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Post by .*.Brandy.*. on Feb 19, 2007 18:34:43 GMT -5
 [ x ]no rider because of strained tendon [handled by roger anderson]. ~*~
Hey girl.
The filly nickered to me from inside of her stall. I smiled lightly and stepped inside of her stall, her plated halter and cotton lead rope hanging over my shoulder. I would need to change her bandages and take her for a walk. I gently slip the halter over her head and clip it into place, clipping on the lead rope as well. The young mare snorted slightly, tossing her head. I smile as I gently step forward and take her out of her stall. She was still limping slightly. She had injured herself after stumbling out of the starting gate at a Breeder's Cup race... Which she happened to have won. Her lameness didn't show up until after her win. I pat her neck lightly and clip her to the crossties, taking the lead rope off and hanging it over her bridle hook that was nailed next to her half door. She tried to turn her head, whuffing to me lightly. I patted her hindquarters, pulling the grooming tote from my tack box. I took out a body brush, a soft brush, a hoofpick, hoof polish and a comb. I begin to groom the mare, running the harder brush over her coat to dislodge any dirt she had got on her. I brush her body and her back legs first. Then I put down the brush and leaned down to unwrap her front legs. Only her left tendon had been injured but if only one leg was wrapped, it would throw her off balance. She heaved a sigh once I put the wraps on a tack box nearby. I pick up the soft brush, carefully brushing the front legs and swiping it over her coat again. Then I picked up the comb, brushing out her mane first. She tossed her head lightly, bobbing her head, making the crossties jingle lightly. I smiled as I moved to her tail, brushing it out so it lay nicely against her back legs. I quickly pick out her hooves, careful to be quick when putting a lot of pressure on her front left leg. I dressed her hooves with Rainmaker to keep the winter weather from cracking her hooves and put the stuff away. Then I headed into the tack room. Lily had left me fresh wraps and already made poultice for her leg. I bring the bucket of foul smelling paste and the wraps to the mare. She turned to try to see what I was bringing and bobbed her head. I assured her it was nothing to eat and leaned down. First I put the pillow wrap on the right leg, then putting on a hunter green polo wrap to keep it in place and then duct-taping it to keep it steady. Then I brought the poultice closer to her, making sure she wouldn't step into it. I took the large wooden stick from the paste and began to smear it across her leg. She nickered as if to say that it was cold. I surrounded the injured area and then put on the pillow wrap, polo wrap and duct-taping it all shut. I put away the poultice and put the dirty wraps in the tack room. I carefully threw a stable blanket over her bare back. I came back to her and patted her star lightly and clipped the leadrope to her halter and unclipped the crossties. I'd take her out for a walk. It had just snowed so we would have to be extremely careful. I cautiously step outside with the beautiful and talented filly following me. I squinted as we came into the sunlight. It was a bright day out and the sun was reflecting off of the pearly white snow. Abbie carefully stepped behind me, seeming to enjoy her walk. After a few circles around the barn, I bring her back into the barn. Her shod shoes made a click, click noise on the concrete floor. I checked her feet for snowballs and then carefully placed her in her stall, unclipping her halter. She turned away from me, beginning to munch on her hay. Once her strain healed up, we'd begin her training as an eventer.
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Post by .*.Brandy.*. on Jun 29, 2007 20:13:32 GMT -5
I pushed my heels down and righted myself in the saddle. My stirrups felt fine but Roger still fiddled around with them. This was my first hunter course on Abbie and the first hunter course Abbie had ever performed with anyone other than Roger. I mean, really. That guy spoiled the filly and kept her to himself. I smile at Roger encouragingly. He rushed around like a bride on her wedding day. I grinned lightly at the group of people at the fence line. I always seemed to be put in these 'demo' situations. I dunno why. Maybe because I'm fourteen. I dunno. My brother watched me, goofy grin placed on his features. He was such a doofus. Lily watched me with an encouraging smile placed on her features and Tara watched me coldly. Seeing me watching her, she smiled a bit, giving me a thumbs up. She had jumped Abbie before and was the second person to get on Abbie after she arrived. I bite my lip and take in a deep breath. The fences were small, crossrails at most 2'3 in height. It was mostly to see if Abbie's demeanour changed if her rider was swapped. I ask for an easy canter and she gives it to me. Her canter was rocking and slow, an almost perfect duplicate of her father's canter. We canter an easy opening circle before I set her towards the first fence. Auds forward, she prepared herself. She seemed to measure the strides in her head. I also counted to myself. Her pace unchanged, she took off for the fence in perfect form. We cantered towards the second fence in the line and she took that in stride. I cantered her wide around the turn and headed for the other outside. It was only a four jump course, nothing complicated. Abbie was only 3 after all. I focus her in on the fences ahead of her and her auds flickered forward again. She took this jump from the correct spot and beautifully, my two-point and form flawless. We really would be a winning pair in the show ring. I smile to myself a bit as I allow Abbie to finish the course herself. She seriously was an auto-pilot 3 year old. I smile a bit as we finish the course with an even circle. I slow her to a walk to the sounds of applause. Roger comes towards me and grins.
Nice one, kid.
He says, a smile on his features. He high-fives me as Lily comes forward, smiling as well.
Good job Kayla.
I smile and accept the compliments. Dylan and Tara yell their compliments and I smile as I slide from the mare's back. It wasn't a hard course and it had been simple with Abbie. It was just to see what she would do with a rider she didn't know all too well. Obviously, it meant that she would take care of them just as she would with Roger. My guess would be that Abbie will be retired to be a lesson horse, just like Connor will be. Those two horses were more alike than they are different.
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Post by .*.Brandy.*. on Jan 5, 2008 21:55:23 GMT -5
Eyes up, I sucked in a quick breath of air as I took a look at all of the jumps set up in the indoor arena. I was happy that Lily & Reed had taken the time to set this up for me but this would probably be a challenge. I was the greenest rider at CCI and I was thrilled when they said I could ride Abbie in a very prestigious show at TE but I hoped in my heart that I wouldn't let them down. Fortunately, I'm pretty sure that Abbie wouldn't let me let anyone down. I pressed my outside heel to her side and she moved off in an easy canter. Auds forward, she was aware that this was a speed event & not hunters. The amazing thing about Abbie was that she knew the difference if you showed her the jumps. She was a very talented young mare & I was happy to be riding her. We made an opening circle and headed towards the first combination, a triple fence combo with each as a vertical & the last an oxer, all increasing by 6 inches in height. The first jump was 3'9, an easy feat for Abbie but something higher than what I usually jumped. I held my hands steady as the mare increased her power, jumping the fence in stride. Two more strides, easy but powerful & she took off for the next fence. Three more strides in between, then we jumped the final oxer. I shifted my eyes towards the next fence, on the diagonal. Quick & remaining steady, Abbie cantered strongly towards the fence in the middle of the arena, jumping it's 4'3 height with ease, leaving me with extra confidence to spare.
She swapped her lead over the fence, turning quickly at close to a 90 degree angle to set herself up for the next fence. This was interesting. It was a 4 foot brush, an unusual jump for show jumping. Abbie's auds flickered forward and she cleared the fence with inches to spare, not wanting to rub up against the leafy twigs. After this fence, Abbie wasn't sure what to do & I took the wheel. I turn her quickly, sending her a little off balance but she quickly regained whatever speed she had lost. I beat myself up in my head as we headed for a liverpool. Abbie cleared it just as easily and cantered strongly across the arena towards a double combo, both increasing in height, the last one 4'6. She jumped the first easily, eyes intent & bright as we moved towards the second. She tripped on her first step after the first fence and I rebalanced her as quickly as I could, eyes up. She took the jump like a trooper and turned towards the last fence, an easy and I mean 'easy' vertical. She jumped it as if it were nothing and I cantered her in a closing circle. Bringing her back to a walk, I lean foward over her neck, wrapping my arms around her neck and cooing my praises for her.
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