Blue Ridge is a fictional town located deep in the heart of Kentucky. It is home to one of the most well known equestrian academies in the United States. Students and staff from all over the world join the academy for what it has to offer. Do you have what it takes to join us and learn from the Academy?
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Post by Sawyer Grace Lansky on Dec 30, 2017 9:53:31 GMT -8
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Ransom snorted, ready to start moving around the arena. Sawyer looked up at him, and shook her head. She wasn't even on his back yet, and didn't have her helmet on or anything. She tied him up to the side of the arena and slipped her helmet on. She untied the dapple grey, unhooking his lead rope from the halter underneath his bridle. Sawyer slipped the reins over his head, and climbed up on him. She began to walk around the arena, despite Ransom trying to go faster. She wanted to do a warm-up, and to become familiar with the new arena. This was the first time they had actually rode together since Sawyer arrived at Blue Ridge. It felt good to be back on his back. They had a good connection, considering they had been riding together for the past six, almost seven, years.
Sawyer eased the horse into a trot as they moved around the arena. After a couple laps, she pulled him into a halt. He stopped momentarily, and then they moved back into a trot. She continued around the arena, moving into simple dressage transitions. She didn't really feel like trying any movements quite yet. Just taking it easy. Unlike Sawyer, Ransom wanted to move quickly around the arena. Sawyer had to keep pulling him back from what he wanted to do. He had always been a little high-strung. She slowed him down to a walk and began to move around the arena again. [/ul]
Post by Geraldine Cliff on Jan 3, 2018 17:23:46 GMT -8
Gerri finished saddling Genie, a grin of triumph still on her face from having managed to saddle him in her first attempt - No disappearing act this time! She grabbed her helmet and then led the gelding out to the arena, hoping to maybe get some work in on their counter-canter.
She walked Genie over to the indoor arena and paused as she spotted someone in the arena already. But, she'd only really dressed for working inside, so she had to call out to the girl - Who had, at least, just slowed to a walk - and ask, "May I join you?"
Post by Sawyer Grace Lansky on Jan 3, 2018 17:30:10 GMT -8
[/b] she said, "There's more than enough room for the four of us." She smiled, welcoming the girl into the arena. "I'm Sawyer, this is Ransom. She hoped she wasn't talking too much for the girl, but she was just excited to meet a new face. [/ul]
Post by Geraldine Cliff on Jan 3, 2018 17:46:32 GMT -8
Gerri grinned at the easy yes - Some people were so snobby about having to allow another rider, even if asking was really just a formality - and reached out to unlatch the gate, smiling up at the introduction as she latched the gate behind her and then checked Genie's girth before mounting.
Once she was settled in the saddle, she smiled over at the girl - Sawyer, "It's really nice to meet you, Sawyer. I'm Gerri, and this is Genie." She patted the gelding's neck as he stood quietly, "I love Ransom's color, dappling is my favorite stage of greying."
Post by Sawyer Grace Lansky on Jan 3, 2018 17:58:08 GMT -8
[/b] she said, eyeing the horse the girl was riding. He was rather...unique. "Thank you, he's a pretty grey right now. I'm sure he'll whiten up as he gets older. Not looking forward to that," she said, the disappointment could be heard in her voice. "Genie is quite the...interesting horse," she said, doing her best not to offend her. It wasn't that he wasn't good looking. He was just different than what she was used to.[/ul]
Post by Geraldine Cliff on Jan 3, 2018 18:06:48 GMT -8
Gerri nodded. If her knowledge of greys was anything to go by, he would, "About how old is he now?" Some seemed to hang on to the grey longer than others. At Sawyer's comment about Genie, Gerri raised an eyebrow, "Guessing mustangs aren't big wherever you learned to ride?" There was no judgment in her tone, just a touch of amusement, "You'll get used to seeing western-type horses around here, since it serves both sides." She'd gotten enough judgment from the English riders, she didn't need to add to that. "But yes. He's a wild-born mustang."
Post by Sawyer Grace Lansky on Jan 4, 2018 9:25:26 GMT -8
[/b] she said, after working all her thoughts off. "So I'm sure he'll lose his coloring, soon." It was a wonder he had held onto it this long. He was lighter than he had been when she first got him, but his dapples were still quite rich.
Sawyer smiled, as the girl told her what the horse was. "Yeah, no, not quite," she said. She had seen other western horses, but not many wild mustangs. "That's awesome, though. Kind of makes him just a little more interesting!" she said. She hadn't actually met a mustang before. Sawyer hadn't meant any judgement by what she said, he just had quite the unique look to him. [/ul]
Post by Geraldine Cliff on Jan 4, 2018 21:08:01 GMT -8
Gerri nodded at the number, "A good age." Although she did have to agree with Sawyer about the gelding losing his coloring eventually. She grinned, "Yeah. It's always interesting, I think about his life before he was captured and how it compares to here." She shrugged, "But he's a good horse. He's taught me a lot." She paused, then asked, "What were you working on today, or thinking about working on? We shouldn't let Ransom cool down too much if you were going to keep working."
Post by Sawyer Grace Lansky on Jan 4, 2018 22:59:13 GMT -8
[/b] Sawyer said, stroking Ransom's mane. She loved her horse. Honestly, would do just about anything for him. And he would do anything for her. "I'm sure his life was a bit more adventurous in the wild," Sawyer said, dreamily. She would love to be adventurous. But she just hadn't had her chance. "Probably a lot more safer here, though," she laughed. There wouldn't be many predators around here to go after the horses, at least not of the wild animal variety. They'd probably be safe from anything, though.
"I was really just working on getting used to the arena," she admitted. She had done a few dressage moves, but she just wanted to get a feel for everything. "But I do mostly dressage," she said, not sure how the western and dressage would play out together, but they would figure it out. She agreed with the girl though. Shouldn't let Ransom cool down too much. He'd think they were done. [/ul]
Post by Geraldine Cliff on Jan 11, 2018 19:04:18 GMT -8
Gerri laughed, "Probably." He probably missed some of the freedom, but at least there was safety and sure food here.
She nodded at that information, "Good idea, when you're new." She squeezed Genie into a walk, hoping the girl would follow her if she was hoping to keep her horse moving, and not wanting to keep Genie standing much longer in any case, "I do a little bit of everything for now, I haven't really decided on where I want to focus yet. I enjoy both Western and English, so for now I'm a bit of a jack-of-all-trades."
Post by Sawyer Grace Lansky on Jan 11, 2018 19:51:01 GMT -8
[/b] Sawyer said, a hint of jealousy in her voice. "I've always wanted to learn how to ride western. Just never had the chance." Or the right horse. Ransom was a very flexible horse, but western wasn't his cup of tea. Maybe eventually Sawyer would be able to convince her parents she needed a horse to ride so she could learn. It would definitely take a lot of practice. [/ul]
Post by Geraldine Cliff on Jan 17, 2018 20:25:10 GMT -8
Gerri nodded at the sentiment, "I'm glad I got a chance. I came to the Academy not knowing much about anything, so I didn't really have one to focus on." She shrugged, "I'm getting there." She paused, just sitting to Genie's walk as she thought, "If you just wanted to try it, you could probably talk to Ms. Carr about using an academy horse for a few sessions?"
Post by Sawyer Grace Lansky on Jan 17, 2018 20:29:57 GMT -8
[/b] Sawyer asked. She couldn't imagine coming here not knowing very much, but she knew some people did it. However, if she decided to learn Western, she wouldn't have the first clue on what to do. She would definitely need some lessons. "You should show me some of your moves sometime," she suggested. She had watched a couple of western pleasure shows, but hadn't seen much. Always distracted by something else.
"I'll have to do that," she said, excitedly. Using an academy horse was a great idea. Especially for lessons. They would definitely help her at least learn the basics of Western.[/ul]
Post by Geraldine Cliff on Jan 17, 2018 21:00:32 GMT -8
Gerri laughed, "About a year and a half, now. I started as a freshman." It was weird, how time had dulled what had happened prior to her coming to the Academy - And if she was honest, she very rarely thought about it anymore. She knew only what her dad sent in his letters or said in his phone calls - She hadn't really kept up contact with her mom, since all letters went unanswered. She was pulled out of that line of thinking at Sawyer's next comment, "Maybe someday. When we're geared up for that." She grinned, "Today's an English day." Hence the English tack.
Post by Sawyer Grace Lansky on Jan 17, 2018 21:42:26 GMT -8
[/b] she said.
Sawyer laughed, shaking her head. "I didn't mean today!" she said. "Just sometime, whenever." She figured it would probably be difficult to ride western in English tack. Especially if she used the same horse for both disciplines. [/ul]