|
|
Post by kingston krown on Jan 11, 2011 0:14:50 GMT -5
( kingston • krown ) it's in the water where you came from When the crowd begins to wonder
And they cry to see your face- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [/center] King cooled off Valentino as he watched his student enter the ring. He pushed Tino out for a big extending walk. The horse over tracking and reached his head down and out, to poke at the ground. King was texting on his phone quietly before he pressed send and then shut it off. He stood up in the stirrups to stick it back in his pocket before relaxing back into the seat. He had some sweat dripping down the side of his face... around his scars. Valentino was sweating from every pore and you could see the steam rolling off him in waves, curling up toward the ceiling. It was cold outside but he'd need to be hosed down. Valentino had been a naughty boy today, but King couldn't complain. Thirteen out of fifteen one tempis across the diagonal then eleven ones down the long side into a working piaffe, then a passage, then and extended trot back into piaffe, piaffe turn, passage, extended trot, passage, extended trot, walk, then walk into piaffe and so on. King watched Kailen, he wouldn't comment until she had warmed her horse up, which meant walk the horse for five minutes, then trot both ways before cantering both ways and then King would say what he needed and plenty more.
Valentino's ears drooped and were foamy between the bridle path and sweat literally rolled off him to fall on the sandy floor. Valentino slowly lowered his head until his nose would just barely touch the arena, nearly kicking his chin as he walked. Valentino sniffed around the ground patiently as he was to be cooled down for about 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how well the lesson went. If things started to take long he'd text Fawn, who'd been eager to be his groom, and ask her if she'd take him and shower him down. He didn't know the kid that well and didn't quite know if he could trust her with his prized stallion, but the stallion wouldn't just follow anyone, he had a certain taste in people.
|
|
|
|
Post by kailen julian lowe on Jan 11, 2011 0:32:36 GMT -5
Not taking tons of time to tack, Kailen spent most of her time braiding Prince’s long mane and tail. Braided the gelding’s tail still almost reached the ground. An amazing feature the Vanner horse held. Long flowing mane and tail almost added to the show. Putting the finishing touches on Prince’s forelock the eighteen year old led her gelding towards the indoor flat ring. She hated lessons, and if she hadn’t taken dressage her parents would be furious with her. Being good was one thing, but showing every circuit humanly possible like her parents wanted her to do was a different story. The young girl’s blue eyes noticed Kingston in the ring with Valentino right away, shutting the gate before fixing both sets of reins of the full bridle around Prince’s neck before mounting. Putting down her stirrups the young girl took a deep breath. Mounting quickly she collected both sets of reins along wither seat and stirrups.
”Hello Kingston.” She smiled politely as her southern accent flowed neatly through the air. Brushing a stray blonde hair out of her face before moving Prince out in a collected walk. Now it didn’t take long to collect this horse, it was natural if anything. A horse so well trained most of the things Kailen did were easy to him. A great horse for any aspiring star ready to go to the top. A place Kailen didn’t really want to be. The horse she loved unconditionally and would work up to any level to keep him. That determination is what drove her, to be better for the horse, not herself. She walked the gelding around the ring for about five minutes in the silence, she knows what she was told. Though not having a watch or knowing she guessed maybe a little early and started him into an easy trot. Collecting still and lifting his feet with grace the gelding moved forward with the young woman sitting easy on his back, trying to keep good posture. Trotting a round and a half the pair did an easy change of direction across the diagonal. Continuing on in the same movement for another full round. Urging the gelding into an easy canter the pair moved around the ring still. Not hearing a word from her instructor and making sure she didn’t run into him. Blonde hair bouncing with each step as the pair moved together. One round then a flying lead change on the diagonal to the other direction. Making sure she kept her seat, not worrying about the gelding’s movement or collection as he was always collected. Another complete round and the pair slowed to a walk in a couple easy strides. Head turning towards Kingston waiting for some kind of voice, though continuing to walk her gelding around the outside of the ring.
|
|
|
|
Post by kingston krown on Jan 11, 2011 0:44:04 GMT -5
( kingston • krown )it's in the water where you came from When the crowd begins to wonder
And they cry to see your face- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [/center] "Don't be so quick to collect," King said when she finally finished up her warm up and he leaned forward in the saddle. "The first thing you should do when warming him up is stretch. Just like going for a jog, you stretch before you run, or you should at least. So I want you to practice stretching his head till it touches the ground like this," King said, his hand motioning to Valentino, who was glaring daggers at Kailen's Vanner, but wouldn't even dare make a move for fear of King's wrath. "Collection should come afterwards. So I want you to warm him up again, or at least in the trot. I want you to trot him in a circle around me posting, stomach to hands. Your hands should widen to either of your knees and you should slowly feed him reins."
He watched her quietly until finally the vanner, miraculously, seemed to understand and would trot a full circle with his head stretching down. King hated heavy horses, or at least riding them. Sure they were fun to look at, and even gorgeous specimens, but damn... riding them was a pain in the butt. Thats why King liked a little spice in his life with his little thoroughbred and hanoverian mix. "Now, when you collect don't just let him hold his head like that. True collection is having a contact on each rein and then you slowly soften on one side and then soften on the other, then give with the reins. Keep doing that until he gives to you," King said.
The horse was very intelligent, he was holding a collected head, which is actually hard to see at times in some horses, and letting her believe he was collected without actually having to do the work. Valentino did that to King sometimes, it just takes a glance in the mirrors to realize the horse was trying to pull a fast one. But Valentino was content with his cool out at the moment and walking steadily around the arena in various zig zags and circles to keep up with the girl and not get in the way.
|
|
|
|
Post by kailen julian lowe on Jan 11, 2011 1:01:29 GMT -5
The young girl listened to her new teacher speak, not being quick to collect, she could try it. Turning the gelding out into a circle around her trainer. Moving into an easy trot she did as she was told. Stomach to hands, wide hands and slowly giving up both sets of reins. This process sure did take some time for sure. The gelding’s nature to be collected under the saddle took a minute to kick it. When Prince relaxed and stretched his head down they continued a couple rounds around Kingston. Blue eyes turning to her instructor as he spoke again. Contact on each rein and then you slowly soften on one side then soften on the other, then give with the reins. Continuing around she tried to follow his directions to the key. Taking up contact and slowly softening her hands. The gelding’s neck collected quickly and just as easily his body rounded into collection.
Kailen kept her horse moving around keeping his collected movement out into a trot. Not letting the gelding slow into his easy jog. Kailen’s eyes focused a bit more on her trainer for a bit then on their direction however kept moving around him. She noticed his face a bit different but tried to focus on the task at hand, she’d seen worse at rodeos in Texas. Not paying attention to her own blonde locks bouncing around or the stallion’s braided mane flowing along with them. She was a pretty focused teenager. It was all for him, Prince was her world; he would do anything for her and she him. This was just one of those things she had to do for him, she’d show if she had to. In her mind it was just dressing up stupid to do a set out course in the most perfect way. Blue eyes moved back to Kingston waiting for him to say more to her, though she kept pace and tried to also focus on the task at hand. Keeping Prince in check as well as herself. Keep Posture. Heels down. Keep him collected. Other thoughts were pushed into the back of the girl’s mind as they rode on, not saying one word, just waiting for more instruction.
|
|
|
|
Post by kingston krown on Jan 11, 2011 1:13:26 GMT -5
( kingston • krown )it's in the water where you came from When the crowd begins to wonder
And they cry to see your face- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [/center] King quietly watched her. She didn't seem to be enjoying her lesson... then again, who did enjoy King's lesson, despite the Fawn kid who kept that goofy smile on her face no matter how mad King got. She kind of reminded him of one of the Marines he'd met, and the Marine had been a woman, just so you know. At any rate, she didn't seemed to care one bit about the lesson. But who knew, everyone did things they didn't like for stupid reasons.
King walked Valentino toward them but keeping and even distance. "Now I want you to do a leg yield. Keep his rump under himself and let him carry you over. Have the shoulder start and the rump follow, but don't let the rump straggle too far behind. Remember to give on the inside rein and to have a heavier contact on the outside rein. Inside leg on at the girth and outside leg allows his shoulder the room by having a light contact. Good. And again." He watched the horse effortlessly do the leg yields and finally decided, "Pick up the canter at C," he asked when she was just before, almost on C. He gave her no chance to prepare herself or the horse. "Do a ten meter circle right there at C and then when you reach M do a Half pass. Don't change rein!" He called. "I want you to do a loop down here from A to L, then do another at B and then do one down there and DON'T switch leads," he said. It would be hard, especially for a horse out of shape for that kind of work. "Keep him balanced inside leg on and don't let him switch!" Inside leg might have confused the horse into switching but if she could keep her seat well enough he might understand enough to not switch.
|
|
|
|
Post by kailen julian lowe on Jan 11, 2011 1:40:54 GMT -5
Kailen’s blue eyes glanced at King once again as he spoke, patting the gelding’s neck before nodding and complying. Proceeding to do the leg yield as instructed she kept his words in her mind. Don’t let the rump straggle too far behind. Words she kept in her mind yet didn’t understand why. A leg yield was a simple task for Prince, she’d watched a ‘professional’ ride Prince before. Once or twice a month her parents would pay some snot nosed thirty year old to ride Prince, make sure he still knew what he was doing. The lady was good yes, but Prince was Kailen’s horse and she’d like it to stay that way. Smiling a bit at him saying good. It was like it matter to her for just that moment. Her eyes glanced at King once again as he gave her more orders. Picking up a canter as soon as he asked, starting the ten meter circle he asked for. Keeping her head up the young girl asked for the half pass, not changing rein as they moved.
An easy loop from A to L then another at B and another as she continued. She made sure Prince didn’t change leads. Having another rider keep him in tune once or twice a month kept Prince on his toes more than Kailen. She kept to what he said and tried to balance her inside leg on the gelding. Feeling confident as what she did worked. Making sure her horse stayed collected, not only in neck and face but in body. The half passes were easy, Prince could do that easily, she had been taught most of the cues Prince knew, some of the betters were never tested an perfected. Kailen know her horse was smart, maybe one more reason she loved him so. Smart was one thing Prince was, almost a push button dressage horse, as soon as you pushed the right button it was done. The perfect horse for a beginner or even an advanced rider. Prince knew his stuff, it was he who was there to teach Kailen. It is easier to teach just one student than rather teaching the student and horse. Prince knew more than Kailen even knew, a bit of a trick horse on the side. Puts up a pretty show for a quick sale that’s for sure. With or without a rider Prince could rear, kneel, bow, piaffe and of course more. He knew the international level moves passage and pirouette. Having once been taught some “airs above ground” though those moves haven’t been done with him since he was imported. It was just that some things the horse knew more of. Not that he was a trick horse in anyway, just smart, willing to please and easy to teach. Perfect when a teacher only has to teach the rider, not the horse too.
|
|
|
|
Post by kingston krown on Jan 11, 2011 22:06:48 GMT -5
( kingston • krown )it's in the water where you came from When the crowd begins to wonder
And they cry to see your face- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [/center] King stopped in the middle of the arena, hopped off his horse, undid the girth, sticking the once black and now white foamy girth on the saddle before sliding it off his back, leaving the saddle pad to keep him warm. He stood there, he watched her ride, he saw nothing he could tell her otherwise to do, she knew what she was doing, and if she didn't her horse understood what to do so she was obviously doing it correctly. When they were done King didn't say a word, he walked his horse out of the arena, somewhat angered, this girl was waisting his time, she needed to be in higher levels if she could do it so well.
King of course was in a bad mood anyways, as he always was. The horse was perfectly on her aids, had perfect impulsion, with some urging from his rider, obviously new the ropes, she didn't need him as a trainer, she was doing just fine. He wasn't going to stand around and baby sit when his horse needed to be washed off and stuck away.
He walked Valentino in the wash racks, quickly hosing him down before slipping his cooler on, then he slipped his rain sheet on and then slipped his blanket on before steadily walking him to his Stall, he tried to nip at one of the mares on his way but got a tight jerk from King and didn't dare do it again. King stuck him away and locked him up. He then walked over to where the girl would bring her horse in after she cooled him off and waited.
|
|
|
|
Post by kailen julian lowe on Jan 12, 2011 1:50:44 GMT -5
The young girl halted her horse as her new trainer dismounted and left the arena. Her mouth was left slightly open as he left without a sound. Shaking her head she let her horse walk out for a bit. Keeping in mind not to keep him collected and let him relax. A few rounds of walking in the silence the young girl dismounted her horse. She was not nearly done her work out, she would continue later. She pet her horse’s neck softly and kissed his soft nose. Taking a moment for herself by taking out the braids in his mane and forelock. Walking around the standing gelding to slowly untangle the braided tail. A deep sigh she walked her horse to t he gate, half expecting Kingston to be gone.
Nimble fingers opening up the gate and leading her horse out. Blue eyes looking around as she noticed Kingston standing near the cross ties. The pair came to a haul a couple feet away from Kingston, she though t about the words to say then walked Prince right into the ties. Taking off his full bridle slowly she left him stand there to hang it. Coming back to him with the neon orange halter she placed it over his large face, waiting for words to be said as she clipped the ties to the halter. She finally stopped for a moment to turn and look back to Kingston and waiting for some kind of anger. She was used to it though, dressage trainers were tough, she knew it. Kailen on the other hand didn’t quite care to be the greatest , yes she had some natural talent though she wasn’t ready to show all over the place. Being better wasn’t in her best interest, she just wanted to be as good as Prince.
These lessons were a must not only for school but to please her parents, even being eighteen the young woman still couldn’t afford the gelding himself. She would have to learn to work with Kingston, not matter what it took. She tried smiling to the man, maybe to suck up, maybe just to be polite, but all in good interest. She wasn’t sure what she did to make him made, though she must have. Not knowing the man made it hard to tell what he was thinking, what was wrong. The lesson wasn’t really over and she knew it.
|
|
