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Post by .*.Brandy.*. on Aug 16, 2007 16:25:51 GMT -5
Alright, Reed-O... Buddy. Jump the course.
I didn't look him in the eye. How immature was Dylan to be doing this to me now?! Roger & Lily sat on the fence, Lily in her pretty sun hat. She had just finished her own practice with Jet, her now successful racer. I steal a glance at them and cringed slightly. Roger looked less than happy with me. He was the one who had trained Flash from a greenie standpoint. I close my eyes, taking in a deep breath. My brother sat on his painted colt, Big, watching me meticulously, his mind probably reeling with obnoctious things to say to me. I open my eyes, biting my lip as I press my calves into Flash's sides. The bright chestnut moved off into a canter, his auds forward. He was ready for this. The jumps for this warm-up round weren't high, ranging in height from 3' to 3'9. That was around where we were practicing jumpers. I circle Flash between the fences to allow him to steady his pace and then steer him straight for the first fence, a flower box at 3' even. Auds pricked, he mouthed the bit slightly. Once Flash started jumping higher with me, he got more excited and the relaxed Flash went on the backburner. He was amazing like that. He could change his mindset from dressage to jumpers to hunters to pleasure. He was a very versatile horse and a pleasure to ride. I was really happy I had been chosen to ride him. He pressed his hind end back a bit, rocking himself back onto his haunches as he takes off for the fence, tucking his forelegs. He clears the fence easily. A smile comes to my lips. I had been working with him over gymnastics to keep him from overjumping. Overjumping was for green horses and Flash wasn't a green horse anymore. We turn sharply towards the center on the ring on a diagonal. The fence was only a bit taller than the first but required a flying change over it. My eyes focus on the next fence around the turn as we head towards this one. Flash increased his speed slightly before the fence, taking off in perfect balance. We land. On the correct lead! Yes! I canter him around the turn. Now my eyes rest on the next two fences, the first a 3'3 spread and the next that same jump we jumped at the beginning. I would have to focus to keep his attention on me. If he rushed the second fence, there could be a possibility of knocking a rail. I bite the inside of my lip as his strides quicken as we move towards the fence. He clears it easily, stretching his stocky body over the spread. I keep his power in my hands, half-halting slightly. He took the hint, slowing slightly but still giving my power as we fly over the fence. We round the turn quickly, heading for the other diagonal fence in the center. Another flying change. This jump was the the most intimidating in the ring at 3'9. It didn't look right to me. It looked taller than that. Pushing that from my mind, I head him towards the fence. Flash's auds flicker back and forth as he eyed the fence. I backed him up with leg and we flew over it. He landed on the wrong lead but gave me a flying change. I nod as we canter towards the second line on the other side of the fence. This was a little taller, the first single at 3'6 and the second at 3'9. Flash clears the first fence easily and having already ridden the first combination, he slows slightly, keeping the power coming from his hindquarters. He flies over it, tucking his forelegs to his chest. I gave with my hands, leaning forward from my waist. My eyes immeadiately double back. The final fence was this very fence. How you ask? An amazing rollback. With back up from my leg, Flash twisted his body over the fence, following my lead as I double back, steering him for the same fence. We clear it in the same beautiful style. I grin as I finish the closing circle. I slowed Flash to a walk, patting his neck lightly. The horse sighed, dropping his head lower to the ground. I wanted to chide Dylan now but I figured since I am 21, I should be the mature one. I stride past Dylan and Big and head for the rail. Lily clapped her hands together a smile present on my lips. Roger watched me deviously. There was something in his eye. As I opened my mouth to ask about that fence in the center that looked bigger than 3'9, Roger spoke with a grin.
Wanna know how tall that fence in the middle is? 4'3.
I closed my mouth, my eyes wide. He nodded to confirm it and Lily grinned at me. Okay. So Flash and I were totally ready for this.
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