Horse sense, n.: Stable thinking

[Prudence Warner]

Finding a little time to herself, Prudence had headed down to the barn. When she had knocked on the barn manager's door, she knew that she must look a sight, black long sleeved leotard and pink tights. Prue hadn't really ridden since she had become a student at the American Ballet Academy, so she didn't own any riding clothes and she felt that her thick ballet tights would be more comfortable to ride in then jeans. After speaking with Katherine, she was now saddling up a beautiful amber champagne gelding. She had spent a long time grooming the dark cream, letting the two of them get to know each other.

Once the mare was ready, and the woman had a borrowed helmet strapped under her chin, she led the horse out of the barn, where she tightened the girth, pulled the stirrups down and mounted - with only a little trouble - and rubbed the neck of the very forgiving horse. Part of her knew that she should go and ride in one of the many arenas, but Prue didn't want to walk around in circles for half an hour, so she made her way toward the Green Hill Trail, she had heard that the trails were easy for novice riders and were a lot of fun so this is where she was going to go.

As the gelding she was riding, Chazy, plodded easily along the path they were following, Prue tried to remember her riding lessons from so long ago. However, the horse turned out to be a good teacher; if she was holding the reins too tight, the gelding would bob his head up and down until they were loosened, and if Chazy felt his rider slipping he would stop until the woman got herself sorted again. So by the time the entered the trees, Prue was sitting nicely and enjoying the ride.

[Deleted]

{ BUT BABY I BEEN, I BEEN PRAYIN’ HARD }
SAID NO MORE COUNTING DOLLARS
- - - - - - WE’LL BE COUNTING STARS

This was the second day of being at the academy and the thirty-five year old headed out to the barn. His mare hadn’t done anything but sit in her stall pretty much since she got there. Luke let out a deep breath that turned into a yawn as he exited the Brown Ribbon House. His footsteps were muffled by the damp grass underfoot and they resounded when his boots hit the aisle flooring. Patting Cassidy on the neck was the first thing he did, opening his fisted hand into a platform that revealed a piece of carrot. The rest of the carrot was still pocketed and would be saved for a later time. Lucas continued to the tack room and gathered a bridle and brush.

The man only had plans to ride her bareback as he didn’t feel like saddling up the mare. He undid her blanket and slide it down her back and then off. The door was still closed on the stall and so he hung it there for now, it was off the floor and out of the way. Luke took the brush to the mare and got what little dust there was on her body. Once he was done he set the brush down along the edge of the stall, bridled the mare and led her out of her stall and out of the barn. With the fact that Luke was only eight inches, around about, above her withers and there were no stirrups to help him up onto her back he had to go to the indoor arena.

He squared the mare up alongside the mounting block and hopped up onto the mare. Cassidy let out a breath and walked on. Luke pulled slightly on her reins and she halted. ”Good mare.” He situated himself and patted her neck. With his legs he urged his mount into a brisk walk as they made their way to the Green Hill Trail. Cass let out a high pitched whinny which in effect made Lucas rub his ears, ”Really, was that necessary?” Luke saw another horse and rider a little ways in front of him and his horse, Cassidy’s ears were pricked forward and she was alert. If Cassidy was a person she would be someone who talked the talk, but couldn’t walk the walk. Luke rode on and called out to the other rider, ”Coming up behind you.” It was the courteous thing to do to let the female rider and her mount that they weren’t alone.

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[Prudence Warner]

Prue was thoroughly enjoying herself as she allowed Chazy to follow the path they were on. She listened to the song of the birds that lived in the trees, even in the cold months. There wasn't the constant chatter of animals that she was sure would be there during the warmer months, as the animals would be in hibernation. The song of the birds made her want to be on the ground and dancing, using them as her orchestra, though she didn't act on the thought.

The sound of a whinny caused the woman to jump and she instantly felt guilty as the gelding shook his head as he released an angry huff. "Sorry, boy." She apologised as she dropped the reins and then picked them up again, gently. "I was startled." She took up a little more rein and encouraged the sporthorse into a trot as they continued down the trail.

She reined Chazy in as she heard a voice behind them. It had been so long since she had ridden, she had forgotten about arena etiquette - which she assumed would still exist out on the trail - and getting the horse to walk again was the only thing she could think of doing. "Hello." The blonde greeted the man as he drew closer.

[Deleted]

{ BUT BABY I BEEN, I BEEN PRAYIN’ HARD }
SAID NO MORE COUNTING DOLLARS
- - - - - - WE’LL BE COUNTING STARS

The mare moved fluidly with a smooth walk that was rhythmic to her rider and Luke sat back with the loose reins in his right. His eyes were set on the woman rider in front of them. He couldn’t help but chuckle to himself quietly when she jumped in her saddle. Cassidy was a very vocal mare and she loved to let everyone know where she was, this case was no different. He rode up beside her and looked over towards her. ”Sorry about that, she likes to talk.” Apologizing was the least he could since his mare startled the woman which in turn bothered her mount.

The mount he knew on a name only basis, Chazy was a beautifully colored gelding and since Luke was the head barn hand of the barn he was boarded in he remembered his face, color, and name clearly. ”Hi Chazy” Luke smiled at the horse and then his attention was redirected back to the gelding’s rider. ”Hi there.” His two days at the academy didn’t involve much of being social and so the woman’s face was one of a stranger. Cass let out a simple breath to indicate that she was more relaxed with the idea of another horse being here with her.

words 210 tagged Prudence Warner/open outfit here notes n/a
template PANIC! ITS LAUZ @ CAUTION