The Great Expedition

Chapter 14

After Kristie was mounted she started walking Stardust around to get her muscules warmed up while Melissa resumed trotting again. While they were trotting, Kristie noticed that Honeysuckle had her head higher up than usual, she also saw that Melissa was practically strangling Honeysuckle by how short her reins were.

Ease up your reins a bit and then she will put her head down. Kristie called out.

I don't need your advice on how to ride a horse. Melissa though lengthened her reins and the moment that happened Honeysuckle put down her head. All was good until they got to one corner where something spooked Honeysuckle and she jumped away from the corner, unsettling Melissa, who kicked her in the sides causing Honeysuckle to jump in the air. Melissa continued to try and hold Honeysuckle in one place while she kicked her in the sides.

Stop doing that and let her move forward. the next time you come around halt her in the corner and give her a reasurring pat on the neck.

Shut up Kristie do NOT tell me how to ride.

Fine get bucked off. See if I care. Kristie squeezed Stardust into a trot and began to easily post to her trot even though they were going bareback. Her lower leg perfectly still and she did not sit hard on Stardust's back on the off leg. Kristie looked back to see how Melissa and Honeysuckle were getting along, clearly no to well considering there were whites in Honeysuckle's eyes and Melissa was so tight it looked like she had a piece of wood in the spot where her spine should be. 

Let go of your reins and ask her to move forward.

No.

Do not make me come over there and take those reins off for you. Melissa let go of the reins and Honesuckle moved forward and put her head down. For a few moments both horses beheaved and were trotting nicely that was until Honeysuckle burst out into a series of bucks not moving forward just staying in one spot. Some miracule Melissa stayed on, Honeysuckle bolted as a truck backfired in the ''driveway'' of the farm. Melissa quickly got back her reins and tryed to keep the mare head up to stop her from bucking, but was failing because all Honeysuckle's weight was on her front end. Soon Honeysuckle ran out of steam and then Melissa could slow her down to a walk.

Are you ok? asked Kristie.

NO thanks to your maniac horse.

She is just green. All green horses do that at one point.

Whatever. While I catch my breath I want to see you ride.

OK. Kristie picked back up a trot and started doing a circle at both ends of the ring, before she went down the quarter line and started to do a leg yeild towards the rail. Stardust knew that someone was watching her so she was on her best behavior. Stardust also put a little spring in her step. Once on the opposite side of the ring, she started to leg yeild Stardust towards the quarter line. Stardust gladly agrred to move of both legs and preform an almost perfect leg yeild. Kristie then halted her are and then asked for a turn on the haunches to change direction. Kristie picked back up a trot and on the long sides of the arena she would two-point and on the short side she would do a sitting trot, throwing in a few down ward transitions to keep her mare's attension on her. After a few minutes more of trotting Kristie asked Stardust for a canter in the corner and the mare gladly lengthened her stride until they were cantering. At the start Stardust gave a few bucks but quickly settled dow. After two laps of cantering, Kristie turned Stardust up the quarter line and started a leg yeild at the canter, for the first time ever Stardust did not switch her leads in the middle of the leg yeild. Kristie and Stardust then cantered across the middle and Stardust did a lead change and cantered the other way now. Kristie tried a canter lead change this way but this time Stardust switched her leads in the the middle of the leg yeild so they had to do a lead change in the corner. Kristie slowed her mare to a walk and walked a few minutes.

Is that all your mare can do? Melissa asked.

No I'm giving her a break. After a bit more walking Kristie asked Stardust for a counter canter, a skill that they were practicing for a bit. Stardust always thought that she should do a lead change when they were counter cantering. Since Stardust knew someone was watching she tried really hard not to switch leads, after a minute of counter cantering without Stardust switching leads Kristie slowed her to a walk and gave her many pats for being so good. Melissa then tried again with Honeysuckle, in the corner Melissa picked up a canter and Honeysuckle started bucking, Honeysuckle then bolted again and did a sliding stop with her head own causing Melissa to be thrown of. Kristie rode over to where Melissa was.

Are you ok?

YEP. Meanwhile Honeysuckle was running around with the stirrups banging against her side causing her to shriek and keep trying to escape them by going faster. Kristie canter Stardust over to where one of the had somehow gotton wrapped around a post of the arena causine Honeysuckle to stop. Kristie dimounted and untied Honeysuckle, she then led both horses over to Melissa.

Here hold Stardust while I ride Honeysuckle. If you want you can ride her. Kristie mounted Honeysuckle and started to trot her around, Honeysuckle was drenched with sweat but easily fell into a nice trot only throwing in a buck when they reached ''the scary corner''. Kristie then cantered Honeysuckle and when she started to bolt Kristie ran her into the side of the arena, Honeysuckle stopped before she hit her nose against the side. Kristie then backed her up a few paces. After 30 minutes more of ''boot camp'' Kristie let Honeysuckle walk.

You want to get back on her or are you done riding her? Kristie asked Melissa.

I'm good. I don't need to get runawayed with that crazy horse. Kristie dismounted and led bothe horses up to the barn to untack them and put them in thier stalls. Once she was done Kristie went outside and saw Melissa, Melissa's dad, her mother and her father talking. When Kristie arrived Melissa was saying

We were not a good fit for eachother. She kept trying to get me off. 

That is ok princess we will find you another horse. Melissa and her dad said goodbye and drove off.

Well that was interesting. Kristie's mother said. Lets go have dinner.

Sounds good to me. said Kristie.

Author's note 

The photo at the top is Melissa riding Honeysuckle.

QOTD: Who is your favorite artist?

I do not have a favorite I like one song from this person and another song from another artist.