"Soaring Like an Eagle"

[Arya]

Liz told Ali that she would meet her here for her lesson. She need to jump Song again, and she wanted a proper lesson, someone who told her when she made a mistake. She patted the mares neck, telling her to wait patiently. Of course, the mare didn't know what she was saying, but Song knew that Liz wanted something good. The pair had a really good bond and it would be hard to break. Join-Up is what brought them together.

The day was getting hotter, and Liz forgot water. Her mum had practically rushed her out, and her mum had work she needed to get to. Liz started to accept that her mum needed this job, or else they would have to sell Song, and she would not like that one bit. She took of her helmet, rubbing her forhead with the back of her hand. Sweat wasn't much of an issue for Liz, but today it was. Even though Liz hadn't worked Song, the bay mare was a little hot to. Liz was waiting for atleast 7 minutes, and was getting bored. She had shown up early, so it was more her fault than anyones. Yeah, your being a good girl, huh? she asked the mare calmly. The mare lipped her shirt as if "yup, that is me, the good mare!" Liz laughed and stoked her soft neck.

[Jazzy]

Alli jogged to the ring, even in the scorching heat. "Alright, get your helmet on and hop up." She said as she climbed the fence and entered the ring. "We are going to start with an exercise that will help with Song's bending and focus." Alli walked briskly over to where X was and began explaining. "Starting tracking left, come to B and make half of a ten meter circle. This will bring you to X. Then make a straight line back to F. When You get to A make a fifteen meter circle, really developing that right bend. Then go to E and make another half of a ten meter circle, this time returning to the track at K. Make another fifteen meter circle at A, now developing a left bend. You will repeat it until I'm satisfied." She grinned, knowing that consistent flat work, although tedious, was extremely helpful to both horse and rider. This exercise in particular would really strengthen Song's neck and get her to be more sensitive to subtle bending aids. "I also want to see you switch your posting diagonal and Song's bend in an appropriate manner each time you cross centerline, meaning I shouldn't have to remind you to do it."

Alli walked back over to the fence and hopped up on the top rail to ensure she was out of the way. "Get to work!" She shouted, pointing at B.

[Arya]

Liz quickly snapped on her helmet and mounted, sitting softly in the saddle. She listend carefully to what Alli had said, making sure she didn't miss anything. Liz asked the mare to trot, and began the exercise. She went to B, and made half of ten meter circle, heading towards X. She then trotted straight to F and went to A. Once she got there, she made a fifteen meter circle, making her bend wide. Liz thought it was to big, but she left it go. Liz noticed the mare slowing down, but Liz kept her going. Come on, Liz directed the mare towards E and made a half of a ten meter circle heading towards K. Once she made a another fifteen meter circle at A she made the left bend, making sure to change her diagonals.

Hopefully Alli was happy with that, for Liz was already tired. It was a little harder than she thought, and a little boring. She knew that it would help her and Song and that was all Liz really cared about. Good girl. she whisperd to the mare. After that, Song needed praising because it was also her first time doing that.

[Jazzy]

Alli nodded. The girl had done it, rather unenthusiastically, but it was alright for a first time. "It was okay. Do it again, this time don't let Song get distracted by anything, and make that fifteen meter circle fifteen meters, not seventeen. Dressage is about accuracy, and so is show jumping." Alli thought for a moment, taking a sip of her water bottle. The water was mildly warm, and make her cough a little. "I also want to see a two-point position on the fifteen meter circle. Let's see how much control you really have over her." She quickly brushed some hair out of her face, wiping some sweat off in the process.

As Liz started she began talking again. "Remember, a jump course is five percent jumping, ninety five percent flat work." Her eyes scanned the course, and the turn off of a two stride to a diagonal caught her eye. "If you come flying off of that two stride with no right bend at all what is gonna happen when you try to make the diagonal?" This was really a rhetorical question, as Alli left no time for Liz to answer. "You won't have enough time to set Song up on a straight line and she will have to hurl herself over the fence in order to compensate for poor striding." She glanced at the fence line, reading each letter and thinking of what other exercises she could do. "Get going while I think of more exercises."

[Arya]

Liz was a little stunned. When she last talked to Alli, she was so fun to be with. Now she was strict, and Liz appreciated it. She asked Song to trot once more, doing everything as she had first done. If Liz caught Song trying to turn her head, Liz gently pulled her back, keeping her focused. Liz really wanted to do this the right way, and she wasn't going to let Song ruin it for her. Once they came to the fifteen meters, she made it fifteen meters instead of seventeen. She also corrected her position. Just as she was about to answer Alli, she had already answerd, and Liz made sure to get the right bend in. After finishing, Liz patted Song's damp neck and brought her to a walk.

[Jazzy]

Alli looked the sweaty mare over, and then glanced up at her rider. "Better, but I always prefer a more vocal rider to a quiet one. And try not to be so abrupt. When she turns her head just sponge with the inside rein. When she gives, you give. If she's paying too much attention to the other horses then make a noise. I find that growling works pretty well." She paused and smiled. "If you ever watch me ride Java you will constantly hear me talking to her. Now, when you're in the dressage ring it is illegal to talk at all, but it's okay for practice." Alli took another look around the ring, trying to set up another exercise.

She quickly moved one of the jumps out of the way and jogged to M. "I want you to start at A and pick up a posting trot. At K I want to see a two-point until H. At H you can begin a sitting trot. I want a twenty meter circle at C in your sitting trot and when you get between H and C again you can pick up a working canter." Alli glanced up to make sure Liz was following her. "Then I want another twenty meter circle at C, this time at the canter. When you finish the circle go into two-point and go full ring. Then come across the diagonal at M with a downward transition to the trot at X. At K you should pick up a right lead canter, no sooner, no later. Twenty meter circle in a seated canter at A, two-point at A the second time, then go full ring. I want a hand gallop on the long side and a nice, collected canter that is suitable for the hunter ring on the short side." Alli loved these exercises.

Her mouth was dry from talking so much, so she took another sip of water and wiped the sweat from her brow. Her tank top felt like a wool sweater in the blazing sun, and her breeches were none too forgiving. She didn't even know if they would be able to jump Song today due to the heat. Riding in a jumping ring was always good practice, though. Alli had known many horses that just freaked when they saw jumps. She just didn't tolerate it with her own horses or any of the lesson horses.

[Arya]

Liz nodded, listning carefully. Okay, I'm really sorry. Liz then turned Song around and got straight to work. Trot, she murmerd softly to the mare. Song obeyed and began trotting from A and made her way to K. She then began the two-point, and at H she asked the mare for a slow trot. Good girl Song. Keep it up! She said, praising her. Liz continued the trot, only this time she did the 20cm circle, and did it correctly. Reaching H and C, Liz asked her horse to canter Canter Song, and be good. Liz had to be stern, for Song would get to worked up. Coming to C, the pair canterd in a 20cm circle, and finishing her canter, she had the mare two-point again. Good girl Song. The pair went around the ring, and came to M Trot., Liz asked the mare. She listend, but snorted and she began to trot to X. Coming to K, they picked up the canter, and at the right lead. Reaching A, they did another perfect 20 cm circle, and Liz praised her. Coming to A again, they two-pointed and went the full ring. Canter, the mare obeyed and they picked up a nice hand gallop along the long side, and Liz pulled her to an easy, collected canter. How was that? Liz asked. She felt that this time they had done well, but it was all up to Alli now.