Blue Lake Academy discussion

The stables are filled with a hundred different horse breeds, young and old, stallions and mares. A large arena for training, a pasture for the horses, and a paddock lie right outside.

Amber felt the gravel scrunch under her Docs as she made her way to the stables.
She was going to see Silver who she had come to know best at the academy and was ultimately her only friend. Amber had never ridden a horse but if anyone asked her to, she would ask if she could ride Silver and that would make the horse even more enjoyable.
Amber reached into her pocket, which was filled with carrot bits, as she got closer to Silver's stall.

As Jacob walked out to the stable, the smell of hay and manure became apparent and he breathed slowly to adjust. When he reached the stable, he headed to the stall of an American Quarter Horse named Sunny that he liked to ride. She whinnied as he reached her stall and he gave her a carrot. "How's my girl today?" He asked her, rubbing the bridge of her nose. He started to brush her and tack her up.

Amber heard the clicks of horse hooves nearby and turned her head. It was a boy getting his horse ready for a ride no doubt. She quickened her pace as she came to Silver's stall.
Amber stroked the horse's muzzle and asked, "How are you today?", as she gave Silver some carrots which she ate gratefully.

((I have to go! Sorry!))

((Aw ok byee)
Jacob finished putting the tack on the horse and mounted her, riding out to the paddock. He passed a girl on the way, greeting her horse. He smiled. He loved seeing other people who loved animals like he did.

Amber didn't notice the boy but she did notice the sound of hooves. It was the same guy she saw only minutes before.
"Hi," She said nervously.

Jacob glanced down as he passed by and smiled.
"Hi! Do you need any help there?" he asked, stopping Sunny.

"I don't think so," Amber said softly. "I won't be riding her," She stared at the boy. "Would you happen to know if a riding instructor is nearby?"

"I'm not sure, but I could teach you," Jacob offered. "I took Sunny here out earlier so she doesn't need exercise right now," he gestured at Sunny.

"You sure?" Amber asked, twisting her fingers. "I've never ridden a horse before and I don't want to distract you from your . . . riding?"

"Of course," Jacob said, dismounting Sunny. "I'll be right back." He took sunny out to the training arena and tied her to the fence for in a moment. He returned a moment later. "Well first of all, my name is Jacob," he told her. "What about you?"

((Gtg))

"Amber Wolfe," Amber said with a smile as she stuck out her hand. "I don't think I've ever seen you here before."

Jacob shook her hand. "I'm new this year," he explained. "But I rode before coming here. So first things first, before you put the tack on a horse you should brush them." He handed her a brush. "Brush with the way her hair goes."

Amber nodded and began to brush Silver's hair, running a hand everywhere she went on the horse's body.
"Can you believe it Silver? I'll finally be riding you!" She whispered excitedly.

Jacob smiled. He loved watching horse and rider bond. "Okay so next is the saddle blanket, which keeps the horse from being bothered by the saddle. I'll grab Silver's." He went off into a nearby tack room and returned with the blanket and bridle, went back for the saddle, and hung the saddle and bridle on hooks nearby. "Okay so position on her back so that it's centered and right in front of her haunches," he told her.

((*poke*))

((*poke poke poke*))

((Alright, alright. You have my attention. :D))

Amber nodded and did as she was told. Adjusting the saddle so it was lined up and smiled. "Does that work("

((Sorry I was just trying to help you out since I thought you ddidn't see it))
"Great!" Jacob smiled at her. "Now you put the saddle on top in the center." He handed her the saddle. "It may be a little heavy."

((Nah. I did see it. I was just trying to figure out what to write next. :D))

"O can deal with it," Amber said with a smile. "My father's a mechanic so we help a lot and, well, heavy things is what you have to deal with."

"That'll come in handy," Jacob told her, smiling. "There's some heavy lifting with horses. Okay, so, one thing horses will try to trick you with when you are tightening the girth," he gestured to the strap on the saddle. "They will suck in a big breath of air so that when they let it out the girth is nice and loose for them, but of course that's dangerous for you because the saddle could flip upside down and fling you off or something, so you need to check that when you're putting it on."

"How would I be able to check that?" Amber asked.

Jacob smiled a little. "There's no specific way. Some people poke them if they aren't horses that get angry easily, some people try to move the saddle around, and some people check if their stomach looks about the right size," he said, laughing a bit.

"That will definitely be some getting use to," Amber chuckled. "Could you please help me though? I don't want to hurt the poor girl even if she might be trying to trick me."

"Well I have a way of doing it," Jacob told her. He pulled out a carrot and distracted her with it before slipping on the saddle and pulling the strap tight. "It's hard for them to suck in a breath when they're chewing," he observed with a laugh. "You just have to be quick about it." He then pushed on the saddle. It moved barely at all. "You want it to move a little since you want them to be comfortable, of course."

"Okay," Amber nodded and repeated the instructions. "Distract them with sweeties, be fast, strap the girth but not too tight."

"Exactly," Jacob said. ((How tall is Amber?))

((Ummmm 5ft 6in. Why?))

"Thank you Jacob," Amber said while she blushed just a little.

((I just wanted to know if the horse was taller than her or not lol))
Jacob grabbed the bridle and stood in front of Silver. "So they don't like the bridle so you have to distract them while you're doing it or simply force it on them," he informed her. "Wanna try?" He offered her the bridle.

((Oh no! The horse is definitely taller. :D))

Amber gave him a smile. "Sure. So how would I put it on?"

(I've got to go :( ))
Jacob shifted the position of his arms, "You hold it like this and slip it over their head. You have to be careful that the bit," he tapped the mouthpiece "doesn't go where it shouldn't though." He handed it to her.

Amber nodded and smiled. "Alright."
She did as she was instructed to do and careful held the mouthbit in one hand and the top of the bridle in the other. She slipped the bit into Silver's mouth and pulled the top over her ears which fit snugly.
Amber smiled at herself and asked Jacob, "How did I do?"

"Great!" he said, grinning at her. "Now are you ready to go for a ride?" He clipped a lead rope to her bridle before she could reply, and gestured for her to lead her out of the stable.

Amber nodded at Jacob, taking the lead. "I think so."

Jacob went over to the mounting block, waving to her to bring Silver over.

Amber smiled, wrapping the lead around her hand gently while keeping one hand on by the clip and led Silver to Jacob. The horse moved slowly then complied, bobbing it's head as it walked.
"Good girl," she said softly.

Jacob gestured at the miniature-staircase-looking mounting block with a smile, taking the reins from her so that she could mount.

Amber walked onto the mounting block and breathed in deeply.
She was trying very hard to contain her excitement and at the thought of riding on Silver!

"So you will put your left foot in the stirrup," Jacob instructed. "You always use your left foot since you always mount from the left and if you were to use your right you would end up mounted backwards," he grinned. "I uhh might know from experience."

Amber laughed. "I would've made the same mistake if you didn't tell me. Okay. So, left foot first," she slipped her foot into the stirrup then hoisted herself up into the saddle and watched her right foot go into the stirrup. "This okay?"

((It's been several months since I rode a horse irl sooo my commands remembrance is a little rusty, so I'm just gonna go with it lol. I know sometimes horses are trained with different signals though.))

"Great!" Jacob smiled. "If at any time you feel nervous or if you feel yourself slipping, instead of pulling on the reins grab either the horses mane or the pommel," he tapped the hump on the saddle in front of her. "The reins would hurt them but they don't feel either of those. To stop, gently pull on the reins. Left and right are simply pulling left or right, and to go faster gently dig your heels in. If your horse is being stubborn, a little kick is fine too."

((Haha! No problem. In a strange way I guess this would be my second time with horses. >.<))

Amber nodded at each of his instructions. "Okay. If I feel like I'm slipping, grab ahold of her mane or the pommel. And to turn is just left and right. I think I got it."

"Great!" Jacob replied, offering Amber the reins. "I'm gonna grab Sunny then." He jogged over to her and quickly mounted and trotted back over. "Just test her out a little, get a feel for it. I don't think you need much more help but I'll be in the arena and I'll keep an eye out, unless you want me to teach you more?" he asked.

((I'll probably be gone for a while (like 20 minutes). Bye!))

"Um," Amber started, staying still. "This may sound silly but. . . how do I ask her to walk?"

((Ok bye))

Jacob smiled reassuringly. "Just like going faster tap her with your heels."

Amber nodded and lightly tapped Silver on her sides. When the horse didn't move, she kicked abbot harder and eventually, the horse started to move slowly.
"Yes," she said to herself with a grin. "Good girl, Silver."

Jacob smiled and starting trotting Sunny around the ring to warm her up, while keeping an eye on Amber in case she needed help.

Amber then steered Silver outside of the stalls and breathed in the crisp, cool air.
She patted Silver's pommel and said, "I wouldn't mind doing this all day. Would you? Well you may get tired and wouldn't wan to have that."