Another chance

[Gretchen Holmes]

Gretchen had been riding Pegasus for classes instead, since he was a safer and far more pleasant horse to ride. She could learn on him, and everything she learned she applied to Bahir. The big white gelding had improved a bit, though he was still his excited pushy self. After switching his bits, beginning to use a running martingale, and learning to give and take pressure on the reins, Bahir no longer pulled as strongly as he once had. He didn't rush his gaits either, which helped Gretchen relax on him and feel more comfortable.

Today was the true test though. After working for a month with him on the flat, gaining confidence and trust in him with every day, she was going to jump him today. If he passed today, she would enter him in the Thanksgiving show. Even though she wouldn't be riding him, she knew whoever did would certainly win. Bahir's success made her happy, he was such a talented jumper. It didn't matter to Gretchen whether she rode him, as long as he got to show his stuff and do what he loved. His behavior, despite how terrifying it was to her, showed just how much he loved to jump. He'd do anything to fly. 

As they entered the arena, Gretchen watched as Bahir's ears immediately pricked up at the small verticals and crossrails she'd set up. There were only four jumps, and they were small, but already she could feel Bahir's excitement levels rising. She stood at his shoulder and rested a hand on his neck, taking a deep breath to steady herself. A few months ago Bahir wouldn't be standing here with her, he'd be prancing and trying to walk off in the direction of the jumps. But today, he stood quietly, head raised and ears pricked, but otherwise still as a statue. 

She mounted him after a moment, and he began walking to the rail before she'd asked him to. Typical Bahir behavior, Gretchen gathered her reins and took another breath to steady herself. Around the ring they began to warm up, walking and trotting in both directions. Though Bahir's gaits were slightly faster, Gretchen still felt in control. All she had to do was turn him towards the jump and away he'd fly. She took a few pieces of his white mane in her hands, she just wasn't sure if she was ready to fly herself.

[Serenity Oliver]

Serenity knew that she had kind of neglected her Sell Français mare as far as classes were concerned. It wasn't that the mare was uncontrollable, she was just a little unpredictable and she knew the mare would struggled holding herself together in an area full of other horses and riders. There was also the fact that the bay horse lived out in the pasture, so if it was a wet day, she could hardly groom the mare and tack her up - even if she had been rugged for the past couple of months.

Since the weather seemed to be agreeable that day, she brought Plot in from the pastures and tied her up to the hitching rails, at least she could now get the mare this close to the barns, whereas when she had first purchased the horse, she wouldn't go within sight of the barns, unless in an arena, and when she'd taken her to get her feet done, that was completely disastrous.

Once the mare had been groomed and tacked up, Reni led her toward Roscoes and smiled when she saw that another rider was already in working their horse. It didn't surprise her at all really, with the weather actually being nice.

She jumped as Plot let out a loud greeting toward the other horse, which was the other reason Reni preferred not to use the mare in lessons, Plot loved talking and had no problems being louder than the person giving instructions. "Sorry about that." She said, feeling her cheeks heat up in embarrassment, flinching slightly as Plot called out again. "Do you mind if we join you?"