Never Exactly Normal

[paigeturner]

Mules were never known to be graceful or willing. In fact, for most, the word graceful and willing is farthest from their mind when someone thinks of a mule. Normally stubborn, stupid, slow, and often just something to pull a cart comes to mind.

Most don't know much about mules, which is why they probably think that, mused Paige. She reached down and gave Freakshow a pat on his thick neck. People will learn eventually, she mumbled. After all... She reached up and tried to rub between his over-sized ears but he snorted and threw his head. Seeing is believing, right? The mule just snorted and this seemed to satisfy the girl's question. Freakshow has grown more then use to his owner's random blabbering. Often they seem to start from nothing and never hold a subject, unless you count the word 'it'. He never truly cared for what she was talking about and never fully understood a thing that came out of her.

Paige smiled and drew her reins, giving a light contact onto Freakshow's simple D-ring snaffle. Instantly, he began to lean a bit onto the bit, eager to stop with this little 'chat' and actually work. With a little wiggle of the right rein, he dropped his head a bit as asked. Paige's seat bone shifted and he turned slightly off the rail and on the diagonal. Another wiggle on the right and he dropped his head slightly again. There was a pause then Paige asked again, giving a large release of the reins as soon as he responded to try and make him stretch even more.

His pace slowed slightly to a dead walk as he lowered his head to the point one might think he was looking for grass to nibble on in the dirt arena. With a small push of her seat, his march returned in his walk but his head bobbed up again still unable to keep the stretch at a marching pace. Still, Paige was satisfied with this but asked for a bit more as she wiggled the left rein, changing the bend. There was a pause before he again dipped his head slightly.

A few laps passed where Paige asked nothing more then the free walk. This though, seemed to annoy Freakshow. He began to try and ignore the constant wiggle in the bit- course he eventually did it, knowing how Paige could be more stubborn when it came to riding then the stereotypical mules.

Eventually she got the hint. Alright, she said with a genuine laugh. She drew the reins a bit snugger and asked for the medium walk. Let's move on then, shall we? Her conversations with the beast often seemed random and crazy as she often spoke like Freakshow was a human and always seemed to be expecting a reply.

Course Paige could always be considered random and crazy. Not that she would take it as much of an insult or a compliment- more like an observation, really.

((XP Yes, very boring in the beginning but tis dressage! Plus warm up is never the most exciting thing in the world lol Especially dressage warm up))

[friday]

friday and jinx ;
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The red-dun’s ears were pricked curiously at his new surroundings as Friday mounted Jinx in one swift hop. The gelding chewed contently at his snaffle-bit, while his rider adjusted her weight in the saddle and found her other stirrup. Friday was new to Crossfire, and having left her two geldings to settle in for a few days, she was keen to get started again. She ran a slender hand down her horses neck, feeling his coat beneath her palm was enough to make her smile. The 18 year old had been through a lot with this horse, and the love she felt for him was pretty-well unexplainable. I know, most riders would say you can’t get too attached to your mount; but she couldn’t help it, there wasn’t a day that she didn’t think about him. Her young horse on the other hand… he was just so easy to... well, not love. She worried about Rev’s future. His fowl attitude and unwillingness to learn was really stalling his training, and he had so much potential to become one of the best of the discipline- and she meant that with the upmost of professional confidence. But back to Jinx.

Friday nudged the gelding lightly with her calves. Responding immediately, Jinx stepped off with his right leg and moved on at a steady walk. She let him relax, her fingers holding his reins at the buckle as they headed towards the indoor arena. It was a typical hot day in Addison, and the indoor arena was a great refuge from the heat. Friday opened her right rein to guide the 8 year old towards the arena, but Jinx was suddenly distracted. His small ears perked, and his head shot up to stare almost directly ahead. Friday just caught the glimpse of an equine’s behind disappearing behind the tall tree that stood beside the outdoor arena. Out of curiosity, she encouraged Jinx forwards, her eyes pinned on the arena as they rounded the path and soon had a decent view. “You’re joking…” she mumbled under her breath, her eyes pinned on the rarely-seen frame of a mule. The beast was doing a reasonably decent free walk, his maw stretched to the ground, and his strides surprisingly lengthy. Puzzled, Friday pulled Jinx to a halt at the arena fence, releasing the reins and watching in awe as the apparent mule moved about the arena… actually doing dressage. His rider seemed to be talking to him, which Friday could relate to, and soon asked for a medium walk. Just like any horse, the strange-looking form gathered himself and continued on.

She’d never seen such a ridiculous thing in her life. Well, the idea was ridiculous at least, but as much as she perhaps didn’t want to admit it, this thing was actually moving like a young dressage horse. Okay, so he didn’t quite have the elegance and beauty, but she sure bet he would pull a crowd. “Jinx, is this even legal?” she whispered to her mount amusingly, who seemed just as puzzled as his owner. Not wanting to interrupt anything, Friday kept quiet as she watched the pair move through the arena, not exactly sure if she had been spotted by them or not.

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[paigeturner]

The pair barely took notice of the dun and girl at the entrance. Well, the mule noticed but didn't pay any mind. As far as he was concerned, he was working and as long as they didn't get in his way, he wouldn't have any trouble with them. Paige, on the other hand, just didn't notice them- which is painful usual for her.

The mule's dark legs began to dance in pairs of twos, each dancing with the opposite partner. Paige posted awkwardly with his beat at first before falling into rhythm. Her leg swung back, forcing her heel to be directly under her hip. It was odd how she had to almost focus to keep her heel under her. Most dressage riders could keep their leg there out of habit, yet for Paige it never became so. (She often speculated that perhaps she should try hunter, but then realized that no hunter judge would even pin a mule in first place. Not to mention that Freakshow's movements were too animated for hunters.)

She gathered her reins slightly snugger and started with a simple twenty meter circle. Freakshow bent his head slightly to the inside but his spine did not curl around Paige's leg until she was well into her second twenty meter circle.

Over-sized ears flopped slightly with every stride just as his black, roached mane- which needed a trimming soon- weaved back and forth, teetering on which side to stay on. His knees popped slightly up with every stride yet his hind hocks didn't have as much energy and spring. Though they did follow fluidly and drove the mule onwards with large strides- at least for his size they were large.

A few circles passed until Paige directed the mule to the railing and with just a few sits of his beat, broke him down to a walk. A small smile rested on her face as she patted his thick neck, still covered with his winter coat he always took forever to shed.

Finally it dawned on her she had an audience. Her gaze hit on the red dun and blond girl standing at the arena fence, watching Freakshow with this strange look of awe. (Though Paige wondered if the red dun was in awe or thinking more along the lines of '... is that a horse?')

Hi! came her friendly greeting with an equally friendly wave and grin. Most would probably question why someone was staring at them- or rather their mount- but Paige was rather use to it by now. If Freakshow didn't grab everyone's attention, it was her multi-colored hair- though that was tucked up under her helmet for now.

[friday]

friday and jinx ;
_________________________

The pair continued to move through the arena, and even Jinx seemed to be following them everywhere with his eyes, probably rather confused as to if he should be attempting to communicate to this alien thing or not. The gelding himself was different too… okay, so not the mule kind of different, but you rarely saw a horse that looked even close to him. The 16 hand high cross must have been a mix between several different breeds. He had thick, yet still long legs, a thick neck yet an elegantly slight-roman-nosed face, and was firmly yet still attractively built. Friday presumed he had Sport Horse, Quarter Horse and maybe even Warmblood or Thoroughbred in him, but whatever he was he sure pulled attention from breeders. Reputable studs would wander up to Friday on show days to ask his breeding, unfortunately she was never able to help and they were always shocked to discover he was a crazy mix that somehow turned out wonderfully pure-bred-looking… if that makes sense. His colour was also unique. He was sold to Friday as a chestnut, and pretty well looked like a very rich-colored chessie. The only thing that really gave him away was his prominent dorsal stripe. Even his eyes were magnificently different, a deep, dark ruby… as unrealistic as it sounds, they’re basically like a red-brown.

Friday soon heard an enthusiastic ‘Hi’ as the horse- erm, mule- and rider slowed to a steady walk. The girl praised her mount proudly, Friday smiled. Reaching out to fiddle with Jinx’s mane, Friday replied “Hey there, interesting mount,” a soft smile tweaked her cheeks “Are you coming out, or staying in?” she pushed her horse up along the gate with the pressure of her outside leg. If the girl was going to keep riding or perhaps hit the trails, Friday might ask to tag along. Yet if the girl was ready to dismount, she made sure she was there to get the gate for her. Friday reached one hand back to release her long pony tail from the back of her polo shirt, blue-green eyes pinned to the rider and mule. Jinx swatted a fly with his tail, unamused at the intense heat and the parasites that seemed to come with it.


notes; so so sorry for the shortness, museless and not sure what to write about.

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