Dressage Introduction Class- All Dressage 101 & 102 Students

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Ashley woke up at 5 AM and was too excited to go back to sleep. She got up, made herself a cup of coffee, pulled on a light blue polo, a pair of breeches, and her tall boots and headed to the barn. As she walked inside, Chili gave her a welcoming whinny, and she slipped him a few cookies. Ashley looked over her roster of students and started planning what they would do throughout the rest of the year.


Time flew faster than usual, it was almost time for the students to come in. This first class was a general introductory class which including both her Dressage 101 and Dressage 102 classes so she could get to know everyone and their horses.

The class came pouring into the arena with their horses and she was ready to start. Excitedly she says, "Hello class, my name is Ashley Watson, and I am your new Dressage instructor. I am very excited for this year, and I can not wait to watch you and your horses grow together." She was overwhelmed by all of the students who showed up, but was eager to get started and learn more about each of them. "In this first meeting, I would just like to get to know all of you. We will go around the arena and you will say your name, and tell me about your Dressage experience. Also, tell me about your horse, and give me one thing that you would like to know more about in Dressage. If you have any questions about myself, please feel free to ask."

Ashley decided to make it easier and start with her own introduction. "I'm Miss Watson, and I have been riding since I was three. I have been studying Dressage for about 10 years now and I have shown all the way through Grand Prix level. I have one horse here now named Chili, and two more that will be coming at a later date."

Ashley gave a warm smile and motioned to the first student to begin their introduction.

Students enrolled in Dressage:

Dressage 101:

@beck
Sync
@daretodream
@boldandbrave
Bacon
@kate
@daretodream
Peter Holden

Dressage 102:

@starboard
CaraGenie
CaraGenie
Stern

[Cara-Jean Kitchi]

Once the academic classes were over for the day, Cara raced up to her dorm room and quickly changed into her dressage outfit; white breeches, a pale yellow ratcatcher and a black sleeveless vest, and then pulled a tracksuit over the top. Pushing her feet into her tennis shoes - not a very good fashion statement, but workable for now - she hurried down to the barn where she could get her mare ready.

It didn't take long to get Ella ready to be ridden, even after braiding up her mane and tail (mane in a running braid and tail in a neat french braid). The mare's tack consisted of a black Bates dressage saddle, white shaped saddle pad and Bates Isabell Werth Satchmo double bridle with a diamante browband. She rubbed the mare's nose as she finished putting everything in place and stepped back to inspect everything. "Right, I think we're ready." She said with a nod as she walked into the tack room to put the grooming supplies away. She shed the tracksuit, pushed her feet into her field boots and slipped her Charles Owen on her head.

Walking back out to the mare, she removed the coss-ties and then led the mare out of the barn and toward the dressage arena. She thought it was quite clever for the new instructor to bring the two classes together for their first lesson.

Arriving at the arena, it didn't surprise her that she was the first to arrive and she entered the arena with her mare, pleased that the two-toned Hanoverian didn't kick up a fuss to entering the arena, as even though they were beyond the mare's issues now, every now and then the past did seem to sneak up on the mare.

When the rest of the class had arrived and their instructor began speaking. Cara cringed slightly when they were asked to introduce themselves - even though it was obvious. "I am Cara-Jean, I have been riding dressage since I started competing ten years ago. I am qualified to ride Prix St. Georges, if I have a horse capable of the same level." She swallowed, feeling that she had said too much. "This is Paint by Numbers, or Ella." She chewed on her lower lip as she thought about what she wanted to learn the most. "I would like to help Ella find more elasticity with her movements."

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Luka bussed his tray and left it on the pile. He still had a couple of minutes before lunch was officially over and he would have to start getting ready for class, but knowing his horses, Quiz would be covered in dirt, and Neb would probably be a neat camo pattern, with grass and mud stains. Sighing, Luka walked out towards the pastures, stopping where he had left his two equines and looking in at an all-too-familiar, and not at all unexpected, scene. Luka unbuckled Neb's halter from the rail where he had left both and then let himself into the pasture. As he walked towards the buckskin gelding, he saw Neb's ears prick up. The gelding didn't cause any trouble, and let himself be caught easily. Soon, Luka was leading him towards the barn.

After grooming the gelding to the best of his ability with the time that he had, which left a few grass stains along the gelding's legs, but as they were mostly hidden by the black, and wouldn't come off without a good soaking, Luka wasn't inclined to worry about them. Instead, he set about tacking up the gelding, using the older, worn saddle and bridle. After a few more minutes of quiet work, Luka had finished and released the gelding from the cross ties. Checking to make sure that his helmet was in place, he picked up his dressage whip and made his way towards the dressage arena.

As the new teacher started the class, Luka listened to her instructions, holding Neb's reins loosely in his right hand and the whip in his left. She seemed to be competent enough, at least as far as the experience portion of the class was concerned. As to teaching, that remained to be seen. As Ms. Watson finished her introduction, Luka looked around at the other students, waiting for Cara to finish before launching into his own introduction, "My name is Luka. I've been riding for maybe nine years, and have focused exclusively on Dressur for almost eight years now, and have reached Fourth Level. This is Nebuchadnezzar, or Neb. I have one other horse, Quetzacoatl. I'd like to work on flying lead changes, we have a lot of trouble as the number gets smaller."

[Cortney Smit]

Cortney stood in Red Willow, getting Remi looking somewhat presentable for her first dressage class. She felt the butterflies in her stomach take flight as she moved the rubber curry comb in circles over the mare's back. "You just had to roll in a lake of mud, didn't you?" She playfully scolded the mare as she managed to removed the last of the dried mud from the mare's white patches.

As soon as the horse was ready; in her dressage saddle, fitted saddle pad and snaffle bridle - she didn't feel confident enough to ride in a double bridle just yet. She grabbed her Troxel, put it one her head and fastened it under her chin as she led the mare out of the barn and down to the dressage arena. She walked into the arena, the butterflies still in full flight in her stomach, and walked over to where the others were standing.

When the students had all arrived and their teacher began speaking, she remained silent as she listened to others and then knew it was her turn to speak. "Um, I'm Cortney Smit. I used to ride dressage all the time until I stopped riding four years ago, and we had been riding for six years by then. We got up to first level dressage. This is Sunny Reminder, Remi, she belongs to the Academy. In her past she's done dressage and I hope to relearn my love of the sport with her help. And yours of course, Miss Watson." She gave the teacher a half smile.

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Kate stood in the tack room, mentally assessing all of the tack that she would have to end up bringing to Poet's stall. She'd already groomed her horse, and was now ready to tack him up for his dressage lesson. She draped the saddle pad over her arm and balanced the saddle over it before hanging the bridle over her shoulder. The saddle could use cleaning after her class, and she could take care of it later. The dressage saddle was older, but still in good shape.

Once she returned to Poet's stall, she arranged the pad on his back and then put the saddle on, fastening the girth which she had hung over her arm. She picked a shaving out of his tail that she had missed before bridling him and putting on her own helmet and gloves. It had been a while since she had competed for dressage, but she still liked to keep up her skills.

Once ready, she led Poet out to the dressage ring and stood next to the other students as she listened to the new instructor's introduction, as well as those of her peers. When it came her turn, she spoke up, trying to be brief. "My name is Kate Holden, and I began working in dressage six years ago and I used to compete frequently in the discipline. This is Philosophical Whim, or Poet. I haven't worked much with him in dressage yet, as I've focused elsewhere, but I'd like to learn to bring out the best in both of us."

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Irina walked to the barn where her beloved Gabby was stalled. She walked down the barn isle and grabbed Gabby's leadrope before clipping it onto the halter."Zdravstvuyte , moi vozlyublennyye"(Hello, my beloved.) She said softly speaking to her chestnut 16.3 Budyonny mare named Gabby. Irina brushed the mare and and picked out her hooves. The brown-haired girl tightened the Prestige saddle. Irina grabbed the bridle and put the cavasson on before asking the mare to open her mouth so the bit could go in. Gabby opened her mouth with no complaints and the bit slid in. Irina put the bridle over one ear and then the other ear. She grabbed her helmet and snapped the clip closed.
 
She walked out the eventing course. The dressage class would held in the eventing course. Irina walked up to a gate and called gate"Gate." In her heavy Russian accent. Oh, how she missed her beloved Russia. Irina had plans once she finished college she'd go back to Russia and then train to go on the Olympics. She didn't mind America,especially Kentucky,sghe liked it alot though one gets lonely without any friends. She was always a lonor at school in America especially after the rumors had start5ed about her which was ridiculous and most certainly weren't true at all. Irina opened the gate walked in and then closed the gate and locked it. She heard the last part of their teachors instructions-they had to introduce themselves. She listened as everyone introduced themselves. Soon it was her turn. "Hello. I'm Irina Torchinovich. I've been riding forever but i got Gabby when I was 7. I've been showing in dressage for 7 years but I've ridden dressage since i was 6. This is Gabby. She's a Budyonny mare. I would like to have help with tempes." She said in her heavy Russian accent. After living for America for 3 years that accent still hasn't gone away. Irina doubted her accent would ever go away. "Khoroshaya devochka."(good girl.) Irina said softly to her horse.

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Nina fast walked from her last academic class to her dorm room as she had to change from her jean capris and top to riding outfit-beige riding jeans, short sleeve polo shirt, and tennis shoes-for her upcoming equine class courses. She tied her hair up into a nice high ponytail with her horse hair clip. Checking to make sure she didn't have any loose strands, she headed off towards the White Oak barn.

Walking down the aisles of stalls, she glanced in at Horatio's stall and got a happy whinny in greeting. The girl smiled as she petted the mare's nose and slipped the mare's biege halter over her elegant face and clipped the matching lead rope. Opening the stall door, she lead the horse into crossties and got started on grooming the mare down. Once groomed and star, she checked the time and only had about ten more minutes to get down to the eventing courses where the dressage class was held. Untying the crossties, Nina grabbed the reins and lead Ratio out fot he barn towards the eventing courses.

Upon arrival, she noticed the new dressage instructor and the small group of students joining her. Grabbing good hold of the reins, she lead herself and Ratio over towards the small crowd as they have started a discussion to introduce themselves. Listening to how the new instructor was called Miss Watson, she patiently waited for her turn to speak as she already knew most of the students were, seeing them around campus at times. "I'm Nina Dobrev, and I have been doing Dressage ever since I have learned to ride a horse. She began as it was her turn to speak and gestured over to Ratio at her side. "This is Horatio, or Ratio, and I think both of us would just like to excel our knowledge in dressage." She concluded her turn with a light smile.