Simon Says

[Deleted]

The focus for this class, as it had been for yesterday's class, would be dressage. Glen Aulin had followed the lead of other teachers and had split both of her classes into two, which meant smaller class sizes. She might not like having to teach four classes rather than two, but it was definitely worth it if she didn't have sixteen horses in the arena at once, or out on the course for cross country.

The time for class found her in the dressage arena, pacing around the inside across the shifting sand as she waited for her class to arrive. She had chosen not to saddle Murdock today, for this class, because she had something different in mind for them. Perhaps they would like it, perhaps some would complain, but today, they were going to be doing it, and that was that.

As her kids started arriving, she retreated to the centre of the arena to give them space to warm up, greeting those that greeted her, but standing still, so that they could work around her if the track wasn't giving them enough variety. It was only a matter of time before she started the class, but as she glanced at her watch, she realized that she was running slightly early, that there was still time, so she stayed silent and watched her students.

Becca Walsh
Gretchen Holmes
@jennap
@hound2
@valentine

[Deleted]

Eventing was in the dressage arena, so Parker hadn't really bothered going in and untacking. It looked like half of his classes would be with this Ms. O'Raghailligh woman, and he was really hoping that she'd give the something a bit easier to pronounce. The young man had kept his horse moving and warm after their dressage lesson, wandering around the outside of the dressage ring. The chill outside had grown massive, and he was shivering slightly in his Carhartt coat. It was a layer addition that had come when he needed it. Freezing to death wasn't on his list of things to do today.

So he would move his horse and wait. Things rolling around in his head were refusing to quiet, and he was going to let them run wild for a little bit. That was easy enough, come to think of it. It was easy enough to think through what was going on. Blue was trotting, still as alive and alert as ever. He had the flashiness that Parker thrived on. That was the most brilliant thing of all, that wit and sparkle. The way he sat up in his seat showed it-- this young man was damned proud of his horse.

outfit & tack

[Becca Walsh]

    Becca wasn't thrilled that they had been spending so much time lately on dressage in her eventing class, since it was her least favorite phase. However, it was good for her, since she was practicing more, and it was hopefully making them stronger. Frye wasn't the best, but if Becca managed to get him in frame and in the right mindset, he could put in a very good test. After tacking him up in their dressage saddle and bridle, she led him out to the dressage arena where the class would be taking place.

    Once she arrived and closed the gate behind her, Becca mounted Frye and began to warm him up. The horse was alert and peering around at everything, but he wasn't as bad as he usually was before lessons. She worked him at the trot, extending and collecting, and then worked getting him into frame at the canter. The warm-up wasn't very strenuous, but hopefully her efforts to get Frye focused would pay off in the rest of the lesson. The long thoroughbred wasn't the ideal dressage horse, but he was a great, flashy mover, so he wasn't awful if Becca could get him to work well.

[Gretchen Holmes]

Gretchen felt slightly nervous as she tacked Bahir up. If there was one thing the white gelding struggled with, it was collection. He was an explosion waiting to happen in her hands, a true jumper. She didn't know how well he would take to her holding him back for dressage. She supposed it would be something good for him though, control was good.

She grabbed her helmet once she was done tacking and lead Bahir towards the dressage arena. He tossed his head and nickered to he other horses that were out there. Once they were in she mounted up and allowed him to walk and stretch his legs. Bahir looked around the arena alertly, although he seemed slightly confused by the lack of jumps.

She ran her fingers through his mane, "Sorry Bahir, no jumps today," she told him. Once they'd walked in both directions she asked him into a trot. Bahir chomped on his bit a little, but did not fight her for more reign. She supposed with no jumps to get him excited, he would be an easier ride. Gretchen patted Bahir's neck, perhaps dressage wouldn't be as hard as she thought. Perhaps he would behave, and listen to her attentively, and perform these movements in a controllable way.

[Deleted]

Glen waited a few minutes past when class should have started, glancing at her watch once in a while, then walked into the centre of the arena, "Hey, guys, if you could gather around." She waited for the three students to comply, then smiled at class, "Welcome to dressage. We're going to be doing something that I hope you find interesting today, although if not, feel free to tell me, because it's an idea that I've never tried before."

She smiled, "We're going to be playing a version of follow the leader. So, Parker, you're going to start, give everyone a lap around the arena to settle in, and then you get to do whatever dressage movements you would like. Do four or five, calling out what you're doing as you're doing it, and then, when you're ready to switch out, bring the line back around to the centre and call 'break'."

She looked at the other two students, "Then you two will go the opposite direction from whichever way Parker chooses to circle to get to the end, and Becca, you will pick up the lead for the next few movements. Same thing, and then Gretchen, you get to go. Once you're done, call halt, and we'll evaluate." She looked at the three of them, "Any questions? Otherwise, feel free to get going. I'll be watching all of you, if something is above your level, feel free to do the closest approximation that you or your mount can manage." She walked to the fence and climbed over, giving the class the full arena to work in.

@annalise
Becca Walsh
Gretchen Holmes
@lacyfairbrook
@hound2
@valentine