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| Subject: Jamie, Staci and Amanda's lesson | |
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Author: Saddle |
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Date Posted: 18:43:13 06/17/02 Mon *the three kids walked up to the office, where Saddle sat looking over Dark Horse Farms's income and expenses. "hi Saddle!" Jamie exclaims. "Hi Jamie, Staci and Amanda" Saddle says. "Staci, i have good news for you, i've bought a gaited horse for the 4-H club and as soon as i get your mom's permission you may start to ride her." Saddle tells her. "Wow! neat!" Staci exclaims. "Well, you guys better go get tacked up if you want a lesson today" Saddle tells them and they all take off to tack up their mounts. 20 minutes later they all meet in the outdoor jumping ring. "Umm, we aren't jumping today, are we?" Jamie asks nervously. "That depends on how you feel" Saddle tells him. "Ok" he says, sounding a little less worried. Saddle guides them through a careful warm-up consisting of walking, trotting and cantering circles to warm up the horses and stretches to warm up the riders. then Saddle puts out 2 sets of ground poles, one set for Jamie and Staci's ponies and one set for Missy's longer thoroughbred strides. "Trot over the poles in a two-point position a few times while i set up a crossrail to warm up over before we jump. a 2' course is fine for you girls, right? and Jamie will take some ground poles and maybe a low crossrail?" Saddle asks in a tone that leaves no room for arguement. "B-b-b-but" Jamie sputters. Saddle looks at him firmly and he stops complaining. all three kids trot over the poles nicely then Staci and Amanda trot and canter over the crossrail before Saddle describes the course to them. then Amanda pushes Missy into a canter and easily guides her through the 8 jump course, a simple hunter course consisting of 4 fences on the rail and 2 sets of fences requiring a change across the diagoinal. by the last fence Missy is getting strong and she misjudges it, knocking the poles down. "Don't worry, you'll get another try, but next time keep her rated through the whole course, don't wait til the 6th fence to decide how fast you want her to go, you'll never be able to slow her down by then, you need to be in charge from the start. otherwise it was a wonderful course." Saddle tells her. Staci goes next, putting Bee into a working trot. the talented mare easily jumps all the fences flawlessly. "Now, what did you do wrong?" Saddle asks Staci, who shrugs. "You were a complete passenger, Bee took you through the whole course, if you want to be a top jumper one day, the first step is turning into a rider instead of a passenger. Bee jumped with excellant form despite your error, though" Saddle tells her, then directs Amanda out. this time she puts Missy into a steady working canter and heads for the first fence. Missy tries to gain speed with every fence, but this time Amanda rates her and keeps her in the same canter throughout the whole course. "Beautiful!" Saddle exclaims as she finishes her closing circle. then Staci makes another attempt at the course. this time she directs Bee through easily, moving with her and directing her on when to turn and take off for the fences. "Very good!" Saddle praises, as she walks over to take down all but one of the jumps. the one she leaves up she lowers to a crossrail, barely 12" high. Jamie swallows nervously. "Ok, Jamie, you know the course. just get into your 2-point and grab some mane as Elegance jumps" Saddle instructs. Jamie pushes the pony into a slow trot over all the poles, then slows to a walk over the jump. Saddle sighs, frusterated. "Jamie, that jump is barely higher than the ground poles, go back and jump it" Saddle tells him firmly. This time as he heads to the jump she throws a pebble at Elegance's butt at the takeoff point and she lifts herself lightly into the air. Jamie's mouth opens in horror as the pony leaps over the fence, then he grins on the landing. "Hey, that was fun!" He exclaims. "See, and you weren't going to do it" Saddle tells him, "Now, do the whole course again, and correctly this time!" Saddle tells him. "Ok" he agrees, pushing Elegance into a trot and going through the whole course wonderfully. "Thanks, Saddle!" he exclaims at the end of the lesson, while walking Elegance off. a few minutes later Katie returns from riding her horses. "Well, i think Jamie is over his fear, it just took a pebble in the butt for Elegance to pop over that crossrail and then he decided it was fun and did it again." Saddle tells her. "He did? Wonderful!" Katie exclaims as she walks away to congratulate her son.* (Katie, is it OK for Staci to ride Liberty and will you be leasing Missy for Amanda?") [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
| Subject | Author | Date |
| Re: Jamie, Staci and Amanda's lesson | Katie | 18:44:33 06/17/02 Mon |