KhanRose Riding Academy

Chapter 15: Why is he here?

Standing in front of me was the most beautiful horse I had ever seen. We was a deep rich blood bay. His black ears swiveled at the sound of my arrival. He stamped a black leg, and flicked his black tail. His mane lay short on his right side of his neck, and he looked at me to see a blinding white star on his forehead and a large snip on his cute nose. He had a delicate face and a thin build. My tack looked beautiful on him as the groom held the gelding.

"He's stunning isn't he?" Mr. Odell asked, coming behind me.

"He is" I breathed and walked up to the horse.

"This," he paused looking at the gelding " is Steer Clear, or Sterling. He is a Hanoverian gelding, and is only seven. He comes from a home that masters in dressage, and barely tries jumping. He is one of the best dressage horses I have ever seen, and is just starting on jumping. 3'9 is the highest he's jumped, and really wants to go higher. He is still very very green in jumping, so he should be a good match. And if you thought Rose had a long stride, prepare to be amazed."

I nodded, taking in all the info on Sterling. Mounting, I asked for a walk. His swinging gait revealed to me his true dressage blood. He extended his head and stride when I asked, and shortened when I wanted. Once we went around corners, I tried to bend him around my leg, and he did so with ease. The horse was the real deal!

"Go ahead and trot. He seems good so far." Mr. Odell called from the center.

I squeezed his tender sides, and a lovely swinging floaty trot erupted beneath me. He tucked his neck in perfectly, and placed his hooves in the right place every step. After collecting and extending, and sitting to his smooth stride, I asked for a canter. He took my breath away as he bounced into a gigantic canter stride. I did the same as before, and added a flying lead change in the middle.

"Walk. Let's jump." Mr. Odell called.

I sat back and pulled gently.

There was a simple course of a white cross rail that rolled back to a two foot jump, that went in a line to a three foot oxer, and that came around to a gymnastic. There was three strides in between two verticals that went from 3'3 to 3'6. The last jump was four strides away with a 3'9 oxer.

"Go when your ready. And I am going to have you try out on him and be the fifth one to try out. You have 30 minutes until people get here, so you will have more than enough time." He explained.

With a nod of agreement, we started off with a canter to the blinding white cross rail. He popped over it like a pro. With a rollback to the next hunter green jump, he looked at the gait under it. I checked him, and applied my out side leg to keep him in his place. He went over the jump with out a problem. The next jump was identical to the one before, just higher. With this, he took more effort, and I had to slightly fight him for the correct spot. He tucked his knees in nicely, and flicked a dark ear back as I asked him to slow down for the gymnastic ahead. He slowed, and powered over the first jump, three slow strides later we were over the second jump.

One, two, three, four. I counted up to the looming oxer. With a grunt and a extra effort, he sailed over the jump with at least a good eight inches to spare. He landed with a happy buck, and tried to slightly run away.

I slowed him to a walk and patted his sweaty neck. He softened under my touch, and lowered his head.

"He's a great fit. Let's try him" Mr. Odell protested.

"I'm all for it." I replied.

I got off, and started walking into the barn. I reached a set of cross ties, and saw his leather halter and lead waiting for him. Once I got the bridal off, I slipped on his halter and clipped him to the cross ties. I took my saddle and saddle pad off, and ran a spare towel over him.

"What is Sterling doing here?!" I heard a biting voice ask.

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HEYY! Sorry so long for an update! I'm busy and have a horse show this weekend! 👌🏼

So what do you think? Hope you love it! 👏🏼

Thanks to Grace for the horse! 💁🏼

Love yall! 💕

VOTE COMMENT AND FOLLOW!!💘

-Sophie