Darci & Jonathan's riding lesson -- Fantail's Kid's Riding Board

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Subject: Darci & Jonathan's riding lesson

Author:
Dana

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Date Posted: 15:30:29 09/07/02 Sat

"Are you guys ready yet?" I called.Darci came out of the barn leading her pony, Justin's Promise by the reins.Promise looked all ready to go, she was very alert.Then Jonathan came out, leading his pony, Thunderbolt.I was riding a 14.2 hand Connemara pony named Lucky Charms.Darci, Jonathan & I quickly warmed up the ponies we were riding."Follow me," I said.We all rode the ponies to a nearby meadow that had some groundpoles, crossrails & small jumps in it.I rode Charm to a nerby jump & halted him there."Darci, Jonathan,why don't you warm up your ponies over some groundpoles, you can warm up over the groundpoles near that blue jump," I said.Darci & Jonathan both nodded and rode there ponies over to the groundpoles."I'll go first!" said Darci."ok," I replied.Darci squeezed her bay, 12.2 hand pony into a trot.She trotted Promise to where a few groundpoles were in a line, with 1 trot step in-between each groundpole.Promise lifted her feet high & extended her trot over the groundpoles.She kept thesame pace after she had trotted the groundpoles until Darci had slowed her down.Jonathan went next.Both the children trotted there ponies over the groundpoles a couple more times."Now you guys can hop over a few crossrails, I'll show you how you should do this gymnastics course." I said.I squeezed Charm into a trot, and headed him over to one of the gymnastic courses in the field.I kept Charm at a good working trot, he trotted over the first groundpole, then I squeezed him into a canter & he hopped over the small x-rail.I cantered him 2 paces, then jumped him over the larger cross rail, then I cantered him another pace and he jumped over the 2'-3" oxer easily.After he jumped the oxer, I slowed him down to a walk.I rode Charm over to a green single jump & halted him there.I said to Darci & Jonathan "you trot in, go over the first groundpole, get your pony to canter, hop over the 1st cross-rail, canter 2 paces, jump over the 2nd crossrail, canter another pace, & then jump the oxer.Jonathan, you can go next." the 6 y/o boy nodded & got his dapple grey gelding to trot.He trotted Thunder's over the first groundpole, & tried to squeeze his pony into a canter, but he was late & Thunder's had trotted over the first x-rail.He got Thunder's to canter a stride later, but coming over the 2nd x-rail, Thunders had to chip his stirde so he could get over the x-rail without knocking it."Hand's up, heels down, drive Thunder's on, use your legs!" I called to Jonathan.He lowered his hands, but his heels didn't come down.I could tell he was trying to keep Thunder's at a canter.Thunder's ended up trotting over the oxer, so Jonathan got a big jolt on landing.He slowed Thunderbolt to a walk."Jonathan, you need a crop." I said.Luckily, I had one, & handed it to Jonathan."Now whack him if you feel him slowing down, & remember to keep your hands up, & your heels down.Your 2-point looked great." Jonathan got his pony to trot & trotted him to the gymnastics course.He trotted Thunder's over the first groundpole, then whacked him with his crop, & squeezed with his legs.Thunder's went into a canter, & popped over the first x-rail.Jonathan had a great 2-point over the x-rail."Stay sitting back!" I called to him.Jonathan was leaning slightly forward as he cantered to the larger cross-rail.Jonathan heard me & sat back.His hads were up, & his heels were down.Thunder's jumped the 2nd x-rail & cantered another stride & jumped the 2'-3" oxer perfectly.Jonathan slowed Thunderbolt down, and patted him on the neck."Good job! you went forward a little bit, but you ended up sitting back, & you looked great over the jumps.Jonathan nodded & patted Thunder's on the neck again."Your turn Darci." The 4 y/o girl was a very good rider for her age, & smart.She had been watching Jonathan when he did the gymnastic's & had probably found the trouble spots.Darci pushed Promise into a trot.Promise was the complete opposite of Thunderbolt, she was going at a good pace.Darci trotted her in over the first groundpole & pushed her into a canter, she did the gymnastics course perfectly! "Great job Darci! I called.the black haired girl smiled & patted her horse on the neck."Okay, we'll end on a good note for today.Darci & Jonathan nodded & we rode back to the barn.both of the children & I dis-mounted.We led the ponies back to there stalls & untacked them.We all fed the ponies a treat & then Jonathan & Darci went back up to the house, & I went off to help feed the horses.

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