Hope & Willow - CLOSED

[Emo]

Pulling poles out of the storage area Seb carried them to the edge of the arena and dropped them, going back for more. Ten should be good. She made sure to grab colorful poles and flower boxes to see what Willow was frightened off. Pulling out the wings she was quick to set them up in a simple course. A simple Z pattern, starting at the area of the gate with a jump set perpendicular to the gate, up the left side, across the middle towards the right, up the right side, and over another jump like the first, ending with coming back down the left side. Simple, yet enough to keep Willow thinking. Three on each side, two in the middle, and obviously one on each end.

Pulling her helmet on and clipping the riding vest around her upper body she tightened the straps and buckles before turning to Hope. ”If you don’t mind, I was hoping to go around with her on bareback before you try. Wouldn’t want her to freak out and get you hurt now would we?”

[DJ]

Hope went over to Seb to help drag out poles, but the pony spooked, rearing slightly, and spinning away. Hope asked the pony to stand and comforted the locked-leg, wide eyed mare, rapidly blowing through her nose creating a deep snorting sound.

Hope frowned, feeling bad for not being able to help set up poles and the course.

When Seb asked if she could get up first, Hope shrugged. "Sure!" She handed the reins to Seb. "Although I do bounce well." She grinned and stepped next to a wing on a small fence to watch Seb walk the pony, preparing her.

"Want to borrow my gloves?" She added, starting to un-velcro them off of her wrists. Hope didn't see Seb with gloves, unless they were hiding in her pocket and it seemed she'd need them.

[Emo]

Seb almost dropped her pole when the mare shied away from the fences. Seeing that Hope had taken care of it Seb was happy to finish the course on her own. Brushing off her hands she watched Willow and looked over at Hope, smiling when Hope agreed. The offer of gloves made her think about it first. It was either chapped hands or smooth hands. Which would she go for? ”Yeah, thanks. Normally I don’t wear them but I think I’ll need them for today.” Lightly she took them from Hope and pulled them on, feeling the instant warmth she got.

Gently Seb checked the girth and pulled the stirrups down. After seeing that she wasn’t going to flip over on Willow she mounted up easily, keeping herself to one side of the saddle while Willow danced around. Pulling back on the reins Seb managed to gain control for a brief second so she could fully mount and settle herself into the saddle. Soothing the distraught pony she rubbed her hand down her neck softly. When Willow settled down to just a bit of snorting Seb walked her, giving her time to cool down before starting the low fences.

Setting her toward the first fence at a medium paced trot Seb got ready for the first refusal, loosening the reins and tightening her calves only slightly. If Willow were to refuse, Seb wouldn’t pull on her mouth with tight reins. Willow laid her ears back as the first fence came closer to her. It was so predictable that she would refuse. So Seb sent her around again, making a wide circle for her to settle down. When they reached the fence again Willow popped over it like nothing had happened. The first few fences were good, but when Seb reached the black and white poles Willow shied from them every time, and then every fence after that. It didn’t matter the color, she would still refuse it.

Seb slowed her to a walk and dismounted, soothing the worked up mare. ”I think it’s safe for you to give it a try Hope, her refusals aren’t that bad today. Just make sure to praise her whenever she goes over a jump.”

[DJ]

Hope slid of her gloves comfortable and handed them to Seb.

Hope stepped back from the spooked pony. She watched Seb comfort and handle her with ease.

Hope was surprised by the pony's spooking at only one fence, then everything after that.

When Seb suggested she hop on, she nodded and held Willow as Seb hopped off. Hope pushed her helmet farther down on her head and slipped one foot into a stirrup, pulling herself up quickly, not wanting to stall on the impatient pony. She slipped her foot into the other stirrup and settled herself, feeling the need to ask a question before she continued.

"What is she doesn't go over a fence?"

[Emo]

Seb held onto the reins lightly as Hope mounted up. ”Make her do it again. Try the fence she refuses until she goes over it with ease. If she hesitates praise her and then make her do it again. If she continually refuses a jump, after about the sixth or seventh time skip it and come back to it.” Seb didn’t exactly like the fact of having to skip a jump but if it was necessary she would do it. She couldn’t wait until she could meet the owners daughter. It was going to be a nice day for her.

[DJ]

Hope nodded, setting off on a trot. She circled the pony, keeping an even stride and pointed her at the first fence. The pony's ears glued to the fence in front of her, and she popped over it in ease. Hope reached up Willow's neck and stroked it toward her withers, praising her for her good work.

"Good girl," she whispered to the pony, pointing her to the next jump. Willow trotted towards it, ducking to the side. Hope did the incorrect thing, but circled the pony around the jump and pointed her back to the jump. She eased forward, but locked her knees at the last moment, staring down at the poles. "Can I make her step over it? From a walk?" she called to Seb, watching her nd the pony.

[Emo]

Watching Hope with Willow was like seeing a beginner buy her first horse. They were making such progress. Seb could see the obvious trust Willow had in her rider. She was a pulled from her observations though when Hope spoke up, praising the mare. Scanning the arena Seb pulled the mounting block over and sat on the edge of it, keeping her breeches clear of becoming dirty. Noticing that Willow had ducked out she pulled her lips tight into a frown. ”A walk is fine. Any gait, walk, trot, canter; as long as she goes over it. This isn’t so much about the speed of which she takes the jump, but mainly the fact that she takes it and has no fear of it coming after her or moving at the last moment.”

[DJ]

"Nice."Hope pushed with her seat and squeezed the mare's sides as Willow stared downward. She stepped her front end over the pole and her back end followed, hocks eased down and bounced over the colored wood with flower boxes over it.

Hope praised and patted the mare again. She moved her into a canter, circled her once to gain a rhythm and pointed her at the third fence of the "Z" shape. The pony wiggled a bit when she saw she was going to jump it, trying to find a way to duck, but Hope kept a driving seat and even legs. The pony over-jumped it, leaving Hope left behind, but she sat forward and praised her, murmuring "good girls" and "nice jobs" while she cantered on.

"She's so much better than she has been," Hope acknowledged, asking the mare to walk and continuing to praise her.

[Emo]

Observing their movements made Seb smile. She was doing good, and it’s only the first day. But that doesn’t mean she’ll be this good tomorrow, or the next day, or the next. It simply means she’s being responsive and paying attention. Willow could very well have a fit tomorrow or refuse to do anything. This was only the first step in her training.

”She’s doing very good. Just stop whenever you want to, but stop on a good note. We don’t want to pick up on a bad edge tomorrow.” Moving the mount block back to the wall, which will be moved back to the middle when they clean up, she stood and stretched out her legs. Going into the storage room she shuffled around somewhat before pulling out a blue tarp. While Hope was on the other side of the arena Seb made a quick set up on the last jump in the right side line. She wanted to see if Willow would spook at the tarp or ignore it.

[DJ]

Hope nodded. "End on a working note," she repeated from what she'd learned from a clicker-trainer.

Hope watched Seb set up a tarp and walked Willow loosely over to the fence. She shied at the tarp, trotting away, but circled back around for a second investigation. She lowered her head and sniffed the crinkling object, and bit it. "Willow! Hope spoke to the mare, backing her up away from the tarp, but Willow hung on, pulling it away from the fence. Hope gave the mare a strange look, never seeing this behavior in a horse.

Willow eventually released her chomp on the blue sheet and Hope gave a sympathetic look to Seb, asking her if she'd be able to reset the jump.

Hope circled Willow in a canter and pointed her to the fence. Willow ears locked onto the blue color, but she flew over the fence, over-jumping, but clearing it. Hope followed the pony easily, expecting the unnecessary leap, and sitting up when the pony landed, cantering onward.

[Emo]

Seb almost cracked up laughing when Willow bit the tarp. Of course she’d fix it but she had to get herself under control first. When her laughter bubbled down she stood up, passing Willow as Hope cantered her around again. Jogging toward the tarp she pulled it back into place just before Hope made the bend. Moving away to the middle fence Seb watched Willow over jump. At least she was jumping. They’d work on form and length when she got over her fears. ”I think she’s good then. Willow’s going good, I don’t want anything to happen to make this set back to square one.” She knew Hope was used to giving instructions but Seb was also used to taking charge. It was complicated.

[DJ]

Hope brought the pony to a walk and nodded her head, giving her a loose rein to cool out before dismounting and turning her out.

"I'll call Kelly and ask her to bring Chloe over to ride Willow." She rubbed one her eyes, a bit itchy, and turned to Seb, next to the middle fence still. "If I have any issues, talk to you?" she asked. "I'll have you come out for the lesson when I can set up a time with her." She grumbled lightly, halting the pony, and leaned forward, placing her hand on the Willow's still slightly warm, damp chest. She asked her to walk on, and finished cooling her out before stopping.

[Emo]

Listening to Hope as she spoke of the mother and daughter made Seb smiled. This was going to be fun. She wasn’t Hope, and she could be mean if she felt like it. If she needed the strength of emotions she’d use them. Seb doubted she’d need that but as a precaution. Chloe should know that if she wanted her horse to jump and win she’d need to listen first. ”Set up the appointment and then give me a call. I’d be down here as quick as I can.” Pushing off of the jump she began to dismantle the pieces and store them back in the storage. Folding up the tarp she had no fear of Willow spooking. If she can bite the blue object she can face the crinkle it made without a problem.