Tiptoe Higher (OPEN)

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Savannah tightened the gelding's girth once more, making sure she wouldn't feel the saddle slipping sideways underneath of her as she had the last time she rode him. Toby's ears pinned back, but he knew he was still in trouble for bloating his stomach out the previous time she tacked him up, so he didn't put up too big of a fight. She patted his neck and unclipped his halter from the cross ties, feeding him the bit and then sliding it up over his ear net. Once all of the buckles were tightened, but loose enough for her to slip a finger underneath, she led her horse down the aisle and out into the chilly February air. The blanket underneath of his saddle that covered his hind end to keep him nice and toasty. 

Today, they were going to work on some flatwork and fairly low jumps, as he was still getting the hang of things in the English Riding world. Once inside Benedict's arena, she led him over to the mounting block and triple checked the girth. With that, she pulled down both stirrups and swung up into the saddle, letting him walk around as she gathered the reins and got settled into the saddle. 

Toby's ears perked at all of the jumps she had set up, ranging anywhere from one to three feet high. He loved to jump, just hadn't quite learned his distances, or realized how powerful he really was. Savannah gave him a small squeeze and the gelding set off at a brisk trot, faster than the usual horse's, head up high and proud... like a llama. Savannah gave him small tugs with each rein, half halting and then finally releasing when he brought his head down, rewarding him. This was her way of training her horses not to hold their heads up so high, and for the most part, it worked perfectly. 

After warming up at a trot, she weaved him in and out of some of the jumps, letting him explore the objects. Once back on the rail, she asked him for a canter, which he happily obliged to, rocking back and forth and attempting to cut corners. She corrected him by adding pressure to her inside leg, sitting deeper in the saddle so that she had more control. As he gave a small buck, she knew it'd be a long day.

Outfit & Tack

Savannah

Toxic Tobais (Toby)

[Rose Hoff]

Since coming to Blue Ridge, Rose had learned to juggle. Her classes and extracurricular activities all required precious time, and her time management skills had been put to the test. She always managed to get her schoolwork done before anything else, and the rest of her time was spent doing something horse-related for the most part. She'd spent most of her time dedicated to schooling with Eleanor since she'd gotten the mare, and it had certainly paid off with a red ribbon at their latest show. She'd been happy with it, especially since Cara had won the blue. She would have liked to get a blue, but it had been Eleanor's first show with her, and the other girl was very tough competition. She could now afford to balance her time more evenly between her two mares, which would certainly be better for Vintage.

Today she just planned on ground-work and maybe a few low fences near the end if it went well. When she found Vintage in her stall, she scratched the mare's poll before grooming and tacking her up. She managed to keep the mare's coat neat during the winter, and today it was impeccable as always. After bridling her, she pulled on her helmet and led Vintage to the indoor arena. Seeing as another girl was already working her horse inside, Rose smiled at her and called out "Gate!" as she entered, giving a small wave. She led Vintage into the center so she wouldn't be in the girl's way.

Tightening the girth another hole, she pulled down her stirrups and mounted, walking Vintage around the ring a couple of times before asking for a strong working trot. She looked over at the other rider to see her horse throw a little buck. She hoped that the girl or her horse wouldn't mind Rose and Vintage being in the ring. Vintage usually wasn't influenced by other horses' behavior, so she wasn't really worried about that. She just didn't want to be in their way. The heights of the jumps seemed perfect for what Rose aimed to end up accomplishing today, so that was in place nicely.

clothes

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As Toby tossed his head and pranced around the ring, Savannah noticed something out of the corner of her eye. Another horse and rider had made their way into the arena. She must have missed her call for the gate being opened, but it would have explained why Toby had gotten so frisky in the past few seconds. She nodded to the girl and continued to push Toby forward in his canter around the indoor arena. She numbed her mind with the sound of his hooves beating along through the slightly reddish brown sand footing, allowing herself to sink into a zone where only she and Toby mattered, though she knew not to get too entranced, since she'd now have to worry about the safety of the other pair in the ring. 

Once the gelding started to settle into a rhythm, Savannah gathered the reins a bit and slowed him down to a trot, sitting back in the saddle, and then to a walk as she made her way into the center of the ring, in between the well spaced jumps in the almost oversized arena (she was not complaining one bit). She aimed Toby straight ahead towards the far end of the ring and started to give soft and gentle tugs on the right rein while applying pressure with her left leg, still asking him to move forward. When the gelding responded quickly with a line of sidesteps, she patted him softly on the neck before reversing directions and asking for sidesteps to the left.

After making it down the length of the arena, she checked around her to see where the other girl was with her horse and, after seeing that she was far enough away, Savannah brought Toby into a trot again, and then a canter once reaching the turn. As they made circles and did serpentines through the jumps, Toby shook out his mane again, which she had just pulled, causing him to lose his balance for a beat, though he quickly regained it. She looked back to the girl again and wondered if she was okay with these jump heights, deciding it was better to ask her now then later, when she was too far into her workout to leave Toby to trail behind her on the ground, at which point he enjoyed nipping at her behind and stealing her crop from her boot. 

"Are these jumps okay for you? Or do you want to adjust them?" She called across to the blonde haired girl upon her light grey, nearly white under these lights, warmblood mare. The mare was pretty, Savannah would admit that, but she had to say that she liked the appearance of her own Dutch Warmblood mare better, though she wasn't riding her today.

[Rose Hoff]

Rose and Vintage quickly settled into their zone after a lap or two around the ring at the trot. She didn't let herself get too into it today, since the other rider's horse seemed pretty wired. She seemed to be handling him pretty well, so Rose wasn't too worried, but she never liked to let her guard down too much. Vintage wouldn't be too worried by it unless the horse got into her space. Then she might cause a bit of an issue. Benedict's Arena was big though, so Rose didn't think there would be any problems.

When she reached A the next time, she asked Vintage for the canter. The mare struck off nicely, and Rose quickly settled into her stride, hands light on the reins, her body just forward enough. Vintage's stride was long for her size, and Rose had grown to appreciate it a bit more since she'd gotten Eleanor. The two mares were interesting in comparison, and it was easy to see which was the hunter and which was the jumper.

Rose cantered Vintage twice around, bringing her back to the trot the second time she reached A again. She kept an eye on where the other pair was in the ring, just liking to be aware of where they were. When she heard the other girl speak up, she collected Vintage to a walk so that she look at the girl when she answered. Her voice was naturally very soft, so sometimes people found her hard to hear, especially in a big arena. "The jumps are fine." she assured her. She wouldn't be jumping yet, but if she did the heights would be good for what she was working on. Vintage wouldn't have to work too hard on clearing them, so she could work on her form and distances, as well as her own equitation.

She brought Vintage back into the trot, but it was a very collected one. Rose sat to it, keeping her seat deep and heels down. It was easy to get stick when working at the sitting trot, but she kept her shoulders and hands relaxed while the rest of her body was kept steady.