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| Subject: Huntseat Lesson & Trail Ride | |
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Author: Melanie |
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Date Posted: 18:36:46 06/17/02 Mon  It was a fresh summer morning. Melanie was tacking up her gray mare, Princess. It was only 7:30, and it wouldn't get too hot until about 9. "Almost ready Mel?" Jenny asked as she walked by, leading Flawless out to the paddock. "Yes mom." Melanie pulled down the stirrups, put on her helmet & gloves, grabbed her crop, and led Princess to the arena. The Arabian mare was feeling frisky. She pranced and tossed her head, nearly knocking Melanie down as they entered the ring. "Easy girl!" Mel put her foot in the stirrup and swung into the saddle. Princess broke into an eager trot before Mel had even boot her other boot in the stirrup. "Whoa!" Melanie tugged on the reins and circled Princess, glaring at her. "Well, someone is feeling good today." She straightened in the saddle and collected the reins. "C'mon girl!" Melanie squeezed and Princess surged into a ground covering trot. They warmed up and soon Jenny walked in. Today Melanie was going to have a huntseat lesson. Besides 3-day eventing, Melanie often entered & won hunter classes. "Equitation today!" Jenny said, standing in the center of the ring. "Walk." Melanie rolled her eyes at these basics but urged Princess into a walk. The mare's gait was smooth and she looked alert and on the bit. Melanie's seat was flawless. Then they trotted and cantered. Melanie had learned this stuff when she was 5. Then Jenny called for flying lead changes, circles, back ups, and changing rein. This was easy too. Melanie and Princess were working great together. After tuning up on their hunter skills, Jenny set up a 2' course. "Now, I know this is about a foot lower than you usually jump, but right now focus on your seat and form. This is hunter over fences equitation. At a canter!" Melanie urged Princess into a floaty canter. They leaped over the small jumps. Melanie kept her heels down, leg back, head up, back straight, gloved hands following Princess's arched neck, knees resting in the saddle, and her weight in her heels as they jumped each obstacal. "Excellant!" Jenny called. She did it a few more times, keeping Princess balanced, and then decided to go for a trail ride. Mel walked her out of the ring and down a shady trail that twisted through the trees. Dappled sunlight drifted down through the emerald green canopy of leaves. Princess walked down the trail steadily, swishing her tail occasionally to ward off flies. Melanie relaxed as they walked past the trees, full of chirping birds. They approached a fork in the trail. One of them was full of jumps and opened up into a pasture, the other led to the the stream and x country course. Melanie took the one on the right, the trail full of jumps. She urged Princess into a trot, then a canter. They pounded over the dirt, jumping the logs effortlessly and having a lot of fun. Over the last log and into a flat pasture that stretched for miles. The hot summer sun made them sweat. Melanie loosened the reins and kicked Princess into a gallop. They flashed over the grass, racing along the fence line. They finally pulled up at the end of the pasture. Melanie shortened the reins, and said breathlessly, "Let's go over here." Princess chewed on the bit as they trotted to the gate. They walked through it and into a paddock with a dirt road. They followed the dirt road to a stream (where Princess gulped down some cool water) then splashed across into the woods. 10 minutes of steady trotting and they came to the trail they had started on. They looped back to the barn and entered the stable yard. Melanie was so hot all she could think about was diving into an ice cold swimming pool. She dismounted and led Princess inside. She untacked her and hosed her off, then fed her a treat and turned her out in the pasture. Princess drank some water and then ambled off to doze beneath an oak tree. Mel cleaned the tack and washed up. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |