A good brushing - CLOSED

[dari]

Lyris grabbed the grooming bucket with her good hand and walked to the stall where Bex stood watching her calmly. The cast had worried the mare at first, almost like she was wondering who had done this to her beloved master. But now she was used to it, and despite the extra bulk and the strange color, she didn't care anymore. Lyris smiled and palmed Bex a peppermint, which the mare lipped out of her palm and munched contentedly while Lyris grabbed the curry and got to work.
I don't understand how you can get so filthy dirty just being out there in that little field. You're amazing, she said as she worked. Bex huffed. I know, I know. You're wondering when we can go for another ride... I can't wait either. She tapped the curry on her waterproof cast. This is such an inconvenience.

She shook her head and kept working, making sure the wound on Bex's foreleg was healed and that there was no heat in the area. Thankfully, there was no heat and the hair was starting to grow back. She could see that the hair was going to be white. She smiled. You're going to be a fleabitten gray one day, with all the wounds you seem to acrue. Silly horse. She patted the mare affectionately on the neck.

[dari]

Bex stood quietly as Lyris struggled to lift the saddle onto her back with one hand. It wasn't easy, but eventually Lyris got it. You're going to be good today, she said to the big mare. Hope's going to come get on you so you don't get too lazy. She patted the mare's neck and gave her a kiss on the nose. You'll like Hope. She's got a good seat and soft hands... just don't go crazy when you see me on the ground. She chuckled and reached under Bex's belly for the girth, slipping it into the keepers and buckling it smoothly with one hand. She grinned as she felt her horse's belly puff out.

Silly horse, you won't ever be able to get out of work unless you're hurt.

[DJ]

Hope appeared at the grooming stall in the next few minutes. She stood in front of Bex at an angle, still in view and trying to stay out of the mare's blind spots. "Hello," Hope spoke to the mare softly, holding her hand out and scratching the equine's lips.

"I'm guessing you'll need help bridling the beast?" Hope assumed Lyris may have a bit of trouble bridling the mare one-handedly. "You've done a fantastic job already with the saddle and girth. Talented!" Hope grinned and continued to play with the mare's lips. She seemed interested in Hope's fingers, but not annoyed, so Hope continued.

[dari]

Lyris chuckled. Thanks. I learned to saddle the beast one-handed the last time I broke my arm, she said with a grin. I didn't listen to the doctor then and had to wear the cast for longer. I guess I'm going to listen to him this time.

She grabbed her bridle from the rack and offered it to Hope. Bex snorted and searched Hope's pockets for a treat. Would you do the honors? Lyris said with a smile.

[Arya]

Liz searched to barn for Hope. Many questions popped into her head, and wanted her opinion on some. After spotting her in the grooming stalls, she walked up to her. Hey Hope. Thanks for a great lesson. I have some questions. The first one is do you think I'm ready for a show, or should I wait a little? She paused. My second question is, do you need any help with anything? I mean, you look kinda busy and I thought I could help out. Both questions where out and Liz smiled, knowing she could do a lot.

[DJ]

"That's a good idea."

"I'd love to." Hope giggled a bit as she slid the reins over Bex's neck before unclipping her halter and sliding it off of her long face. Hope held the noseband and throat latch out of the way as she held the bit up to the horse's mouth. Not seeming to want to take the bit, Hope inserted her thumb gently into the corner of the mare's mouth. She opened her large mouth and Hope slid the bit in, careful not to hit her teeth. The equine closed her mouth and played with the bit a tad, before accepting it seemingly happily.

Hope handed the reins to Lyris and let her lead her horse out as she rested the helmet on her head.

"To answer your questions, you certainly should be ready to show, because our first show isn't for another month or so, so if you ride often enough, even without coaching, you should be ready by then to go into some smaller over-fences classes. Hope smiled to Liz. "And I don't currently need help, because I've finished all of the chores from this morning, but some time this week, I'm going to need to go through the barn and do a major spring cleaning. That includes hosing down the aisle, stripping and vacuuming stalls, scrubbing and disinfecting all buckets, raking paddocks, etcetera. But for today, I'm good so far. Thanks for the offer, though!" Hope was about to leave. "Oh. But if you're interested in helping clean stalls and turning horses out in the mornings, I'm usually out here but 7 and the horses are ready to go out around 8. If that's too early, that's fine, but if you can make it that early, it'd be a huge help. And I can usually work out some sort of a board agreement that you can work some of it off. Hope smiled again. "I'm off to ride Bex. You can watch if you'd like, or finish with Song."

[dari]

Lyris took the reins from Hope and waited while she put on her helmet. When it was buckled, she gave the mare a pat and walked out into the sunlight toward the dressage arena.

[Arya]

Liz nodded. Okay. Would the Hunter Show be okay? Liz planned on going to a tack shop soon with her mom so they could get her Show outfit. Her other one was to small, and her mom said it would be for her birthday which was soon. Liz was a little bummed about not be able to help out that day, but she couldn't wait for next week. When it came to horses, Liz would do anything.