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Post by Teegan Hawthorne on Mar 23, 2008 19:36:23 GMT -5
Teegan was going for her first lesson, she had no idea who the Trainer that the school had hired was. She figured it would be someone older who had a lot of expieriance around horses. She had gotten Dev the warmblood gelding ready in no time; the only thing she knew about English riding was how to tack up, at least that was one advantage. Other than that- she was clueless, so she was expecting this new instructor/trainer whoever it was to show her all the ropes. She pulled the reins over the gelding's head and led him to the indoor arena; where it would be safer for her first lesson. She stood at the gate and looked for the new trainer, but no on else was in sight. She pushed the gate open and then gave gently pressre to the reins, but Dev didn't want to walk through with her, What is your issue? She said to the gelding, before giving a little more forecful tug, and he finally obliged and walked through the gate and into the ring; so that Teegan could close that Jake behind the two.
She led the warmblood gelding to the middle of the ring and tightened her girth; then dragged the mount block to the gelding's left side, Teegan swung her leg over and easily settled onto the horses back, the english saddle was very foreign and different from the years of western she'd done. She adjusted the stirrup on her right foot, while she hadn't noticed that Dev bent his head around to her left foot and nipped at her toe. She sprang upward and sat up and smacked the geldings butt, and scolded him with Will you quit that! She held her reins in her outside hand,was her right; and moved the gelding to the rail- this was going to be more difficult that she thouhgt. She mentally laughed at herself, and wondered where her trainer was.
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Post by Kayden Tristani on Mar 23, 2008 20:08:50 GMT -5
He had to give his first lesson today. And according to his log, this was a complete beginner. Well, not a complete beginner, apparently she was a relatively good western rider but had wanted to swap to English – not that he blamed her, Western in his mind was boring as hell. He was still in the barn and passed the stall where his newest project was stabled. The poor thing had its head deep in the back of the stall, and on a whim Kayden grabbed the lead rope and a handful of horse cookies. “Come here Ryan, atta boy.” The young horse turned, his eyes bleak and untrusting, causing Kayden’s stomach to twist in anger at the imbeciles who had dared treat a horse like that.
It took a few minutes before Kayden had the young horse moving out of his stall which mean t he was about five minutes late for his first lesson – not a great start, but oh well. The young horse kept his head high and the whites of his eyes were very predominant as they approached the covered arena. He sure was a sorry sight; with his ribs sticking out and rain rot covering his sun bleached coat. But, if Kayden’s assumptions were right, he would turn into a phenomenal horse – he simply needs some training and, well, food.
He stood at the gait, watching carefully the girl’s movements as she swung onto the horse’s broad back. Almost immediately the horse swung his head backwards to her boot, and she smacked his rump. He shook his head and leant forward, resting his hand on the horses shoulder. “Do not ever smack a horse for being disobedient. Rap lightly with your legs and send him forward. The crop is simply used for encouragement and forward movement in the flat.” His voice was loud, crisp and deep – and I’m sure he sounded like quite the ass hole right then, but honestly he didn’t care. She probably didn’t know he was the trainer and just some random kid with a mangy horse watching her ride. Wrong.
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Post by Teegan Hawthorne on Mar 23, 2008 20:28:59 GMT -5
Teegan began to walk towards the rail as a loud deep voice startled her, almost knocking her off her horse- what a great impression that would be. Do not ever smack a horse for being disobedient. Rap lightly with your legs and send him forward. The crop is simply used for encouragement and forward movement in the flat. That was what the guy at the gate had told her, she turned the gelding beneath her around, and walked him towards the gate. The teen standing before her with another horse at his side, looked almost the same age as her, and figured him to just be another student; she looked past him hoping the see her trainer coming soon, she didn't really want to deal with this guy now.
Who are the hell are you, to tell me what to do and not to do? She said her eyes piercing down at him, when she was around the horses she had attitude, plain and simply. She was a very different girl riding than she was just hanging out with her friends, she didn't want to deal with any crap from this guy right now; and she awaited his answer. But she couldn't help but admire the horse beside him. He was a deep black color, but looked in extremely poor condition with rain rot, and lack of nutrition the horse just touched her heart, but she snapped back to reality and looked down at the other teen at the gate of the arena.
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Post by Kayden Tristani on Mar 23, 2008 20:44:31 GMT -5
The gelding that stood next to the almost six foot high school senior was agitated and nervous, even with his owner’s hand resting against his shoulder. Well technically Kayden wasn’t Ryan’s owner, technically the school owned him, but they had given him complete control over his string of horses – so that made Colorado Ryan almost completely in Kayden’s possession. He eyed the girl, laughter sparkling behind his walled up eyes. “Well if you’re Teegan, then I’m your trainer. So therefore you can either listen and accept that, or get off and forget a lesson.” Kayden felt no need to screw around. He wasn’t here to make friends. He was here to succeed, and to further himself in the equestrian world. He was already known by some of the top riders, trainers and breeders in the world – he only was at Canterbury to further his education as well.
Turning to Colorado Ryan he patted the horse’s neck and pulled out an equine cookie. The horse eyed it conspicuously before pushing it around with his muscular upper lip, finally taking it in his mouth and crunching it experimentally. A smile ached to be released from the corner of Kayden’s mouth, but he resisted and turned back towards the girl he assumed was Teegan. Now only if she would hurry up and respond.
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Post by Teegan Hawthorne on Mar 23, 2008 21:05:38 GMT -5
Teegan's eyes widened the moment she heard him spit out the word trainer. She looked up at the arena ceiling with the huge rafters and sighed to herself, Oh my god, what have I done, and whispered to herself as she then tilited her head back down and put her eyes back on her now so called trainer. Well if you’re Teegan, then I’m your trainer. So therefore you can either listen and accept that, or get off and forget a lesson, his words were ringing in her mind; she looked at him, apologies shown in her eyes. She bit her lip for a moment before figuring out how to apologize to him, she hadn't even now him 5 minutes and she was already showing herself as a bitch. She sighed breifly for a moment, before saying, I'm really sorry about that, I totally shouldn't have acted that way to Dev here, she said patting his neck; and I shouldn't have been a bitch to you just now.
She looked at him, then spoke once more with Wow, well this has been a horrible introduction, but yes I would be the infamous Teegan, she said biting her lip once more, before giving a half smile down at him. She hoped that he wasn't to mad at her.
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Post by Kayden Tristani on Mar 23, 2008 21:15:50 GMT -5
Apparently his first student was one of those kind - the kind that thought that they could get away with anything and everything by biting their lips and flipping their hair. He listened to her ramble and looked around, studying her form in the saddle as he waited for her to shut up. She was his student, and the only reason he was able to be here riding and training, so he wouldn’t go off on her for her consistent babbling just yet. But then she mentioned something about the ‘infamous’ Teegan and he laughed. “Don’t flatter yourself. Anyways, Teegan is it? I’m Kayden Tristani. I didn’t get much in the log for your lesson – what am I attempting to teach you?” He was blunt – many would call him rude but he really couldn’t care less.
Turning back to her he waited, she would either go ‘oh I’ve heard of you! You rode TRK’s Stockholm in Rolex!’ or she would get all huffy do to his response to her babbling – either way she had 55 minutes left in the lesson and it was dwindling. Turning he unlatched the gate and led the malnourished horse through, stopping at the center of the arena and handing the horse another treat. “Atta boy. Step on.” With the lunge line secured on the snug fitting halter the young gelding looked around desperately before stepping forward. “Good boy.” You see, Kayden was quite good at multi tasking, and that was why, at this moment, he had the capacity to turn his head and look questioningly at his student – waiting for her response.
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Post by Teegan Hawthorne on Mar 23, 2008 21:55:57 GMT -5
Teegan eyed the black gelding beside her trainer, and she just couldn't take her eyes off of him, he was in such poor shape- but there was something about him that was tearing at her heart, she wanted to help him. But she figured it was her trainer's horse; or the school horse he was helping, she wasn't sure. His next words snapped her into reality, I’m Kayden Tristani. I didn’t get much in the log for your lesson – what am I attempting to teach you?
I won't ramble this time, she said then add quickly, I've ridden western my whole life, and now I want to learn english; and I don't know a thing about it. She told him up front; no babbling like stupid, bitchy idiot this time. She watched her trainer, who's name she now knew to be Kayden, she watched him move to the middle of the ring- she noticed he was kind of cute, but knew he was probably off limits; and he didn't seem like the most friendly of people, so she would push anything, or let any of it get to her head. So she walked Dev back into the middle of the ring; steering a great distance, and standing far away from Kayden and the other gelding who looked extremely nervous. She stood in the middle of the ring and awaited instruction on what to do, she barely knew how to the hold the freakin' reins the correct way- she felt so helpless, and like such a beginner, this wasn't how she usually felt.
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Post by Kayden Tristani on Mar 24, 2008 11:43:33 GMT -5
Most horses, well all young horses, that are used in any kind of work with humans are started on a lunge line. Breaking a horse is a slow, tender process becase with one bad memory a horse can be permanently scarred against that mode of human work. Colorado Ryan was no different. It was obvious that he had had the preliminary training, but he was extremely skittish and nervous which could mean man things. Kayden clucked softly and the horse walked forward, his muscles quiverng slightly. "Attaboy. Okay Teegan, hold the reins between your pinky and thumb finger. Loop it under your three middle fingers and placeyour thumb on top. Like this." With a smooth movement Kayden swept the excess lungeline between his fingers, holding them up all the while clucking to the young colt to keep him moving.
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Post by Teegan Hawthorne on Mar 24, 2008 13:04:37 GMT -5
Teegan watched for another moment or so as Kayden worked with the other horse, he seemed like a natural; and she could now see why they chose someone so young to be the trainer, he had amazing talent. As he demonstarted how to hold the rein, she mimicked what he shown her and held the reins, Like this? she said raising an eyebrow to make sure she got it right, and let the extra slack of the reins lay on the right side of Dev's neck.
Holding her reins like this felt very foreign and uncomfortable compared to the years of english riding she'd done, but oh well; she'd just have to get used to it. She sunk her heel down- knowing that at least was one important key factor of riding either style of riding.
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Post by Kayden Tristani on Mar 24, 2008 14:19:19 GMT -5
Colorado Ryan, to the untrained eye, had average movements and an ugly appearence, but to Kayden the horse's movements were restrained due to the atrophied muscle that aided in long, sweeping strides and with some conditioning and supplements Kayden could see the potential of the sun bleached colt. The horse kept moving in his short strided trot, giving Kayden a chance to inspect his pupils positioning. He nodded and gave a brief glimps of a smile with his eyes. "Good with your heels and hands. Keep a very light contact on your horses mouth and your hands near his withers. Then give a small nudge with your heels to ask for the trot." With his eyes focused on the girl, Ryan - obviously tired from the unusual outting - stopped, causing Kayden to look over and slap his thigh gently. "Walk."
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Post by Teegan Hawthorne on Mar 24, 2008 16:50:55 GMT -5
Teegan gave a tiny smile when he said 'Good with your heels and hands.' At least she knew how to do one thing right, the rest of this lesson on the other hand could be diasterous. She moved the gelding out to the rail, reins like they were supposed to be between her pinky and thumb like Kayden had shown her; She gave a tiny nudge with her heel, and moved the gelding up into a trot- she sat deep in her saddle, forgeting that you posted in English riding rather than sitting like you would in Western. She sunk into her heel- but Dev for a lazy horse was quite uncomfortable, at the sitting trot- was that what they called it in English? She gave slight pressure to the riens and pulled back gently moving to a walk- then turning to Kayden and asking breifly- So how does this whole posting trot thing work? she felt stupid for having to ask- but the only way she would learn, was to start from the basics.
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Post by Kayden Tristani on Mar 24, 2008 19:45:26 GMT -5
He sighed softly and made a soft noise to signal the gelding to stop – who immediately did so and ambled to Kayden’s side. Posting. It was necessary and very important in the English method of riding. He contemplated how to explain it and as the girl came down to a walk he took a step forward, placing a gentle hand on his geldings shoulder. “You need to be able to go with the horse. When working in an arena like this, you always move your body out of the saddle as the horses outside leg goes forward. Make sense?” He watched her and smiled slightly as she attempted to sit to the trot. “You should almost feel as if the way the horse moves is propelling you upward.”
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Post by Teegan Hawthorne on Mar 24, 2008 20:37:26 GMT -5
 Teegan turned her upper body in the saddle so she could listen as Kayden explained the basics of the posting trot to her. She kept Dev moving at a walk for a few more moments as she listend to her trainer explain, he then asked 'make sense?' She gave a slight nod and said, Yeah. She then returned to facing foward and sitting up straight in a good riding position, she collected her reins once more; 'reins between pinky and thumb' she mental reminded herself. As it was just a habit to hold them in one hand; rather than the english way in both.
She gave the gelding beneath her another small nudged to move him upward into trot, her legs were strong from the numerous amount of previous years she spent riding- just doing it western, rather than english. So as Dev moved into trot; she used her leg strength to boost her self forward in the saddle also moving with the power of the horse beneath her. She looked down to see she was on the incorrect diagonal she sat a few strides and began to post again; still on the wrong diagonal. She tried sitting just two strides now, and she managed to get on the correct diagonal as you'd called it. She moved down the long wall of the arena, and turned her head to look at Kayden with a questioning glance to see if she was doing this correctly.
Sometimes she'd accidently bounce and sit a few strides and end up on the wrong diagonal; because she wasn't completely used to this type of gait yet, but she tried her best- keeping her heels down and thumbs up. Oh- quick question, she said to him as she kept trotting. Is that your own horse there..? Or is it one of the school horses? She asked curiously; she was intrigued by the horse, and wondered who he belonged too.
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Post by Kayden Tristani on Mar 24, 2008 21:21:11 GMT -5
Kayden was actually impressed at the way Teegan focused; she watched and listened acutely. Slowly but surely if she kept up the attempts to learn she might earn back some points that she lost earlier in her inceasent rambling. He watched as she asked the horse to trot and he kept quiet, determined to give her a few chances to get the diagonal before he stepped in. After a few trys she got it and when she fell forward, she would quickly try and fix it. When she looked over he nodded and gave her a small smile. "Try and keep your hands as still as possible."
After trotting for a few minutes she turned her head and began to ask about Colorado Ryan. All those points she just earned back had gone right back out the window. "Look. Unless the question pertains to what you are doing right now save it. You can grill me later. Now, when turning you simply open your rein slightly, don't yank back. Now change directions across the diagonal, sit fortwo beats when you hit the mid point - we call than X in the english world." His voice was stern and final. He didn't mind questions, but when your working a horse your working a horse - end of story.
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Post by Teegan Hawthorne on Mar 24, 2008 22:02:41 GMT -5
Teegan listened as he told her to try and keep her hands more still, she put a little more bend in her elbow, and steadied her hands as she moved with the posting trot of Dev beneath her. His posting trot was alot more comfortable than the sitting trot she'd attempted at the beginning of the lesson. Making the comment about his horse, had obviously been a mistake on her part as she'd just blew it again, Sorry, she mumbled softly, as he gave her strick instructions on how to execute her next moves.
She listened closely, she didn't want to screw anything else up. She moved down the wall at the trot and as she came around the corner she moved her hand forward slightly and opened her right rein, and looked down the diagonal of the arena. She kept posted as she moved through the ring and sat three beats, by mistake then quickly sat another two, to adjust her diagonal to be on the correct one. She made her way to the opposite corner and this time opened her right rein slightly to track left around the arena this time. She quickly glanced at Kayden to make sure she was doing the right thing.
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