Advanced Lesson

[Alicia (Allie) Botanic]

Donni was starting to slow down his pacing but his head was still up and he still was moving with the stiff steps of a nervous horse. I placed my hand on his withers for some comfort.

Just then our trainer asked if we had done bareback jumping. I had, back when i was still doing full time eventing but now all i did was do dressage bareback. "Well i have before" i said, turning Donni to face her "But i would never try it on this freak. He gets too nervous when jumping i told the trainer.

[popsrocks21]

Aly continued to walk the mare around. Shiloh looked at the trainer with great interest. Aly nodded. She has done some bareback jumping with Shiloh. I have with Shiloh. She patted the mare. The grey coat silky, but was still a little wet. It was okay though. Aly gathered up her reins while Shiloh arched her head. She raised her tail and the rider put her heals down more. She walked Shiloh around more.

[*Danni*]

Mrs. Richardson nodded. "Well we will try that another time," she said, sensing that Alicia didn't want to that day. "Okay, now take your feet out of your stirrups, and jump over that log over there," she said, looking at a small log. She was making them do that, so they can test, and see if they have good balance.

[Alicia (Allie) Botanic]

I nodded in reply as i slipped my feet out of the stirrups. Carefully i leaned down and grabbed them, crossing them over the pummel of the saddle so they wouldn't thud against Donni's sides and frighten the already flighty horse. Then i gathered my two reins back up and put him in a nice frame at a quick walk. I asked or a nice canter from that walk and he did it nicely, paying attention to me for the time being. Once establishing our canter i turned him towards the small log. I let his head come up 3 strides before and then he leaped a stride early, over jumping it. I was ready however and stayed with him, folding slightly over the jump.

After he had landed and taken several strong strides i brought him back to the walk and we looped around back to to where the trainer was standing.

[popsrocks21]

Aly smiled and took her feet out of the stirrups. She crossed them over the pummel of the saddle. Shiloh kept her form. Aly patted Shiloh's neck. After she watched the other girl pop over the jump. As the other girl came back with her horse, Aly and Shiloh trotted around in a circle. As she came back around, the rider asked Shiloh to canter. The mare picked up the correct lead and Aly turned her towards the jump. Her heels down and once the horse rose to pop over the jump, ALy went into her two point. They landed safely. Aly and SHiloh trotted back to the other two. Before they got there they walked. She patted the mare and walked her in a circle with her head still in its head set.

[*Danni*]

Watching her students from the corner of her eye, she checked the time. They had about 15 minutes left. They will do a little more jumping, and it will be time to cool out the horses. "Okay.. Good," she said to them, once both of them cleared the small log. "Now go over that log, and that higher fence," she said, looking at the obstacles.

[Alicia (Allie) Botanic]

With another nod i nudged Donni back into a canter. But i noticed it instantly that he was distracted. I wondered why, slightly shortening the curb rein. I soon found out why. The slight breeze gusted up and blew the trees around. It was just a second but the gelding was already spooked. It i had had my stirrups it would have been easy to stay on by planting my heals down against them and sitting the large bucks, but i didn't have my stirrups and so i struggled to keep my seat. I raised my hands to activate the curb rein and bring his head up but all he did was duck away and throw his head. The dropping of his shoulder and a buck was the right combination to send me off.

I landed hard right by his flying heals. Even after i was off the frightened horse did not stop, bolting towards the distant bar. I lay motionless for a minute, my eyes closed and my breathing heavy. Then i opened my eyes, seeing a rock right in front of my face. If i had fallen just a little further over i could have split open my head. Thankfully i hadn't and i sat up with a groan. Nothing was broken but i was soar and Donni was at the barn by now.

[popsrocks21]

Aly smiled at the trainer and nodded as she told them to go over the other 2 jumps. Shiloh perked her ears toward Donni and the other rider as they went to the jumps. Aly gasped as she saw the rider fall from the bucking horse. She halted Shiloh and waited for the girl to get up. Shiloh turned her head towards where Donnie ran. A whinny escaped her vocals. Aly patted the mare's neck and bit her lip. Hopefully the girl was alright.

[*Danni*]

Mrs. Richardson watched Alicia go first, but she was kind of not surprised when the horse took off bucking. She jogged over to Alicia. "Are you alright?" she asked. She probably was, since it didn't look too bad of a fall. "Don't worry, your horse is probably at the stables," she said, with a laugh. Turning towards Aly, she spoke. "Can you ride back to the stables, and find her? I'm going to help Alicia," she asked. "I think that's enough for today," she said, with a slight laugh.

[Alicia (Allie) Botanic]

i managed a weak smile as Mrs. Richardson said we had had enough. "Ya, I'm fine" i said as i slowly got to my feet. "That wasn't the first time he has dumped me" i laughed slightly at that. He was one of the few horses i had ridden who had gotten me off. Most of the other ones came close or it was all my fault.

I rolled my shoulders and neck, already feeling the pain i would feel tomorrow after a bad night's sleep. However i know i had to get back on which would be painful but it would do Donni some good.

[popsrocks21]

Aly nodded. She gathered up her reins and asked Shiloh to canter off towards the barn. Shiloh took off with Aly. They wandered around a few minutes. They still didn't find him. The mare whinnied to Donni. Aly looked around frantically. Where was her horse? She whistled. She didn't hear any sound . Shiloh nickered. The horse would have to be close by.