Spring Briar Stables discussion

Aspen unclipped Bonnie's lead rope and hung it on the railing that was right before the opening of the arena. She walked ahead of Bonnie, having Bonnie follow her over next to Rhine. She pulled down the stirrups on either side and adjusted the girth once more. She grabbed the step from over my Rhine and mounted her horse, swinging her leg over to the other stirrup. She sat deep in her saddle before adjusting her posture accordingly.

Aspen took in a deep breath and sat upright. She gave a flick of her wrist and Bonnie gave a wide turn and made her way to the edge of the arena. Aspen wiggled her heels slightly, the edges of her jeans rubbing up against Bonnie's sides. Bonnie jumped a little bit and broke into a steady trot. Aspen pulled back and gave a low "whoa". "Easy walk, Bonnie. Promenade facile." Aspen let the reigns loose again and Bonnie walked slowly as she should.

Aspen nodded, her helmet tipping some in front of her eyes. She dropped her reigns casually and adjusted her helmet quickly, setting it upright and tilting the dial. She picked up her reigns just as quickly and made a clicking noise. Bonnie tossed her head and picked up a working trot. Aspen shushed her and repeated, "Easy trot, trot facile." Bonnie snorted and lowered her head slightly before slowing to a trot. Aspen rolled her eyes as Bonnie stayed in the wrong diagonal. Aspen corrected her several times until Bonnie gave in and kept at the correct diagonal.

Aspen was not afraid to talk to Bonnie, for it helped her. She was a little green still, but was catching on very quickly. Bonnie finally found the correct diagonal and Aspen patted her neck. "Bon cheval..." she repeated. Aspen quickly started her posting movements, up, down, up, down...

Aspen continued posting and slowed Bonnie to a walk. She adjusted herself to a jumper's position, standing two-point. She stood up in her stirrups and leaned forward, digging her knees into the sides of her saddle. She clicked her heels barely at Bonnie's sides. Bonnie jumped straight into a working trot, nearly throwing off Aspen's two-point. Bonnie snorted and continued trotting.

Aspen shifted over to her lower leg position, squeezing to stay upright. Bonnie snorted and attempted to pick up a canter. Aspen pulled back some, maybe a little bit too hard. "Easy trot, girl." Bonnie stopped suddenly, completely shifting her weight to a stand still. Aspen slipped out of her stirrups and fell forward onto Bonnie's neck. Bonnie shook out her neck, forcing Aspen to fall onto her butt on the ground. Aspen sighed deeply and narrowed her eyes at Bonnie. "Bonnie, girl, you are better than this." Aspen stood up and dusted herself off.

Aspen took a deep breath, trying to process all that had just happened. She turned and put a clenched fist on Bonnie's neck, shaking her head. "Maybe I should just give up," she said, frustrated with herself more than Bonnie. "I know Bonnie's not as experienced as the rest of the horses. Maybe it would just be easier if I just quit the whole thing and went home." Then it hit her and she had to hold back tears. But if I left...where would I go?

Aspen sighed and nodded. "Okay, okay. I get it. Get back on and try my hardest, just like every other time..." She let her voice drift as she mounted back up on her horse after checking the girth again. She gave Bonnie a nudge as her horse started to walk forward. Bonnie whinnied, and snorted in frustration. "What is it, Bonnie girl?" Bonnie backed up without warning and whinnied. Aspen let her reigns loose and leaned forward. Bonnie snorted and took off at a canter, making laps around the arena. Aspen let Bonnie go and moved with the run. Bonnie made lap after lap and, after realizing Aspen wasn't going to do anything, slowed to a trot and sooner or later a walk. Aspen took a deep, shaky breath, "It's okay, Bonnie. Bon cheval." She fixed her posture and Bonnie held up her head as she walked, looking rather pleased with herself.

Aspen rolled her head. I should have taken her on a trail rider first. "She just needs to stretch her legs. She's a little riled up. She almost never does this." Bonnie tossed her head, seeming to agree with Aspen. Aspen yanked back on the reigns, ignoring any call to keep a calm hand. Bonnie needed a firm hand; she needed Aspen. Aspen gave her a light tap with her heels and released some reign. "Easy trot," she said firmly. Bonnie sprinted into a working trot, but quickly slowed at the slightest twitch of the reigns. Now at a slow trot, Aspen took up the jump position and directed Bonnie over to the poles. Bonnie chewed at her bit, processing all that was going on. Aspen felt Bonnie step over the poles, bringing her hooves up high as she did so.

Aspen loosened her reigns slightly. She made Bonnie turn a tight circle and picked up the jump position again. Bonnie glided over the poles and back over to the wall. Aspen gave Bonnie a slight tap with her heels and Bonnie picked up a working trot, forcing Aspen to stay in two point, Aspen's hand resting on her neck with a hunk of mane in her fist.

Aspen told Bonnie "whoa, easy" and pulled back on the reigns. Bonnie tossed her head at the pressure, but gave in and walked. Aspen sat back in her saddle before adjusting posture once again. She needed to work on her posture some and she knew that, but she could do that later.

Aspen pulled left on her reign, directing Bonnie to the center of the arena. Bonnie tossed her head at the tightening of the reign again, but followed directions. Aspen sighed. I don't want to have to get a tie-down... She stopped near Riley. "What is the pattern?"

Aspen stole a look at Rhine and returned a glare. Rhine didn't understand her; she didn't know her past. Aspen focused back on the lesson and Bonnie. Bonnie tossed her head. Aspen took a deep breath. She patted Bonnie's neck. "It's okay, girl. Just a little bit longer, and then you can be free. Vous pouvez être libre." Aspen sat up again and gave Bonnie a nudge. 'I'll go first," she announced, already walking towards the beginning of the pattern. She walked Bonnie to the end of the cones and weaved the pattern up and down with swift movements. Bonnie snorted as they reached the end, picking up a small trot with Aspen's cue. Aspen pulled back some on the reigns as they came back to the center.

Aspen gave a curt nod. She walked Bonnie a few laps and sighed, having thought of this as a pretty good lesson. Bonnie tossed her head and snorted, bringing Aspen back to attention. Aspen gave Bonnie some reign and pulled her to the side. She dismounted in a swift movement and clipped the lead rope to Bonnie's halter. Bonnie tossed her head again, becoming impatient. Aspen patted her head and let the rope go a little. She walked in front of Bonnie and Bonnie followed as they made their way back to the barn.