|
|
Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
|
Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Mar 1, 2024 16:03:19 GMT -5
"Then you should have gotten on the tractor sooner," Grace snapped. Then she waved off any other arguments any of them might make. "Let's go before I really do cancel the whole thing and just assign you all horses — or better yet, send you all home.”
Grace walked into the patio/entrance area between the two arenas and stopped. “Arena one and arena two,” she said, pointing to the left an right, respectively. “Arena one is typically used for Dressage, while arena two is for jumping. But both arenas are equipped to do both, so it's never a sure thing which one you'll be in on any given day. Same goes for the outdoor arenas. I'll be telling you where we'll be riding every day during tack-up.”
Grace turned to arena one, on the left. It had a half door, wide enough for a horse and rider to easily pass through. Both halves were shut until Grace unlatched the top half (there was no obvious latch or door handle for the bottom half). She only opened it a crack, however.
“Door!” she shouted, loudly enough to make Saylor jump. Grace opened the top door all the way, then reached inside to unlatch the bottom door.
Saylor and the others followed Grace inside.
It was dimmer in here, away from the sunlight. As Saylor's eyes adjusted, there were a handful of seconds when she could only see a few feet in any direction. What she could see was that she was standing on a short, sandy walkway. To either side were two rows of lawn chairs, separated from the track — which was wide enough for two horses side-by-side — by ankle-high fences fashioned after cavaletti jumps. And about ten feet ahead was a waist-high fence, also fashioned after jumping fences, with a gate allowing entrance to the main arena. And in that arena…
Saylor's eyes adjusted fully, and the drumming sound that filled the arena became clear: horses! Her heart gave an excited jump. There were seven of them, all different shapes, sizes, and colors. Each had a rider, and they were going around the arena, some at a walk, some a trot. They didn't seem to be following any orders or patterns that Saylor could see. Instead, each rider simply rode where they wanted to.
“Everyone, find a seat,” Grace said, for once speaking softly. Once everyone was seated, she explained what was going on. “These are your horses. The fourth-years here will be putting on a bit of a show for you. They're going to display each horse so you can see how they move, how they behave under saddle, and how they jump. At the end, you'll get to go out there and meet each one. You'll tell me which one you want, and I'll approve or deny it. If you're the only one who wants the horse, it's yours. If two or more of you fancy the same horse, then I decide who gets it and the rest will have to pick a different one. There will be no fighting, and no hard feelings. If I don't let you have the first horse you want, there is a very good reason. Clear?”
|
|
*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Mar 10, 2024 16:40:17 GMT -5
Melanie had to admit, the arena was impressive. It reminded her a bit of the outside track that her family had to train the horses that would be used for racing. Of course, the track was bigger than the indoor arena, but both was set up with places for an "audience" to watch. Her father liked to claim that crowds could throw off a horse, make them more nervous about racing than the other horses besides them sometimes. So he liked to have as big of an audience as he could, as often as he could, to help get the horses accustom to noise and movement from the sidelines.
The arena looked similar, though she wasn't sure if there would be many audiences for their riding lessons or not. Filing away that question for a later time, she found her seat and sat with the others. The horses hadn't gone unnoticed to her, but she had waited until they were all seated before looking them over closely. They were all fine animals. Though they were all different breeds, it was clear each one was bred with performance and stability in mind. Even before the actual demonstration began, she knew any of them would be great choices to have. Their personalities would be the ultimate deciding factor of who would fit well with who. At least, in her opinion, that seemed how it might go.
|
|
Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
|
Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Mar 25, 2024 16:37:38 GMT -5
Saylor nodded along with everyone else, though she was finding it hard to focus on Grace. Her attention kept drifting to the horses. A couple of them had picked up a canter now, and even the biggest horse looked so smooth and graceful. All Saylor wanted to do was watch them.
And then, finally, she could. Grace stepped aside and walked up to the gate. She signaled someone, and it was then that Saylor registered the man standing in the center of the arena. He wore knee-high black riding boots, tan breeches, and a white short-sleeved polo shirt. He was watching the riders, but at Grace’s signal he nodded and gave a whistle.
Within a minute, all the riders had brought their mounts to a walk, and they moved to stand in a rough semi-circle around the man, who Saylor could only assume was their coach.
The man turned to face his audience. “Welcome, first-years. My name is Tony Hendrix. I'm the riding coach for the students you see before you. Five of them you'll see daily, as they are fourth-years here at the Academy. The other two graduated four years ago and are now assistant coaches here. I'd introduce you properly, but something tells me you're all more interested in the horses, eh?”
“Woo!” one of the guys shouted. Saylor didn't see which one, but she agreed wholeheartedly.
Coach Hendrix gave a wry smile. “As I thought. Therefore, you can get to know my students some other time. For now, let me explain what's going to be happening today.”
Hendrix started pacing, hands held behind his back. “One by one, my students will display a freestyle Dressage, and then jump a small course, which Grace and I will set up during intermission. The purpose of both is giving you all a look at what your potential horse is capable of.
“But a word of warning: these horses have spent the last year free roaming the high pasture. During that time they weren't groomed, fed, or ridden. They were living nearly wild. My students have spent the last two days retraining and preparing them for you. What you are about to see is the result of their hard work. And so, without further ado, I give you Aztec Gold.”
Immediately, six of the seven horses dispersed to one of the corners of the arena, leaving only one in the center. It was a beautiful gelding with a golden palomino coat. His mane and tail were long and wavy and a silken white that matched the blaze running down his elegant face. Three socks adorned his feet. He was gorgeous.
Saylor wanted him, but tried not to make any snap decisions. She knew she would feel this way about every horse in the arena.
The rider of the palomino was a girl. It was hard to tell her age with her helmet on, but Saylor thought she was one of the fourth-years. The girl saluted her audience in typical Dressage fashion — a nod while one hand fell to her side, palm up — and then the music started.
Saylor was surprised. When Hendrix said “freestyle Dressage,” she hadn't realized he meant musical freestyle. But she wasn't about to complain; this was better.
|
|
|
|
Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
|
Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Aug 16, 2024 16:06:52 GMT -5
Aztec Gold and his rider gave a stunning three minute performance. Saylor couldn't have looked away if she wanted to. In the back of her mind, she knew some of their movements were stiff, unbalanced, or even a little sloppy, but the vast majority of it was smooth, flawless perfection. And it only got better as each new horse was introduced.
Silver Flyer. Night Dancer. TNT. Ace of Hearts. All beautiful, all powerful, all graceful. And any faults they displayed? Well, that just endeared them to Saylor more.
Once every horse had demonstrated their dressage skills, Hendrix called a break, and Grace told all of them to go wait outside while she helped Hendrix set up a jump course. Saylor followed the others outside reluctantly. The fresh air was welcome, but she would have liked to watch the horses some more. She was still very torn on which she would like to have.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
|
Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Aug 22, 2024 9:49:01 GMT -5
( As soon as Khloe called Melanie a scholarship student, I thought to myself, "Wait. Isn't that Laura?" Then I just went "oh well," because to Khloe, they're all scholarship students. xD )
The second half of the presentation went by quicker. A seven jump course had been set up in the arena. As Saylor reclaimed her seat, she tried to guess which order they were meant to be jumped. Hendrix didn't tell them; he just welcomed them back, then briefly introduced each horse — as if she could forget any of their names — before it cantered the course.
They all looked fabulous. Unlike dressage, jumping didn't require the same level of balance or power. It still needed both, of course, especially to run a clear round, but it was far less obvious in show jumping. Typically, the focus here was speed. That didn't seem to be the case this time, probably because there just wasn't enough room in the arena, but they all still completed the course in under a minute.
|
|
*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Aug 22, 2024 11:20:59 GMT -5
(Oh, no, I think that was a funny thing to have her say. It shows how little Khloe pays attention to the others, and when Melanie shows she's just as good or maybe even better in one of the tests/contests later on — or she proves she's actually just as rich as her family — it'll be that much sweeter for Melanie. XD They'll be two sides of the rich coin: Khloe the spoiled and entitled one, Melanie the calm and reasonable one. XD But I do have a feeling that each can learn from the other, so I like having this dynamic set up for them.)
While the jump course wasn't as complex as the dressage, there had been no shortage of awe in the audience. Melanie watched each of the horses sail expertly over the jumps, and while there were different levels of skill shown, each showed promise.
"They make it hard to choose from, don't they?" Laura whispered, leaning in from her seat beside her.
"All are good choices," Melanie whispered in turn, seeing how the other girl was a bit nervous. "What's your preferred area of showing?"
"The jumping," Laura answered.
Melanie nodded, scanning through the horses. "Have you handled any horses that a bit more... high-strung?" When Laura shook her head, that helped her narrow down the list. "Don't try with the Thoroughbreds then. They're not bad or hard to handle, but they can be headstrong and eager to go. Or at least the younger ones can be. These are older and might not be too bad, but if you're not used to them, I suggest ones that you won't have to fight too hard to slow down. TNT, for example. Quarter Horses can be underestimated in shows, but they're sturdy and fast, and can do just about anything the 'fancier' breeds can. Their gaits are smooth, too, which will come in handy during the dressage lessons."
"I actually had my eye on her," Laura murmured with a smile. Melanie guessed she was glad to have someone confirm the horse of her interest was a good one. A small smile lifted the corners of her own mouth. This was the part she liked more than showing: helping others find the horses that would fit well with them.
"She'll make a good one. Now, she may have her own stubbornness about her, but as far as the lessons go, I think she'll be a good fit."
"Which one do you want to ride?"
"I don't know yet. Lucky Charm is an option, but I also like the look of Ace of Hearts."
(And if Saylor overhears, I like the small rivalry between these two before they become friends. XD)
|
|
|
|
*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Aug 23, 2024 11:21:53 GMT -5
Since there were plenty for everyone, no one packed among only one or two horses. The minimum might have been to greet just three, but there were a couple of the students who were making a stop to each of them, Laura included. Melanie was also hoping to do the same if she had the time. Sometimes a connection could be made more when interacting with a horse more than just watching them. But she did make sure she stopped to see the choices she had marked as top interested. First, she went to Lucky Charm, giving his forehead a good scratching and studying the pale blue eyes he had. He was a gorgeous horse, and she had always been a fan of the blue eyes. They were rare among the Thoroughbreds her family bred, mainly because none of their stock every carried the gene. However, she adored the piebalds that had the unique coloration. It made them stand out, and it made it feel like their gaze could pierce right through you into your very soul.
After Lucky Charm, she went to greet Aztec Gold, who didn't have a person around him at the moment. She gave him the same treatment, and then moved on to Ace of Hearts.
|
|
Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
|
Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Aug 23, 2024 22:01:42 GMT -5
Saylor went and visited with every horse, though some visits were shorter than others. Not because of the horse, but because of the other students. Now that the time had come to pick a horse, she was reminded again that she shouldn't be here. As such, she was reluctant to stake a claim on any horse, lest it be the favorite of someone else.
From her brief interactions with the horses, she determined that she would be fine with any of them. They were all beautiful in their own way, and she was sure they all came with their own challenges.
After ten minutes or so, Grace called out, "Alright, everyone, time's up. Go stand in front of the horse you want the most. Doesn't matter if someone else is already standing by that horse. If you want it, fight for it. But not literally, please and thank you "
|
|
*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Aug 28, 2024 8:42:48 GMT -5
It was a hard thing to do, picking a horse. Now that the time for the choices to be made, Melanie wasn't sure which one she wanted. Yet a quick scan at her top picks, and the allure of the blue eyes drew her in. Yes, she was aware even as she walked over to stand in front of Lucky Charm that making the decision based on looks wasn't a sound way of doing things. And had she not paid attention to his skills during the demonstration, she would have mocked herself for being like a lot of the shallow, spoiled rich girls that tried buying horses from her parents. However, she had paid attention to his performances, and his eyes were just the added bonus to tip the scales in his favor.
Only after she was standing by the horse she wanted did she glance around at the others. Sure enough, David hadn't been joking when he said he had an eye on the same horse Khloe claimed dibs on. He stood there beside her, looking unphased at the daggers her glare threw at him. Whether or not he was doing it to annoy her or not, she wasn't sure. Melanie couldn't deny that it would be amusing to watch them "fight" over the choice. Even if Khloe ended up winning, at least she would then me made to put some kind of effort into picking her horse, not just relying on her parents bribes.
|
|
|
|
*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Aug 28, 2024 15:31:13 GMT -5
"Here," Justin replied, raising his hand slightly, even though he was sure she already knew where he was. He was standing in front of the gray Tobiano, Silver Flyer. The horse had been able to sail over the jumps, which was the part of showing he was interested in, like a pro, and that was while he was rusty with training. While that didn't mean it would be easy, he thought the gelding would make a good match.
|
|
|
|
*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Aug 28, 2024 16:23:23 GMT -5
"Very simple. He has a good acceptance for the rider's commands, willingly taking each change in command as it was given during the dressage portion. He showed little bracing against the rider's leg through the changes, or at least there was none that I could see. His carriage is remarkable, and his range of movement is beautiful," David answered, all while maintaining a serious face. He glanced back at Night Dancer, appraising him once more. "There's more I could say, of course. My uncle used to be a judge for a showing circuit, and he helped teach me some of the things that judges look out for. There were some minor details, but none I think are important to the answer of your question."
He turned his attention back to Grace. "And I think doing my own evaluation of him is the whole reason for this experience, and not having my parents arrange for him to be a sure deal. Now, I know that might be a petty factor, but I do speak the truth on my thoughts of him." David placed his hands in his pockets and held their instructor's gaze steadily. Now, he knew, would determine if he had messed up big time by annoying Grace so much this morning. He figured the chances were slim, but he would rather give his honest opinion and show off the knowledge he had to prove he wasn't all jokes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Aug 28, 2024 19:12:07 GMT -5
David was smart enough not to press his luck. He nodded, knowing he was getting an equally good horse. Before he left, he made sure to flash Khloe a bright, winning smile, as if to seem it was he who was winning the argument or getting the better end of the deal. It was hard to be smug about winning when your opposition was also just as happy with the outcome. Or, at the very least, it didn't have quite the same feel to it.
Although he didn't win, Melanie did have to give David some props for his attempt. While Khloe might have gotten what she wanted, David showed that he had a very good chance of claiming Night Dancer as his horse. It had all come down to the availability of their second choices that had sealed the deal. She was sure that for a moment, a very brief moment, Khloe might have seen how close he was to proving his point from earlier. To her, that spoke more than the initial outcome.
|
|
|
|
