Driving Clinic

[Leander Hastin]

Lee stopped Lenore in the middle of the large field that sometimes made up the Academy's show grounds, but was currently just a vast expanse of grass. The rings that were used were put up just for the events, leaving the space perfect for a clinic that required a lot of flat terrain for the rest of the time. Leaving his driving apron on the seat, along with his gloves, he swung out of the driver's box, walking to the bed of the waggonette, where Akamu sat, lording over the materials that Lee had brought for the class. Ruffling the dog's head, Lee grabbed the mint green halter from the back and looped them over his arm before he moved to unhitch Lenore. He backed the wagon away from the mare, then left it standing in the field as he untacked the mare, switching all of her gear for the halter. He had no plans of using her just yet, and leaving her in the heavy carriage tack for hours was just cruel.

Once he had deposited everything in the back of the wagon, Lee led Lenore over to a fresh patch of grass, close enough to keep an eye on her, but leaving a space for his class to congregate. He returned to the cart and sat on the grass, leaning against one of the wheels. As the students trickled in, he stood, smiling, and greeted them, before inviting everyone to find a partner and sit together before the class began.

Roll-Call
@lifesgood
@jennap
@luka
Othello Buskirk

[Othello Buskirk]

Othello straightened up and arched his back, pleased that he had finished cleaning the rats' palace and having everything back where it needed to be. Go figure that his two rats had OCD over where everything had to go. He then gave the two girls a bath and rubbed them dry with a fleece towel and after letting them have a sprint around his room, and around, and around, he returned them to their mansion.

Changing his clothes, out of the sweatpants and muscle shirt he had been wearing to a pair of Levi's® Squad Cargo Shorts, and after pulling the belt tight he pulled on his blue Puma® Sleeveless Triple Cat Tee, pushed his feet into a tidy pair of paddock boots, grabbed his pack - that already had the food he needed for the day in it - grabbed his Levi's® Fleece Hoodie, which he slung over his shoulder and exited his dorm room.

Heading across campus, he made his way toward the area where the academy had recently hosted a show. As he walked, part of him wished that he could have brought Harry along, but then he realised that that would have been silly as the clinic was obviously being run by the person on campus who owned a wagon.

Entering the area, his eyes were immediately drawn to the large sorrel mare who was grazing contentedly, free of the tack that she must have been wearing to pull the wagon that he could see in the middle of the area. He then walked over to where the cart was, and the clinic's instructor - he guessed. "Hi, I'm Othello Buskirk." She said as he offered the man his hand. "Please call me Leo."

Once the others had arrived an the man, Dr Hastin, had spoken to them, he looked around the small gathering of students and lwalked up to the blonde female (Erica). "Hey, I'm Leo. Would you like to work together?"

[Deleted]

Erica let out a content sigh as she finally finished braiding her blonde hair off into a fishtail braid. Glancing at the hairstyle in the mirror she was quite pleased at how it turned out. It seemed felt like it took forever, but it turned out to only take eight or so minutes. She pinned up any stray hairs from her bangs that decided to get in her face as she took one last look in the mirror. She already has slipped on a pair of flexible capris jeans, a sky blue Roxy Place to Place Tee, and slightly worn out brown riding boots. She ran a hand on the old leather of the riding boots as they still seemed like in brand new condition besides the few wrinkles and fades. She felt like since they weren't completely falling apart, why spend money on new pairs of paddock boots when that money can be used for something more needed for.

Grabbing a brown bag that had her lunch, she decided she rather not leave the clinic just to head to the cafeteria and walk all the way back so she decided to bring her lunch with her as she placed them in her backpack. She gave one last look around her quiet room to make sure she didn't forget anything that might be important before exiting her dorm and headed to the clinic she signed up for her summer activities. As she sort of fast walked across campus, she then wondered to herself why she was starting at a fast pace. She then just guessed it was better to be a bit early rather than late and have those awkward stares towards those who actually arrived on time.

When she arrived at where the driving clinic was held at, she noticed that she wasn't the first one to get here, but she doubt she would be the last. Letting out a sigh in relief as she realized she wasn't late, she glanced over to the boy who seemed to be the first one here as he introduced himself to a man who she guessed was the instructor. Her haze also landed on the large mare that was grazing over a fresh patch of grass. After a few quick seconds of observation at the horse, she pushed herself over to the instructor as she decided to greet him as well. She seemed to recongnize the man from being the small animal vet around Blue Ridge. Dr Hastin if she remembered hearing his name around correctly. "Hi, I'm Erica. I'm one of the students attending your clinic." She forced herself a light smile, trying not to show her shyness, and unsure if they have met before or not as she decided if she was going to attend the man's clinic, he must know the students he will be working with.

As more students started to arrive she heard their first instructions being told to them about hooking up with a partner. She glanced around the small group of students that were attending the clinic as well before her eyes set over to the same boy, who he introduced himself as Leo, asking her to work with him. She gave a sincere smile towards him in greeting as she gave a nod in response. "Sure! I'm Erica, by the way." She answered as the guy didn't seem half bad, even though they haven't really met before. Although it's always a good time to meet someone new. She sat together with Leo as instructed before the class began.

[Deleted]

Jenna smirked at her phone, knowing she had just won the argument. She and her brother had been bickering for hours over text about who the actual hero of Lord of the Rings. It was a geeky topic and Jenna would probably never admit to anyone that she was a fan of the trilogy, but she had to prove that it was actually Sam who was the hero, not Aragorn. Her brother had finally given to the the facts and admitted that she was right, which boosted her ego tenfold. She did a horrific happy dance then checked her messy bun in the mirror.

After a once-over and readjustment of her faded red Coca-Cola tee shirt, she pulled on a pair of her favorite riding boots. Jenna had worn them so many times that the leather molded to her feet perfectly, making them one of her most comfortable pairs of shoes. She snickered at memories of how much her mother hated her boots as she grabbed her orange and neon green drawstring bag. That bag had everything she needed for the day, including her lunch and even a spare shirt just in case.

She stroked her cat's back quickly then power walked to where the driving clinic was to be held. From a distance, she saw several heads and a large sorrel horse. Her lips pulled into a soft smile as she approached the others. Jenna greeted the vet as she normally would, her smile never leaving her face.

Jenna walked up to Luka, sporting her never dying smile. "So...partners?" She asked with an overly cheeky smile. Jenna found it rather pointless to ask, seeing as their were only four students there and two had already paired up, but sucked it up and asked the blonde boy anyway.

[Deleted]

Luka threw his prepacked lunch and a waterbottle into his backpack, followed by his notebook, just in case. After zipping the bag closed, he walked over to check on Jethro's water and food, before he scratched the tortie's ears and then left the room, locking the door behind him. He missed having a roommate, but then again, having the room to himself for a while was an interesting experience as well.

With the backpack up on his shoulder, Luka headed towards the show grounds where he had been told the driving clinic would be taking place. He was a bit confused about the locale, but of course, he wasn't one to question Dr. Hastin. There would be some big reason behind the scheme, but that would reveal itself in due course.

As he approached the field, he first spotted the large sorrel mare, which he deduced was Dr. Hastin's horse, then he noticed the group in the field. He approached them, smiling at Jenna and the vet, nodding at the other two, whom he only slightly recognized from around school. As Jenna approached him about partnering up, he nodded, grinning, "Sure." Following Dr. Hastin's instructions, he sat on the grass, thankful that the sun had already dried it enough that it wouldn't bother anyone.

[Leander Hastin]

Lee smiled as he watched his small group gather and follow his instructions, joining them in sitting on the grass as soon as Luka and Jenna had paired up. He knew the two of his vet students, obviously, but by simple deduction, it was easy to guess who the other two were, since one name on his roster was decidedly masculine, with the other obviously female. Pausing for a moment to gather his thoughts, since it had been forever since he had had to address a group bigger than two (his vet students), then began, "Since there's so few of us, this is going to be really informal. You guys can call me Lee, or Dr. Hastin, whichever you'd like."

He paused again, then continued, standing up as he did so, "Since there's only one of Lenore," he gestured at the sorrel mare, "The beast over there, you're all going to be practicing on each other first." He grabbed two of the blindfolds he had packed and tossed one to each group, "Debate which one of you is going first, and then let the other person put the blindfold on." As they complied, he picked up two long strips of leather, his current and past long-reins, one of which had worn a little too much for real work, but would do well for the exercise. He handed the reins to each group, the unmasked person, then picked up a few large cones with a wry grin. Still smiling, he walked over to a section of the field and set up two slalom courses, sure that the first person wouldn't be able to see what the pattern was.

Returning to the group, he leaned back against the wagon, "Now that you are appropriately attired, we're going to be doing some long reining. You without blindfolds, please lead your partner to the front of the course, then give them one of the long reins in each hand. Stand behind them so that the reins are just about taught, but not pulling too hard." He walked over with the group, checking to make sure that the reins were right, before he nodded and stepped forward, "You're going to lead them in the pattern that I show you, using the reins only to direct them. No voices, and you have to stay the distance behind them." He was pointedly vague about the pattern, so as not to give away the game, before he stepped up to the starting line and traced the wide slalom, there and back once. Stepping aside, he smiled at the two students that would be able to see him, "Ready, set, and go!"

[Othello Buskirk]

Othello smiled at Erica, happy that she had agreed to work with him. He rubbed a hand across his cropped head and suddenly realised that he had forgotten to pick up a cap. He mentally yelled at himself as the last thing he needed was to overheat and throw up, but he pushed that aside as the instructor began to speak to them again. He like informal, but still made a mental note to always address the man as Dr Hastin.

Leo picked up the blindfold. "I'll be the horse first." He said as he covered his eyes with the blindfold, a little surprised with the fact that his world suddenly became very dark. He could hear the veterinarian moving around, but could only guess at what the man was doing. When they were told to move, he hesitantly began to rise, but quickly sat down again as he felt his stomach heave, it was just like going through chemo again. He finally stood up and could do no more until Erica led him to the start of the course that the man had obviously been setting up.

Once he had a line in each hand, and felt a little pressure, on the man's word, he moved off.

OOC: Joel, I'm giving you permission to power play Othello as much as you need in your post as we go through the course.

[Deleted]

Erica glanced around as she noticed how it was a small group with only four students attending the clinic. She recongnized the other two students that arrived from seeing them around campus. She gave a grin towards them in greeting. At least it was an even number so everyone had a partner and no one was left by themselves. She tried to recall what both of their names were, trying to remember if she had any classes with them last year, but her thoughts were interrupted as she heard Dr Hastin begin to speak. She listened to the instructor talk as he began to toss the blindfolds to each group with instructions for one person to put it on.

She gave a nod as Leo offered to be the first to be blindfolded. She wouldn't mind if she was the first one to be the horse, but she just went along with it as she followed the rest of the instructions the man had the other partner do. Taking hold of the long reins given, she let Leo stand up himself as she noticed him rising, but then quickly sitting back down before standing up fully. She was a bit worried at his actions as she hoped he felt alright before helping to assist him in leading him over towards the start of the course. She gave him a line in each hand as she stood behind him where the reins are just taught.

When the cue was given to start, she gave small taps on the reins to ask Leo to move forward as they were at a good paced walk, almost fast walk. It wasn't that much of a race, so she just doesn't want to rush Leo and have him fall. She remembered in the back of her mind the pattern that the veterinarian pointed out. She gave a slight pull on the right rein she wanted Leo to steer to and stopped the pressure when they seemed to move over to that direction enough before steering through the rest. She could feel the hesitance in him as she understood that it takes some time to process using your other senses besides sight, but she did her best to give him the right idea of the direction she wanted them to go in. They only did as much as brush against a cone as long reining was a bit hard as she knew that Leo was giving all his trust in her to direct him correctly around the course so it was just teamwork and cooperation on the line. She made a note of timing the right moment to ask Leo to either move in the correct direction as she knew she still had to be cautious about not bumping into the cones or even letting him trip over one for the rest of the wide slalom there and back as it seemed to go quite well.

[Deleted]

Jenna smiled when Luka agreed, then sat down beside him in the grass. She let the sun soak into her skin while she listened to Dr. Hastin introduce himself and explain what they were to do. A small grin tugged on her lips when he tossed the blindfold towards them. It's official, he was now her favorite adult on campus. "I'll be blinded first I guess." She smiled and shrugged, ending the sentence as more of a question than a statement.

Once she had secured the blindfold on, she stood up slowly. Jenna accidentally took a half-step backwards, nearly falling over backwards. Several syllables escaped her mouth, but the only words that could be identified were grace and smooth. When she finally got herself standing completely still, she turned her head left once, then right, trying to see something and caught a glimpse of sunlight. With a light sigh, she tugged the blindfold a little higher up so that she was completely blinded.

Jenna stood as still as she possibly could once Luka lead her over to wherever the unseen course was starting. She smiled aimlessly and squeezed the reins lightly between her thin fingers, waiting for her cue to go.

OOC: Make her fall on her face, glide through the course flawlessly, whatever you need to do, Stern.