Another Perspective

[Deleted]

This class was probably going to be Murdock's favourite, considering that she was planning on letting him actually do some work today. She finished tacking up the tall Holsteiner, then grabbed her clipboard and led the gelding out towards the cross country courses, singing any song that came into her head. She would have loved to ride the gelding out, considering that it was quite a walk, but she hadn't wanted to worry about her helmet, and she knew it was frowned upon to ride without it, even for the adults.

Finally, however, she was at the beginner cross country course, where she had asked her students to meet her. She hadn't warned them of what they would be doing, but she had asked that they be prepared to speak about their mounts a little bit more in depth than what she had asked of them when they had first introduced themselves. Depending on who she had in the class, she might do the same for Murdock, or might not.

As her students arrived, she asked them to refrain from mounting and warming up, because it would be a part of the class this time. When most of the class was present, she called the group to order, and then smiled, "We're going to be doing something slightly different today, so I hope you all did as I asked. We're going to be talking about our mounts first, and I'd like to know their quirks. Is there anything you have to pay attention to while riding them? Are they spooky at anything that might be found on the course?" Perhaps some would be able to figure out what she was planning, but for the rest? Hopefully they'd just comply.

Athena Achilles
Becca Walsh
@lisa
@jasper38
@hound2
Quillec
@samanthal
Thomas Oliver
@jasper32

[Athena Achilles]

Athena was looking forward to her cross country class, which was taught by the one teacher who seemed to accept the fact that the girl didn't talk. She took the time getting bear ready for class, making sure that his coat was clear of mud, from the short time he'd spent in the pastures, and that his mane and tail were free of tangles.

After she had tacked him up in his close contact saddle, she put his all-purpose boots on his legs. She hoped that their teacher didn't expect them to go full tilt over the course since the ground would probably be boggy in places. After putting her helmet and blue body protector on, and a fleece exercise sheet over the gelding's back to keep him warm on the walk to the course, she led him toward the cross country course where they were told to meet.

She bowed her head when asked to remain dismounted, and was pleased that she had thought of the cover for the gelding, as he would be feeling the cold from where his clip started. The girl's eye widened in horror as they were asked to talk about their mounts. She shot the teacher a look, but knew that this time she wouldn't get out of talking. Hiding behind the large dunskin, she placed her hand on his nose. "This is Bear. He was raised and trained at a cross country stable. He could almost be classed as a school master, as far as cross country is concerned, as he's quick to respond and will happily throw himself over anything." She pressed her lips together, undecided on whether she wanted to throw up or faint. "He can be a bit gung-ho with jumping, so I need to make sure to keep him between my legs when jumping spreads."

[Becca Walsh]

    Becca spent a good deal of time grooming Frye, making sure that his thin coat was shining. She had to be especially careful tacking him up, and she narrowly avoided having a notch taken out of her shoulder while tightening his girth. After Frye was tacked up in Becca's jumping saddle, his running martingale, and his figure-eight bridle, Becca tucked her hair into her GPA helmet and looped the reins over his head so that she could lead him out to the cross country courses.

    When they arrived, she was dismayed to find that they were not supposed to mount, and spent her time waiting trying to get Frye to hold still even a little. The gelding was in constant motion, and Becca had found that it was nearly impossible to get him to completely stop moving. It had been daunting to her for a while, but she'd now become comfortable with mounting him while he was still jittering about.

    It soon became clear that they would be switching horses, and Becca immediately knew that this would be a problem. She was the only one who had ridden Frye since Kaitlyn's death, and she still wasn't entirely confident on him. The horse was furious, a powerhouse, and very sensitive. The slightest touch to his barrel would send him shooting off, and stopping him was difficult since he didn't respond well to heavy hands on his mouth. An experience rider would probably manage to handle him, but it wouldn't be a pleasant ride.

    When it was her turn to speak about Frye, she began, "This is Frye. He's been well trained in eventing and cross country is his strongest phase. It takes a bit of effort to get him focused on task, but when he is, he is good at what he does. He shouldn't spook at anything on the course, but it's important to keep him focused on me, and on task. If he gets too strong he's hard to control, so it's best to sit deep and keep him managable. I have to keep my hands light or he becomes agitated." Meanwhile, she tried to keep Frye standly decently, but he was dancing at the end of his reins as usual.

[Thomas Oliver]

Tommy took his time getting Amber ready for the dressage lesson. While his chestnut mare was the sweetest horse he knew, he didn't like to rush her into things - which was funny, since when they were on the cross country course, she was hard to hold back at times.

Once they were both ready; her in a close contact saddle and snaffle bridle with all-purpose boots. And him; in his helmet and body protector, he pulled an exercise sheet over the mare's back and led her out to the cross country course. He held the reins tight enough so that Amber had to remain at his side, but loose enough so that she wasn't pulling on her delicate mouth.

As soon as the woman began talking, he had a good idea of what was to come, well that and the fact they were asked to remain dismounted. "Amber here is the opposite if a stereotypical chestnut as she is as sweet as sugar. She'll throw her heart and soul into everything, and will do her best to please her rider, and will take it as a personal insult if her rider is upset with her." He shrugged, knowing that his words may have seemed a little funny, but that was what Amber was like.

[Deleted]

What had possessed the young man to take cross country aside from eventing was now gone. Today in particular seemed as if hell had frozen over, and Parker was shaking in his boots. There was a layer of under armor clinging close to his skin on the bottom layer, digging into his flesh beneath the tight jeans he was basically obsessed with. They were nice pants, and what could he say? Still, the layers weren't quite enough to lock in the heat the athletic boy needed. It was enough to leave him shivering, leaning closer to Blue as they made their way to the eventing course. Though the palomino was perfectly happy, Parker could say he was anything but. It was like hell had frozen over.

Parker straightened his Carhartt, pulling it closer and adjusting his sunglasses against the glare. If the woman said anything he'd take them off, but it was rather overwhelming to be assaulted with the glare of early afternoon sun. As class began, he was a little startled to hear the girl with the Bear-horse talking. She'd said nothing in dressage with just Parker and Malachi present... what was eating her? It distracted his mind until the progress of the group came to him.

"This is Blue... he was gelded a little late, so he gets funny around mares in heat. Not dangerous or anything, just weird. Other than that, he's just a cowhorse doing a sporthorse's job." There's an easy shrug in the young man's shoulders. Sure, he was well trained, and Parker was a good rider. That went without saying: it was why they were here.

click

[Deleted]

 Zak looked forward to his first cross country class at Blue Ridge. So far he had already groomed Pleasure to near perfection making sure there were no tangles in her mane or tail and groomed her lovely coat. He tacked her up in her close contact saddle and bridle then tightened Pleasure's girth. Pleasure did not seem bothered when the girth got tightened but nudged Zak when he walked to take his GPA helmet out of and his black body protector and put them on, Zak stroked Pleasure's neck as she pawed the ground getting quite excited to go out to their lesson.

 Zak held the reins so he could lead Pleasure to the beginner cross country course. Zak and Pleasure were great at cross country and show jumping and they loved it so much. Zak remembers his mother and father taking him for his first cross country lesson ever but he does not ever remember his brother, Scott ever coming to support him. When they got to the course he halted Pleasure and stood where he was as he was told not to mount. He was quite surprised when the teacher said they were to talk about their mounts and when it was time for Zak to talk he simply said "this is Pleasure, she loves attention from anyone and she likes to flirt with the geldings for fun, me and Pleasure like to do cross country and show jumping but she gets a bit feisty when I have got a crop but I never bring one anyway."

[Deleted]

Catia tacked up the chestnut mare. She put the girth on securely and then grabbed the cross country bridle. She put the bridle on Raisa and secured the throat latch. Catia tucked the chestnut mare's forelock into the brow band of the bridle. Catia grabbed her helmet and put her body protector on. She secured her helmet on her head and lead Raisa out of the stall. She closed the door behind the the mare and latched it. Catia walked out of the barn towards the cross country course they were told to meet at. 

Catia walked in were her peers were all ready waiting. The girl smiled at the teacher and said a hello. Catia checked her girth and tightened it up a few holes but refrained from mounting like her instructor had asked them to do. She listened with rapt attention as her instructor asked them to talk about their mounts. Catia listened as some of her peers went. A brief pause came and Catia took this as her opportunity to speak. "Raisa sometimes likes to be a little spooky to see if she can get away with testing you. She loves people and is very friendly towards people and horses. She is very willing to work and will try her hardest at anything you might ask her to do. She doesn't like spurs but she will tolerate English spurs. Raisa is trained in eventing. Dressage is her strongest phase but she is an all around versatile horse." Catia said speaking about her mount.

[Deleted]

 Now it was time for Dennis's first cross country class at Blue Ridge. He had already sent most of his time grooming his mare, Mulan. Her dark chocolate coat was shining and Mulan looked for Dennis when Den walked to get his tack from the tack room but he came back to Mulan as quickly as he went. He tacked Mulan in her close contact saddle and tightened the girth, Mulan made no effort to decline her grackle bridle as always she gave Dennis no trouble when putting on the tack and then he put on Mulan's all purpose boots.

 He put on his GPA helmet and body protector and led Mulan away from the barn and to the cross country course where the class was taking place. Dennis was told not to mount so he didn't. The class had to talk about their mounts and Dennis had a little bit of an idea of what the class would be doing but he did not say anything. When it got to his turn to talk about Mulan he said "this is Mulan Whisper but I call her Mulan she is a Friesian/ paint cross who does what she is told and the only thing you have to watch with her is that she does not like gloves" he smiled weakly.

[Deleted]

As Leanne had spent like forever cleaning her mare Colato she was stressed, as she was getting her mares tack ready she swapped her brow band for a pink diamonte one. She then put the bridle on to her mare but Coal threw her head up, she wasn't enjoying this at all. Colato snorted as Leanne grabbed her nose putting the bit in her mouth, when she'd actually managed to get the bridle on the straps were the next obstacle, Colato loved the physical part of training but getting dressed up was torture for her. As Leanne slowly started to do up the straps she spoke to her mare in a soothing voice "Look Colato, we can do this. I won't let it hurt you, its okay. It won't hurt you."

Leanne hated seeing her horse so stressed and up tight, she then managed to put the saddle on fine. As she was finished tacking up her mare she lead her out, as Colato was very excited she was dancing under herself. When they reached the place they were supposed to be at Leanne stood her pony away from the others since she was reacting to the new surroundings, she wasn't experienced to be with so many different people/horses. Colato was an amazing mare none the less, when they stood still together Leanne spoke "Hello, I'm Leanne I'm new here." She smiled as it came to her turn to talk about her pony, "My ride is called Colato, she is a Palomino Welsh Pony. She was born and raised in a little stable on the out skirts of California. She gets really excited when it comes to the physical side of the ride, she hates getting tacked up though. Her worst fear is probably anything really loud and birds that fly out in front of her. Apart from that she is the best pony I have ever had."