First Lesson - CLOSED

[Arya]

Liz walked Song into the jumping arena, hoping to get her lesson for the day. She buckled her helmet and tighthend Songs girth. Song stood there like a little angel. Once everything was ready, Liz began to walk around the ring, warming Song and herself up.

[DJ]

Hope walked herself up to the jumping arena, slowly climbing the small upward slope to it. She swing the gate open and latched it behind her before walking to the middle of the arena.

"Hi!" She waved to her student. "You've jumped before, correct?" She was checking to see what to warm the pair up over. A cross rail, small vertical?

If the rider had jumped before, at least two feet six inches, Hope was hoping to work on some small oxers today, maybe another challenge.

[Arya]

Yeah. Liz replied. She knew she was going to have fun, and she was open to any challenges. Song would do well, Liz already knew that. Oh, you can call me Liz she said polietly. Liz drew Song in, walking towards Hope.

[DJ]

"Sure." Hope nodded, rubbing Song's face as she came into the middle. "How high have you jumped and what have you worked on in the past?" Hope questioned the rider.

Hope studied the wise-looking eyes of Song, the bay Thoroughbred. Her legs were certainly sturdy enough for jumping, although Hope remembered reading she was only five, which sounded like she was still green.

"Are you looking to show this season? There are some nice hunter, jumper, and eventing shows around here. Basically a bit of everything for whatever you're into."

[Arya]

Liz had to think for a moment. I remeber jumping 2'6" at one point. After that my instructor stopped telling me how high it was. Song is a little shy at verticles, and Step, my old instructor, didn't work on them that much. When Liz heard shows, her heart leaped. She loved to show, but she mainly did English Pleasure. I love showing, but I have never done Jumping. Only English Pleasure.

[DJ]

"Okay. Well, I'd be fun to work on some jumping a bit more and you can join the show team." Hope gave the rider a warm smile. "If you'd like to keep warming up, I can set up a few fences."

Hope walked over to the large fence, clearly over three feet and lowered it to a cross-rail about 18" in the middle. "After you've established your trotting, cantering, circles, etcetera and you're all warmed up, you can come down over this at a trot and canter a few times to warm her up." Hope stood next to the fence, the safest place to stand, and watched the equestrian and her equine working together along the rail of the arena.

[dari]

Lyris walked to the arena and leaned against the fence. She watched as the new rider and her horse discussed jumping with Hope, wishing she was up on her horse now. She glanced down at the hunter green cast on her right arm and sighed. She still had 6 weeks to go.

I wonder if Hope would be willing to exercise Bex later, she thought to herself as she propped one foot on the lowest fence board and rested her chin on her hands.

How's the lesson going? she said as Hope leaned against the fence.

[Arya]

Liz pulled Song out around the edge of the ring and asked Song to trot. All she had to do was apply a little pressure with her legs and Song listened. Song's trot was steady and smooth. After a few laps, Liz asked her mare to walk and then canter. The canter was on the wrong lead, so she had Song stop to do it again. Song obeyed, and she then pulled her to stop. Walking around a few times, she trotted Song over the jump and cleared it. She trotted over it a few more times.

[DJ]

Hope looked over to see Lyris at the fence. "It's going nicely so far. why don't you come and stand with me?" Hope smirked a bit towards Lyris motioning her to come into the ring. I wonder if how her arm's feeling.

"Nice jumps. And nice change on the canter lead. Glad you can tell your lead and you caught the mistake." Hope studied the horse and assumed after she'd cantered the cross-rail, she'd be able to raise it. The horse, although green, seemed athletic enough to easily go over some small verticals.

[dari]

Lyris smiled and ducked under the fence to stand by Hope in the arena. She nodded toward the new rider and her horse. Good looking pair. They just get here today? She watched as the girl cantered a jump on the wrong lead, correcting it before moving on.

[Arya]

Liz smiled. It was her first complement since changing stables. Thanks, She just walked Song now, waiting for Hope to set up the jumps. Liz leaned over and patted Song's neck, and Song let out a small nicker. I love this place! Liz thought

[DJ]

"Yepp. Just arrived today." Hope smiled a bit before raising the cross-rail to a vertical, about two feet in height. SHe placed the extra pole on the ground as a ground pole, allowing Song to view the height of the jump even though horses did not have depth vision.

"There you go." Hope nodded in approval and stood next to another fence near the one Song and Liz were to be jumping.

[Arya]

Liz studied the jump, wanting to get her and Song centerd. She nudged Song into a canter, keeping pressure on her legs so Song would jump. Song jumped but nicked the rail. She tried again, but Song either knocked them down or hit them. It's okay girl. She said soothingly. She looked over to Hope, who was watching her.

[dari]

Lyris watched the girl as she took the jump. She's got pretty nice form, she said to herself. Good enough seat, she could be a dressage rider if she wants to. Pretty impressive.

She turned to Hope. I just came by to see if you'd be willing to exercise Bex later. She's going to get fat and lazy if she's just sitting there, and I obviously can't ride her for a while.

[DJ]

"It's okay. Hope looked at the rider approvingly. "When you start to feel her forehand lift off the ground, be sure to reach your hands up as far as you can toward her poll and grab mane so you don't catch her in the mouth on the descend of the jump. Try again," Hope replied.

Hope turned to Lyris. "Sure. That's fine with me. I'm not doing anything after this lesson. Will you be free? I may need a coach to get me started. She's not my horse. I hate riding other people's horses in front of them. I'm always I'll do something wrong because I don't know the horse." Hope gave Lyris a small smile, and tried not to look too excited to ride Bex and held back her grin, but a small giggle slipped. She wasn't her horse! Although she was pretty thrilled to be able to hop on the mare.