Breathless

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Malachi was not impressed with the black gelding currently running circles around him. With a clinic to teach soon, he needed Honour to be on his best behaviour, and currently, the gelding was falling into the negative digits in regards to that. They had been let out into the paddocks after their morning feed, and Malachi's clinic was due to start within an hour, which meant that if Honour was going to keep it up much longer, the horse would be exhausted. Picking up the dressage crop he had brought with him, he immediately redirected the gelding's attention to him, slowing him to a trot and eventually a walk, and then invited Honour into his space.

Slipping the leather halter over the gelding's head, Malachi led him into the barn and clipped him into the cross ties, smiling as he brushed out the dust from the black coat. The muscled warmblood was in peak health, and had been competed up until his quarintine, which probably helped as well. Since being brought back into work, the gelding had been giving his all, and Malachi had been mindblown in a few of his sessions.

Putting on the grey polo wraps, he made sure that the black horse didn't have any heat in his legs. Next came the grey saddle pad and black Kieffer dressage saddle. Once he had tightened the girth, he slipped off the halter, and carefully slipped on the double bridles, readjusting the cheek pieces slightly so that the bits didn't pinch Honour on his lips. Once he was satisfied with the gelding's tack, Malachi put on his beige gloves and led the gelding to the indoor arena, deciding not to mount until his students arrived.

[Serenity Oliver]

Dressed in beige jodhpurs, a canary yellow polo shirt, that made her green eyes shine like emeralds, and her favourite pair of paddock boots, Reni walked into the tack room of Red Willow where she gathered everything she would need for Plot. Leaving the grooming kit and tack out by the hitching rails, she made her way down to the pastures to collect her Selle Français mare.

Arriving at pasture three, she paused at the gate and watched as Plot and Cedar stood in the shade of the trees, nose to tail as they groomed each others' withers and uses their tails to keep the insects at bay. Although she hated to disturb the two bays, she knew she had no choice as she wanted to ride Plot in the dressage clinic she had managed to put her name down for when they had arrived back the day before. She whistled the tune of Greensleeves and laughed when Plot looked in her direction and released a joyous sounding whinny before she trotted over.

Entering the pasture, she waited for the mare to get to her and put the halter over the bay's nose and led her toward the barn. She could still remember when she had first purchased the mare, and she had to do everything in the pasture, as even bringing her near the barn would cause the mare to sweat.

As soon as the mare was tacked up, bright blue saddle blanket, dressage saddle, snaffle bridle and polo wraps that matched the saddle blanket, she tucked the grooming kit under the rail so that it wouldn't trip anyone up, placed her black helmet on her head and fastened it under her chin, before untying the mare and leading her toward the indoor arena.

"Gate." She called brightly, waited a heartbeat, led the mare in and smiled toward their dressage instructor. "Good morning, Mr Harris." She said brightly before turning her attention to the mare, always humming to keep the horse's attention on her. While Reni seemed to have hesitation on talking to males around her own age, she had no qualms with adults of the opposite gender.

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Zel scorned the grey horse that continued to run past her. The game was cute and fun the first couple of times but at twenty minutes of chasing, it got rather old. All of her enthusiasm had abandoned Zel, leaving her hot and annoyed. She outstretched her arms, boosting the halter over her shoulder, hiding it from Euk's view and kissed softly. Her gelding took several steps forward then cut and ran, letting his partially unhooked flysheet flop against him as he ran.

After a good ten minutes, Gisella caught her horse and led him back to the barn. She was angry more at herself than the horse for not haltering him before she tried to pull off the flysheet and letting him get so bold. Zel pulled the sheet off and folded in her arms while walking towards the barn, letting Euk guide her most of the way.

With the flysheet, Zel's Anglo-Arab was easy to get sparkling and tacked up quickly. She watched Euk from just outside the stall. He looked entirely bored but beautiful in his tack. The red boots and saddle pad stood out against his grey coat and the black bridle sharpened his facial features.

"Pretty boy," Zel whispered as she reached over the stall door and rubbed Euk on the forehead. She brushed off any loose dirt from her grey jodhpurs and blue polo then stomped her paddock boots. Before leading her gelding out to the arena, Zel grabbed and stretched out both front legs, making sure the girth wasn't pinching anything against him. She scratched his neck softly and pulled the reins over his head, leading him out.

Zel called out to the two already in the covered arena when she arrived, informing them of the gate opening. She led Euk through the gate, one hand on his neck, and closed it behind her. "Hello," she offered, smiling at the others.

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Jason walked through the Red Willow Barn, acutely aware of how empty it seemed as opposed to during the school months. His steps echoed down the aisle, and he began whistling. Before long a black and white head poked out of a stall, nickering in reply. While many horses were put out to pasture during the warm summer weather, Tickle was notorious for his ability to acquire grass stains. Jason led his gelding out to the cross-ties and began readying him for the clinic. While Jason liked dressage, Tickle preferred hunter, and this lead to some occasional miscommunications between horse and rider. Hopefully this summer practice would help smooth this out.

Sliding his arm under his dressage saddle, Jason stepped towards the door of the tack room. He paused to snag his bridle and quickly tacked his horse up. He snapped on his slightly worn helmet and lead the Oldenburg towards the indoor arena. Mr. Harris and two other riders were already present. "Gate." He called, and walked in. He left ample space between him and the horse next to him. Jason had been the first one to sign up for the clinic, which he found slightly surprising. It didn't appear that many others had followed him, but he didn't mind; He liked smaller classes.