the guy. Not that she wasn't but a horse will tell you a lot about a person.

[tiger]

Leo bobbed his head in unison with the other equine's jig, sometimes snaking it back and forth like he was going to deliver a bite. Pulling a few strands of his mane to get his attention, Tiger whistled low to his gelding. A small smile made fine crinkles around the edge of his twinkling eyes as he listened to her reply but continued to watch his horse curve his neck around to peer at him curiously. Jingling the silver bells that hung off his stirrups he didn't look at the girl until Leo peered back off into the shadowy corners of the arena. Reaching up to his face he readjusted his hat, pulling it up a bit more, narrowing his eyes at her appearance. Her horse didn't fool him one bit and he tightened his reins just in case the equine decided to play a spooky game.

"I've never touched these Wrangler's to an English saddle. Never really had the fancy too, unless you wanna convince me otherwise." It sometimes seemed like a slow drawl wasn't ever enough here so he added a friendly wink. Squeezing his calves a tiny bit he felt he horse move into a walk but he turned him in a tight circle. He couldn't let him stiffen up when he hadn't even started really working him. He switched his gaze back to her face, Rain. Autumn-Rain. Very pretty name.

Smiling at the thought, his gaze was directed at a smooth patch of dirt below his dangling boot when she spoke again. His smile disappeared as his brow smashed together at the question of his own name. It wouldn't be so bad to say it if he hadn't already gotten quite a few snickers about it. "Tiger. Tiger Giles. This boy right here is Leo." Reaching down to pat his equine, he searched her face, trying to catch her darting eyes.

[mothernature]

Autumn smiled at the boys wink. Okay maybe he was kind of attractive, but now really wasn't the time to get distracted. Maybe if it had been Rumour, Joker was having none of this. Okay well maybe for now he was until someone decided to walk in or something. Her red curly hair framed her face well even with the silly riding helmet on (which she only wore when she was jumping, or it was required).

"This is Merry Prankster. Joker for short. And I like a challenge. Has your horse ever seen poles?"

With that she turned Joker and pointed him towards the other side of the arena. There were a couple ground poles laid out. She wouldn't push him to get in the saddle but she'd start him with something easy. From the very beginning. She pushed Joker into a trot. Of course the horse wanted to bolt so she had to hold tight to the reins. She hated being in his mouth so she applied the pressure and released and repeated until he got the hint. She rode him in a circle getting him to collect himself. The horse loved to do this when ridden bareback but for some reason under saddle he was set on full blast ahead.

After he obliged and gave her his head she made him do a full circle like that. Keeping the same pace doing a cross diagonal post with the trot she pointed him towards the ground poles. She applied slight pressure with her heels as they crossed over the poles to be sure the young gelding would pick up all of his feet. He crossed over beautifully only because he had taken the jumps first. Every time she warmed him up with ground poles first he would knock them with his feet. She moved a little ways across the arena and stopped the pinto.