Learn to Jump

[Abigail Sorenson-Faulkner]

OOC: Choose your horse assignment from the ones listed below.

Available Horses:
Mountain Viewing
The White Rabbit
Sunny Reminder
Color Between the Lines
Luna Eclipse

The jumping clinic was meant for students who had never jumped before. It was open to western riders as well, as jumping was an all around useful skill to have. The arena was set up with ground poles on the quarterline set at trot and canter lengths. The wooden X's for the cavalettis mimicked jump standards on either side of each pole. She stood in the center of the arena with a mic clipped to her shirt and waited for her students to arrive. It was a small clinic, but she was using school horses. Gail watched the horses and riders mount up and start warming up as they came in.

"Good morning everyone! Please continue to warm up your horses tracking left. The goal for today is to get you all confident going over a small jumping course. We'll start by learning the jumping position, practice going over poles, then cavalettis, and finally, small jumps. We'll finish the day with a simple course that should test what you've learned. Don't worry, there will be a break for lunch."

She watched the riders as she spoke trying to gauge each student for any strengths or weaknesses. "Any questions before we begin?"

[Kate Richardson-Hall]

It had been a while since Kate had been in a showjumping ring at all, and it felt somewhat surreal to be standing on the ground instead of sitting high in the air, but she found that on balance, she rather liked it. She stood about halfway between the X and C positions, keeping an eye on the riders as they made their way into the school and began to warm up in case she needed to hop out of the way suddenly. The blonde started a little at the unexpected volume of Gail's voice, and it took a moment before she deduced the presence of the microphone. That was a rather good idea, she remarked to herself. Not being the kind of person who shouted or even spoke loudly in the normal course of things, she frequently found her throat a little sore at the end of a class.

She was just happy to be here at all. Not knowing Abigail particularly well, she had been hesitant in the first place about approaching her, but Kate had found her colleague perfectly amicable to the idea of her lending a hand for the clinic, and the blonde was happy about that. It had been far too long since she had been actively involved with jumping in any capacity at all.

[Kekona Hanson]

Kona grinned as she tacked up Casper. It was just her luck that the day after her ride with Ms. Carr, a jumping clinic was being held for beginners! She was excited to get a head start on her classes for the next year, and maybe not make a complete fool of herself later.

After she had Casper polished to a shine, although she had left his mane unbraided, she brought the gelding out of the barn, groaning in the sunlight. Did it have to be so hot all of the time? Putting on her helmet, she led Casper over to the jumping arena. As she walked into the arena, she smiled at the two instructors. At first, she paid them little attention, and then she did a double take, smiling at Ms. Richardson-Hall. What a nice surprise!

She then turned to check Casper's girth before she boosted herself into the saddle. He was taller than most of the horses back home, which made things interesting, and the English saddle felt strange, but Kona managed. On instruction of the other woman, she turned Casper to track left and then started warming him up. This felt a little bit silly. They didn't really need to warm up the horses back home - They all just walked most of the time anyway. At least the schedule seemed reasonable. Kona wasn't too worried, and she didn't have any questions, so she shook her head when asked.

[Kate Richardson-Hall]

Kate noted the girl who she had met in her classroom not so long ago as she entered, and returned the smile which the newcomer gave her with a sparkle in her eyes. It was good to see that she was clearly not worried about engaging in some of the opportunities which Blue Ridge offered, and that was for the best- no one could get the best out of the experience if they didn't jump at every opportunity. The blonde was really rather proud of that pun, and she made a mental note to say it aloud at some point. It wasn't often that she thought of things like that, so when she did, the experience was one which ought to be savoured for posterity.

Knowing that the clinic was designed for beginners in jumping, she made a special point of watching that the students checked girths and had stirrups at the correct length before beginning- although she would hope that everyone who she saw here would have been at the school for long enough to know these basic things. Still, where jumps were concerned one couldn't be too careful, and so the blonde's blue eyes darted around the arena as everyone began to warm up.

[Kekona Hanson]

Kona focused on her own horse for the most part, although she did try to keep an eye on the other riders so she didn't get into their way. Finally, she felt happy with how Casper was moving (not that she knew what she was looking for!). Not wanting to tire the gelding, she slowed him back down and waited for further instructions.

[Jay]

Continuity Note:
At this point, Ella, or Color Between The Lines, becomes restless and uneasy, leading to her laming herself. Abigail takes her to find the vet, and Kate takes over the clinic temporarily.

[Kate Richardson-Hall]

"Right, everyone." Kate called across the arena, still somewhat nonplussed by the events of the last few minutes and without the advantage of a microphone. "Ensure your horses are calm and form a line on the far side of letter E, facing me." The blonde mentally ran over the plan of action which Gail had announced at the beginning, ensuring that she was doing everything right. "So, jumping position." Kate walked back across the arena to position herself on the far side, in front of the riders. "Can you all see me clearly?"

[Kekona Hanson]

Kona was lucky - Casper didn't seem too affected as the pinto started getting antsy. Kona did feel bad for that rider, though. They were effectively out of the clinic unless Ella was okay. Ms. Richardson-Hall took over the clinic, though, and Kona started looking around for the 'E', finally finding it. She halted Casper there and turned to watch the teacher, nodding. She could see her well enough from her position.

[Kate Richardson-Hall]

Kate waited until everyone had formed into something vaguely resembling a line, and then stepped forward slightly. She'd always felt like a bit of an idiot doing this demonstration, but she supposed that it had to be done. Kate did not have an innate talent with words, so if she tried to simply describe it then she'd be lucky if anyone had any idea at all of what she was talking about. The best way forward, therefore, was to show them- even if it did make her look like a meerkat at prayer. "So, the jumping position." she began. "It's not especially complicated, but it is difficult if you've never done it before. First off, I'm going to assume you've all done rising trot unless you tell me otherwise."

[Kekona Hanson]

Kona listened to the instructor's introductory explanation with interest. She needed to think about the question, or rather, assumption for a moment, until she remembered that a rising trot was just one with posting. She could post, so yes. Technically. She nodded, although Ms. Richarson-Hall hadn't really asked for an answer if it was positive.

[Kate Richardson-Hall]

She allowed a momentary pause for anyone with a problem to speak up, and then ploughed on with her explanations, never having really expected any objections with the simple concept. "So, for the jumping position, simply imagine you're in rising trot, but only rise around halfway." She demonstrated the necessary posture. "Flatten your back, head up and look straight ahead. Try to keep your hands still, though, we don't want to interfere with the horse's mouth." She straightened up, slightly self-consciously. "So, first things first, have a go at that. I'll come along and take a look."

[Kekona Hanson]

Kona listened to the explanation and watched the teacher's demonstration, then tried to think about that. She posted in the saddle a couple of times with Casper standing quietly, glad that he was so easy-going. Once she found that half-way point, she focused on mirroring the teacher's posture, looking ahead. It felt rather awkward!

[Kate Richardson-Hall]

Kate walked along the line, making one or two corrections to people's positions as she went. Most weren't bad and she was rather proud of herself, having achieved such good results so quickly. Perhaps her explanations weren't as bad as she'd thought that they would be considering that she'd never tried to teach it before. She reached the girl who she'd met before, looking around the classrooms, and gave her a smile. "Miss Hanson, isn't it?" she queried. "Not bad at all. Just try and flatten your back a little more and I think we'll be there."

[Kekona Hanson]

Kona smiled as the woman seemed to remember her, "Yes ma'am. Kona." Miss Hanson sounded so formal! She tried to straighten her back more like the instructor had suggested, "Thank you." Still awkward, but she could see how it would give Casper more freedom to take a jump. She would really need to step up her gym time, though, and wall-sits. Her legs felt tired from holding the position!

[Kate Richardson-Hall]

Kate watched as the girl corrected her position, and smiled as she found the right balance. "Excellent." she praised. Stepping back, she spoke to the whole class. "Thank you. You can sit down now. Now, the idea of this position is to allow the horse to move more freely and get over the jump. It will make it much smoother for you." She'd managed to find time to set up some poles around the arena, and she nearly slipped on one as she stepped back, just catching herself in time. "You'll notice some poles on the track around the arena. So, what we're going to do now will help you to assume the position more quickly. Every time you go over a pole, take up the position. And every time you've gone over, sit down again. We'll start off in walk, then try it in trot. Any questions?"