take me there...{Open}

[.mackenzie michaels.]

The young blonde entered the ring with the pinto Arab stud prancing at her side. Easy, bud she murmured. Her appearance was that of a simple equestrian, her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, beige breeches, paddock boots and a slim fitting, purple tank top. The stud that pranced proudly behind her and elegantly tossed his head wore no saddle, and only a halter and lead rope. She knew it was probably against the rules, but she didn't really mind, although part of her rebelled against this act. It's a brilliant idea to get yourself in trouble with the barn staff the very first time you ride this horse.. part of her frowned at herself, but the thought was shoved carelessly to one side.

She tossed the lead rope over the stud's neck and tied it in a knot under his chin so that she had a set of reins. This is my way of saying hello to you, my dear boy... the girl murmured, keeping her voice soft. Easy now.. she murmured. She tightened her reins, grabbed a hunk of mane, stepped back, took a step, and swung nimbly on the pinto stallion's back. Whoah, Zaney... she exclaimed with a laugh, only half on and clutching at the stallion's mane to keep from falling off. Easy, friend... she said, her laughter loud and boisterous.

Feeling mildly rediculous and knowing that if adminstration came out while she was only half on and running around like a mad woman, she'd be dead. But if she looked like she could actually control the horse with nothing but a halter and lead rope, she might pull it off without too much complaint...she hoped...She didn't know, this might not even be against the rules, but she was still mildly concerned about it. Ok boy, settle she Mackenzie said firmly, and righted herself, letting the stallion's rhythm at the canter push her into position. She sat up straight and tall, perfectly centered on the horse's back with her head up high. She looked very much in control, even though, really, she was just letting the horse go, getting used to the feel of him, and the way he moved, and letting him get a feel for her as well. She was clearly a loose rider, not one to make demands, but rather requests. Ok, friend, easy now. Let's try not to make a fool of me my very first ride at Canterbury, shall we? she asked pleasantly, and wiggled the reins. She increased the pressure until Zanzibar slowed to a walk. She got used to this pace as well, touching her right leg gently against him until she had driven him to the rail. They now moved along the fence at a leisurely walk, both horse and rider looking relaxed and at ease...

[Riley]

Smile crossed facade as she tugged a bit at the halter that was upon the horses face. Her hand rubbed over his soft features. She felt like a type of giddy school child as she gathered her thoughts and headed for a tack supply. She managed to select the coloration that she wanted for her lovely boy. His bay coat seemed to be suited by the dark black english tack as she combed through his black tendrils. The warmblood stallion vigorously shook his head undoing all the work she had just done. Her eyes grew slightly wide as her mouth hung a gape for a moment before she laughed. Finding a lunge line she walked toward the outdoor arena.

Watching carefully she unlatched the gate and led him into the soft textured covering. She glanced across her shoulder and looked at the pinto horse and rider performing bareback around the fence. She smiled once more; the memories filled her head before Zues nudged her shoulder briefly. Yea, I didn’t forget you boy she said to him before she latched the gate behind herself and walked to the far end of the stretch. She hoped she would be out of the girl’s way down there as she watched her ride the what appeared to be stud horse. Relaxing herself she looked down to her ripped jeans before adjusting the black halter top she wore. She grasped the hair tie and stuck it into her brown locks to keep them back.

Smile once again crossed her face as she sent the stallion out into a medium arched circle. She watched his fluid movement as she couldn’t wait to get upon him and jump. She watched his stride as she increased it slightly studying the movement he made in an attempt to memorize his pace. After moments on both directions she called the warm up session off. She un-clasped the line and hung it upon the post. The horse, measuring a staggering 16.2 was a slight challenge for her to maneuver up on. She gave a jump and found her footing in her stirrup. She sat upward on her seat gathering her form as she was like an old water pipe now days. Stuck and tense. She began to walk him at a generous pace around the ring. Her curiosity began to waver over her shoulders as she had made no friends as of yet. She rode him along the fence until eventually the horse crept up beside the other. His ears flinched back and forth toward the other as snort was heard. She patted his neck in a rapid motion of her hand as she contoured her vision to the girl next to her. Hi, I’m Riley she spoke thinking to herself courage Ry have courage She gave a warm smile as she waited to see if the girl would speak to her.

[.mackenzie michaels.]

The girl watched the other enter the ring. The stud that trailed behind her, was, indeed, massive. How big d'ya suppose he jumps, huh boy?" she asked Zanzibar. A fair bit, I'd assume... she said, and the stud tossed his head as if in agreement.

She smiled warmly as the girl rode up beside her, eying the two horses suspiciously. Two studs side by side didn't seem such a great idea to her, but whatever...

She could feel a hump forming in Zanzibar's back that warned her he was about to buck. She closed her legs around his sides and dropped her hands to give him rein. He lunged forward, away from the other stallion, and the girl heaved a sigh of relief. No squealing, no challenge offered, no kicking, no harm done.

She forced herself to relax, blowing out a deep breath. She glanced over her shoulder as she fell into the trot along the wall. Sorry about that she called, her voice genuine, not sounding as if she was just saying it from habit or out of politeness. She really was sorry about just galloping off out of no where.

I'm Mackenzie, by the way she called, before all her attention was dropped to the horse beneath her. Irritated by her antics, he had begun to prance, clearly sick of her turning around on his back and not too happy about the dilemma with the other stud horse either. Oh, suck it up she told him dismisively, closing her legs around him again to move him up to a faster trot. She let his rhythm pick her up off his back and put her back down, not letting herself bounce too hard so as to irritate him even more, because in a saddle, everything was smooth and flowing. Here, bareback, it was a bit choppy, but at least she could still get used to the rhythm of the paces.

She felt a little bad about ignoring the other rider, but what could she do? She was getting the feeling that Zanzibar was the type of horse that, even if her attention wandered for just a moment, he was on top of it and using it to his full advantage...And she couldn't have that, now could she. And so she simply had to devote all her attention to the horse. We'll get used to each other eventually, Zaney... she murmured, stroking his neck as she moved him back down to a trot. He felt more relaxed now so she was willing to turn around and try chatting with the other girl. You a senior?she asked when she was close enough...

[Riley]

She watched the paint in curiosity as she noticed his jolt and maneuver forward. She crocked a brow and began to think wow, he needs a bit of work if he cant be next to another under saddle, shows will be a trick for him. she shrugged her shoulders before looking over her own toward the female riding him and speaking to her. The name, one she hadn’t heard to often from her small town, but she liked it. Nice to meet you she muttered out. Her form relaxed a bit as she let the reins go and gave his head up. Letting him stretch his neck out from the popular collected position his form elongated and loosened. She patted his neck as it was a reward for being such a good boy beside the other. Hands relaxed on the edges of the reins before she listened once more to her horse.

Moments passed before she could hear the other horse approaching a bit more toward her. Turning a bit in her saddle she collected the information that filtered to her drums. She shook her head a bit I wish sometimes I were, but no. I'm only a junior this year. She felt kind of awkward saying she wished she were older, knowing her mother had lectured her over and over about not wishing that and one day it will be the other way around. She smiled a bit as she turned to correct her seat. She watched the actions of her equine in a careful manner as he flicked his ears subtly listening to the waves that filtered to his auds. She nudged him with her legs a bit to push him into attention as she collected the reins upward making his form improves to its regular show type stature. His height seemed to make her a bit uneasy about wanting to begin her jumping on him, but it would all be worth it fall or not. She waited for a moment to see if she spoke anything else.

Come on boy, lets streatch your legs...all 17 feet of them She laughed at herself as she clicked her tounge in the roof of her mouth, and pushed in on her calf's tighting the grip around him to force him forward. His gallop was smooth and collected as it should be. She let her body rock in the motion of his moves as it was pretty comfortable for her. She could remember the choppy horse she frist began to ride english upon. She kept her eyes forward on occasion she would glance down upon her equine companion. Time after time his attention would be turned toward the other horse, its sounds must have attacted teh delecate twins that sat upon his skullet. She kept form well as she slowed him into his trot. This needed a bit of work done as she laughed and slowed to a walk. Shaking his head up and down quickly he wanted to run. Keep it down now Zues she stammered as his gate began to get bumpy. She laughed once as she pulled him back. His stamina hopefully would be as great as his want to please.

[.mackenzie michaels.]

The girl laughed. Don't, it's not all it's cracked up to be.. she said with a grin. She rocked easilly to the horse's steady canter. She rode one handed, slouched a bit, letting this just be a relaxed, get used to each other ride. She almost looked like more of a Western rider than an English, with her "reins" held in the Western manner, and the horse beneath her strung out and relaxed like a Western horse rather than all curled up like an English horse, but she looked totally natural up there.

Atta boy she murmured, slowing the horse to a trot and then a walk simply by leaning back. Ooo, good, you're soft! she congradulated him with a firm pat, genuinley pleased that he was already so tuned in to her and her body language. You figured me out fast... she told the horse with a pleasent grin. She turned him and nudged to a trot. She posted to it for a time, then wiggled her fingers gently. A smile covered her face when she stud slowed the trot to a morepleasurable, easy to sit pace. That's a boy she murmured with a satisfied grin.

She moved up to a canter. Again, she let the horse relax and string out in the long, more Western style rather than cramping him up English. She flowed easilly with his ever movement, rolled back a bi ton her ballance point and staying easlly centered, beginning to sing quietly to herself. The pinto's ears flicked back to listen curiously and she smiled. You're a good egg she told him with a smile. She wasn't really sure where to take the conversation wtih Riley, so she decided to simply leave it as it was...In comfortable silence...

[Riley]

Legs pressed into the side of the stud as she picked his lead up on the opposite leg. Her shoulders rolled back a bit as she took seat once more. Though she rode a bit rusty yet she was growing fond of this place. She knew when she was done she only cared for her horse, not the entirety of the stable. She patted his shoulder as she gave his head to him and slowed down to a steady walk. His long limbs covered much territory as he strode at an amble pace around the ring. Movement was rather laxed as she smiled and looked to the ground running around behind her.

Hooves struck the soft earth that had been synthetically placed there. Its soft surface gave a very nice shock absorption compared to the outdoor arena she used to ride in. Shaled and crusher run gravel covered the surface making the shock a bit rougher than this. She gave a nod toward the girl as she indeed told her the same reaction she expected. Yea. she said not knowing what else to say about the situation to her. It was an awkward way to meet, it seemed so to her anyways. Small talk was short as the horses were making rhythmatic sounds beating against the turf.

She collected him as she looked toward the center area and the poles that had been laid out in sections. She gave a little shrug as she turned him up the center line. Increasing his pace into a steady collected trot, she posted as he maneuvered his hooves over the wooden shells. Length rose and shortened as the dirt was kicked up by shoed silvering. Shoulder was patted upon the equine before he was turned to go the opposite way. Working with him here seemed to be a dream thus far. She couldn’t wait until she got into a jumping arena with him. Her heart beat increased as she began a canter toward them this round. One more pass and she would name that quits.

[.mackenzie michaels.]

The girl smiled a bit as she gave the horse his head, letting him choose pace and direction, because it really made no difference to her, as long as she was out of the way. She disliked when people got in her way, so when she was pleasure riding, like this, she did her best to stay out of other peoples' way. She heaved a sigh. Her mind wandered a bit and she realized it was a mistake. The stud took advantage of her. He kicked up his heels mightilly, throwing her off ballance a bit, then took off down the arena.

She rolled her eyes as she quickly got her center back, then choked down on her inside rein and pulled the stud's head around until they were spinning in circles. She shook her head. I won't take that, buster brown she murmured, flexing his neck the other way until he gave. You'll figure that out soon enough... she said with a nod, nudging him up to a canter again, having decided they clearly hadn't done enough work for one day. She flowed easilly with the horse's movements.

She really did like his gaits. He was a smooth mover, and she was happy with him all way 'round. He was a good horse, not nasty or malicious, just an advanced horse. He liked to be in charge and she had to show him that he wasn't. But she was definately happy with her choice. Excitement filled her as she began to think about all the possibilities laid out before her at this place. She smiled broadly, looking a little crazy as, seemingly, she had no particular reason to be.