Post by SigOUrNeY on Dec 31, 2007 23:42:02 GMT -5
BLUEBERRY PANCAKES && JUST FOR KICKS
Chris made a face. ”We’ll just have to see about that.”
The two riders and their horses warmed up in the ring, exchanging friendly banter while performing at the walk, trot, and canter on both leads, before they were joined by Connor Duce. The trainer came to fetch them, and led them across to the cross country course, which he had transformed into a complex obstacle course. Along with the solid obstacles, Mr. Duce had dragged the standards and poles from the jumping ring so he could set them up out on the course.
Both Blue and Justin were prancing on the spot, crow hopping every few seconds with eagerness to get going. For a warm up round, Mr. Duce pointed out to them what they were supposed to do.
”Trot through the in and out, and when you reach the far tree, circle and spiral in. Then spiral out. Go right and straight through the water. Lani, you first.”
[/size][JUSTIN'S TURN]
Taking a deep breath, Lani asked Justin for a trot, but instead the thoroughbred burst into an energetic canter. She circled him and managed to bring him down to a bouncy trot, before turning him to the in and out. Justin popped over the cross rails with his head tucked to his chest, and let out a buck when Lani wouldn’t let him go faster. The blonde was stubborn, however, and kept the pace as they spiraled in around the tree. Justin performed with a nice bend, and kept his neck tucked inward. He loosened up when they spiraled back out, and lengthened his stride when they pulled away. As they approached the water, Lani gave Justin some rein and the stallion leapt into the water without hesitation. He powered through the obstacle like a train, and galloped out sopping wet. Justin looked around for another obstacle to tackle, and snorted in distaste when Lani pulled him up. The rider was laughing as she emerged, soaked from the ride. Mr. Duce nodded in satisfaction, and then motioned for Chris to go.
[BLUE’S TURN]
The blue roan let out a playful buck before settling into a relaxed trot and approached the in and out calmly. He only needed to pick up his feet to get over the two cross rails, and trotted straight towards the tree without seeming phased. The stallion lengthened his stride to keep up a steady pace as they spiraled closer to the trunk of the tree, and just when it seemed like Blue was chasing his tail and about to scrape Chris off of his back, they began their circle back out. The quarter horse only bobbed his head as they approached the water, and entered it as though he was going into his own stall. The pair steamed through it, sending wings of water flying up beside them. Chris and Blue emerged just like Lani and Justin had, and the twenty year old jockey had a large smile plastered on his face. Leaning over, he patted his mount’s dripping neck. The stud lifted off of his front feet in a half rear, feeling very pleased with himself.
Mr. Duce nodded, looking satisfied. ”Very good. Now do it again.”
He raised the in and out so that they were small verticals, and Justin cleared it at a flying pace. Blue, still, only had to hop over it, looking like a rocking horse.
”Lani, leave the racing to Chris,” Mr. Duce commented later on, ”Circle him if you have to, but keep him relaxed. I don’t care if you have to walk him over these jumps, just don’t race through them like you have a pair of rockets strapped to your back.” As Mr. Duce turned around to talk to Chris, Lani stuck out her tongue to the smug jockey.
“Chris,” Mr. Duce said to the other rider. ”You’re doing very well, but stay still over the jumps. Don’t pump your arms. You’re not on the race track either.”
”Yah Chris, wipe that little smile off of your face,” Lani prodded jokingly. Chris chuckled good humouredly.
”Alright sir,” Was his reply.
”Good. Now, I want you all to do the same thing, except instead of the water, turn left and go over the ditch jump, and then that little vertical I have set up for you, and then the water,” Mr. Duce instructed, ”Lani, you first.”
[JUSTIN'S TURN]
The in and out was raised again, so this time they were about 2’. Justin tried to canter at the jump, and shook his head when Lani made him slow down. They were practically doing a passage when they came in front of the jump, and still Justin exploded as soon as he was over the first jump. Lani was left behind at the first vertical, but caught up with him after that.
”Don’t hang on him Lani! Give and take!” Mr. Duce yelled over the wind that was picking up. Justin relaxed as they spiraled in and out, and was trotting well before Lani asked him to canter. Justin picked up the new gait eagerly, and took off at the perfect spot in front of the ditch. It was beautiful to see the thoroughbred stretch out to clear the jump, and he landed with a grunt on the other side. His blood was pumping now, and he lunged towards the new vertical. Lani circled him four strides before it, and forced him to slow down before turning him again to the vertical. Justin came a little close to the jump, and took off a smidge late, but he cleared the 2’6 with flying colors. The water was no problem.
[BLUE'S TURN]
Chris let Blue canter the in and out, and the well conditioned quarter horse tucked in his feet neatly, took a long stride and did the same for the out jump. The spiral was no problem, but he look slightly apprehensive as they came to the ditch jump. His ears were pricked forward and his head came up, but as always, the fearless stallion gave it his best shot. Blue galloped two strides before nailing the obstacle. He over jumped it by nearly two feet, and flew through the air like he had wings. Blue landed on the other side with a massive grunt, and it took a stride to gather himself before he returned to his regular, laid back canter. He popped over the last vertical neatly, and charged through the water like he was going to war. As Chris pulled him up, the jockey was laughing loudly as he patted the stallion’s neck.
”You’d think he’d never seen a jump like that before,” Chris said with an amused smile. Mr. Duce burst out laughing.
”He hasn’t,” Mr. Duce informed as he stroked the stallion’s neck. ”Do it again, but this time – “ Mr. Duce went on to add to the course like nothing had happened, and raised the jumps so that they were 3’4. Lani went first.
[JUSTIN'S TURN]
She guided Justin over the in and out - actually keeping him at a steady pace – around the tree, over the ditch jump and vertical, before turning him and taking him through the thick gathering of trees that bordered the course. Justin kept his head up high, and his ears were pricked forward as they wound through the trees. His agile feet kept them from crashing into anything, and the thoroughbred emerged from the woods unscathed. Lani drew him up a little bit, and circled him, before they cantered toward the 3’6 oxer. Justin’s rider adjusted his stride slightly to make sure they hit the take off point perfectly, and they did just that before catapulting over the striped poles. Justin went over another vertical without any fuss, and as a reward, Lani let him go through the water at a full fledged gallop. The stallion whinnied in pure joy of it, and took a flying leap into the water. He blazed a trail through the water, and cantered out before bucking with pure delight. Lani was laughing along with him, and pulled him up to the group as she patted and stroked his sopping neck.
”You fabulous, marvelous boy,” Lani praised, and Mr. Duce joined in.
”That was spectacular,” He said, before turning to Chris.
[BLUE'S TURN]
Mr. Duce patted Chris’ knee, and added, ”Blue has never jumped anything higher than 3 feet, so keep your leg on him. Fortunately, this horse doesn’t know how to refuse a jump, so you should be fine. Oh, and go through those cones before the water.”
”Uhh, alright,” Chris said with a nervous chuckle.
”Chris, have a little faith,” Mr. Duce said with an encouraging smile. ”This horse can jump the moon, just because he believes he can. Now I want you to do the same.”
Chris nodded his reply, and Lani whooped in encouragement. The pair took off for the in and out at a canter.
Blue pricked his ears at the large jumps, but didn’t break stride as he approached them. The roan dug his heels into the ground as he powered off of the ground, and cleared the first jump with inches to spare. With one powerful stride, Blue took off over the second vertical, and Chris stretched over his withers to give the quarter horse spare rein. Blue landed without any dropped poles, and performed the spiral as though he was bored with it. As they came to the ditch, Blue’s ears pricked forward again, but this time he wasn’t so desperate to get over it. Blue still over estimated it however, and still had a couple feet to spare. He landed confidently, and Chris guided him towards the vertical. The pair took off a little early, and Blue stretched out to clear it. The stallion kicked out his hind legs to make sure he cleared it, and landed with a heavy thud. They cantered away clear, and Chris asked for a little faster canter as they approached the woods, and Blue was happy to oblige. The stallion winded through the trees with pricked ears as though it was a second nature to him, and emerged from the trees fresh and ready to go. Chris turned him towards the intimidating oxer, with at least a three foot spread. Blue tried to pick up the pace, but Chris steadied him. The muscled stud flew over the jump, and then the vertical like he had been doing it for years. Chris then turned him towards the cones that they were supposed to weave through, and Blue whickered at the familiarity. He threaded through them in record time, and looked around for more. Chris let Blue gallop through the water, and they emerged soaking, energetic, and extremely pleased.
”You can do anything boy,” Chris marveled as he patted the stallion’s muscular neck. Blue let out a happy buck. Did you expect anything less?
[/ul]
Chris made a face. ”We’ll just have to see about that.”
The two riders and their horses warmed up in the ring, exchanging friendly banter while performing at the walk, trot, and canter on both leads, before they were joined by Connor Duce. The trainer came to fetch them, and led them across to the cross country course, which he had transformed into a complex obstacle course. Along with the solid obstacles, Mr. Duce had dragged the standards and poles from the jumping ring so he could set them up out on the course.
Both Blue and Justin were prancing on the spot, crow hopping every few seconds with eagerness to get going. For a warm up round, Mr. Duce pointed out to them what they were supposed to do.
”Trot through the in and out, and when you reach the far tree, circle and spiral in. Then spiral out. Go right and straight through the water. Lani, you first.”
[/size][JUSTIN'S TURN]
Taking a deep breath, Lani asked Justin for a trot, but instead the thoroughbred burst into an energetic canter. She circled him and managed to bring him down to a bouncy trot, before turning him to the in and out. Justin popped over the cross rails with his head tucked to his chest, and let out a buck when Lani wouldn’t let him go faster. The blonde was stubborn, however, and kept the pace as they spiraled in around the tree. Justin performed with a nice bend, and kept his neck tucked inward. He loosened up when they spiraled back out, and lengthened his stride when they pulled away. As they approached the water, Lani gave Justin some rein and the stallion leapt into the water without hesitation. He powered through the obstacle like a train, and galloped out sopping wet. Justin looked around for another obstacle to tackle, and snorted in distaste when Lani pulled him up. The rider was laughing as she emerged, soaked from the ride. Mr. Duce nodded in satisfaction, and then motioned for Chris to go.
[BLUE’S TURN]
The blue roan let out a playful buck before settling into a relaxed trot and approached the in and out calmly. He only needed to pick up his feet to get over the two cross rails, and trotted straight towards the tree without seeming phased. The stallion lengthened his stride to keep up a steady pace as they spiraled closer to the trunk of the tree, and just when it seemed like Blue was chasing his tail and about to scrape Chris off of his back, they began their circle back out. The quarter horse only bobbed his head as they approached the water, and entered it as though he was going into his own stall. The pair steamed through it, sending wings of water flying up beside them. Chris and Blue emerged just like Lani and Justin had, and the twenty year old jockey had a large smile plastered on his face. Leaning over, he patted his mount’s dripping neck. The stud lifted off of his front feet in a half rear, feeling very pleased with himself.
Mr. Duce nodded, looking satisfied. ”Very good. Now do it again.”
He raised the in and out so that they were small verticals, and Justin cleared it at a flying pace. Blue, still, only had to hop over it, looking like a rocking horse.
”Lani, leave the racing to Chris,” Mr. Duce commented later on, ”Circle him if you have to, but keep him relaxed. I don’t care if you have to walk him over these jumps, just don’t race through them like you have a pair of rockets strapped to your back.” As Mr. Duce turned around to talk to Chris, Lani stuck out her tongue to the smug jockey.
“Chris,” Mr. Duce said to the other rider. ”You’re doing very well, but stay still over the jumps. Don’t pump your arms. You’re not on the race track either.”
”Yah Chris, wipe that little smile off of your face,” Lani prodded jokingly. Chris chuckled good humouredly.
”Alright sir,” Was his reply.
”Good. Now, I want you all to do the same thing, except instead of the water, turn left and go over the ditch jump, and then that little vertical I have set up for you, and then the water,” Mr. Duce instructed, ”Lani, you first.”
[JUSTIN'S TURN]
The in and out was raised again, so this time they were about 2’. Justin tried to canter at the jump, and shook his head when Lani made him slow down. They were practically doing a passage when they came in front of the jump, and still Justin exploded as soon as he was over the first jump. Lani was left behind at the first vertical, but caught up with him after that.
”Don’t hang on him Lani! Give and take!” Mr. Duce yelled over the wind that was picking up. Justin relaxed as they spiraled in and out, and was trotting well before Lani asked him to canter. Justin picked up the new gait eagerly, and took off at the perfect spot in front of the ditch. It was beautiful to see the thoroughbred stretch out to clear the jump, and he landed with a grunt on the other side. His blood was pumping now, and he lunged towards the new vertical. Lani circled him four strides before it, and forced him to slow down before turning him again to the vertical. Justin came a little close to the jump, and took off a smidge late, but he cleared the 2’6 with flying colors. The water was no problem.
[BLUE'S TURN]
Chris let Blue canter the in and out, and the well conditioned quarter horse tucked in his feet neatly, took a long stride and did the same for the out jump. The spiral was no problem, but he look slightly apprehensive as they came to the ditch jump. His ears were pricked forward and his head came up, but as always, the fearless stallion gave it his best shot. Blue galloped two strides before nailing the obstacle. He over jumped it by nearly two feet, and flew through the air like he had wings. Blue landed on the other side with a massive grunt, and it took a stride to gather himself before he returned to his regular, laid back canter. He popped over the last vertical neatly, and charged through the water like he was going to war. As Chris pulled him up, the jockey was laughing loudly as he patted the stallion’s neck.
”You’d think he’d never seen a jump like that before,” Chris said with an amused smile. Mr. Duce burst out laughing.
”He hasn’t,” Mr. Duce informed as he stroked the stallion’s neck. ”Do it again, but this time – “ Mr. Duce went on to add to the course like nothing had happened, and raised the jumps so that they were 3’4. Lani went first.
[JUSTIN'S TURN]
She guided Justin over the in and out - actually keeping him at a steady pace – around the tree, over the ditch jump and vertical, before turning him and taking him through the thick gathering of trees that bordered the course. Justin kept his head up high, and his ears were pricked forward as they wound through the trees. His agile feet kept them from crashing into anything, and the thoroughbred emerged from the woods unscathed. Lani drew him up a little bit, and circled him, before they cantered toward the 3’6 oxer. Justin’s rider adjusted his stride slightly to make sure they hit the take off point perfectly, and they did just that before catapulting over the striped poles. Justin went over another vertical without any fuss, and as a reward, Lani let him go through the water at a full fledged gallop. The stallion whinnied in pure joy of it, and took a flying leap into the water. He blazed a trail through the water, and cantered out before bucking with pure delight. Lani was laughing along with him, and pulled him up to the group as she patted and stroked his sopping neck.
”You fabulous, marvelous boy,” Lani praised, and Mr. Duce joined in.
”That was spectacular,” He said, before turning to Chris.
[BLUE'S TURN]
Mr. Duce patted Chris’ knee, and added, ”Blue has never jumped anything higher than 3 feet, so keep your leg on him. Fortunately, this horse doesn’t know how to refuse a jump, so you should be fine. Oh, and go through those cones before the water.”
”Uhh, alright,” Chris said with a nervous chuckle.
”Chris, have a little faith,” Mr. Duce said with an encouraging smile. ”This horse can jump the moon, just because he believes he can. Now I want you to do the same.”
Chris nodded his reply, and Lani whooped in encouragement. The pair took off for the in and out at a canter.
Blue pricked his ears at the large jumps, but didn’t break stride as he approached them. The roan dug his heels into the ground as he powered off of the ground, and cleared the first jump with inches to spare. With one powerful stride, Blue took off over the second vertical, and Chris stretched over his withers to give the quarter horse spare rein. Blue landed without any dropped poles, and performed the spiral as though he was bored with it. As they came to the ditch, Blue’s ears pricked forward again, but this time he wasn’t so desperate to get over it. Blue still over estimated it however, and still had a couple feet to spare. He landed confidently, and Chris guided him towards the vertical. The pair took off a little early, and Blue stretched out to clear it. The stallion kicked out his hind legs to make sure he cleared it, and landed with a heavy thud. They cantered away clear, and Chris asked for a little faster canter as they approached the woods, and Blue was happy to oblige. The stallion winded through the trees with pricked ears as though it was a second nature to him, and emerged from the trees fresh and ready to go. Chris turned him towards the intimidating oxer, with at least a three foot spread. Blue tried to pick up the pace, but Chris steadied him. The muscled stud flew over the jump, and then the vertical like he had been doing it for years. Chris then turned him towards the cones that they were supposed to weave through, and Blue whickered at the familiarity. He threaded through them in record time, and looked around for more. Chris let Blue gallop through the water, and they emerged soaking, energetic, and extremely pleased.
”You can do anything boy,” Chris marveled as he patted the stallion’s muscular neck. Blue let out a happy buck. Did you expect anything less?
[/ul]