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Post by emily on Sept 17, 2010 14:43:22 GMT -8
Emily loved the lanky Thoroughbred stallion. He had a good heart, and he loved her. She knew it. He didn't always act like it, but she knew he did. Like now, for example. He was tacked up, and she had foolishly decided to hop on him to ride him to the farther of the four arenas. His gait was a rugged prance, a gait that she really couldn't stand. She sat the prance and forced him to walk. The walk was quick and almost a prance, but with Emily's strength, he was held to it. He snorted, flinging his head against the restrictive reins, but he got no slack. Instead of going for the jumping arena, she steered him to the dressage arena next to it. She dismounted, and Charm jigged to the side. She grabbed his bridle, snapping on the lounge line. She then let him jig to the end of the lounge, and then urged him to a canter. His long legs weren't used to their fullest, his canter a quick staccato beat. The sliding side reins did their job getting him round, but didn't do much else. It was a good ten, fifteen minutes before he started to calm and stretch out. She then had him change directions, and he began to stretch out and mouth the bit. He began to look like the beautiful mover he was. She let him canter for about ten minutes to be even on both sides, and then stopped him. Despite all the cantering, he was still alert and a little flighty. She took off the sliding side reins and lounge line off and mounted. He actually stood still and she smiled before urging him forward. He gave her a reaching, flat-footed walk, and was right on her cue to trot. Since he was already warmed up, she went ahead and schooled some Dressage to get his brain working and help him remember that he wasn't strictly a jumping horse. As much as he would love to jump everything in site, it would be a waste to let his beautiful gaits go unnoticed. She ran through the top of what he knew, and then headed out of the arena toward the colorful jumps. She wasn't teaching him more Dressage today, today she just wanted to jump him and get him all warmed up. He was eager too, and you could tell by his pricked ears and long strides. His saddle was a beautiful black leather all purpose saddle, and the saddle pad was a forest green. With four chestnut horses, Emily had just stocked up on forest green and dark purple saddle pads. Usually the stallions wore green and the mares purple, but it generally depended. They each had two sets of boots, one purple and one green. You can tell Emily was a bit of a perfectionist. Charm wore his green ones. Emily's dark hair fell in gentle waves, and it was swept under her helmet into a neat, loose pony tail. Side bangs framed her face, and her bright blue eyes seemed to pop with the dark framing. She was adorned in a sky blue shirt and boot leg jeans, complete with hunter green half chaps to match Charm's saddle pad. They reached the arena, and the jumps were set at a pretty tall height. Charm was near Grand Prix height by now, but these would do well if she was to test him and make him swerve and jump from sometimes odd positions. She started him at a brisk canter and looped around all the jumps before abruptly throwing them into the course. For the next fifteen minutes, she wove a course so complicated through the jumps that the two were breathing hard and nearly exhausted by the end. Jump after jump after jump with quick turns in between would get anyone tired, especially after some Dressage. She let the stallion walk, and he gave a great sigh. He was nearly drenched in sweat, and he was almost to the point where his tired muscles would quiver.
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Post by samantha on Sept 18, 2010 12:56:23 GMT -8
He was already warmed up. A good lunging, and a little dressage was all the stallion needed to get himself ready to jump. And what a jumper he was. He was different from Sam's first horse, Cat; he was less friendly, more anxious, and far more powerful. He walked with an elegant, energetic stride, ears pricked watching the other pair riding in the arena. Sam watched the girl and her horse complete a complex course of jumps she would estimate were well over four feet. Sam was certain she wouldn't be giving this woman any instructions. As she approached, she watched the girls horse; long and lanky....a thoroughbred. Thoroughbreds were generally the eventer type, but she supposed that if a stallion as hot as this one appeared to be would do just fine, and he did.
Samantha made her way towards the gate, and waited quietly for the girl to complete her course. She was very good, and even Sam, the master critic could not find anything wrong with her form, her style, or her speed. The only thing she could pick out was the tight contact, but the horse needed that, so really, she found nothing to correct. She smiled as the girl slowed her sweaty horse to a walk. "Impressive," she said as she opened the gate and walked inside. Norris looked at the stallion, but did not show any signs of wanting to advance on the horse. He was a good stallion, more submissive than some, except when mares were present. He was a different horse when around mares; a lean, mean, fighting machine.
He was anxious to get started, but instead, Sam dismounted. "Are you done with these?" she asked the woman as she walked over towards the jumps. She wanted to jump Grand Prix level today, she was working on Norris's accuracy and finesse so that he could clear the jumps better. She looked at the other girl, waiting for a response. She was a talented rider, that was for sure.
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Post by emily on Sept 19, 2010 6:12:37 GMT -8
She became immediately aware as another girl took her stallion to the Dressage arena. She forced herself to focus on the jumping, knowing that not everyone was out to get her. The stallion was working too hard to take notice, and of this Emily was glad. Being a Thoroughbred, he could be a pain with any other horse. At times, she seriously considered gelding him. But from past experience, at this point in his life, it wouldn't change him enough to be worth it. Plus, when he made something of himself, he could be a valuable stud. By the time they had finished, the other girl was making her way over. Thanks. she replied, sending the girl a friendly smile. Despite her horse being a stallion, he was much calmer than Charm. And at the sight of said horse, Charm reached in and found reserves of energy he typically only let her have access to in Cross Country. He puffed himself up, and attempted a springy prance. But his plans were foiled by quick action from his rider. Oh no you don't. she told him sternly. He yanked at the bit, and she turned him in a quick circle, getting his attention. Well, not anymore. she said with a smile. I was until he figured out he has enough energy to be better than your guy. Beautiful horse, by the way. What height will you be jumping? I just need a line of probably Grand Prix jumps to school him over. She needed probably an oxer to start him over, just so that he figured out how high this really was. Then time for him to recover, and then maybe just a standard jump or two. Those would be fine to judge how well he'd handle the tough competition. She also dismounted so that she could help the girl with whatever height she needed, and then figure out how she could school Charm with his new found energy. And a fireball he was being. She had to keep her hand clamped on the reins, and she actually walked over to the fence where she had put her Dressage whip. Charm wasn't the type to need a whip. If anything, he needed sedatives. But the way he was acting, she probably would need it. When with a tall, pushy stallion, it was smart to have tools to control him. She wished she had taken the time to join up with him, but she had just wanted to ride. As he jigged to the side, she smacked his shoulder with the whip. He tossed his head high, but stood still. He gave her a look like she was a traitor, not letting him prove his superiority. You and I both know Amos could beat your butt. she murmured to him, and he snorted, returning his gaze to the other stallion. She chuckled, knowing for that whole exchange, Charm probably was only thinking about how she was restricting him. Amos never crossed his mind. But she had the typical tendency to project human emotions and feelings onto her horses.
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Post by samantha on Sept 19, 2010 7:20:51 GMT -8
Sam smiled at the woman and her horse. She was talking to him a lot, and Sam loved that, she did it all the time, more so with Cat than Norris though. Her stallion seemed quite frisky, despite the sweaty lather he was in, but maybe that was Norris. The warmblood looked over at the hot blooded stallion, and for a moment, both ears flicked forward, but then, he looked away again. Samantha felt herself smile when the woman said she only needed a few at grand prix height. Well, well, well, it seemed as though they were in the same boat. She grinned at the girl.
"Well, I'll be putting them up a few notches, and a couple at five six if you don't mind," she said with a grin. Then, she couldn't help herself. "Is he a thoroughbred? Usually I see warmbloods in the grand prix, but he just looks thoroughbred." It was a little unusual for thoroughbreds to be grand prix jumpers, but there was no reason why they couldn't they were just usually eventers. He was a good looking horse, that was for sure. She went along, setting up the jumps, some only a few inches, and some over a foot. One jump she left down, so that she had an easy jump to warm up on. "Thanks," she said. "My name's Sam, short for Samantha," It would be nice to have another at her level to talk with.
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Post by emily on Sept 19, 2010 11:37:57 GMT -8
The girl seemed enamored with Emily and Charm, at least the communication they had. Emily almost wished she had been out here with Amos, who was a pain, but also one of the most talented horses she knew. He made anything look easy. When the other stallion looked up, Emily could feel the tension floating off of her horse. His ears were shoved forward, but that didn't always mean curiosity. Not when they were that tense. But under threat of the whip she held in her hand, and the bit that was attached to the reins she had a death grip on, he didn't move. But when the other looked away, Charm stomped his foot, breaking his stare and looking at his owner. Her blue eyes stared into his brown ones, and he returned his stare to the other horse, but mouthed the bit. A bit of submission, at least. That's when the other girl began to speak, and Emily was able to turn to meet her eyes and smiled. That's fine. She had to chuckle at her curiosity. He is a Thoroughbred. And I figure if he's this talented, why not show him to the top of his ability? Frankly, I wasn't expecting him to be able to jump that high, and bought him to be an eventer. But when I've free-jumped him, he's surprised me. She busied herself helping her new friend, careful to keep Charm away from the girl's stallion. No problem. she said with a smile. I'm Emily. Nice to meet you, Sam. She turned to her horse, and mounted pretty easily, seeing as he was pretty tall and Emily wasn't. She settled herself, forcing Charm to stand still. He was so funny, tired one moment and oozing enough energy to take on another stallion. She could only hope to squash that energy without letting him at Sam's horse. Or any other horse, for that matter. Charm had cooled off a bit as they had put up the jumps, so, after dropping the whip, she cantered the stallion both ways around the arena before steering him toward the oxer. Charm snorted as he realized the height, and sped up to get the momentum he needed. As he lifted off he grunted, but he did manage to clear it. The landing was a little rough, but Emily supported him and steered him to the rail. She slowed him to a walk, watching Sam. But he would have none of it. He danced to the side, eager to try again. Well, fine. Emily told him good naturedly. With that she asked for a canter and set him up for the jump. This time he set himself up for it nicely, and cleared it with relative ease. She kept him on the line, and he cleared the second jump also. Finally, he wasn't obsessing over Sam's stallion. With the workout that he had already had, Emily didn't think he needed much other work. Maybe tomorrow she'd school him at this height.
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Post by samantha on Sept 19, 2010 16:50:20 GMT -8
Sam smiled at her. Once the jumps were set up, she watched the pair jump awkwardly over an oxer. However, it did not take her long to right this, as the second jump was much smoother; the stallion was indeed, talented. Sam hopped back onto her stallion, and picked up a bouncy, uphill canter; jumper style. She loved it when her horse got excited. She steered towards a low, four foot vertical she had set up. With nothing more than a flick of the ear he jumped it neatly, tucking up like the pro he was. She jumped it one more time, then she turned to a four and a half foot oxer. Norris jumped it exactly the way he had jumped the first, except this time he clipped the back rail. Sam snapped the whip on her leg, and her horse jumped forward a bit; she never had to hit him, a tap on her own leg was all that was required. She turned again to the oxer, and as she predicted, her horse over-jumped it, but it was smooth, so she wasn't complaining.
With a pat, Sam slowed her horse to a walk again and gave him his head while she turned around to figure out a course, muttering to herself all the while. After a few moments, with a nod of her head, she collected her horse up once again and picked up the same, energetic canter once more. Her course in mind, she focused on her first jump. It was a test; a five and a half foot vertical to see if her horse was really paying attention. He was. His ears pricked at the sight, and he gathered himself up underneath him, hooves pounding against the dirt in his powerful stride, and he took off smoothly and on a perfectly met stride. He tucked up neatly, and landed smoothly, well, as smooth as possible over a jump that big. The second jump was closer to the rail; a long, bending line. It was not an obstacle that was generally in a course, but Sam enjoyed challenging her stallion. He cleared the second jump with relative ease.
The course had eight jumps in all, and except for one vertical that Sam misjudged the distance and ended in a massive effort for Norris, all went smoothly. The last complexion was the most difficult. It was a bounce stride with two five foot oxers. Gathering himself up, Sam shortened his stride, and he jumped the first oxer collected, clearing it well. He fit one fairly short stride in between, and took the jump a little longer in frame than he did the first. Sam smiled and patted him as they cantered on for a few moments, then went down to a walk again. Now, she decided to join Emily. She cut across the arena and walked beside her, keeping a fair distance, but close enough to chat. "So, how long have you been here?" she asked conversationally.
muse; good notes; fun XD
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Post by infinity on Sept 20, 2010 15:44:45 GMT -8
She kept walking him on the rail, careful to stay out of Sam's way. Her horse definably knew what he was doing, and even when Sam didn't get it right, he took the bull by the horns and managed to clear the jump. Truly impressive, the both of them. Emily wasn't a trainer, not even a teacher by nature, so she was only looking at the end result, not all the small and complicated things in between. Charm was allowing his earlier exhaustion to creep up on him, and he walked slower and slower, until he looked almost like a western Quarter Horse. His strides were short but smooth, his head low and his movement steady. Emily was so enraptured by the harmony of Sam and her horse she didn't notice him until the pair were finished. Then she chuckled, slapping his neck. That made him raise his head a little and perk up, but he was soon back to his tired state. She smiled as Sam joined their walk, careful to keep a good distance. Charm kept his eye on the other, but otherwise didn't perk up much, as he had when the stallion was first introduced. I've only been here a couple of weeks. Emily replied. Long enough for the horses to get used to their new environment so I can start working them again. She patted Charm's neck. After a couple weeks of only light work, he still was in pretty good shape. So were the others. Especially Gigi. She was such an easy keeper. Her muscle just seemed to cling to her, unwilling to deteriorate. And you, how long have you been around?
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Post by samantha on Sept 20, 2010 20:09:36 GMT -8
Sam was quite content. Norris was puffing, but not too worn out. She smiled when Emily said she had been at Crossfire for a few weeks. What a coincidence. "That's how long I've been coming as well," she said with a grin. At that moment, Norris did something quite unexpected. He bunched up, and reared; Sam was momentarily thrown off, and lost her balance, but turned him sharply, forcing him to touch back down again. She growled at her horse, and snapped the crop against her leg with a loud crack. He danced on the spot, ears pinned. Sam sighed and shook her head.
"Stallions," she said with a laugh. "You've got to love 'em." Norris's ears were still pinned, and so she gave him a reassuring pat. Immediately, he relaxed, and pricked his ears forward as if nothing had happened. He was so easily satisfied. That was why she loved him so much.
muse; yeeeeeeek notes; what next?? sorry its so short
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Post by infinity on Sept 23, 2010 15:01:48 GMT -8
Really? she said with a smile. It was more of a question that wasn't meant to be answered. At Sam's stallion's sudden movement, Charm jerked forward, and Emily scrambled for the reins. She didn't have time to watch Sam and how she reacted. Emily had a wonderful seat, so when Charm jerked forward, she was scooted with him. But it took her a second to recover the rein, and longer to get Charm under control. Now was when she regretting having a Thoroughbred. His eyes were rolling around nervously, clearly showing the whites of his eyes. She reined down his quick canter to a walk, but he was still quite spooky. He started to the side when a bird took off, and he nervously pranced forward when she tried to get him to walk next to Sam's stallion again. She began to murmur softly to him, massaging the reins to get him on the bit. It took a couple of minutes before he began to mouth the bit and calm a bit. Then Emily smiled and replied to the woman's earlier statement with one of her own. Thoroughbreds. Gotta love 'em. She chuckled, still having to keep Charm's brain occupied.
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Post by hossluver on Sept 24, 2010 15:24:47 GMT -8
errrrmm...not sure what to write, should we wrap it up here?
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Post by emily on Sept 26, 2010 9:26:24 GMT -8
Sure, if you'd like. C: Thanks for RPing with me.
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Post by hossluver on Sept 26, 2010 12:51:01 GMT -8
yeah anytime, I love it! should we rp them somewhere else or should they just be.....buddies???
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Post by josie on Sept 26, 2010 14:51:45 GMT -8
Both. XD We could post in trails, talking to each other while grooming, walking their (or just Emily's) dogs, discussing placings in the latest show... Really there is no limit. XD
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Post by hossluver on Sept 28, 2010 18:41:19 GMT -8
mmmmm...park sounds good!!!!! nice dog walk, chat....or something else more exciting.
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Post by kevin on Oct 8, 2010 14:25:44 GMT -8
I love how we are using whatever character's account we happen to be on to post. XD
Could you make a post? I already have a post up in the park (rather dead >.<), and I don't know if I have it in me to start another post there. But I'll be fine showing up. C:
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