Cross Country 102

[Deleted]

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 intermediate class, you will be given average jumps, and a harder course, than the beginners. 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:
@anna
@jacobturcotte
@anya
Miranda Florin
Thomas Oliver

[Miranda Florin]

Miranda could appreciate her golden mare more and more now. Sye had never disappointed, was always there. Her life had been easy, or mostly easy, Miranda would like to think, and it was a nice change from her work at the vet's clinic. The mare was usually healthy, apart from an injury two years prior, from which she had recovered without issue. All of these things, Miranda thought of as she was grooming the mare, then getting her tacked up for class. She should take the mare out onto the cross country course more often, she knew the Trakhener would love it.

After she had gotten the mare, and herself, ready for class, Miranda undid the cross-ties and led the palomino out into the wintery sunlight. It was a brisk walk to the course where they would be meeting, but Miranda didn't mind, as it gave her a chance to warm up a little before she mounted. Once at the course, she stood, holding Sye's reins easily and rubbing the mare's neck as she waited for the teacher to arrive.

And arrive she did. Miranda listened to the introduction half-heartedly, instead eying the Arabian the woman was riding. It was a nice-looking horse, at the least. They would see how she did on the course. As the woman asked about strengths and weaknesses, Miranda thought, then spoke, "Sye can be a bit hesitant about water obstacles, jumps or not." And it was quite possible that her mount's reaction had made Miranda worry about the obstacles, only adding to the problem... It was a vicious cycle sometimes, but one they had to break.

[Thomas Oliver]

Tommy stood in the parking area outside the barns, looking from one to the other as he bounced on the balls of his feet. He didn't have a lot of time, but a decision had to be made. Which of his horses was he taking to class? With the idea that Dragan would use the first opportunity to whack him off in mind, he hurried into Red Willow and whistled as he waltzed down to Amber's stall.

It didn't take long to get the Chestnut mare ready for class, and he pulled his black back-protector on, followed by his gloves and then led the mare out of the barn, where he easily swung his tall frame into the saddle and squeezed her forward. He could tell that Amber had been stuck in her stall for too long as he could feel the energy fizzing through her as they headed to the course.

He listened to the instructor introduce herself and then answer a question, which he thought was pretty pointless thinking of what class they were in, and he thought about the mare's strengths and weaknesses - along with the thought og another riding alongside them. He flicked a part of the mare's mane that was lying on the wrong side of her neck. "With all due respect, Ma'am. Cross country is a rather solo sport. I don't think Amber would like having another horse beside her on the course. She's used to seeing people at each fence, but not by being raced by another horse." This, he was adamant about.

[Deleted]

Shailie ticked the bright orange halter against the metal gate, waiting for a grey horse to come barreling towards her. It didn't take long for the sound to carry and with Alistair, came several other horses making their way over to the young lady. She smiled at the horses that gathered around her but pushed a few noses away from her to get to her big gelding. She brought him inside and pulled off his orange camouflage blanket.

She made quick work of brushing him down, and putting bag balm on any spots where the other horses may have taken a few bites out of his neck, teaching him where he stands in the herd. He would have to learn sooner or later that he wasn't going to be top of the food chain any time soon. Until then, bag balm would have to become his best friend.

Once her gelding was tacked up, she brought him out to the cross country course and hooked her vest. Shailie listened to the instructor, clutching her hand tightly on the reins. Without a full warm up, there was a very small chance that he wasn't going to be fruity on the course and with someone beside him, that was an issue. Luckily, she wasn't the only one with a similar issue. "I have to agree, Alistair will think of it as a race and risk hurting himself to win. I'd prefer it if we had a bit of room." Getting herself, or her horse hurt was not one of her goals for the day.