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Post by Amanda on Aug 18, 2008 20:14:28 GMT -5
Amanda:
"Ok, one more time boy" I said to November. I squeezed him into a slow canter. We flew over the jumps and did a clear round. When we were finished I patted November on the shoulder and gave him a cool down. It would have been good to take him on a trail but I needed to see Celtic.
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Post by libertysgirl on Aug 18, 2008 22:37:19 GMT -5
Milly: I watched Miley and he sister begin to leave, but Arin gave a slight look of panic and stopped Alex from leaving. My alert went on at how much she wanted Miley alone at the Reining ring. It hit all of the sudden. What if they're trying to do what I always do? What if they're trying to fix up Jack and Miley? I gave silly little dance in my saddle and Lyra feeling my excitment side stepped and gave a buck. I calmed her and then trotted over Syd's side. "Well I'm Cross Country so..I'll come with ya'll." I looked back catching Arin's eye and smiled slightly raising my brow. I then nudged Lyra and followed the others.
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Post by phantomstallion94 on Aug 19, 2008 9:50:39 GMT -5
Alex:
"i really should be heading over to Berryhill now to help my sister." i said to Arin waving goodbye and walking Nutmeg off to the trails.
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Post by hotspot on Aug 19, 2008 23:18:32 GMT -5
Arin: "she's an Akhal-Teke. nice to meet you, Alex." i said, but i was interrupted by alex's departure. oh, well- by this time, Miley had a good enough lead to be able to set our plot in motion. now, only amanda and i were left- "great jumping!" i declared.
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Post by Amanda on Aug 19, 2008 23:58:19 GMT -5
Amanda:
"Thanks!" I siad to Arin. I cooled down November for a couple of good laps and dismouted. I walked up to Arin leading November and said "Sorry to leave you, but I need to put November away and go see Celtic" I walked off to the stalls.
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Post by phantomstallion94 on Aug 20, 2008 8:41:19 GMT -5
Alex:
i moved Nutmeg into a graceful extended trot and headed to Berryhill.
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Post by hotspot on Aug 21, 2008 12:44:47 GMT -5
Arin: So, that left me alone in the ring. "ready for some theory work, girlie?" i asked Fly. she gave a snort- apparently objecting to the diminutive- and gave her head a toss. "you're the head-tossingest horse i've ever ridden," i pointed out to her, but made sure to adjust her chin chain and headstall before i swung back up in the saddle and took her over some of the short practice jumps.
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Post by phantomstallion94 on Aug 21, 2008 13:29:27 GMT -5
Alex:
as soon as i hit the trails i turned Nutmeg around and went back to Sterlings. i walked the mare into the indoor arena and saw Fly tossing her head. i walked Nutmeg over to the fence near the stalls and groundtied her. i dismounted and then walked over to Arin. "if Fly is tossing her head then maybe her bridle is too tight or her bit doesnt fit right." i said to Arin.
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Post by hotspot on Aug 22, 2008 15:06:03 GMT -5
Arin: i nodded. "i was thinking that- i just adjusted her bridle." i said, trotting over to the fence where Alex was siting on her pretty blue roan. "i checked for ear mites, too, but you'd think she would dislike wearing any headgear if it came to that." (like Blissy used to!) i shrugged. "Tekes are notoriously hotblooded, so maybe she's just being contrary."
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Post by phantomstallion94 on Aug 22, 2008 17:36:22 GMT -5
Alex:
"wait here, i have an idea." i said dismounting Nutmeg and throwing the split reins over the fence and jogging out of the arena. i entered the tack room and grabbed a barrel racing bridle. the bridle didnt have a bit and the nose band was connected in an oval. the split reins were connected to the oval nose band. creating no pain on the nose or bridle. i jogged back to the arena and over to Fly and Arin. "here try this."
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Post by hotspot on Aug 23, 2008 18:04:40 GMT -5
Arin: "a hackamore! i should have thought of that!" i exclaimed, snagging a loose lead rope and tethering Fly with it. i exchanged bridles, untied her, and remounted. before i had a horse of my own, i rode whenever i could while on tour- and once, in a little cowhorse-training ranch in the midwest, i got to go galloping around for a day using a hackamore. you had to rely more on verbal commands than physical ones- saying "whoa" in a deep, loud voice, for instance, since there was no bit, for instance. i wasn't sure if flightly Fly would be manageable without her usual Mullen Mouth bar bit. just as i suspected, she took off on a victory lap around the arena with her head free, and i had to haul back while shouting "WHOA!" for about thirty seconds before she would respond. "It was a good thought, Alex, but i think With Flying Colors is just a little too opinionated to use one."
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Post by phantomstallion94 on Aug 26, 2008 19:15:51 GMT -5
Alex:
i watched Arin mount up on Fly and then after one lap around Fly took off in a ground eating gallop and Arin couldnt stop her. "hmm..." i said and thought about what would keep Fly from shaking her head but still have contact on her mouth. "i got! how about either a war bridle or maybe twine on the hackamore that could in her mouth. stay here i will go get some twine!" i said running to the tack room again and untied twine from some hay and a lead rope. i came back and handed the twine to Arin.
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Post by hotspot on Aug 27, 2008 17:57:00 GMT -5
Arin: "i think the head-shaking is just a nervous habit- since it's her first day in a brand new place, and all." i said, inspecting the twine Alex had fetched. it was the same coarse, red-orange baling twine that my uncle and his farm swore by- they fixed gates, saddlery, and tractors with baling twine, and even used it for belts sometimes! (yes, one of Bliss's stirrups used to be held on with baling twine. rural fashion statement!) "we'll go back to the mullen Mouth for the time being, but thanks for the offer!"
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Post by phantomstallion94 on Aug 28, 2008 12:24:15 GMT -5
Alex:
"ok," i said walking back to the tack room and throw the twine back on the hay bail. then walking back out to the arena. i mounted up on Nutmeg and walked her around the arena. we moved into a jog and then approached the first fence. i collected her for the jump and with 2 feet in between us and the fence we cleared it. we did the same for the rest of the jumps. i jogged her back around the arena and then approached the fences again. i collected her again for the jump. she tucked up her legs and touched her chin to her chest. her long mane and tail flew in the wind. the graceful blue roan Quarter Horse jumped with such grace, she looked like she was flying. when we finished the course i jogged her around the arena. she bobbed her head and tucked it in. she pranced and lifted her legs in such grace.
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Post by hotspot on Aug 28, 2008 16:41:34 GMT -5
Arin: i applauded from Fly's back. the noise made her pin back her silver ears and do a little racking step in place. "bravo! nicely jumped!" i proclaimed. "i beleive Fly's ready to try an actual course, but we don't have one."
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