Like a Soldier on Parade

[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.

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Students:
@aedus
@breakablerider
@maidinmisery
@rhythm
Miranda Florin
Othello Buskirk
@vervain

[Othello Buskirk]

Othello enjoyed the time he got to spend with his gelding, and even more so when they were in their Natural Horsemanship class. He ran the brush over the Suffolk Punch's back and picked out the hooves once more and they were ready. Grabbing his bag of supplies and the carrot stick he had obtained at the start of the year, he led the gelding outside into the crisp pre-spring air and down to the field that they called a classroom.

He smiled at the teacher as he opened the gate for him and the gelding and led the horse to their usual spot in the corner. Leaving the chestnut gelding ground-tied, he walked over to the fence and dropped his bag gently on the other side, all it held were some jelly beans and a couple of bottles of drink and he only brought it just in case. He knew that he looked a little on the pale side, but that could be expected when he hadn't been able to keep a meal down for a few days, but the Tylenol was keeping his headaches at bay.

Returning to the gelding, he started rubbing the horse down with his hands, as he waited for the class to get started.

[Deleted]

Jason hummed to himself as he ran a brush over Tickle's coat. With the rising weather, his horse had begun the shedding process. As they did not need to tack up or warm up for Natural Horsemanship, Jason had taken a bit more time in grooming. The result? A rather impressive pile of hair on the barn floor and an equally impressive amount of hair on Jason's clothes. Horse and boy shook, and even more hair fluttered down. With a small laugh Jason picked up the carrot stick and clipped on the long lead to the orange halter.

When they got to the field, Jason saw that he was relatively early. He greeted Ms. Chevalier and tossed a quick smile at the boy who was already there. Parking Tickle a healthy distance from the chestnut, Jason looked over at the instructor's bay gelding. Tickle tossed his head, demanding attention, to which Jason shook his head and murmured "Jealous, much?" But he turned to his Oldenburg and began rubbing his face, gradually working up towards his ears.

Natural Horsemanship was one of the equine classes that Jason was truly glad he had signed up for. Sure, he liked his other classes too, but he could practice jumping or dressage on his own. Of course, it wouldn't be as good, but he could manage. But this class was completely new to him, and over the courses he had found that the bond between him and his horse had indeed grown stronger.