c a l m//YOURSELF [[open]]

[Elizabeth]

c a l m//YOURSELF
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The breeze wrapped gentle around her, tickling at her cheeks as she flicked her hair back into a pony tail. She had left her helmet in the barn and didn't feel like getting it right now. Though it migh tbe safe with the nutcase she was about to get on. The clamping of metal was heard throughout her head as Lord played with the bit in his mouth. She was at his side, rein over her arm as she pulled the girth tight again. It was her all purpose saddle, she felt like doing some dressage and jumping. Dropping the flap back down she walked towards his head where she finished buckling the flash on his bridle. Well that helped a little, he was still annoying about it though. Rolling her eyes as he stamped his foot and pranced sideways she tugged on the reins. Pulling down her stirrup she reached up with her left foot and swung herself into the saddle. Grasping the reins in both hands as he attempted to pull a bolting trick again. When that didn't work he bucked, but only slightly. Such a character he was.

Sun beat down upon her as she was in a white tank. She blended together, she had white polos, a white saddle pad, and white shirt. Well that was not really planned, but oh well. He flicked his head and snatched at the bit, but the flash helped that, along with her persistant discipline. Holding her whip in her hand she made sure her spurs were on as she nudged him forward towards the outdoor practice ring. The sixteen-five hand stallion moved forward, pushing the walk into a slow prance, but back into a large walk after she corrected him. For a four year old he was nothing but a pain, but he was a quick learner. And a pretty easy break as well, considering she had done it herself. His form was that of light bay with a ivory star, and filled out in the typical dutch warmblood fashion as he was pure dwb. And acted like a baby.

The ground of the outdoor areana was very nice, and stayed nice alot. His mane was pulled and looked good as he flicked his tail around. Once in the ring she walked a lap or two before nudging him into a trot. Pulling back immediatly as he tried to go faster. Bringing him back she regained a good pace and collected him, getting him on the bit with nice impulsion behind him. After a while of circles, figure eights, serpentines, etc. she asked for the canter. And surprisingly he didn't try to run away, well that was new. Keeping him collected and bent in the canter as she did some transitions and circles and such. Getting to a point where she was doing flying changes and picking it up from a halt. Like she said before, he's very smart, just acts like a big baby. But hes only four, so you have to bear with him. Asking for extended and collected canters she switched to do some more trot work. A piaffe was fun to do, he got it pretty well. Foam was against his chest and over his mouth as he worked, he did that so quickly. It wasn't even funny. Letting him rest after a bit she walked him on a loose rein around for a bit. Glancing at the jumps that were set up. They seemed to range from about 3'-5' or so some probably higher then that. Well that would work.

After a little bit of walk she picked him back up. Bringing him into a trot over a small cross-rail that was set up for warm-up. After a few times over that he started getting back to his normal self. Hyped up and nuts. Aiming for a 3' vertical she held him back as he thrased against her. But he obeyed, thankfully. Regaining him she turned him towards a few other jumps in order. Holding him until a few strides before, his scope beatiful. So she decided to take it higher. He longed to go when she pointed him towards a 4'6" oxer. Giving him rein three strides before. He jumped that way higher then necessary. Bringing him back she pointed him towards a line of in and outs. Fun. They were higher then the before jump. over 5'. He jumped them wonderfully, but again with his antics. After the last she hadn't brought him back so he bucked out of excitment, running away a little before she gained his attention again. His ears flicked towards a large oxer. The highest one. For him, this was a big step, he was still in training, and today was the most jump work he's ever progressed on. Before it was jump, buck, jump, buck. Today he was actually behaving himself, but still held a little bucks here and there. Time seemed to freeze as they flew over the spread. Smile on her face. Landing he gave off a slight stream of bucks. But she got him back after a second or two. "Good boy!" Praising him she gave him a break on a long rein, this was the farthest in his jumping training. She had been working on dressage like a crazy woman before. And he was getting pretty dang good at that.