Speed Weavers

[Bruce Ropata]

Bruce enjoyed teaching the teenagers the thrill of mounted games. Today he set up the five lanes with bending poles, deciding to go with an oldie, but a goodie; Speed Weavers. Not only would it give him an idea of how far along his team had come, but it would also let him see where his new students were at.

There were only two ponies in the yards, as he had brought out Chris and Ish, letting the new students know that all they needed to bring was their helmet, and the other students would arrive with their ponies tacked up and ready to go.

He greeted the students as they arrived, opening the gate for those who were mounted, and when everyone was there, and the students warming their ponies up; he led the two unmounted girls over to the yards where the ponies were sleeping. He stopped at the yard of a chestnut tobiano, New Forest pony. "Amaya, this is Chris. He knows his job in the arena and will do anything asked of him. His weakness is treats, so I ask that you don't have any on you when hear him. Not only can he sniff them out, but he can count too." He gestured to the small tack shed. "You will find his things in there, his colour is olive." He walked on to the next yard where a Rocky Mountain Breed was dozing. "Gladys, this is Ish. Like Chris, she knows her job. As with all horses, has her off days. The main thing to watch out for is that she's super competitive, once she's in the zone, she's completely focused. As with Chris, her gear is in the shed. Her colour is yellow."

Calling:
Beyond Fortune - Chase Valentine
Copper Gold - Kekona Hanson
El Dorado Crossroad - Amaya Mae Byron
Fallen Blossom - Lucy Woodhaven
Irish Wish - Gladys Madoc
Pixie Rose - Stefano Rice
Scarlet Glory - Andrea Valentine
Smokin' Orchestra - Sina Aleardi

[Stefano Rice]

Seth always laughed when he got Pixie ready for mounted games, even more so now that he had his own horse, as the pony was tiny. He enjoyed working with the rose grey Welsh mare though, as she was just like him; loved to go fast, and lived life to the max when in the arena!

As soon as the pony was ready, he led her toward the mounted games arena and swung into the saddle before he got there, bowing his head as their instructor opened the gate for them, and he rode the mare in, beginning her warm up. The poles gave him an idea of what they would be doing, but he wasn't going to make any assumptions until the man started the class.""

[Gladys Madoc]

Gladys was practically bouncing as she made her way out to the mounted games class, but then that was nothing new; the Welsh girl never lacked for enthusiasm, and right now, she had so much to be enthusiastic about that she was nearly suffering a total meltdown! As instructed, she carried a helmet under her arm and she very nearly levitated across the yard, so excited was she. At the first sight of her pony, she practically melted.

"Oh wow, you're gorgeous!" she exclaimed, just as if the little equoid could hear her and understood every word. The girl ran a hand down her mount's neck as she listened to the instructor. "Yellow is an awesome colour." she declared firmly.

[Sina Aleardi]

Sina hummed as she prepared Mo in his stall - They were enough of a menagerie without hanging out in the cross ties. Once he was ready, she set Dolly on his saddle and grabbed her helmet. She walked over to the arena and then dropped of Dolly and Derecho in the shed, settling them on a pile of old blankets in the corner that was 'their' spot.

Once they were taken care of, she brought Mo to the arena and swung up, smiling at Mr. Ropata as he opened the gate for them, "Thanks." She started their warm-up, focusing on the pony, and mostly tuning out the other students for now.

[Andrea Valentine]

Andrea had arrived to class a bit early, obviously leaving her more time than usual to prepare. She'd even hastily braided Scarlet's tail, just because she wanted to. She didn't see why not. Besides, Scarlet certainly didn't seem to mind.

Before long, she was sitting on Scarlet's back in the arena, warming her up with the rest of the class. She kept glancing at the arrangement of poles, a ghost of a smile on her face.

[Kekona Hanson]

Kona grinned as she walked over to Pop's position in the cross ties, bringing the gelding's saddle over to him. She enjoyed mounted games - She didn't take them too seriously during practice, and it really felt like playing games sometimes. And Pop liked them too! After she'd finished tacking up the gelding, she led him out of the barn and then mounted, walking him over to the arena where they were meeting their class. She smiled her thanks at Mr. Ropata as the teacher opened the gate for her, and rode inside to start their warmup.

[Lucy Woodhaven]

Lucy tacked up her mounted games pony, little gray Yoko. They had grown pretty close to each other as they had worked together. She had shown up on time. She tack up with quick hands then lead her down to the ring. She mounted and let her walk around the ring t0 warm up.

[Chase Valentine]

Chase did his best to remove all the dirt and loose hair from Bonnie's coat before tacking up. It took longer that way and he was often one of the last ones to the arena, but he and Bonnie both agreed that a clean pony was a happy pony. Once she was all set, he put on his helmet and led Bonnie out to the arena. There, he mounted and joined the others in warming up. The poles in the middle looked exciting, which didn't sound good to him. He began to wonder why he'd even enrolled in such a fast-paced class in the first place. At the same time, he wasn't going to let the other students show him up.

[Amaya Mae Byron]

Amaya headed out to the yard, helmet in hand. She was unsure of what the game would include, or which pony she would be riding, but she was excited to find out. She met with the teacher, and listened to his instructions. Luckily, she hadn't brought any treats with her today. She usually had them in her pockets for Tinkerbell. "Thank you," she said, and headed towards the shed to grab the pony's tack.

She held her hand out to the pony to introduce herself, and then began to tack him up in his olive color. She mounted the pony, and began to follow the rest of the class in the warm-up.

[Bruce Ropata]

Once his new students had joined the others and he was happy that everyone had had enough warming up time, he put his fingers in his mouth and released a shrill whistle. "Haere mai. tamariki ma!" He called as he motioned for them to join him at the star/finish line. "Ok, today's pairings will be as follows: Chase and Amaya, Kona and Andrea, Gladys and Sina, and then Seth and Lucy."

He paused long enough for the students to find their partners; he'd paired the new members of the class with two that had been around for long enough to know the games. He then walked around and handed a baton to a person of each pair. "Rider one weaves between the poles, turns around pole 5 and returns, weaving between the poles, to hand the baton to Rider two. Rider two repeats the actions of Rider one, finishing with the baton." The game could be classed as simple, and a little redundant for the riders who had been on the team for years, but it was great for brushing up on simple skills, and would give him and idea of what the new riders needed to focus on.

When the students holding the batons were lined up; Bruce moved out of the way and held his hand in the air. "Ready, set, GO!" He dropped his hand on the last word.

[Stefano Rice]

Seth reined Pixie in when their instructor whistled. He guided the mare over to where they were called and made sure that he gave the mare her space, knowing that she didn't like being crowded.

He nodded as they were paired up, and he rode toward the girl on Yoko. "Let's hope fatty can get around those poles." He joked, though he knew that the round mare was as agile as any pony half her girth size.

He accepted the baton and nudged the mare up to the start line. Weight in your feet, not your seat. This was his silent mantra as they waited for the cue to start, and when it was given, he released his hold on the mare. He used his seat and legs to guide the mare around the poles, leaning back as they spun around the fifth and then made their way back through the poles.

Leaving the last pole, he moved into two-point as he held mane and reins with his left hand, right hand outstretched toward Lucy with the baton. He released the baton as soon as he felt her fingers close on it and they thundered over the line where he circled the mare to slow her down and rode back toward the line.

[Gladys Madoc]

Gladys looked around in blind panic for a moment or two, not even vaguely recognising the name which the instructor gave her. After a second, she realised that there was only one person left without a partner and therefore by the process of elimination, that must be her partner, so she nudged the little pony over towards the girl, giving her a bright smile. Baton clutched in one hand, she waited nervously for the cue to begin- so nervously in fact, that she didn't register immediately when the cue was given. Horrified, she nudged the mare on, surprised for a second at her eagerness before recalling the warning that she had had and bringing in her thighs to control the horse a little. She maintained a firm rein contact around the poles, just about keeping her balance as they whirled around the fifth pole, and allowing Ish to speed up ever so slightly on the return, tossing both reins into one hand and holding out the baton with the other.

[Sina Aleardi]

Sina nodded as she heard the name of her partner, and then the girl was moving over on Ish. Sina chuckled at the irony of that - Khalid's mount last year, and now back to haunt her. "Hey." She let Gladys take the baton and lined Mo up behind the line, ready and waiting for the start. As their partners got going, Sina started cheering for Gladys, although she kept her hand on the reins and the other outstretched, falling silent and grabbing the baton as Gladys and Ish ran past them. Sina pushed Mo forward, and then they went flying through the poles.

Before too long, they had whipped around pole five and were on their way back, and then they'd made it over the finish line, and Sina allowed Mo to slow, and then stop by Gladys. She smiled at the younger girl, "Nice run! Don't tell me you're really new to this?"

[Kekona Hanson]

Kona circled over to Mr. Ropata as the man called for their attention, and then listened to the pairings. She had Pop sidle over to where Andrea was, and then took the baton when it was handed to her. She shrugged at Andrea, then brought Pop to the starting line, going over how to run the poles.

When the start was given, she nudged Pop forward and they slipped in and out from the poles, before whirling around the last one and making a beeline back to where Andrea stood. Kona held out the baton as she passed the girl, then, after it had been passed off, slowed Pop and turned to watch their teammate run.

[Andrea Valentine]

Andrea grabbed the baton from her partner and, doing her best not to drop the thing, urged Scarlet forward. She wondered if barrel racing was a lot like pole bending. She'd have to try it out sometime. They weaved between the poles - Scarlet was a natural and all Andrea felt she needed to do was stay in the saddle. Unfortunately she lost a stirrup when they whirled around the last pole, but she made it back without any major incidents.