i don't wanna be. [black magic]

[.*.Brandy.*.]

[ x ]

liza stevenson.

~*~

Blaire and I can do it just fine. I don't wanna practice.

I grumbled and groused to myself as I trotted around smoothly on the slightly pudgy chincoteague pony mare. The black overo pony snorted slightly as she plugged around easily. I loved riding Blaire but I liked doing exciting things. I hated the under saddle stuff they made us do in the show ring. I wanted to jump more. Blaire and I were getting ready for a show coming up hosted here where we would jump a course of fences set at 3'. I was so excited, like you don't even understand. I've found that once you get Blaire past all the crossrail and ground pole stuff, she really wakes up and loves it. Her ears are forward almost the entire time. I clucked to the mare now, kicking her slightly with my outside leg to make sure that she responded with a canter. She moved off at an easy canter, auds pinned and gait lopey. Sometimes, I wonder why Blaire wasn't a western pleasure pony. She'd be perfect at it! But really, once you got her jumping, you saw why. She has, like, perfect form and she's really easy to keep in hand and rate back. I glanced over my shoulder as we cantered in a circle down at the other end of the arena. My eyes locked onto the head trainer, Reed Miller, standing at the gate watching. I pretended I hadn't seen him as I cantered down the longside. Now I looked up, having a surprised expression on my face with a wide smile. I couldn't jump unless someone over eighteen was here and Aunt Monica was working right now. I smiled lightly at Reed as I slowed Blaire near the fence.

Heya Reed.

He raised an eyebrow at me, paternally almost. Then he glanced Blaire up and down for a moment. He was seeing if she was warmed-up enough, I assumed. Then he spoke with a little grin.

You know you shouldn't stop by the gate, right? It's really bad for any horse, especially a pony, to get into that habit.

I widened my eyes and nodded attentively, deciding not to ask if I should jump. Obviously this wasn't the right time.

Okily-dokily. Sorry about that.

I pressed my heels into Blaire's and the paint coloured mare moved off my leg lazily. I had walked but a few steps before I heard Reed's voice over my shoulder.

I'll stay and watch you jump.

I turned in my saddle quickly, smiling widely as I see Reed hop over the fence and head towards the two sets of standards that had poles near them. He set up the first as a middle-height crossrail and the other as a vertical probably around 2'3 in height. Nothing high enough for Blaire to really try but at least she'd have something to do. He smiled at me and pointed to the fences. He stepped back and folded his arms, watching me meticulously as I asked Blaire for an easy canter. I sat tall in the saddle as I circled her once before turning her towards the crossrail. Blaire's auds flickered forward as she measured the fence. Seeing it was basically nothing, her lazy stride moved no quicker as we approached. I leaned into a small two-point as she lazily plopped over the fence. I turned her to the left since she swapped her lead over the fence anyway. I steer her across the diagonal and ask for a simple change, the one where you come from a canter to a trot and then ask for the other lead. She did this without a problem, her pace barely changing as she moved from canter to trot. We cantered the long side for a few moments before heading over the vertical. Auds pricked, she picked up the pace a little and I knew that she would probably pretend that the fence was crazy high because she was just bored. She took off in a perfect spot for me, tucking her forelegs loosely against her chest. I leaned forward, giving her an easy crest release. We cantered out without a problem and I turned back towards Reed, seeing him approach the fence now and change it to three feet in height. I smiled to myself as I cantered down the long side again. We headed now towards the three foot fence. A daring smile crossed my lips as I felt Blaire catch sight of the fence. All of a sudden, she seemed like a totally different pony. I sat up nice and tall as her longer strides got us in a great spot for the fence. I gave another crest release and leaned foward enough to allow her to bascule over the fence. She tucked her forelegs tightly against her chest and for a brief moment, we were poetry in motion. We landed on the other side without a hitch and I slowed her from a canter to a trot and then to a walk. I loosened my reins, patting her neck lightly. Blaire shook her head lightly and snorted, obviously having something up her nose. I turn her towards Reed and smile widely. His eyes were wide. He grinned back at me now.

You two are a great team.

I smiled lightly at him. That meant a lot to me coming from him. I scratched Blaire's withers, grinning widely and gave the only eight year old response I thought was appropriate. I was kidding of course but I had to. He left it wide open for me to respond this way!

We know.