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| Subject: Practically Perfect | |
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Author: Jesse |
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Date Posted: 03:41:19 11/27/02 Wed Jesse smiled and rubbed his fingers through Della’s soft fur. The female collie barked energetically as he stood up and walked out to the barn. She followed Jesse eagerly. The 8 y/o boy stopped at Practically Perfect’s stall. He led the tall mare out and brushed off her glistening coat. He put on her harness and then led her out to the cart. He hitched her to it and waited quietly for Mike, who had promised to go driving with him. Suddenly, Mike walked out of the barn, Scout, a beagle, weaving through his legs. “Hey, Jesse. Ready to go?” Mike said happily. “Yeah!” the boy said eagerly. Della and Scout hopped in after Mike had gotten in and Jesse gathered the lines in his hands. He tapped the pretty Australian Stock mare with the whip and she set out in a perky walk. Jesse loved the feel of the lines in his fingers and the gentle motion of the cart as it rolled along. He walked along the wide driving trail, smiling with contentment. Perfect tossed her elegant head spiritedly and Mike smiled. “She’s full of it today. You’re handling her well, Jesse.” The man said proudly. Jesse smiled at the praise and clucked softly to the mare. Perfect started out in a spirited trot, jolting the cart sharply. “Whoa girl!” Jesse said, tugging lightly on the lines. Perfect tossed her head and settled into a smooth elegant trot, neck arched gracefully. “Tomorrow is your first riding lesson, right?” Mike asked. “Yeah!” Jesse replied, smiling excitedly. He was going to learn to ride! They winded along the trail for a while longer and then headed back to the barn. THE NEXT MORNING… Susan lifted the saddle onto Perfect’s back for Jesse. The small boy tightened the girth and grinned excitedly. Susan helped him bridle the mare and then watched as he strapped on his helmet. “I’m ready!” he said eagerly, as he led the mare to the arena. Laura was already there, holding JJ’s reins. “Alright, Jesse. First off, we are going to learn about mounting. You hold the reins in your left hand and grab mane. You put this foot in the stirrup and push off the ground into the saddle. Laura, can you demonstrate?” Susan said. Laura nodded and mounted her pony easily. “Now, since you aren’t used to mounting and Perfect is very big, I am going to give you a leg up.” Susan said. She helped him into the huntseat saddle and then looked at him critically. “Heels down, and hands resting lightly above the neck, slightly apart. There, that’s right. Now, you keep your back arched and try to sit lightly in the saddle, not like a sack of potatoes. Laura is doing nearly perfect position.” Susan said, pointing to the teen. Laura was guiding JJ on a circle at the walk, doing beautifully. Jesse sat very nicely in the saddle with a few minor problems, which Susan decided to let go for now. She clipped a lunge line to Perfect’s bridle and said, “So what do you know about riding?” Jesse looked thoughtful. “I know that to walk on, you squeeze your legs and to halt from the walk you squeeze the reins. It works that way in all the gaits.” He said. Susan nodded. “Squeeze your legs gently and if Perfect doesn’t respond then be firmer.” She said. Jesse squeezed and Perfect moved out in a long strided walk. “Good girl!” Jesse praised as he struggled to hold his position. After a few minutes, Susan took him off the lunge line. “Try to walk a circle. Guide her with your reins and legs.” She said, watching carefully. Jesse made a decently round circle and Susan smiled proudly. “Good lesson. Now, you dismount by taking your feet out of the stirrups. Lifting that leg over and sliding off.” Susan said. Jesse dismounted and led Perfect to the barn, very happy :-) [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |