Aerial Intentions

[Emo]

Climbing from the black Nissan GT-R Seb wiped her hand over the fine polish. Her parents would give her a 70,000 dollar car but they won’t help her with her show budget. So selfish and idiotic. Stepping away from it she pulled her jacket off and threw it through the open window. She wasn’t scared of somebody stealing it. The people around ES wouldn’t dare, or barely think of anything to do with the car. You don’t steal a high dollar car.

Entering the paddock she pulled Willow’s halter over her ears and latched the lead rope to the ring. Bringing her into the barn she brushed her down and tacked her up in full gear, keeping the bridle slung over her arm and the halter still securely latched on to her head. Chloe needed to join up first. There was no way Seb was going to allow that kid to lunge Willow with a bit in her mouth. So, to keep it from happening, Seb held onto the bridle easily as she walked Willow calmly to the arena. Walking her over to a ring in the wall she tied her as she pulled out a course, simple and small at first.

Walking back over to Willow she petted the mare, fixing her forelock and playing with her mane.. Rubbing her hands down Willows legs she felt for heat and swollen joints. Feeling none she gave her a pat and leaned against the wall, waiting.

OOC//: OK, ignore the car, I felt like adding it XD SO yeah, ignore it.

[DJ]

Hope's boots clicked down the aisle, not in time with the smaller boots and pair of sneakers following her. Hope glanced behind her making sure Kelly and Chloe were still following her. She peeked into the arena, happy to see Willow against the wall with Seb, right where she'd say they'd meet each other.

Hope yanked open the wooden gate. The wheel on the bottom made an annoying dragging sound against the concrete, and Kelly seemed to glare at the imperfection, although Hope didn't even notice the common noise.

Hope pulled the gate closed behind the lady and her daughter before heading over to Seb.

"Seb, Kelly. Kelly, Seb. Seb, Chloe. Chloe, Seb." She introduced everyone. Hope gazed over Chloe, who'd been quiet since she got here, but carried around a purple crop and dark helmet. She'd worn a tight purple polo with a black vest zipped up. Her polished boots gleamed, even in the arena dirt, and her beige riding pants gave a nice contrast against her knee-high boots. Her short body looked turned out nicely, especially for a 10 year old.

She stayed by Kelly's side, not greeting or petting her pony. Kelly looked over Seb and brushed a wrinkle out of her tight-fitting aqua tee, with dark blue jeans and white sneakers, not looking made for the barn. She looked down to Chloe and squatted, pulling her daughter's blondish hair into a purple hair net, Hope commonly found only in the show ring.

She grabbed the helmet from her daughter's hand and pulled the velvet GPA helmet with the over her head.

"Can I get on?" She looked up to Seb, referring to mounting Willow, who looked happy to see Chloe and wondered why she was not being greeted.

OOC:: By hair net, I mean the clip with the net you pull ponytails into in the showring. ^^

[Emo]

Seb heard the noise of the grinding and smiled. It’s only the beginning. Looking over to Kelly and Chloe she gave a warm smile. Looking to Hope she greeted her respectfully. As Hope introduced them all Seb said hello to Kelly and Chloe, watching their facial expressions. Watching Kelly made her eyebrow raise. Hmm, she wasn’t used to seeing such a fantastic looking garb for practice. Wouldn’t be long before those boots were dirty. Seb figured she’d fall a few times before getting the hang of Willow’s over jumping problem, if she got to jump at all. Chloe may simply fall from the refusals, which were sure to come at some point.

When Kelly was done and Chloe finally spoke Seb let her smile fall. ”No. First you have to lunge Willow, warm her up and join up. Kelly can you please remove yourself from the circle I’ve set up? It’d best if you weren’t inside it. I’ll also be moving outside the circle.” Seb was already gearing herself up with a fit from the mother. Turning back to Chloe she gave her a lunge line that was already attached to Willow. Untying Willow from the ring on the wall she watched the reaction Willow gave to the girl who now held her rope. The wide eyes, showing her whites and flattening her ears. Just as she’d have suspected. Willow didn’t fear the jumps, she feared her rider. And the crop might be the cause. ”OK, you’ll be looking for three signs as you lunge her. First, she turns her inside ear towards you. Second, she stretches out her neck. And third, she starts to gnaw on air. After that, let her stop and turn away. If she walks up to you then walk a few steps away. If she follows praise her. If she doesn’t send her out again until you get the signs once more. Oh, and no crop will be needed. May I have it?” Seb held out her hand, waiting for the crop to placed inside her palm. Maybe if she’d learn to ride a horse without a crop the horses wouldn’t be ruined. But it was repairable.

[DJ]

Chloe stared at Seb when she handed her the lunge line, not leading the pony forward. "I don't know how to lunge." Her trainer always lunged the ponies, but they rarely got lunged in the first place. Only drilled over jumps. Over and over again.

She had no idea what Seb was talking about, and continued to stare in her in confusion.

"And Willow needs a crop. She's a bad pony sometimes. She doesn't like some jumps, but when you use the crop, she goes over them. So can't I keep it?" she begged.

Hope stood against the wall, but decided to walk over to the large mounting block, staying out of the way. She sat down and focused on Willow and Seb, trying to pick up techniques.

[Emo]

Seb’s frown increased. She was slightly surprised. Seb knew how to lunge at the small age of seven, not too much younger than Chloe. When Chloe went on to talk about how Willow needed the crop she almost laughed. ”No horse needs a crop. The rider needs the crop. If you ask Willow to go over without a crop and with soft, kind words she’ll do anything for you. Use a crop and she’ll learn to hate you and her trust in you won’t ever begin to grow. A rider that gets no trust from her horse isn’t a rider, she’s a manipulator who uses a horse for fame and fortune and doesn’t deserve to own a creature of beauty.” Seb’s words become hard as she looked at Chloe. ”I’ll start Willow off, and then give you the lead rope.” Gently she took the rope from Chloe and asked Willow to lunge at a trot to the right. Knowing Seb would cause her no harm Willow stepped right into to and went around in a circle gracefully.

Once Seb had the horse moving at a paced canter she handed the rope to Chloe and Willow stopped, flattening her ears and rolling her eyes again. ”Not easy is it? If you want to win you need to gain her trust. I’ll help you get her started again.” Kneeling down to Chloe’s height she put her hands over Chloe’s gently, barely touching the young girls skin. Willow pranced for a few seconds before moving back into it. Once she was going around again nicely Seb backed off, taking the crop with her as she let go, and let Chloe take control but stayed within the circle in case anything happened. ”Willow will perform better for you if she knows you won’t hurt her or take a whip or crop and hit her. She fears you, which is why she won’t jump with you in the saddle. She jumps fine with Hope. Willow over jumps sometimes but only on certain jumps.”

Seb watched the mare quietly, waiting for something to happen. She knew it would take time to get even the first sign. Until then, they had to wait it out. She also had a feeling Willow wouldn’t pull or go after the child in the middle of her circle. Backing off slightly Seb stepped outside the circle and joined Hope, allowing Chloe to take over. Any sign of a mean nature on Chloe’s face would send Seb back to the circle. Chloe had no crop to use now, so it shouldn’t be too hard for Willow to give the first sign.

[DJ]

Chloe held onto the lunge line and kind of followed the pony around by moving her body to face her.

Hope glanced at Seb from under her bangs and smiled with her lips closed, moving her tongue over her front teeth. She coughed and smirked, turning her attention back to Chloe.

Willow cantered around in fairly round circle. But when she broke into a trot, Chloe wasn't sure what to do. She sung the end of the lead rope at her rump, and the pony bolted forward again, in a overly-large canter. Chloe tried to slow her, but the mare stayed quick. She yanked the lead, unsure of how else to make the pony slow. She wasn't trying to be mean, just didn't want the pony going that fast. Willow's head jerked to the inside and she halted and spun toward the middle, pinning her ears and rolling her eyes, rearing away from the jerking lead rope.

Kelly called off from the side to drop the lead and Chloe responded, dropping the lunge line, running away from the spooked pony toward Seb and Hope, sitting on the block.

Hope bit her lower lip, unsure of what to do, but the pony calmed and stood still. She turned to Seb who was already reacting.

Hope began to feel bad that she wasn't helping, and had an awkward feeling of wanting to run off and cry or ride or just get away, but she sat on the block, feeling terrible about not knowing what to do. She wanted to get up and smack the girl and help the pony, an unusual feeling for her, but she looked down and away, biting her lip harder.

[Emo]

Looking over to Hope when she heard the cough she had to smile in response. When the hoof beats became uneven Seb snapped her head back to Chloe and watched with a stiff gaze. The worst that could have happened did. As Chloe swung the rope at Willow Seb stood and watched with a deep frown. Inexperience was known to happen in younger girls but at least she should know how to lunge properly. Seb wanted to yell at Kelly for being a bad example and a terrible role model. Hearing Kelly yell from the side Seb looked at her quickly and pulled away from the wall as Chloe came closer, running at them and away from the pony. Sighing Seb called Willow’s name softly and the mare came over at a floating trot. ”Good girl. Don’t mind the inexperience of the person on the sides. Ignore the voices and find an inner peace with yourself.” The soft murmuring caused Willow to calm down from her high spook. Dropping her head the mare rested, half closing her eyes.

Turning to Chloe she gave her a stern look. ”That won’t be getting you anywhere. And Kelly, I’ve been patient but my patience runs thin quite quickly. So you need to shut your mouth and let me teach. If you want your daughter to win she needs to be taught to gain trust from her horse. Running away from Willow only gives Willow more reasons to hate her.” Her eyes glared down the parent before she turned back to Willow and touched her cheek before running her hand down her back, lead rope in the other hand. In response Willow moved along with the slight pull on the rope. Asking Willow to go out the mare moved out slowly, looking back a few times for assurance. Putting her into a canter she stood still, moving the rope around her body as Willow circled.

When Willow slowed Seb jiggled the rope softly, clicking her tongue and taking a slight step toward the mare. The actions caused her to move back up and into the canter. It wasn’t long before the signs came. Turning away Seb waited for Willow to enter her space and touch her. Walking away she heard the hoof beats follow slowly. ”Good girl. Chloe, I would like you to try it again. This time only use the rope as a mental bond between yourself and your horse. It isn’t an object to threaten Willow to move. A jiggle is good if she isn’t listening but don’t swing it around her. It’s the same thing with the crop. She fears it because she knows it can hurt her. Horses are creatures of flight. When threatened they run or attack. Willow can possibly become hostile and attack you. After that, it’s virtually impossible to gain her trust. But it can happen, after many weeks that you don’t have.” Bringing Chloe back to the middle of the ring where Willow now stood, ground tied, she pulled her hand up to touch Willow’s cheek. Your hold was strong but soft. Seb, after the assessment, figured she’d have to start out with something small.

Running Chloe’s hand down Willow’s neck and face without a problem she handed her the rope. ”Try it again. This time, the rope is a mental bond, not a weapon. You’ll do good in remembering that.” Moving away from her she went to Willow’s middle and pulled the saddle off of her back. There would be no need for it today. She figured they wouldn’t get very far before Kelly got mad and decided to leave. Moving back to Hope she held onto the saddle and the gear and stood quietly.

[DJ]

Hope's eyebrows raised and she looked up when Seb spoke to Kelly, who'd seemed absolutely disgusted with the whole situation. Hope wished she could be more like Seb at times, not afraid to speak to people in the way they needed to be spoken to, but she had a reputation and it needed to stay good. Words and rumors traveled fast and no one in the horse business enjoyed being the spoken-of.

Chloe picked up the line again, a bit more nervous looking, but Willow stayed calm this time, although her eye was on Seb when she left the circle with her tack. She tried to move her into a canter with her voice, but the pony didn't respond. The young girl stepped forward toward the prancing pony as she had seen Seb do, and the pony cantered, but it almost seemed as though she did it because she was afraid of Chloe and wanted to run away rather than responding correctly.

Hope looked up to Seb and offered to hold the tack, which would give her an excuse not to get up and deal with Kelly.

[Emo]

Seb looked over to Chloe as she got Willow moving. It was a start, she wasn’t bolting anymore at least. ”Keep her going and watch for the signs Chloe, you’re doing better.” When Hope offered to hold the tack Seb smiled and gave it to her. ”Thanks Hope.” Setting herself against the wall she watched Willow, willing her on to trust Chloe for once. Seb waited for the first sign, but it didn’t come for quite a while. Even though she knew Willow was becoming tired Seb figured she’d work herself until Chloe gave up or until she finally broke down. But it didn’t seem to happen that way. After about half an hour/forty-five minutes Willow tuned her inner ear into Chloe. It didn’t take as long for the next two signs. The stretching and chew came sooner than she thought they would. Willow was giving Chloe another chance, that’s good. ”This is good. Willow is willing to bond with Chloe but Chloe needs to accept the fact that it’ll be fragile at first. She needs to be careful so as not to ruin it.” Too many screw ups and Willow won’t trust another human for a while. Now Chloe just needed to turn away and the real tension begins.

[DJ]

"Sure," she smiled as a thanks. She laid the saddle on her lap with the bridle over her shoulder and leaned on the saddle, lightly.

Chloe continued the pony in a circle. Willow still hadn't shown the signs. Hope wondered if maybe Willow didn't want to give up and gain trust with Chloe. If that was possible. Maybe horses don't think like that... what if Willow just didn't like Chloe and decided not to show the signs... she continued thinking.

After another 5 minutes, Chloe spoke again. "Do I have to keep doing this? I'm getting tired. I want to stop."

Hope glanced to Seb again, and turned away from her, rolling her eyes and coughing.

[Emo]

Seb smiled down to Hope instead of answering. Her attention quickly went back to Chloe as she watched patiently. When Chloe started complaining Seb shook her head. ”Nope. We do this until Willow gives the signs or becomes too tired. A rider must be willing to give her own strength to her horse before thinking of herself” She was so selfish. No wonder Willow must hate her. It was impossible not to. Seb wanted to kill them both for cause this horse so much anguish. ”Let her trot so she cools down. We don’t want to over work her on the first day.”

[DJ]

Chloe rolled her eyes and yanked the pony's head again. Willow broke to a trot and tossed her head lightly, asking for a release in pressure.

Hope sighed and leaned forward onto the cantle of the saddle with her chin resting on it. he arms were wrapped around the seat with her thighs supporting the pommel. She turned her head away from the girl and pony and rested the side of her head on the smooth leather. She usually had a great amount of patience, but this was too much for her level and annoyed her greatly.

When she looked back up, she was shocked to see that the pony's ear was still flicking about, not focusing on the girl. She was getting worried and glanced to Seb to see if she noticed the pony's independent behavior.

[Emo]

Seb fumed as Chloe yanked on the lunge line. That wasn’t going to get her anywhere. ”Chloe, stop. Hope may I have the gear please?” She noticed how Hope had rested her head on it and had to smile. ”This won’t take long.” Taking the gear Seb walked up to Willow and stopped her by stepping out in front. Saddling the mare up she pulled Chloe over and swung her onto the mare. ”Try a jump. If you want to succeed you need to listen and pay attention to what I’m telling you. Eighty percent out of a hundred says you’ll either fall off or come close to hitting the ground. Of course there’s still that slim twenty percent that says you won’t. Only one out of every twelve horses actually trust their riders and do what they do because they love their job. The other eleven fear their riders and do what they do because they’re scared of the whip or the crop or sometimes spurs. And then you have one out of every five horses who do what they do because they love their riders. The other four refuse to do anything because they hate their riders. Willow is one of those four. If you want her to perform and get a stand for the championship rounds you need to bond with her first. Everything comes from a great bond between horse and rider. Those people who win Internationals and go to the Olympics all have a bond with their horse. You do have the occasional snobby brat such as yourself who rides her horse for a round and then leaves the poor creature to a handler.” Seb’s voice became venomous as she stared up at Chloe. No doubt she got her point across by then.

”Now, if you still wish to act like a child, go at a fence. But don’t except me to pity you if you fall off or if she refuses. Remember, you don’t have a whip and you have no right to hit her because she refuses to jump it. She’s a wild animal, a beautiful one at that. You’re only ruining her. A horse isn’t a horse anymore when the rider takes it’s free spirit.” Pulling the reins over Willow’s head she quietly apologized for anything Chloe might do before handing the leather to Chloe and walking back to Hope where she sat down in the dirt, her eyes scrutinizing the awfully matched pair.

[DJ]

Hope lifter her head and handed the tack up to Seb before sighing and stifling a yawn.

Chloe stuck her bottom lip out and her eyebrows arched from the inside as she tried not to cry on top of the pony. When Seb finished talking, Chloe squeezed the mare's sides, rising in the saddle as her short legs tightened. Willow moved forward, extending her walk, not used to the subtle movements Chloe as forced to make with her weak strength.

She lifted her legs off of the mare's side, bringing them back onto her barrel making the mare grunt lightly and move into an uneven canter. Chloe pulled on one of the reins, bending the mare, and pointing her to a small vertical.

Willow's ears pricked and locked on the brightly striped poles. She continued her canter to the fence, and Hope thought she might actually go over. But on the stride before the jump, she spun to the left, tipping Chloe to her right shoulder. She pulled herself up and pointed her at the fence, jarring the reins back in her mouth to collect her. To the fence, the mare's head lifted and her back hollowed before flying over the fence when Chloe slammed her heels into the barrel of the mare. Willow landed and Chloe did too, laying on the ground as Willow cantered forward.

Hope didn't want to bother, but leapt off of the block to catch and comfort the pony. She used that as an excuse to not tend to Chloe who she heard whimpering and sobbing on the dirt footing in the arena. Hope heard Seb's footsteps behind her as she traveled to the pony, now just walking away with reins hanging off of one side of her neck, unevenly.

[Emo]

Seb sighed as she watched Chloe. Apparently she’d never learn. What a thick headed child. Watching her point Willow towards the fence her smile returned as Willow refused, almost dumping Chloe in the dust. As Chloe demanded Willow to do it Seb knew it wouldn’t go over very well, and neither would Willow. As Willow landed Seb didn’t smile but she didn’t frown either. As Hope fetched Willow Seb tended to Chloe. ”Wow, I do admit, you’ve got a thick head on your shoulders. But ignorance will get you nowhere in life or with Willow. I want to show you something.” Helping Chloe up off the ground she led her towards the gate, but turned back before opening it. ”Hope, can you untack Willow and put her on a ring please? We may get back to her, we may not. If you feel needed though place her in her stall until we’re ready to use her.” Seb led Chloe through the gate and out to a paddock. The buckskin Lusitano’s shrill whinny sent a nice chill down Seb’s spine. Calling the mare’s name it didn’t take long for her to kick up into a gallop.

Stroking Twilight’s face she placed a rope around her neck, loose, and led her through the gate. ”Chloe, meet Twilight. She’s my newest horse. I’ve been working with her since she was a foal. Her mother was taken away from her at an early age and she was extremely mistreated. At first she hated me, but then she grew to accept my presence. Soon enough she was following me around everywhere. If you cooperate Willow can be just like Twilight and you’ll actually have fun with her. I know it can’t be fun just beating around Willow. But if you gain a bond with her you can play games with her. Sometimes I play tag with Twilight in the fields, but you need a bond first.” Lightly she stroked Twilights neck before walking back towards the barn arena.

”OK, now watch carefully to what I do when I’m on Twilight. You may see the different results.” Seb pulled her helmet on and swung herself onto the bare back of her horse. No bridle, no saddle. Just the way Seb liked it. With the jumps set up to three feet five inches it was going to be an easy course for Twilight. Stroking the mares withers she watched her ears and gently nudged her into a walk. Nudging her again she moved her into a trot and soon enough Twilight was cantering on her own. After a few warm up laps Seb pointed her towards the first fence. Ears pricked, stride collecting, and the flight pattern. Twilight landed easily on the other side of the fence with Seb still on her back and unmoved by the simple challenge.

They did the course a few times, every time subtle cues were given. Go left, go right, slow down. It was all there, Chloe just needed to pick up on it. A few times Seb put Twilight into a gallop, only to touch the rope around her neck and have her slow down, digging in her heels and spinning around to face the other way. Dismounting from the mare she watched as Twilight followed her back to the three other people in the arena. ”The results of a bond are much easier and less work than results without a bond. Chloe, you’ll do much better if you try to understand your horses point of view on things. How would you feel if someone kicked you in the sides to make you move? What do you think you’d feel like if you being forced to jump a fence and then get hurt for possibly doing it wrong? Just think about how Willow feels before you hit her or kick her in the sides.”