Dancing With Demons || Ashley Rainer

[krystin sarene ryne]

Krystin sighed as she made her way back up to the barn, her ride with Whispers In The Dark yesterday wasn’t the best it could have been, but at the same time she had, more like needed to take Waking The Demon out before she did something to hurt herself with all of her pent up energy. Seeing Krystin walk into the barn, Dee nickered happily from her stall, already pawing at the door.

“Calm down Dee, I know you want to get out and I promise we will be soon. Just take it easy Girl.”

She scratched the mare’s itchy spot before leading her to cross ties where her grooming kit and tack were already there. Once the mare was in the cross ties she danced on her hooves delicately, not wanting to stand around patiently like usual. Oh no, Dee was ready to go, and she wanted to go now…

With a slight laugh, Krystin made quick work groomer her mare until she shone a beautiful golden color, her markings on her legs shining a bright white also. After brushing out the mare’s main and tail until they were silky smooth and shiny, Krystin picked out her hooves, moving to gently settle both the Hunter green Diamant All Purpose Pad and the black Wintec 250 All Purpose saddle on the mare’s back before securing it on with her black EquiRoyal Dressage girth.

After making sure that the mare’s legs were clean she carefully wrapped them with hunter green polo wraps (cant remember the name of the leg wraps that people put on their horses during either training or competitions…) to offer some type of protection during their ride. The last thing she did was make sure that she had cleaned the mare’s face. Of course this was a bit difficult when Dee kept pawing the ground and become jittery, always seeming to move around as she took in her surroundings and smells.

Krystin chuckled softly as she gently grabbed hold of one of the cross ties, patting her mares neck kindly.

"I know Dee, if you calm down now, we should be outside in ten minutes... But you have to behave girl"

With a smile and one final, loving pat, Krystin returned to her work of making sure everything was in place and that the horse wouldn't have to deal with an injury later on.. Having the mare hold still, Krystin gather her grooming supplies and made one last sweep with a soft brush over the mare’s coat before putting her grooming kit back into the tack room. Having snagged a few of the mare’s favorite treats, Krystin gave the mare one with a flat palm before putting the rest away for later. Grabbing the bridle- a black Collegiate Comfort Dressage Bridle that was well taken care off and almost looked new,-Krystin took off Dee’s crossties, slipping the reins over her head before replacing the worn hunter green/navy nylon halter. It took her a few moments, but soon the throat latch was done, followed by the Chin straps –both of which were tight, but comfortable.-

Once again giving her mare a pat on her neck, Krystin pulled her hair back into a low ponytail, her bangs not being long enough stayed in her face off to the right side the light blonde having a bit of a pink tint to it from that area being dyed.

Leading the mare outside, Krystin checked and tightened the girth before quickly and expertly climbing up into the saddle. Once the pair were in the outside flat arena, with no one else there, Krystin put Waking The Demon through her paces, warming the mare up so that when she put her through the Dressage that they knew, there would be no worry for injury.

Word Count:613

[ashley stefan rainer]

Be my heart & my soul.

Ash had fallen right asleep after getting back to his dorm room, he had been staying up late at night with Winter doing some extra training. Curled up on his bed sound asleep he stirred moments later and yawned. Rubbing at his bare eyes gently he looked at the clock next to his bed, Ash softly sighed. Needing to wake up and get outside to train with Winter again. Showering he put some comfy clothes on for riding and slipped his knee high black leather riding boots on, over his pants. Checking himself over he left all of his jewelry off and in a safe place. Yawning again he put some eye makeup on, giving himself some smokey eyes with black eye shadow and some rust colored shadow to. Putting the black kohl eyeliner on then the mascara over his never stopping long eyelashes to finish his look off. Not ever needing much on his face to begin with since he had perfectly beautiful skin already.

Leaving he locked the door behind him and didn't have anyone to share the dorm room with yet. But only after he found the treat he had gotten for Winter like he promised him. He missed having a roommate since he always had his older brother Asher who he called Ashes to share a room with. Thinking about his little family back home in Munich, Bavaria, he would be going home for the summer. Since he really wasn't dating or seeing anyone at the moment to have to worry about missing him. Taking his cell phone with him if he needed it for anything or if anything went wrong in some fashion but he hoped that nothing did. Taking his time with a spring in his step he had gotten some sleep but it wasn't really enough yet. Yawning again under his hand still trying to wake up and finally did so he wouldn't end up falling off his horse.

Heading straight to the barn to get Winter all nicely groomed and tacked Ash checked his cell phone once. Not seeing any calls or messages for that matter he tucked it away. Hurrying more as he got closer to the barn and took the package of snickers bites out of his pocket for Winter to have. Entering the stall he patted the handsome white Arabian on the side and along the neck. "Hey there bubby. I brought you something." Feeding him some hay first he mucked out the stall next and gave him the snickers bites for his dessert. "Alright Winter lets get you all cleaned up and saddled." Walking him out to the cross ties and made sure the grooming kit and tack were all there. Starting to groom Winter he took care of his hooves first and brushed him all out from the tip of the stallion's nose to his tail. Happy that Winter was being a patient horse and let Ash finish. Putting the black saddle pad on then all of the black leather tack. He adjusted what needed it and crouched down with the blue polo wrap in his hand, wrapping Winter's legs.

Moving his hands over Winter's legs checking them over he patted him on the side. Standing he unhooked the crossties and removed the halter from Winter's head. Putting the halter back into Winter's stall he quickly came back for a final adjustment, checking everything strap by strap by strap. Taking down the stirrups he checked them and lifted himself effortlessly into the saddle. Leading down he wrapped his arms around Winter's neck hugging him. "Alright pal lets go." Giving Winter's sides a gentle squeeze out they went and headed to the outdoor flat arena for some work out time. Once there he saw another person was already there working out and slowly walked Winter in through the open gate. Watching Krystin he would wait his turn.

[krystin sarene ryne]

At first Dee was excited to be out and full of energy, making her not wanting to listen and simply go for a good run. Krystin chuckled slightly as she sat calmly on the energetic mare’s back, working on calming her down so that they could go a bit of exercise. Dee was shaking her head slightly and had a prance in her step, sometimes attempting to ‘leap’ into a canter while they were trotting. After a few more moments the mare finally settled down, her neck arching beautifully, her tail flagging just as gorgeously… The mare was light on her hooves and moved with a bit of grace.

Once the mare was settled, Krystin began to do a few dressage moves with her. At first she started with the simpler stuff. A medium trot, with a 10M circle in it, lengthened into an extended trot before moving into a working Canter, followed by another 10M circle. A few transitions mixed in once she moved Dee back into a working trot. After all of this she began asking Dee to do more of the advanced moves needed for a level two. Starting with Right and Left shoulder-in, a few collected trot and collected canters. Each movement that was newer, Dee would hesitate for a moment before knowing what Krystin was asking of her.


In truth, Dee’s movements with the Travers, weren’t as smooth as they were for the different gaits or Shoulder-ins. Then again the two were still perfecting their moves… which is what brought her out here in the first place, to practice.
Once she had finished practicing the Travers a few times before stopping, giving Dee her head. The mare shook her head with a grateful snort, seeming to now be completely relaxed, while still booming with energy. Glancing up after gratefully patting the mare in a good job, Krystin notice Ashley was standing in the center. She urged her mare forward, quietly stopping at a comfortable distance for the horses.

“I’m sorry… you weren’t waiting too long, were you?”

Dee flicked her tail as she stood patiently for Krystin to give her next the next signal. Dee glanced around, before looking at the stallion, still having her head she extended her right foreleg, getting an itch that was on her ear.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I’m Krystin… and this is Waking the Demon, or just simply Dee.”

[ashley stefan rainer]

Be my heart & my soul.

Ash always enjoyed being on Winter on his horse he always felt free and without a care in the world. When it came down to it Ash never let anything bug him when he was riding. He always worked so hard not to feel like he was disappearing or was losing himself when he was upset or depressed or anything else. Sometimes he would have nightmares and would wake up in a cold sweat but since he started riding Winter more and more he felt like himself again, the hole in his heart was closing. He felt alone being so far away from home even through he spoke with his family everyday he still felt alone, no matter how many people he was around. Winter was his best horsie friend and he didn't want to lose his favorite horse for anything. His thoughts were many and about different things, firstly was his brother and the girl Ashes was dating. Ash hoped she was treating his big brother right and wasn't going to break his heart. Wanting his brother to be happy he wished for that same thing happiness but didn't want to be selfish about it, if he didn't find anyone that was okay.

Making sure he had his ear plugs in his ears so he could listen to his iPOD to help him keep his mind on what he was doing. His iPOD was in his inside pocket for safe keeping and softly hummed to the music that was playing in his ears. Watching Winter's ears moving to his voice he reached down and rubbed his hand along Winter's mane. Lightly patting him on the side of the neck moving with Winter's steps. Giving him more light pats on the neck while they waited there in the center watching Krystin. Seeing her coming slowly over he smiled with his bottom lip in his mouth it was force of habit with him. "Hello...no not at all, we were just watching you some." Winter stood where he was being a gentleman and wouldn't approach Dee unless he was allowed to do so. He watched the mare watching him back Winter nickered and leaned his head down some, sniffing at one of the wraps on his leg. Shaking his mane he nickered again and pricked up his ears, listening. "It's okay, it's nice to meet you Krystin and Dee. I'm Ash and this is Bavarian Alps’ Winter or Winter or the Butt Bitter." Patting Winter on the side of his neck again he felt Winter turning around in a circle being a goofball.