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Post by .*.Brandy.*. on Feb 7, 2007 15:29:58 GMT -5
Light snort emitted from the seasoned gelding's nostrils as he tossed his head lightly. I reassuringly pat him, my hazel eyes flickering to the judge's stand. For now, it contained my sister to watch me prepare for my dressage test. Dressage wasn't her forte... Not mine either but at least me and Connor had it somewhat. I turn my head towards the middle of the arena and I watch for the cue from Lily. As she nods, I press my legs against Connor's sides, the gelding immeadiately coming into a collected trot. He arched his neck in a frame, auds pricked forward as his pillars touched the ground ever so slightly. Connor and I come to a seamless halt at the very center of the arena. My left hand grasped the reins as I lift my top hat off of my head in a salute towards the "judges". I place my hat atop my dirty blonde locks, eyes moving back to the arena. I squeeze Connor's sides lightly again and he comes back to the same trot we had had before. I smile a little as we turn to the left as we came across the arena. I push lightly with my inside leg, Connor balancing calmly around the turn. I bite my lip as I became aware of the next command. I put a tiny bit of pressure on the reins. My horse came to a square halt, head rounded as he rested lightly atop the bit. I put a bit more pressure on the reins, pressing my legs against his sides. He reluctantly backs up five steps but does it all the same. We move forward to a walk, cutting across the arena. As we come to the long side, I squeeze Connor strongly and begin my posting extended trot. The horse extended his strides effortlessly. As each flint came to the ground, there was a hesitation and Connor's muscles gently rippled underneath his coat as we come to a halt. There was no question as the sudden speed change became apparent. I tap Connor with my outside leg, his canter flawlessly long and beautiful. Connor moved across the arena's diagonal on his right lead and I shift my weight ever so slightly, just as we had practiced bunches of times before. Connor's flying lead change seemed to be done by himself... It was perfect. I smile through my teeth as we slow to an extended posting trot across the center line. We halt in the exact same postion as before, my handsome salute going to the judges as we glide back into a walk, exiting the arena.
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Post by .*.Brandy.*. on Feb 7, 2007 16:47:50 GMT -5
 [ x ]roger anderson. ~*~ 1. [5' 6'] pile of logs. 2. A [4' 2] ''fire'' jump with a small green swamp-water area. 3. [3'] pile of logs. 4. [4' 9] picnic-table jump. 5. [5' 9] wood fence. 6. [3' 6] play house jump. 7. [4' 10] tree jump. 8. [5'] pile of logs. 9. [6'] pile of logs [Very Slippery] 10. [3' 9] pile of logs. ~*~
I really could say a lot of mean things about the weather here... Really, I could... But I won't. I sighed a bit to myself before I leaned forward to stroke Connor's neck. The spooked thoroughbred gelding snorted fiercely, whites of his eyes showing. Oh crap. I leaned back. There really wasn't anything I could do about this. I mean, if thunder went off when we were going over a jump, I would definitely fall. It was certain. I bit my lip as the attendant's flag dropped. Alright, Connor... Let's go. We galloped out of the box, Connor's auds flickering all over the place. I wish I could calm him down but I didn't know how I could in such a short amount of time. Each jump would take effort today. Augh. This sucks. Eyes focused on the first fence, I shoved my heels down. Figures. If I have my heels down, I'll be pretty okay. Auds flickered forward and back, not really paying attention to the jump ahead. No Connor. I pushed my heels into his sides and he realized. Only four strides to prepare. Auds pricked forward, he measured himself. We came to the pile of logs and soared over it. Good boy. You figured yourself out. Well, no way I could get him to pay attention in between fences. Darn.
makin' my way downtown, walking fast, faces passed, and i'm homebound.
The next fence on my mind. This fence was confusing. It wasn't a fence I had seen before so I researched it a bit. I figured it was some sort of a water jump. Ha. Like we need more water in this position. A thunder clap sounded in the distance, sending Connor into hysterics. He sidestepped, still cantering, head high. God, Connor. Not today! Augh... We came close to the next fence, my hands working tirelessly in Connor's mouth to make him focus. Auds flickered forward, he glanced down at the pond before collecting himself up. Good, good... We soar over the fence with inches to spare and land in mud. Connor floundered for a moment, freaking himself out. I pushed my heels into him and we moved off. The next fence was one of the easiest ones we would come across. A three foot pile of logs. We jump those on trails. We come close, Connor unfocused. Not like it mattered. I focused and made the correct striding and we soared over rather well... Good.
starin' blankly ahead, just makin' my way, makin' a way, through the crowd.
Landing, I immeadiately thought to the next fence... Sweet! Picnic table. One of my favorites and Connor was pretty good at them too. But today. I don't know. I mean, he's been in this kind of weather before but I guess it was just one of those days. Most importantly, I couldn't get frustrated... I pushed him back on his hindquarters as we came up the hill. It was on the top of it. I waited before letting him go with a crest release over the high fence. We fly over it, Connor's auds pricked forward as he tucked his legs so he wouldn't touch the fence. We land and fly down the hill. The next fence was on the higher side and although it wasn't complicated, it could pose as a problem. Connor nervously leapt forward as another clap of thunder sounded. I bring my hands up his neck, trying to get him to rock back on his haunches or he wouldn't be able to jump it. Auds flickered backwards towards me, he did manage to do it. Good boy. We fly towards it and just barely clear it. It was hard to get a good take-off spot because of all the mud...
i need you and i miss you and i now i wonder...
Eyes focused on the turn, Connor landed and I tried to tell him to turn. He didn't understand in time and we had to whip around the turn. Connor slipped, the threat of a fall definitely in view. He righted himself and we moved on. The next fence was a play house... Ha. A playhouse... hehe... We come close to it, jumping it easily. It was a low fence in comparison to most before. I changed my seat over the fence, Connor's lead changing as we made the tight turn. He did it this time and we moved towards the tree. Figures, in cross country they had you jumping trees. I watched the fence approach and I pulled Connor back onto his haunches. He seemed to calm down now... Oh. Wait. Spoke too soon. Connor's auds flickered back and forth, his head high. I pushed him forward and we cleared the fence this time. That was close...
if i could fall into the sky, do you think time would pass me by?
The two next fences were log piles each increasing in height by a foot. The last one was six feet high, a high fence for Connor and myself. We don't normally see that high of a fence in a normal course we perform. Wow. Coming towards the five footer, we fly over it. It was good... One of the only fences we hadn't had issues with. Coming towards the six footer, it suddenly came to me. The thunder hadn't... Oh no. Two strides before the high fence and the thunder strikes. Head high and steps uncertain, Connor hesitated. He didn't know what to do. I shook my head, pushing my heels into his sides. Trust me, Connor, trust me! And he did, we soared over the fence. Tucking his forelegs to his chest and landing nicely, we moved onto the last fence. I let out a long breath. Good, good... The next low pile of logs came towards us quickly and we soared over it effortlessly. It was nothing in comparison to the last fence.
cause you know i'd walk a thousand miles...
We fly forward after the final fence and we galloped towards the finish line. Rain struck me, Connor and my saddle. The wetness had just occured to me now. I obviously wasn't paying much attention to anything other than the thunder, Connor and the course. After flying across the finish line, we came to a walk. Connor was wet... A mixture of sweat and rain. I was wet... Mostly rain but I was sweating a little too. I dismounted, walking Connor towards the temporary barn. He would get a good rubdown. He was calm now, pushing his wet facade into my hands. I stroked his forehead and we both walked to the barn.
if i could just see you tonight.
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Post by .*.Brandy.*. on Apr 7, 2007 11:35:40 GMT -5
You three are insane.
I said teasingly before I entered the arena. Tara, Dylan and Kayla had created an insane show jumping course for me and Lily to practice. Of course they put it in our smallest arena, our indoor. Connor and I had issues getting small turns because of his large size. The course ranged in height dramatically, from 2'6 to 6'0. Dylan pushed the buzzer button and I move Connor into a canter. Haha... I had 30 seconds to get to the first fence. I pretty much assumed that Joker would win this round. Although we were unsure of Joker's experience before Lily got him as a girl, I was pretty sure somewhere along the way he had been a show jumper and/or a polo pony. Pretty interesting. Maybe a little western on the way too. Connor tosses his head as I move him towards the first fence. The first was a square oxer about 3'6 in height and it was colored in green and white. They had done a beautiful job with the painting. It took them a whole weekend to set it up. Connor's auds pricked up but his speed didn't increase. I press my legs into him, trying to get him away from his hunter styling training. He flew over the fence gracefully but not in good time. Maybe Connor and I wouldn't do well. We move towards the next combination, two fences at 5'3 in height, one a vertical and one an oxer. They were both colored like the American flag and Connor seemed distracted by the coloring. He flew over the vertical, putting in a chip stride before and knocking the top rail with his back hoof. It wobbled in the standard's cup but didn't fall. I released my breath as we moved to the next fence. Connor and I move towards the oxer and float over it, his speed never increasing. I was now red in the face, trying to get more speed out of him. His canter strides elelongated, now messing up the striding. I bite my lip. This could be a problem. We move towards the maroon and white colored vertical, a tight turn. Connor grunted as we moved around the turn and jumped the fence. He swapped his lead for me over the fnece and took the turn with tons of effort. We took the 2'6 fence that was yellow and lime green like a hunter and easily floated towards the 6'0 fence. It was colored like the rainbow and Connor floated towards it. I pushed him forward, taking my hand and tapping his on his hindquarters. Connor leapt forward, taking it as a cue. We fly towards the fence and clear it like a true jumper pair. Good. Maybe now he got the idea? No. Not quite. He moved back into a slow canter. He would win if he were in a hunter competition but right now, it was about the speed, not beauty. We move towards the next combination. Well, the next and last combination. Both of the last two fences had blow up pool toys on the standards. One had monkeys on it and the other alligators. I knew it was Dylan's doing. Kayla and Tara wouldn't have anything to do with it. The first was only 3'6 and Connor gracefully tucked his knees and flew over it with perfect style. The last was 3'9 and I cluck to him, smacking him a little harder on the hindquarters. I goose him by accident and he takes off for the fence a stride too early. In doing that, he crashes through the fence and knocks over two rails. I grimance as he trips on the other side. Fortunately he seemed okay. We finished the closing circle and I slow him to a walk. No one watching on the side said anything. I pat his neck and apologize to him. Now I felt really bad.
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Post by .*.Brandy.*. on Jan 5, 2008 22:15:33 GMT -5
Connor bobbed his head slightly as we rode towards the 5 mile cross country course. Kayla & the horse I had bought just a week or two ago, Rocket, followed behind to make sure that if something happened, I wouldn't be stranded out here. I doubted anything would happen though. Connor was the easiest horse to work with and was a careful jumper but I figured it'd be good to have at least the precaution. Connor nickered lightly as I pressed my heels into his sides. He moved off in an easy canter as we began our course. Hands & reins direct to his mouth, he listened quietly to any direction I were to give. The first fence approached fence, a low pile of logs set up as a warm-up. This cross country course was set up so that younger horses could be pulled out at one point & not have had to jump anything too stressful. It was a good warm-up to start at the beginning too. Connor took the fence just as another canter stride, barely rocking back over it. The next fence wasn't for a while so I leaned forward in my saddle, kneading my hands on Connor's neck. He lowered his head & bared down, galloping now. Eyes up, I see the next fence come into sight after a few moments. It was a very straightforward fence, a vertical made out of plywood. I lean back, holding him slightly. He raised his head, taking the jump easily. He felt like he had the power but he realized he didn't once I gave him a little yank on the reins. The trail for cross country turned into deeper woods. I slowed him to an easy canter as we entered the woods, targeting the next fence. It was a fallen down tree, I'd say no higher than two and a half feet. Connor's auds pricked forward as he saw this and took the fence without a hitch. There was a tight turn now, coming towards a flowing river. Connor cantered down the little incline, through the water and up the bank without an issue, turning to his left to gallop up a hill. At the top, there was a coop. His speed increased as he went up the hill, his breath able to be heard by anyone nearby. I leaned forward to help him out as he flew over the coop, landing in the huge field. I leaned forward again, allowing him to gallop across the field. Fences got harder now, the next fence being a drop fence. It wasn't a high jump but the horse jumped into a ditch and then had to gallop back up the bank. I leaned forward and then back as Connor jumped off the bank and went down down down. He galloped back up the other side, grunting. I bit my lip as we swerved to the right for no reason. I looked to my left, seeing a dead rabbit. I grimanced as we galloped ahead now. This was the water jump & I was going to let him have a walking break after this fence. Connor whinnied, tossing his head as we neared the fence. It was simple to navigate, especially with Connor. It was a 3 foot fence into the water, gallop through the water for 8 strides & then a jump up on the bank & then a four foot fence two strides after. Difficult for greenies to get their feet underneath them but Connor had done this many times before. He jumped into the water, head lowered as he galloped through the water. He threw a little buck, unseating me a little before he took off for the next fence, making me lean a little farther forward than I should have. I steered him towards the second fence & he jumped it without a hitch. I slowed him to a walk now, turning to see where Kayla was. She cantered Rocket through a part of the water without jumps & he was doing really well. I smiled at her and patted Connor's neck lightly.
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