▐▐ Massimo Dutti Stables▐▐ discussion

The outdoor arena ... a rather large sand and rubber mixture arena, several jumps pushed into the corners for use. It gets a bit boggy out there after rain, but it's perfect for when you want to train in the sun.

Sofina walked out to the outdoor arena with Freedom. The jumps had been pushed to the side and letters for dressage were lined in their proper position. As they got into the arena, Sofina halted to mount. Freedom stood as she put the reins back over his head and went to his left side. The stirrups were already pulled down and they were set to her size. Placing her foot in the stirrup, she had the reins in one hand, then jumped. Her right leg swing over to Freedom's right side as she grabbed the reins with her other hand and found the stirrups with her left foot. With shoulders back, heels down & forward, and her knees tucked in, she asked Freedom to walk.

Nicole led Rosella to the outdoor area. She checking everything to make sure it was good. She then looked at Rosella, and smiled briefly when she saw how excited she was. Looking over at the other girl who she saw at Starbucks. She rolled her eyes, and shook her head the princess was here.

As they took a turn near M and went up to F, she signaled Freedom to the Passage. Freedom took this well as he became collective. He went at a trot but with elevated movement of the knees and hocks, as well as defined engagement of the quarters. Freedom remained calmly on the bit with a raised arched neck and head close to vertical. They practiced this around the arena.

Once Sofina signaled Freedom into a trot, he sped up and stretched his neck out a bit. They went around the arena like this until Sofina noticed another girl. By seeing the horse, she knew it was the person that was at the stable before. I guess I can share the arena. Cutting through the middle to switch direction, she slowed Freedom to a walk.

Nicole stopped Rosella, and turned her gaze over to the other girl. She had talent and was very good with her horse. Nodding her head as if to agree with herself she looked back over at Rosella. She checked everything to make sure it was good and ready. The stirrups were at her foot length so she wouldn't need to change them. Grabbing the underneath of the saddle with one hand on the front and one hand on the back she hoisted herself up. Swinging her left leg around she was up and mounted onto Rosella. She checked everything one last time before starting her at a walk.

Sofina nodded at the girl when they walked past. When they made it to A they cut down the middle. When they made it to X, which is the middle of the arena, they started a Piaffe. Freedom raised his foreleg to the middle of the opposing foreleg's cannon bone, the raised hind leg's toe was slightly above the fetlock joint of the opposing hind leg. His body moving up and down in a relaxed, supple and cadenced manner, staying in place at X. His neck was arched in a vertical position like with the passage.

Nicole watched them again, she was impressed on the way the girl controlled her horse. Although she was impressed Nicole loved to show off and decided now would be a perfect time. She started out at a slow walk then she moved into a canter. She decided to do her old dressage routine. It consisted of the front right to cross over the left then she would go into the middle of the area, and moved the horse up a little, and back. It was tougher with Rosella since she only knew western, but she knew she could do it. Once in the middle she did a cross step with the front and back legs finishing off with a spin around. The toughest part about her routine was the spin around, but she managed to do it, and do it better then when she first did it years ago.

With the presence of another person in the arena, Freedom was taking his training like it was a competition. As they walked past B, now starting the 20-meter circle. It was a circle that is 20 meters in diameter and that ends in exactly the same place it started. Sofina led Freedom to do this three times before ending. Making it to the corner again, Sofina pushed with her inside leg as Freedom bent slightly around her inside leg with his forehand moving slightly in advance of his hind quarters as he traveled across the diagonal. The outside legs passed in front of the inside legs and Freedom was looking in the direction in which he was traveling.

Nicole smiled, and patted the side of Rosella's neck in praise. She started her at a walk and scanned around trying to decide what to do next. She decided on a different dressage routine. This one she never got to finish because of the accident. She was scared to perform it, but she knew in her heart that Rosella could do it. Kicking her legs she had Rosella go to a canter. This routine was tricky it had a lot of spins, and crosses. She would start out in the middle doing a half spin to the right and a half spin to the left. Followed up by a cross of the legs back and front. Then it would become difficult the routine required a cross of the front legs, and and total spin around. She accomplished it with ease and started it over again.

Letting Freedom back to a walk, she check for where the other ride was in the arena so that they would not bump into each other. The wind started to pick up, both Freedom's and Sofina's hair moved with the wind. The cool breeze was refreshing. Sofina counted Freedom's every step, getting into the movement. His walk picked up as he performed the passage again. Sofia could always tell that this was Freedom's favorite move because sometimes he did it without her having to ask. In training, she usually allowed him to do it. Snorting a few times as he moved at a rhythm, she checked her posture to find that it was still proper. She counted his steps as he moved harmonically.

As she slowed Rosella down she smiled. It was a beautiful day and the wind was refreshing she decided to just walk Rosella around the area now. She started at the far corner as a steady walk then once she reached the near corner she picked up her pace. Mentally she counted how many times Rosella messed up. It was only once, but other then that she was doing great.

After being out there for 50 minutes, Sofina decided it was quitting time. Freedom let out a long breath as Sofina led him out of the arena, still on his back. The sun was soon to set so she wanted to make sure Freedom got his dinner. His black coat looked beautiful as she appraised him. She patted his neck as he lifted his head with pride.

Walking through the trail to the barn, Freedom tried to put his head down to eat grass but Sofina wouldn't let him because the bit was still in his mouth. She loosened the reins for him though. Freedom stretched out his neck and let out another long breath, he was tired.

Nicole looked out over at the horizon she sighed deeply. Leading Rosella back to the stable, "Quitting time." She said. She wished she had more time to ride, but it wouldn't be wise to ride in the dark. While walking Rosella back she noticed the girl again. "Hey you nice moves out there today." She said.