Precious Silence to Excited Pony

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Ellaer turned May off of the Blue River Trail and onto to the paved Bridge trail. She had chosen this trail for the fact that, though paved, she didn't hear many people talking about it, making the trail the perfect place to ride May. The trail wouldn't be crowded and the horse would only have to deal with a few horses. And, the fewer horses the less of a chance May would get excitable. The mare's hooves crunched in the snow, reminding Ellaer that it was indeed winter. It was warmer than she was used to at home, but still quite chilly as the wind reminded her as it flew by. She thought back to the weather report that morning and how useless that was for her. All she had to go on was how it felt. Of course she could've tried to exchange the Fahrenheit for Celsius, but she hadn't found time and frankly found herself mopey at the idea of trying to learn how to do the exchange in her head. It was these little things that made her miss her more northern home, though the lack of snow here consoled her as she thought of the pictures her mom had sent of the piles of snow around the yard at home.

May nodded her head to the beat of her slow walk, and to Ellaer looked just as homesick as she herself was. The girl hadn't thought much about home since she returned from Christmas break, she had been too busy and too surrounded by people to dilly dally on her feelings. Perhaps this was why she was feeling so strongly? Was she lonely? She sighed, when the mare picked up the pace slightly, seeming excited. Ellaer guessed that this meant another horse and turned her attention completely to the mare, knowing the consequences of continuing to be distracted by other things when in the company of others. For, though a perfect horse alone, May became excitable and rowdy among others.

[Kate Richardson-Hall]

Kate was happy to be back in the saddle again after what felt like forever. Her legs ached, her breaths came thick and fast, her hands were rubbed raw by the reins and she had never felt better. It had been a long flight, followed by a long drive, and her long limbs had borne the strain. To relieve the cramp, the first thing that she had done after dumping her luggage and Misty's stuff was to tack up and hop on for a few hours of pure riding. Not too fast, naturally; she didn't want to be going around mowing down pedestrians left right and centre, and she wasn't entirely sure how far she could stretch her body at this point in time. Ah, what the hell.

The Lipizzaner moved over the ground in a fast yet smooth trot, and not for the first time, Kate admired the beauty and grace of the horse that she was lucky enough to call her own. Misty truly was gorgeous; not that she should say so herself, of course. An eight hour flight hadn't fazed the horse at all, and her grey coat was in far better condition than Kate's long blonde hair, which had come out of the experience somewhat dishevelled and extremely frizzy. She might find it in herself to be jealous, if the horse wasn't so damn beautiful.

A gentle touch on the reins slowed the animal into a slower trot, more comfortable for sitting, and then into a brisk walk that still covered the ground deceptively quickly. The horse was taller than many others of her breed; a trademark of the carriage horse stock that made up a small corner of her ancestry. A small corner that Kate had had reason to be grateful for since her accident.

She turned the horse off the grass and onto the paved trail. As she did so, she was surprised to see another horse, some way in front but growing rapidly closer. Kate touched the reins again, slowing the horse to a far slower walk. The other animal seemed a little disturbed, and she didn't want to cause any problems. Misty wasn't too keen on other horses herself.

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As soon as the other rider pair came into view, May picked up speed into a trot, she appeared excited but not to the unruly point. Ellaer though began to brace herself just as the mare reared into the air, so suddenly it would startle most and came down to earth, to jerk her head forward. Ellaer was jerked forward with the mare's head, but managed to keep hold of the reins, pulling May to a stop. The battle for power now over, May behaved as Ellaer let her into a slow walk down the path. Though most of her attention was taken by May, Ellaer did notice that the other horse also seemed excited, so she halted May some distance away. May halted, Ellaer would call out to the other rider whom she had not been able to see much of yet, "Sorry about that, May's just excited, she shouldn't be too much of a problem any more, she's much gentler once she gets used to your horses scent."

(So sorry for the delay Jay)

[Kate Richardson-Hall]

Kate winced slightly as the other horse broke into a trot despite the fact that she'd kept back as far as was possible what with Misty's natural exuberance having just been released after an eight hour flight. And- oh no, looked like she was rearing... The blonde halted her mare a fair way back and watched as the other rider's mount brough its hooves back to the ground- followed by its head. The rider had clearly been expecting it though; she hung on well and managed to regain control. That was well ridden. Kate knew of quite a few riders who would have been lying on the ground following that little display, with the horse standing smugly over them with an 'Oops' expression- so far as it was possible for a horse to have that kind of expression. But Kate knew what she meant, even if no one else did.
Once she was sure that the other horse had settled, she walked Misty slowly forward, giving the other rider a wide berth, to finish up just abreast of her, but on the other side of the path. "That's all right." she replied with a smile. "I've survived worse."

(No worries, I have plenty of patience!)