Post by maxfiresoule on Jun 18, 2007 10:57:11 GMT -5
I strolled into the stables. In the past few days Remi and I had just walked around the farm, getting to know everything around us. I had lunged Remi yesterday, and she had really been good, so today I decided to ride. As I neared her stall one of the other boarders came up to me and said everyone was out in the paddocks. I thanked her headed towards Remi's paddock. At the gate I grabbed her halter and called out her name. A bay headed popped up from grazing and came trotting up to me. I entered and slipped the halter over her head and clipped it. I gave her a pat on the neck and led her out. We walked up to cross ties and I hooked the snaps to her halter. I got my grooming box and set off making her shine. About te minutes later I was satisfied with my work, so I put my grooming tools away and grabbed her support boots. Once the boots were on I grabbed the rest of my equipment, and tacked her up. I checked and tightened her girth, then pulled her leg up so the girth wouldn't pinch her. I then put her forelock under the browband of the bridle and set off for the jumping arena. Once in, I buckled my helmet, again checked my girth, and sprang into the saddle. As we set off at a walk, Remi instantly set her head and got into her frame, without me even asking her. I giggled. She must think we are at showgrounds or something, at one of those long 4 or 5 day shows. We used to go to them all the time. She pnly would ever get into a frame without me asking her at shows. Good. Maybe she'll be good. I clucked, gently gave her a little push with my legs, and told her with my seat I wanted her to trot. She took the cue and entered her long strided trot, floating trot with a beautiful transition. We floated around the ring, Rising trot for half the ring and sitting trot for the other half. After a time or two around, I asked her to walk. We walk a little ways and then I used a lift with my leg, my seat and a quiet kiss to ask her to canter. She picked her smooth rocking horse canter right up, and we glided around the ring once, then into a circle, then into a serpentine with easy, subtle aids for a flying lead change. In the corner I brought her to a halt. There were jumps set out across the ring. Some were three feet, others were about four. Fair game for us. Remi was being great, she seemed to really like it here. Remi already had her back foot rested, and one ear tipped back listening to me mutter. Well might as well, and I thought up a course. I had Remi circle at the canter, and I pointed her towards a small crossrails first. Up and over and towards the next, a narrow veritcal of about 3.5 feet. A gentle push and we soared right over it. We turned for the next, A wide oxer of 4 feet, I pushed Remi on and we flew over it. Three strides until a double combination, both, like the oxer, 4 feet. The first rushed up, I pushed, one neat pop and we were over, one stride, push, the last neat pop and we were over! I slowed remi to a walk and turned her around to see if I had knocked any. Scanning the ring, I saw, to my dismay, one of the poles on the oxer on the ground. Oh well. I told Remi. This is a new place, and you were fanominal! We can finally get back to jumping, and look at the place we can do it in...... I kept on rambling to Remi as I patted her on neck, gave her a big hug, a kiss on the nose, and a peppermint once she was back in the barn and un-tacked. She had cooled out by the time we had gone from the air-conditioned indoor to the rapidly growing hotter outdoors, and so I once again kissed her on the nose and put her back in her paddock.
