Take a Deep Breath

Allison sat up tall in the saddle, squinting into the deep sunrise. Taking a hand off the reins, she sheilded her eyes to look at the horse below her. Zesty, her new horse. Allison took a deep breath and relaxed in the saddle, not wanting to stress Zesty. Yeah, that would be a great first impression. She thought, smiling.

Zesty's nostrils flares and his eyes widened as he looked around, taking in everything he saw. Once again he found himself at an unfamiliar barn with an unfamiliar rider upon his back. She wasn't so bad... at least she hadn't jumped on him with spurs, a crop, and a kimberwick bit like his last rider. He was ready to give her a chance.

Allison shruged out of her jacket, and slowly set it on the ground. "Thats it, good boy." she said, stroking Zesty. "Don't worry about that." She layed down on his neck for a moment, then asked him for a walk.

Zesty picked up an enthusiastic walk as soon as Allison asked him. He shuffled along beside the rail, ears flicking back and forth attentively.

Allison sat up a little as Zesty started walking. He seemed attentive, and had been listening pretty well so far. She set her hand down on his flank and rubbed his soft coat. Rounding the corner, Allison looked at the brightly colored jumps around the arena.

Zesty felt Allison's weight shift in the saddle. He, too, glanced around the ring, checking out the jumps. He had never jumped anything so fancy or so colorful before. Just thinking about soaring over those fences made his heart pound.

Allison sighed and turned around. She asked him to trot, shortening her reins and looking towards the corner.

Zesty's head shot into the air and he lurched into a springy trot, practically leaping into the air with every step.

Allison sat back a little and talked calmly to Zesty. "Easy boy, thats just a tid bit fast for right now." she said, slowing her posting. "Save that for when we try the jumps."

Zesty responded by stepping more carefully as he trotted, arching his neck and chewing gently on the bit. He danced along the rail, his gait cadent and collected instead of quick and rushed. He waited eagerly for his next command.

Allison ran the lenght of Zesty's neck, "Thats it, good boy." she said in a light, airy tone. "Hmm, I wonder why no one is here." she mused to herself. She pulled the right rein a little, asking to change directions in a big circle.

Zesty followed the pressure on the right side of the bit and moved out to the right, trotting energetically across the ring. In the opposite corner, he swished his tail and tracked left, tossing his head before settling back into an even pace.

Allison laughed, "Having fun?" she asked. After a couple of laps,
Allison sat down and asked for a walk.

As he trotted around the ring, Zesty stretched his legs and loosened his tense muscles. When he finally felt Allison pulling him up, he dropped back to a leisurely walk. He wasn't out of breath, but he was glad for the quick break. If this rider was anything like his last, they'd only canter a few times around before they would get to the fun part: jumping.

Allison let the reins droop, so Zesty could stretch his neck. She pulled her shirt sleeves up and pulled her hair back. "Goodness it got warm." she said, gathering herself up and preparing to canter.

Zesty felt the reins go slack and he lowered his head slightly, slowing his pace. The sun was fully up now, and it was a beautiful morning. After a few minutes, he felt Allison take up the reins again. His head shot into the air and he took off, eating up the ground in a quick canter. He wanted to run, and he couldn't wait any longer.

Allison sprung forward with Zesty up into two point. She let him canter a half lap like that, then sat back and tried a half hault, asking him to go slower. "Someone's ready to go." she said, still keeping a slight pressure on the bit.

When Zesty felt Allison trying to slow him, he threw his head into the air. His stride became choppy and he crow-hopped in excitement. He leaned against the bit, demanding more rein.

Allison sat deeply in the saddle and firmly held the reins, "Hey!" she said some what harshly. She tried once again to slow him, this time sitting back more and adding more pressure.

Zesty reluctantly slowed his pace and evened out his strides. His mane whipped back in a gust of wind and he snorted happily.

"There, good." Allison said, sitting up a little and rocking with Zesty's gait. After a lap or so, she pulled on the reins and asked for a trot, "Okay, lets go the other way."

Zesty slowed to a trot and whipped around in a tight half-circle, changing direction. He picked up a canter in the corner and tossed his head in annoyance, wanting to move on to the jumping. The jumps did look fairly large, and certainly intimidating, but he liked this new rider and was eager to show her how well he could jump!

"Impatient!" Allison said lightly when Zesty tossed his head. "We'll get to the jumps soon." she told him. "Don't you worry,". Allison sat back and asked for a walk, so Zesty could cool down before the jumping. "Just a couple laps and we'll get going." she said with fake (tease) reassurance.

Jessie watched silently from outside of the ring while this talented rider warmed up her horse. She stared longingly at the girl in the saddle. She wanted to be the one up on that saddle, but that had to wait till she had a horse of her own. For now she would just get to know the stable and the horses and people in it.