Cross Country 101

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Phoebe had Hellsing all tacked up and ready to go. She mounted the horse after applying her hat and gloves. Kicking her horse into a trot, she headed to the cross country course, to start her very first lesson.

When she got there, she saw her students, both mounted and dismounted. Phoebe gently pulled on the reins, and Hellsing slowed to a walk, and eventually stopped. She dismounted from her horse patting her neck fondly. "Good girl." she smiled to Hellsing. "Good afternoon class. I'm Phoebe Andrews, your Cross Country instructor. Now before we get to riding, are any of you concerned about the class?" she asked, making sure they weren't frightened. Her eyes scanned over her students. A boy raised his hand. "Yes?" Phoebe smiled. "Will we have to jump rivers and high oxers?" he asked. Phoebe shook her head. "No. As this is a beginner class, you will be given starter jumps, and a starter course. Wow, that last bit sounded like I was ordering dinner." she laughed. She looked at the class then clapped her hands together. "Now, make sure you have your body gaurd on. I shall be riding beside you to keep an eye on you as you do the course. First off, do any of you have any strengths or weaknesses?" she asked, and waited for one of her students to respond.

STUDENTS:
Brody O'Callaghan
Danielle Green
Katja Eder
Othello Buskirk

[Katja Eder]

Katja had almost finished tacking Mukki up, although she hadn't put on his bridle yet. Leaving him tied to the bars of his stall, she slipped out. After changing from her t-shirt into a neat turquoise polo, the same color as the gelding's saddle pad and wraps, she checked her breeches, and then deftly pulled her hair back into a bun that would sit beneath the edge of her helmet. Funny, how that had once been hard for her. Now, it was easy, and she rarely ever had issues with it being too high anymore. Once her body-protector had gone on, she replaced her black jacket, thick enough to ward off the chill, but light enough to not be stifling when they'd begun working.

After returning to Mukki, and bridling the gelding, she led him outside, only then pulling on her gloves and her helmet. As soon as they were outside of the barn, she headed in the direction of the cross country courses. As a woman arrived, on a dark Arabian, Katja guessed at her profession, and was quickly proven correct. She listened to the woman's introduction, and then a boy's question, without concern. However, the woman's answer was not what she had expected, and she frowned, muttering only quietly enough for her horse's ears, "Wir sind keine Anfänger."

There must have been some mistake. Had she been asked, Katja would have classed herself as an intermediate cross country rider, because she wasn't new to the sport, but didn't really care enough to practice it as often as Dressage. However, that didn't really matter now. If the teacher didn't teach to what she wanted, she would approach the barn manager about switching out. After all, she knew the woman handled most equestrian matters, and if she didn't do classes, at the least, she would be able to point her in the right direction. There was no way Katja would bring it up in front of the class, however, and was left grinding her teeth, figuratively, in silence.

Asked about strengths and weaknesses, Katja considered, then looked down at Mukki's mane, becoming very interested in making sure that it lay flat, along the one side of her mount's neck. No, she would be too tempted to say something, and she didn't want to disrespect the teacher. Better to remain silent.

We aren't beginners.

[Danielle Green]

It had been a while since Danny was officially assigned to O’Malley and so she knew the gelding very well and all the things that needed to be noted when riding him, especially him and his bucking. With her Cross Country attire on she made her way to the Red Willow Barn to tack the Holsteiner up. She had groomed him early and kept him in his stall so the mud wouldn’t get caked on him once again.

Reaching O’Malley’s stall she saw that he was indeed still cleanly. Though Danielle walked to the tack room and grabbed his tack and a brush. Returning to the stall the seventeen year old placed the tack on the rack and went to brush the gelding. He moved around like normal always making a challenge for his handler and rider.

Once the girl had finished the brushing, the gelding was soon tacked up and ready to go. Danny hopped up into the saddle and walked O’Malley over to the Cross Country course. Seeing as there was only one other girl there, Danny smiled when she saw who it was. ”Hi Katy”

The instructor was very new as Danielle didn’t know her face or her equine. Listening to the instructions and the question, Danny held back her eye roll. Beginner? Though she was knew to the Cross Country aspect, she was hardly a beginner. She made the decision to see how this class went and then take action to get moved into the intermediate class if she felt the need.

A confused look crossed Danny’s face as the instructor said about riding beside them, again not that she was at the highest level to Cross Country, but she was certain that it was a solo sport as most other equestrian disciplines. Danielle decided not to say anything and just wait for someone else to share their strengths and weaknesses.