Reining the Trails

[tobin james calloway]

Limping steps made their way into the dim barn, the sun was almost on its horizon and night fall would be coming soon. Hope had left his trailer just ten minutes ago, having needing to go home and change. Making his way into the barn knowing she would be another twenty minutes or so he thought of the horses they could use. Now Raider would be perfect for her, he was an amazing horse and the stallion would be almost a better western ride than any of the lesson horses. He thought a moment of Clu, knowing the gelding and stallion would never get along. A choice for himself, he would ride one of the lesson horses himself. They needed to be worked out too and the stable staff sometimes forgot to exercise them. He could give up his stallion for Hope. She did offer him the wonders of more pizza. Pizza, wow something Tobin ate almost every night, it was easy that way a large pizza and two days to eat it. Something like that could easily get old for most people.

Tobin brought Raider to the cross ties and left him to stand as he collected his choice of lesson horse. Dandy usually got forgotten, the older gelding was level headed and one could easily leave him for weeks before needing any real attention by a rider. Putting the bay gelding next to his roan stallion on the cross ties he continued to brush them both. His mind stayed on the girl as he cleaned both horses up then started collecting tack. He brought two saddle pads, one plain black the other lime green placing each on a saddle rack before coming out with his reining saddle and older heavy roping saddle. Tossing them both up to the racks he disappeared once again into the tack room, coming out this time with the lime green bell and splint boots for Raider and two bridles. He then turned to his own horse, grabbing the neon green saddle pad and placing it lightly on the stallion’s back, following by Tobin’s prized reining saddle, something Hope would just have to get used to using. Cinching up both cinches then the breast collar the young man knelt down slowly, putting the bright boots on the stallion’s legs. He did both legs in one kneel reaching across the horse to put on the other side. Blue eyes looked up as he put one hand in stirrup another grabbed the stallion’s thick mane to help pull himself up. Once back on his feet he listened to the sounds of the barn for a moment, Hope should be arriving soon, maybe with some dinner, though he didn’t hold much hope. Most of his mind came to her financial situation, he would pay for the horse’s care here no matter what she said at this point. Hell he already was having the vet bill sent to him not her. She wouldn’t know unless she asked why she never received it, they were simply instructed to tell her it was taken care of. She would know who did it for her and he would probably be in all sorts of trouble when that time came. Being a nice guy you got yelled at a lot for sure.

Thoughts still racing through his mind Tobin tacked the bay gelding up in his roping tack, a simple black pad and the old prize winning saddle. It was nothing like he bully dogging saddle, it was definitely a roper. Just one of a number of saddles every cowboy needed. In all truth he had six, two sat in the trailers storage having no real use to Tobin, one of course being that steer wrestling saddle. Having all types of western saddles was one thing for sure, different bits and headstalls and tons of things most people would render useless. Stomach growled as the boy cinched up each cinch and slowly clipped the breast collar in place, of course needing a bit of adjustment from being used on one of Tobin’s huge thick horses. That feeling of getting off that big stocky horse and onto something a lot thinner was odd, and that was what it would be for Tobin today, Raider was thick, almost fat and well Dandy was thin and narrow in no close comparison. He thought that maybe Hope would get mad he tacked both horses, it was just something better to waste the time she was gone with. Pressing his black cowboy hat on his head the young man stepped back from the bay gelding, comparing his size to the thick stallion for just a moment.

[hope may lessick]

with a quick goodbye, she returned to her pathetic little black car that stood in the parkinglot. it was nothing fancy, just a simple black ford focus. with a small sigh she slipped herself into the car, brought it to life then drove to her dorms. the drive was quick and simple, and when she was at her dorm, things seemed to just fly by like flying colours. her pale digits opened the dorms door and her delicate frame slipped into the little appartment-like structure. as she went toward the closed in room, where her bed was located, she quickly changed out of her english clothes and into a pair of simple plain, dark navy jeans that were fitted at her thighs, then flowed out by her calves. she threw on her ariat ropers, or paddock boots. much like hikers but thinner in the width, and it just made things easier for when their riding.

she slipped off her hoodie and her shirt, and threw on a simple collared white shirt, then added a black zip up hoodie. so she looked far from western, but really, it was pleasure riding, she went for comfort and some style, cause she'd refuse to leave the house looking like a bum. expections are if she was going to the hospital for herself, or if something tramatic happened. as she went into the bathroom, she knlet downa nd flipped her hair over the bathtube and disconneted the shower head andturned on the water, drenching her hair, adding shampoo, rinsing, then adding condition, rinsing then wrapped it into a towel. straightening herself back up on her feet, she looked toward the mirror. her make-up was fine, which was just fine by her since she wasn't planning on looking amazing, she just needed to clean her hair. she usually cleaned it twice a day, must have been her fetish.

once her hair seemed dry enough she flicked it out of the towel and ran a comb through it, watching as her locks started to curl. by the time she had her teeth brushed, her hair was naturally curled and she quickly pulled out her hair straightener, straightening her bangs, then considered herself decent enough to go riding. she leaned over the window in the bathroom to look at the weather only to find sunshine. she gave a small smile then grabbed a pair of her sunglasses. they were quite large with the lenses, black, and had a few jewls on the side for looks. she fluffed her hair once more, then walked out of the door with her bag, locking the door behind her.

out at her car, she comfortably placed herself in the drivers seat, then reversed it out of her asigned parking spot, then out of the parking lot. the thought of food tripped over her mind and she thought of when she could share. the memory of the emty pizza box entered her mind, and thought that maybe he'd want something else. so, her next idea was fast food. it was quick and easy. mcdonalds was the closest, and the thought of heating the unhealthy food made her stomache turn, so instead she bought herself a large fries, and also bought tobin a large fries. once she quickly got the food she put it in her passenger seat and she shifted the car into second as she pulled out of the parkinglot, her car sounding gutless.

{ i need a new muffler.. }

her voice rang her own mind as she pulled the car unto a side road toward kent equestrian. once she noticed the driveway, she dropped another gear, and her foot pressed the brake lightly before her she pulled into the drive way, driving into a emty parking spot somewhat clsoe to the barn, then grabbed the two things of fries. it wasn't anything expensive, but it was the least she could do was offer the male some food. she would have bought him something more, but she had a funny feeling he wasn't into greasy food. as she grabbed the fries, she opened the door, and grabbed her cellphone, throwing it into her hoodie pocket, then grabbed the keys that were on a simple plain black lanyard that was around her neck, the sound of her keys were barely audible as they were tucked underneath her hoodie. as her frame entered the barn, tobin's back was turned to her, and the two horses he had chosen were standing there, looking at her contently. they had different personalitlies than zamiro, or any thoroughbred or warmblood she rode. they were rather patient and mellow. as she approached tobin lightly, her vocals sang out toward him.

{ hey, i brought you some food, i didn't knwo what to get you . . . }

her vocals sang towards him lightly as she stoped at a safer distance to the newer horses. raidar, the large roan had caught her eyes. apparently blaze, her new comer was a red roan, and roans always seemed to be her eye catcher. the large stallion was all delicatly dressed in eqiptment that seemed quite expensive, though she didn't know much. as she awaited for tobin to turn around and accept the food, she brought her thing of fries to her mouth, stealing a frie and quickly hiding it in her mouth, chewing quietly, offering the male his fries.

.893 words.

[tobin james calloway]

Tobin heard Hope’s steps in the barn though didn’t turn until she spoke. ”Oh thank you.” He took the large fry she held out for him with a smile. Taking a few and shoving them in his mouth he looked back at the horses, after a moment of chewing he finally spoke. ”I’m going to get you to ride Raider, good practice for you, and I’ll take Dandy here, he’s a better choice than Clu.” The thought of Clu entered his mind once more, taking in his last day of working with him. Clu had just about attacked another horse and rider and was being sent to a distant cousin of Tobin’s in just a couple days. He couldn’t have a horse like Clu around students and all these fine horses. It made him a little upset losing the horse, but he didn’t have the time to deal with his pain. Clu was a half brother to his Getcha and he had such high hopes. That wasn’t important right now, Hope needed to get into the saddle and feel better about her own mishaps.

He looked back at the horses, tossing more French fries into his mouth, chewing he stepped towards where he hung up both headstalls. Grabbing on he set it on the horn of Raider’s saddle, the other on the thick horn of his roping saddle on the lesson horse. ”I’m gathering you can bridle the horse? He doesn’t take any work.” He motioned to the bridle before stepping back to Dandy. Setting his fries down after shoving a fairly large handful in his mouth he took the cross ties down and took off the gelding’s halter and quickly bridled him. A salty finger in the gelding’s mouth brought it open pretty quick to slip the snaffle curb bit in the bay’s mouth. Slipping the rest of the headstall over the gelding’s ears, holding the reins in his hands he turned back to the girl. Picking up his fries and taking another bite. After swallowing the fries he spoke again. ”You’re going to have to fix the stirrups and cinch him up tighter.” He was just reminding her, though he figured she knew better by now. Taking the reins in his hands he stepped into the shed row waiting for her to finish with Raider. The stallion was easy going and would probably take the bit easily, not as interested as following Tobin around as in this new girl.

Tobin tightened up the cinch on the gelding and when she was ready headed out of the barn. Holding the fries in his hands still he stepped up into the saddle, not even holding onto the reins as he fixed his seat and collected his stirrups. Turning back to make sure Hope was following along. Once she was mounted and ready he collected up the reins in one hand. ”You can even pick the trail we go out.” He smiled slightly before shoving the last bit of fries in his mouth, shoving the empty package into his pocket so he wouldn’t litter.

[hope may lessick]

{ i thought that you may be tired of pizza... }

a smile tugged at her features lightly as the male accepted the food. hope quickly grabbed a few fries, before setting them down, looking toward the plump roan gelding that stood there in the cross ties, tobin explaining the bridling, she gave a little nod before she offered a palm to the stallion. the equine's starberry coloured velvet kissers that were lightly warn down with a deep grey colour, they pressed against her soft skin. a light little wicker escaping his vocals and a small smile skipped across hope's features. he sure was a little attention whore. she ran her hand along his roaned forehead before running her hand down his neck and onto his shoulder, where she pulled it up from the soft coat, and her digits wrapped around the headstall that hung lifelessly around the horn of the saddle.

as she appraoched the equine's tiara, she brought the headstall in one hand and rested her forearm against the brute stiara between his audits, then offered the bit toward the equines mouth, and easily, the stud accepted without having to ask with her fingers. the roan continued to stand their quietly, and hope wrapped the headstall around the equine once the halter was taken off and everything. the quarter horse stallion sotod like a champion, his borad body quite short and different than what hope was use to. but that didn't freighten her one single bit. when the blonde instructor reminded her of the sturrips, and the cinch, she gave another quick smile, a reassuring 'kay' and then started to work on that. she quickly adjusted the sturrips, unsure of where she got the knowledge of how to do so, but it just seemed straight forward. she then also cinched the stallion up.

once that was completed, she grabbed the split side reins, and her fries, and fallowed the male out of the barn, once he stoped at a distance, she had the stallion stop aswell, then lapped the reins over. she'd ridden western before, so she knew some, but very little. as the reins were neatly and balanced, she shifted her weight lightly and then mounted up onto the stallion. the stallion shifted lightly but other wise stood there, still on a loose rein. it was awkward, the feeling of wanting to shorten her reins fell over her, but instead she rested the split reins comfortably over the withers of the red roan under her. with the slightest movements, the equine had suple and nimble moves, with the single twitch of her fingers, he was collected, now why couldn't zamiro take some lessons. she placed her fries between the horn of the saddle, and the little groove of the saddle, they fit perfectly, and were comfortably stable in there. her free set of hands grabbed a few fries and placed them in her mouth, bitting down on the deep fried potatoes before actually hiding the food in her mouth to chew, the swallow. as the male spoke, her mind drew a blank.

{ I have no clue where to go.. }

her voice had a faint giggle to it as she brought her energy leels higher, and the red roan broke into a walk, before she lightly, with only the movement of her hips and the light weight of her wrist moving, the equine came to a quick and queit stop. at a safe distance beside the lesson gelding. her digits that held the reins lightly pressed against the equine's nech before looking toward the male, wondering where the ride might take them. though she was excited about taking in the scenes of the trails around here that are coated with forestry, and silence. time to just think, or vent, all in her mind.

.633 words.

[tobin james calloway]

A slight chuckle as she mentioned pizza. Yes the young man sure ate a lot of pizza. Pizza and Chinese food along with all sorts of junk food. Continuing about his way he let the girl collect herself and the horse. He knew Raider might be a chore for her, he thought maybe the curb bit was a bad idea. She would have to get the point eventually and quickly. If she pulled back on the reins to much Raider would just back up and well it wasn’t an easy back up. Reining horses are usually backed up very quickly and he had the steps for that. He figured she didn’t know much about the trails. Tobin was given a map of them when he came and he had ridden a couple with Raider when they first arrived. Tobin’s blue eyes glanced around and nodded. ”Well, let’s go this way.” He nudged the gelding forward, using his single hand on the reins to neck rein him towards the trail he wished.

The bay gelding stepped onto the correct trail with Tobin’s direction the young man turned to look at the girl. He was smart to pick a wider trail they could easily ride side by side on. Motioning Hope to let Raider beside the pair. Tobin’s blue eyes looked at Hope, noticing her seat was more of something he would see on an English rider. She was an English rider and he had to respect that. ”Relax your seat, you’re doing fine.” His sweet smile looked back at her while. The whole point of this ride was to get her to relax, she could talk all she wanted, if she had more questions she was more than welcome. He kept the gelding walking letting Hope get settled into the new western saddle. He had picked the reining saddle to give her that tiny bit of feeling closer to an English saddle, then again it was still clearly a western saddle and it had a much deeper seat.

Having a deeper seat would be something different for her for sure, he assumed getting used to the larger bit and loser reins would be a big change. He thought about putting a snaffle on the stallion, he just worked so much better with the curb bit. The high port made the actions the boy used to control the horse minimal and it really never seemed to bother him. If she were the crank around on the reins she might make the stallion cranky but he wasn’t much of a bucker or a spooker, he could have been a child’s horse is Tobin were to give him up.

[hope may lessick]

her lightly sun kissed digits held loosely on the reins, continueing to remind herself about little movement with them. she added her outside leg, and the large red roan spun around to fallow the bay. the spin slightly caught her off guard, considering her and zamiro were constantly fighting with leg aids, he was quite an anti social moron really. her eyes fallowed the trail lightly, and as the female turned up onto the trail, she kissed the brute into a quicker pace to catch up with tobin and his mount that she had no clue whatt he horse's name was. as her voice remained hidden, she pushed her energy forward and the stallion went into a mellow western jog. the strie was for sure different. it was short, and collected, his tiara was low, it much reminded her of riding with a headless horse. jast as she was preparing herself for asking for a slow, the equine was already responding with her hips. his hindquarters moving under him lightly witht he movement of hopes. she gave the equine a quiet reward before she continued to ride along. as her mind thought of what tobin had spoke, she was slightly confused, relax. what did he mean by relax? she felt relaxed, but tension and anxiety still seemed to hold her together.

taking a deep breath, hope could feel herself relaxing, her posture changing slightly, it wasn't as uptight as it would have been if she was to ride zamiro, or a lesson horse, instead, her heels remained down, but her shoulders were relaxed, and her body just seemed to relax. most of the tension and anxiety leaving her body. her orbs took in the site of the freshly painted emerald forest that acted as if it was tunnel surrounding the two equines & riders. tall emerald furr, spruce, and pine trees invaded the sky as they left only little sun shine spots for the sun to break through. smaller popularslinied the sides of the trailer, that was starting to get swallowed by the emerald vegitation. the sounds of the saddle squeaking, aswell as the faint sounds of the horses breathing filled her mind, and for a moment, she seemed to just be lost in the scenery.

once she came back to reality, her tiara had bent down toward the fries, where she grabbed two and snarfed them down. her vocals seemed quiet and shy, not wanting to show themselves, but after another couple of french fries, she licked her salty digits, rubbed them on her jeans, then turned to look at the male.

{ so, i was thinking, having blaze comeing, i was thinking of seeing how much he was worth, and maybe keeping him for the show season, see if i get any money out of him... would you accept any late entries for your lessons? }

her voice was quiet, but not the timid quiet, more of the relaxed, calm and confident kind of quiet. her body moved with the rythem of the horse's gate as she continued to look around. the red roan under her holding his frame, his head lowered as he walked, audits going into a helicopter state as they twitched aimlessly in every direction, the odd time his eye's closing, but the opening again to look at the terrian, but continue to cooperate.

.556 words.

[tobin james calloway]

His blue eyes watched their surroundings as they walked through the trees. Stallion and girl jogging to his side. The horse could tell she wasn’t relaxing and acted so. Most horses would act the way their riders did, tense and anxious. Raider was the opposite, the more tense she was the more relaxed he became. Something a child’s horse would do, though Hope was clearly no child. Tobin smiled as he noticed the pair, knowing he had made a good match. Raider could help he do anything he wanted. He noticed her still eating her fries and then she spoke again. ”I’m always excepting new entries.” He looked back at her, a bit disappointed with her showing mind. A horse was not there to make her money, he was there to make her happy. Yes showing and rodeoing made money, but it was because you loved it. Well that is why he was in the rodeo, he loved it. If she didn’t love the showing it made no sense for her to do it.

Voicing his opinion seemed useless at this point, not showing his disappointed eyes. He wanted to help her worries of money so she could realise the love that was in it. She loved Zamiro and he could tell, He thought her thoughts were in the wrong place with this horse. She needed to love him and appreciate him. He wasn’t sure how he could show her that. He couldn’t get angry and tell her she was thinking of it all the wrong way. He let out a bit of a sigh as he thought about it, fixing his hat before looking back to Hope. ”If you need any help with him I’m here, and I’d love to be your teacher.” His sweet childish smile looked back at her. He tried to keep the smile as he relaxed his seat on the gelding, kicking his feet out of the sturrips. His left leg stretching out a bit in slow motion, he clearly was a little sore. He’d stretch his leg and not say anything unless she asked. He knew that she would eventually ask as his mind prepared his story over and over. Not really wanting to speak of it but he was an open book. Whatever she wanted to know she could, now hopefully she didn’t ask about the vet bill she would never receive. He couldn’t lie and he knew it, starting a fight was the last thing he wanted to do, but something in his mind said he may have done the wrong thing. Stepped over a boundary perhaps. It was too late now, he had already paid her bill. Just wanting to help was his only motive, he didn’t want her to lose Zamiro and now he didn’t want her to give up the chance to have Blaze.

[hope may lessick]

as the male spoke her orbs looked down to the reins that were neatly folded over the brutes withers, and the equine's pace refusing the change. this equine made zamiro look untrained with his level head and decent cooperation. her body moved quietly, and almost invisably witht eh equines as she continued to look down the trail. her mind started running a mile a minute as she thought just how terrible it was loosing her only income. zamiro did a decent job, though it was never steady, but when he did win, she'd have enough money to continue showing, aswell as live somewhat decently for a month. her mind then faded back to when before she couldn't have zamiro, life was nothing but showing, and if she didn't win, she'd work twice as hard to win next time. showing with her mother really never did really showed much fun, infact, it was nothing but a horror, but it was better than having no horse.

once she owned zamiro, her showing became less difficult and tence. she was able to just go out and take zamiro on trail rides, take him out into the field, and by the time hope moved out, life seemed even more free, though her mother still had her on a chain. a very long on, but it was still there. hope inhailed lightly as she looked down to the equines neck lightly, his long mane being picked up lightly from the little breeze that tunnled through the trail. the sound of her own voice ran through her mind, and she couldn't help but sigh, looking back over to the male after his last set of lyrics, she gave a faint smile.

{ thanks, i'm sure i'll need it. }

yeah, help was one thing she always needed. more the better. as they continued her ride, her mind shifted to zamiro, she felt terrible for almost leaving him, alone, while he was lame. but she knew she'd emotionally fuck herself up, so it was best she felt guilty than end up in the mental hospital over some retarded thing. her fingers tangled againsted the stallions neck lightly, rewarding him for his fabulous behavior, probably something she didn't need to, but she was use to argueing with speed, or just for havingt he horse relax. and considering this horse /wasn't/ zamiro, he was probably better than dealing with one of the schooling horses. shifting in the saddle again for comfort she noticed the male kicking out his sturrips. probably in pain, though she spoke nothing of it, knowing that he'd explain everythign when he was ready.

{ so how are your lessons set up. are they public, or private... and well, how often? }

she only spoke these because her curiousity got the best of her. she knew she could take him five day lessons, getting the weekends off for showing. she knew she was strong enough and mentally strong enough, aswell as phyisically, so if he spoke some abnormal number of days, she could care less. besides, she knew nothing, and with this hrose on the way, she was feeling more and more clueless. maybe five days a week was reasonable. as for the public or private, she was just curious. she worked best in either, and her main focus on riding through lessons is to feel that moment of sucess. and well, besides, it was always best to work in a group, and sometimes away from the group. keeps the horse guessing, and it never ends up that your horse ends up becoming herd sour. one thing she absolutely couldn't stand in a horse. and if this blaze was heard bound, that would come to a quick end.

.618 words.

[tobin james calloway]

Letting his worn boots hang beside the stirrups of the roping saddle still he listened as the girl spoke. ”Well technically the lessons for the school are private. The student and I figure out how often we need to work together, whether it be twice a week to every day. I do take on a couple lessons a week at another stable during the days sometimes.” He spoke of a neighbouring stable where he took on lessons just to keep himself busy. Not teaching any normal school classes, just the lessons at the school he opted to keep busy. It wasn’t the money he needed he had enough of that, whether he’d show it or not. Both of his parents worked and felt the need to send him money every month, it was like a guilt trip they were on he never asked for. He hoped she would take on a lot of lessons, she could take then with Raider for now if she needed, getting in the saddle of the new horse would be good for her. Then she wouldn’t have to sell the horse that appeared she really needed.

Well, he felt she needed the horse. Showing couldn’t be every part of your life. He knew that, rodeo was his everything, his entire life, it only takes one moment to shatter the things you loved. No matter if you love it or not. If she could find a love in even showing western she might find a love in the horse, a balance, a reason for it all. He hoped she could find the positives in going a different direction, a new horse to love, she could love both. Then maybe to change the subject or just to get her more used to the horse. ”Well let’s get that old fart moving.” His sweet smile looked back at Hope. Nudging the bay gelding into an easy jog he tried to keep the gelding at a slower pace, knowing the stallion’s initial jog would be slow. She would have to nudge him forward to get him any faster. He kept his feet out of the stirrup a moment, though the extra strain without them caused him a bit more pain. Slipping his feet into the stirrups again he kept the bay at an easy jog. The wide trail seemed perfect for even the pair to lope out and move faster. The tail turned slightly and kept wide, moving through trees and bushes. It seemed so nice to have a beautiful treed area in California, a place that should be dry the small forest seemed to thrive. A fork in the road and Tobin turned the bay to the right, a couple more strides and the wide trail opened into a open field. Useless for farmers the field was filled with sand and grass, un even and odd to the life around it.

His eyes looked back at Hope and Raider once more before he nudged the gelding forward, an extended trot for a couple strides before rolling into and easy lope across the field. Once reaching the end of the clearing the boy slowed his horse. Turning him back towards the girl and his horse. Patting the bay’s neck and bright eyes looking around the clearing. Once Hope pulled next to Tobin he spoke. ”How is he?” Was all he asked, trying to see if she was actually enjoying herself.

[hope may lessick]

as the male spoke, she thought quietly of how his lesson's and their timed ranged. depending on the phyiscal shape of blaze, she was hoping around an hour ot an hour and a half each day for a few weeks, then slowly lay off once she'd understood some of the basics. the equine under her kept a quicker, steady walk beside the gelding, her legs having to encourage him a few times, having to break into a slow jog to keep up, but other wise the brute did well with keeping their pace. hope took a deep breath lightly, looking in the direction of the male, taking in what she had just heard.

{ private works. as for the amount of days, it depends on the physical shape of the gelding. but even on a lesson horse, would five days a week work, if you think i should take them longer, i'm all game, but just thought you might want some time away from lessons. }

her voice sang out into the silence of the forest as she watched the male, collect the bay gelding, and speak of a quicker pace. without hesitation, her energy levels rose and the roan gelding under her picked up a quiet jog, but with each stride, she kept a higher energy, and the gelding had a longer stride, tiara tucked up under him lightly, hindquarters under him as he worked, and without hesitation the roan broke into a quiet lope. the equine had a long, yet collected pace. the two of them kept a steady pace as the stallion under her flickered his ears back. suddenly, as the neared the bay gelding and tobin as they came to a quiet stop, the roans stop wasn't as quiet, and caught the female off guard. as the roans hindquarters rounded under him, and his short stocky pillars wound up under him, giving a small sliding stop, and was a few steps infront of tobin, and his pillars quickly went into a reversed speek, tiara vertical, nape arched, one thing hope had beenw orking on with zamiro.

the jerk of the equine going into the quick stop caught her off guard, usually dealign with zamiro's halt. a slow, painful stop, but it was like the roan enjoyed stoping and reverseing. the horn to her stomache surely didn't feel well, and from that point, she knew this horse had brakes that were killer. she envied that in him, compared to zamiro. overall, the horse was pretty nice, but there still wasn't that drive of 'i want him' he was just another horse she's ridden that was trained differently. the one thing she enjoyed about riding other's horses was how they were all trained differently. as the male spoke, asking her a question about the roan, she couldn't help but let her vocals give a small laugh, her hand resting on her stomach lightly as she had felt slightly queezy after the horn had contact with her stomach, and well, the quick movements.

{ um, he's good. }

her vocals held a smile lightly as she gave another laugh, looking down to the equine and her hand running along his neck lightly. bright orbs remained hidden from the sunglasses as she looked around the large open emerald field. it surely was pretty. the odd flowers were found, nothing fancy, but to her, it was scene that she'd want to see over and over again. she shifted in the saddle, and the box that held the fries wee emty, it had been emty for a while, and she quickly tore it into smaller peices, throwing them into the black pocket of her hoodie and then zipping the pocket up, making sure she didn't drop any spare cardboard peices. once she finished that she dropped the reins, noticing that the roan wasn't planning on going anywhere, and he seemed that he'd perfer to stand still than go anywhere, she unzipped her hoodie a little and adjusted the lanyard with her keys so she wasn't shoking herself, adjusting herself formt he sudden movement, the queeziness going away slowly, though she could feel a bruise forming on her stomach, nothing to big though, she'd had worse.

.699 words.

[tobin james calloway]

He acknowledged her wish to have tons of lessons but kept quiet as they moved forward. Once the stallion’s stop ever so abrupt caught the girl off guard he had to giggle a bit. ”That’s why I gave you the saddle with the little horn” Childish smile on his face as he watched her collect herself again. ”When he stops like that you really have to focus on keeping your rear in the back of the seat and be round as you lean forward.” Now Tobin wasn’t the best with words so his explanation came with him doing the movements himself. Kicking his feet forward in the stirrups a bit, pushing his ass back into the saddle and leaning his shoulders forward. Keeping your gut out of horn wreckage was defiantly key. He may have forgotten to tell her that and surely it was his fault. He forgot the stallion’s stops could be quite rough on ground that wasn’t the deep arena sand. ”Are you alright?” It seemed like it had been forever that it took him to ask. It should have been a higher priority on his list. You know, after laughing. ”We’ll have to work on that seat of yours.” He smiled as he continued. ”Well you can practice on both Blaze and Raider. Raider will be a good solid mount for you in the arena.” He told he as he pat the gelding’s neck, picking up the reins in his hands.

”When you’re ready we can either head down that trail or head back.” He pointed to the east before looking back to Hope. T was her choice, plus it really depended how hard she hit herself on the smaller reining saddle’s horn. If she was in a ton of pain they could simply walk or whatever she wanted. Though as they sat he kicked his feet out of the stirrups again. Night time seemed to have that effect on his body, the cooler it got the more pain he was in. Thank god he lived in California now, Alberta weather could be absolutely horrible on the metal rods and plates in his body. The weather shifts bothered him, but he didn’t really wish to speak of these things. Then again there were lots of things he didn’t talk about. He thought about her thoughts of the lessons again. ”Raider can handle all five days a week if you want to continue to work with him, we will see how this new horse of yours is. He tried to reassure her this western thing would be good. He worried a lot about her selling the new horse. He thought about buying it, but he couldn’t just write her a check, he knew he had to think of something.

He was sending Clu to his cousin soon, maybe if Hope likes Blaze and still wished to sell him he could buy him through his cousin. She did lots of things for him, and he was starting to care about Hope. She seemed to have enough issues of her own to start dealing with a new horse. In his mind he thought he needed this horse and surely he was stepping over every boundary he could possibly think of. Maybe that was just Tobin and yes it was. He cared more than he should and maybe he was letting himself get a little attached before he even knew the girl. Maybe she would speak more, ask him questions, he wasn’t sure. Something caught his interest in this girl and that could probably get him into trouble.

[hope may lessick]

as her audits took in the faint chuckle of the blond male beside her, she couldn't help but laugh along as she adjusted everything, then picked up the reins again. now listening to what he was trying to explain. it made little sense, but once he showed her the form, everything seemed to be much, much more clearer. she took a mental note quietly to herself as she shifted the saddle a bit, feeling it was loosening. she shifted her weight, then slid off the roan's body, holding one of the slip reins in her hands, and going toward the cinch, tightening him a bit more, then stood on the ground for a moment, stroking the roan's neck. the large stallion gave a light wicker and his tiara bent around to the girl, nudging her lightly almost in an apologetic way. she gave a lightly giggle as the equine threw her off balance lightly having to take a step back to regain herself, before approaching the stallion again, her fingers running along his forehead, soon covering herself in fur. gotta love the shedding season.

{ ride raidar for five days a week? how about i ride him twice a week during our lessons, to teach me something new, or teach me how something is suppose to be like, and we'll work with blaze on the other days, inless i run into a rutt with him. }

a small sigh fell over her, zamiro finally seemed to leave her head, maybe she needed that horn into her waist, it was raidars way of kicking her in the ass. the thought made her smile, she fingers flipped her sunglasses up onto her head lightly, heavy sidebangs falling over her eyes lightly, making her push them out of the way as she still stood on the ground. it wasn't that she was nervous to get back in the saddle, it was more like, she was trying to anchor herself from going back to the barn. her bright orbs adjusted quickly in the sunlight, before the looked upt o the male who still sat on the bay gelding. hope put the rein over the stallions wither with the other one, then put her foot in the stirrup and hauled herself up onto his back. she shifted a bit more, before listening to the male ask if they should continue or go back. her stomach's pain had winded down, plenty, and now she could just feel the bruise, other wise she was all go to continue. but instead, she pulled out her cell phone to check the time, seven thirty. she wanted to be there to help load zamiro with the vet, aswell as pay the bill, unaware of the deal that was made behind her back. she then also look to the male who slightly winced in pain.

{ maybe we should head back . . . }

her vocals spoke nothing of the pain she noticed within in the male, and if he said, wlel maybe they should continue, she would simply say they should go back for the vet, and she would still know why they were going back, giving the blond cowboy a favor. why make riding painful, when it didn't have to be. she gave the male a faint smile before adding her outside leg, and a bit of rein, and felt the equine under her pivit on his inside hind leg, swinging his front end around then standing there, awaiting the male and the gelding. once they had turned around aswell, hope asked for the brute to keep a simple walk. and sure enough, the stallion did. her orbs glanced around the terrian, it sure was pretty here.

{ so, what brought you to eureka, and well kent especially. you speak of other stables, but what made you stick to kent? }

her voice sang out toward the male. short curly tressles laid over her shoulders lightly as the blonde highlights looked even lighter in the sunshine that was slowly going behind the trees. bright orbs looked to the make lightly as shifted in the saddle again, the queezy feeling falling onto her, then leaving every few strides.

.690 words.

[tobin james calloway]

Tobin nodded as she fixed the saddle now. ”That was just a worst case scenario, a two three balance would be good.” He watched her stand a moment before mounting back on the roan stallion now. Nodding when she made the final decision. He turned the gelding quickly on his hindquarters jogging up to the girl and stallion. They kept beside the pair through the huge open field, keeping the easy walking pace, boy’s feet still out of his stirrups. Pushing the black hat back on his head as the girl spoke. Why had he come to Kent? A job? A way out of Alberta? His workers Visa allowed him to work here in the states. ”I actually applied for the job online after I got approved for a workers Visa, but they would only give me the Visa if I had a job down here.” His mind wandered a moment as he pulled the gelding’s face away from eating the grass with an easy light touch. Correction and continuing on his way he thought once again. ”I needed Kent to be down here, to renew my Visa, since I’m not rodeoing anymore. I’m really interested in teaching as I really haven’t done any real teaching before. A new start I guess. Kent is good to me, the other stables I teach lessons at aren’t the one’s paying me that’s just private between me and the owners or riders.” The other stables were just places he went to teach Kent was a place he could live, board and teach. All three wrapped into one made it easier. He glanced back at Hope and debated the same question, part of him knew the answer, showing. He dared the answer he didn’t really want to hear. ”What brought you here?” His question was a bit simpler. He never questioned the place he came. He didn’t want to be home and most of his touring had been here in the states, a while longer he could apply for dual citizenship. Then he could work anywhere he wanted, but that still didn’t mean he was going to leave Kent. He kind of liked it here, it was a nice place, most of the people here were nice.

Maybe it was control. He finally had control of his life. The circuit couldn’t now dictate where he went and where he stayed, he could now control his life. The horse’s he owned, where his trailer parked and what he did. The only problem was that the one thing he thought he loved so much were gone. Rodeo was his life, his thrill his entire world, now all he had was Raider, they were all that was left. He couldn’t be around his parents, looking at the guilt they had with him. They knew they made the wrong decision putting down his horse, he would never let them forget it. Being away was better than being there, dealing with the pain of knowing his horse was still gone, he’d never get him back.

Shaking the thoughts again from his mind he looked back at Hope awaiting her answer. He kept the gelding moving slowly beside his own stallion. Taking a moment in his head to admire his own horse. He loved Raider, his huge body and easy going personality. Raider was perfect in Tobin’s eyes, now Clu, Clu was leaving, he was selling him and that was the end of the story, but he would find more information about that later on.

[hope may lessick]

her mind took in what the male spoke, most of it making sense. he came here simply for action in his life, and for the will of being able to use visa, and well, move on in his life. start fresh. but when the question, that was mirrored by her own vocals just moments ago, it still seemed to catch her blind sided. she wasn't wanted here. or there, or what seemed like anywhere. truth was that her mother kicked her out when she caught herself in an unhealthy relationship with the male that her mother claimed that she loved. he forced her mother to kick hope out. she could have taken it harder, but she wanted to get away from her mother, and that man. she forgot his name the day she walked out of that house for the last name. she practically forgot about her mother's name as well. the only reason why she continued to keep conversation with her mom was for the help of money with zamiro, and now this new horse.

{ my mom's boyfriend kicked me out just over a year ago. and well, all that he left me with was zamiro, and my mom only phones to ask if i got her money because she has this huge guilt trip, that he let her kick me out.. blahblahblah. then my old riding academy told me that i could do better, and that i needed better facilities, so they sent me here to kent, paying for all facilities. and well, i learned about the schooling here, and i'm finding myself leaning toward large animal vetrinary. }

her vocals spoke quietly, and there were a few pauses. mainly because the fact of her own mother kicking her out seemed to take an impact on her whenever she brought it up. but that was the truth, how else could she sugar coat things. besides, things didn't seem any deeper than that. hope's lungs inhaled the fresh forest air while she found her free hand tangling the end of one of the split reins, running the soft leather through her hand. just the mentioning of her mother started to get her nervous, or ansy. and the stallion under her seemed to sense it, his tiara lifting and his body tencing lightly, though his pace didn't seem to change. she couldn't help the fact that her mother new husband was a dick, but if he made her happy, the least she could accept was that she was happy enough for her mother to be happy. or behind all the lies and abuse he puts her through. but her mother never did end up listening to hope in the end.

her eyes seemed to look through the trees, right on through. like they weren't even there, she could see the tips of raidar's audits, but those soon fell impossible as she thought deeper, wondering if the stupid gene her mother had for picking out bad men would fallow her. that only reminded her that she never did have any relationships that were far from serious, the longest one she had suffered through was eight months, and that would have been the toughest one to say goodbye, even though the anger that the male built up in her kept her strong enough to stay sane. many of her relationships fell through because of her riding. the man getting pissy because they could never be together because of the horses, because of her riding. and if any man expected her to put them before her horses, they'd mid as well just leave.

zamiro entered hermind again. he was nothing but a large, fourlegged, talented, bay child that she never had. and the only pain the stud gave her was guilt, no physical pain, inless he'd decide to throw her, but thats what made riding interesting wasn't it? for a split moment she thought she riding zamiro, but within miliseconds, she could tell she was on tobin's stallion. her mind shook the thoughts away as she gave a small smile toward tobin. somehow, she had made it look like the lyrics she just spoke didn't bother her, not a single bit. and it amazed her, but she held a small smile, stroking the roaned stallion under her then looked back up, kent slowly becoming noticeable in the distance. her vocals remained hidden, unaware of what to speak. what was there left to know, the male had known pretty much everything about her, but her riding ability in english, he surely knew her riding ability in western : it was crap.

.765 words.

[tobin james calloway]

The young man kept the horse walking as they both seemed to listen contently. He listened to her speak about getting kicked out. That sucked, guilt trips suck worse. Though a smile seemed to come to his face as she spoke about being a vet. ”I think you would make a good vet.” Was the only comment he made on the subject. He didn’t ask into the subject anymore, thinking it was a tender place. He watched her stare off a moment, he must have touched a bad spot. ”Sorry.” His blue eyes stayed on her as he spoke, breaking the horrible silence. His eyes glanced forward as he could finally see Kent in the view of the setting sky. It wasn’t that the sun was so low it was dark; it was perfect in his mind. It would have never been this nice in Alberta, maybe in the summer but he liked the weather here much more. He searched his mind for the right words. The wrogn ones were usually what Tobin found. Usually he did stupid things that ruined his real chances of a normal life. Paying for Zamiro’s vet bill may have been one of those things. The young man debated on telling her, not sure her reaction. He didn’t really want to get yelled at, but he knew he had too. Tobin would just have to ease into it.

”So you’re a jumper. Do you enjoy it?” He was sure he knew the answers. Of course she loved jumping, she clearly loved Zamiro. He could tell that for sure, it was one thing clearly obvious to him. He awaited the answer before asking another question, something he could just muster up. Before he could think of a question he thought of the vet coming to pick up Zamiro. He hoped she wouldn’t be angry with him, he debated on telling her now, but was unsure of himself. Maybe he had made a mistake stepped out so far. He mustered up his own courage as he looked at her. ”Don’t get mad at me...” His voice trailed before admitting his wrong. ”I paid Zamiro’s vet bill.” His blue eyes looked over at her awaiting her reaction. He really waited to get yelled at, maybe a speech on how he had stepped over every boundary. Surely he would lose the girl as a friend. ”Sorry.” He didn’t know what else to say as he staed forward waiting for his punishment.