Control does not mean to Dominate

[Anastasie Chevalier]

Anastasie stood in the middle of the small field she was using for her class, with a rubber curry comb in her hand. Beside her, stood a large bay Standardbred gelding the only white markings on him was a line of iodine burns that resulted in white spots down his near foreleg and the half coronet band on his off hind. The gelding released a heavy sigh as he lowered his head, jumping as the lead that had been slung across his withers slipped down his neck. “It’s okay, sweetie.” The woman said as she gently took the rope off his neck, unclipped it from the blue rope halter he wore and placed it on the ground behind her own feet. She would clip the lead back in place once their students started to arrive – more to keep the gelding in his safe place than in worry that he would attack anyone.

She went back to running the rubber comb in circles down the gelding’s back and over his rump. Pushing the comb in between the belt she wore and her jean jods, she used the tips of the fingers on her right hand to scratch just to the side of the gelding’s dock, laughing as he stretched his neck out and pulled his top lip back in sheer enjoyment as he leaned his hindquarters into the scratch. “You are such the goof.” She told him, but didn’t stop scratching.

She took this time to think over what she planned to do with the students who showed up today. She had already turned the speakers on and the wireless microphone - also know as a Madonna mic - was already in place, she just needed to switch on the pack she wore at her waist.

She finally stopped scratching the gelding’s dock as she arm began to cramp, and she laughed as she stepped away and Cedar moved his hindquarter over to that the other side of his tail was now in her reach. “Later, bub.” She told him as she pushed his rear end away. She then scooped up the blue and white lead, and walked toward his head and laughed as his ears flattened – a defense mechanism he had when someone approached him. “Silly boy.” She whispered as she lifted her hand and took hold of the loop on the halter that the lead attached to. She had now had him for a number of years, but she didn’t think he’d ever stop flattening his ears when anyone walked up to him. “We have company.” She said as she clipped the lead to the halter and turned around so she was standing at his side, her arm circling his face and her hand running up and down his nose. She smiled as the gelding relaxed, his head getting heavy on her arm, his eyes blinking softly.

---

Students:
Ben Hall
Danielle Green
@maidenmisery
@jase
@jacobs
@lukamason
@daretodream

[Danielle Green]

The day had finally rolled around; it was time that she get to really know her assigned mount. From the beginning Danielle and Remi clicked but the girl still didn’t know what made the mare tick, what she liked and didn’t like, truly anyways. She walked to the Red Willow barn and moved quickly towards Remi’s stall. ”Hi girly.” The sixteen scratched the Curly’s forehead and then took a step to grab her halter.

Natural horsemanship was important, even with her three mounts before, she loved to spend days where she just worked with them from the ground. It gave her a sense of what to expect when in the saddle and even just in the barn.

Slipping the halter on Remi’s head she gave the mare a pat and then walked her out to the natural horsemanship field. She only saw Ms. Chevalier and her gelding in the middle-ish of the field. She didn’t know what specifically to do and so she just stood there facing the middle of the field. She slung the lead rope over Remi’s withers but still held it lightly, just in case the mare decided to wander off. Danny was ready for the class to begin, she hoped she wasn’t going to be the only one in class, it was unlikely but very possible.

outfit

[Deleted]

Alana was glad that the time to spend some time with Domi has finally come around. She has already made a quick stop at her dorm to change into a navy blue polo and beige jodhpurs. On the way to the White Oak barns she tied her dark brown hair into a high ponytail and made sure that no stray hairs were in her face. Her footsteps were heavy against the pathway, as they were slipped into a new pair of black brown riding boots, to the barn which just happened to be in view.

She approached the stall that Domi was in and was greeted by an ecstatic whinny. She placed a hand the gelding's cheek and skimmed her thumb along and shushed the excited horse. She understood that he never liked staying in his stall for too long, so she shouldn't keep him waiting and neither should she keep her next class waiting either. Slipping the sky blue halter over the black and white gelding's head, she clipped on the matching lead rope and unlocked the stall. She gave the horse a quick grooming session before leading him to the natural horsemanship field.

As she entered the area, she noticed that they were the second pair here. She walked over to a woman standing in the middle of the field, guessing she was instructor. "Hello, I'm Alana. I'm a new student here." She informed her and went to stand in an open spot with Domi. She gave the other student here a small smile in greeting as she faced the instructor, waiting for the class to begin. While waiting she let the gelding absent-mindedly graze at the fresh green grass of the well cared for field.