Raven

Chapter 1: Test Ride

Warning long chapter!

I glanced at the big bay (almost black)
and white paint gelding infront of me. He was a cross between amercian warmblood and quarter horse, but he had more american warmblood then quarter in him. He was a beauty. His coat was soft but he had some weight probably due to his pasture time. I examined him over, ensuring he didn't have any injuries. A few short moments passed, he was clean. He had no injuries. "You can go ahead and brush him if you want," my instructor said as she glanced towards me. Her brown hair was tucked into her bun, hidden from the wind. Behind my neck I could feel my rough pony tail hitting my neck, causing a shiver to lay upon me. I shook it off. Getting it out of my mind. Reaching down in to my new grooming box, I pulled out a orange and blue curry comb, an oval shape tool to 'curry off' the dirt and mud off his coat. Secondly, i reached for a body brush slipping my left hand into the opening so i can grasp my hand around the brush. It makes it easier to hold onto it and brush smoothly. Slowly walking over to him I calmly talked to him,trying to keep his attention on me, testing his attention span, "Hey boy. How are you. You good?" a neigh came from his muzzle (mouth) and a giggle escaped mine. "Haha..what a handsome fellow you are. Perfect for my style,ya know?" his ears showed that he was listening which was good. I circulated the motion in my curry comb brushing the last spot on the left side. Sliding the body brush quickly behind it removing the loose dirth that layed upon his body. Switching sides I went infront of him, continuing the cleaning on the other side and continuing the talking. I stopped one moment, to hear my instructor say something and it sounded like, "it looks like them too are going together good. Can"t wait for her to test out his gaits!" I peered over to her, our eyes met and she smiled at me and i did the same. I went back to brushing shortly after brushing off the last dirt spot with my body brush. My hand swept across my face, "whew, that was tiring. You were very dirty. I guess I exptected it though. Your a good boy." I walked to him where he could see me, dropping my curry comb and body brush into my tack box before I reached his eyes. Oh his eyes, I would remember those well. I looked straight into his eyes,he looked into mine. It was like we were as one. We couldn't take our eyes off each other. I slid my hand gently down his face, showing affection towards him gaining trust. I smiled and looked over to my instructor, whom was walking towards me with a bridle a saddle pad and a saddle in her hands. Wow, she has talent to be caring all of that in her hands. I certainly would have trouble i can barely carry the saddle pad amd saddle together let alone a bridle included. Although it cant be too hard. I clicked stopping my thoughts, not wanting to go crazy because I kept thinking of other things. I kept my mind on one thing, Raven. When I flashed to reality my instructor was tossing the saddle pad and saddle onto his back. She then moved to his bridle and showed me how he liked it to be put on, it was the same way I did moniques, a lesson mare, soft and gentle not too fast and not too slow. Gentle. Soft. Thats the way to go. Got it. My instrucotr spoke as she was attaching his custom made bridle together, " I'll ride him first so you can get a idea of his gaits and his leads. Then after some time you can hop on and give him a try. That way I can warm him up so we dont have to wait for him to get slow poked, ya know?" i nodded my head and she lead him to the arena, stopping at the step to get on. She quickly fixed her stirrups on both sides and hopped on moving her way to the gate. A young lad opened it closing it behind her. Raven wasnt too tall but his walk was definitely better than monique's, not soooo....slow. A couple of rounds she walked him. Then she said a couple of words, "ok, now since you have seen his walk. Its time for a trot." she urged him very soflty into a trot. I looked for her cue but i didnt see any. Wow was there even a cue? Is he that gentle. I love him already. His trot was graceful and smooth, surprisingly. He looked as if he was floating on air. He was a miracle. She then urged him to canter. His tail flickered up and his legs switching to a cantered. It was smooth. Nice. I loved his gaits so far. She slowed him to a walk and signaled me to come inside. She halted him, and hopped off. I walked over to the gait and walked inside. Nervous energy filled me, but I let it all pass. Stay calm. I repeated over and over in my head and finnally stoped being so nervous. I walked up to him,my instructor raised the stirrups to my measurement and I stepped onto the step. She gave me a nod and I swung my leg over and into the other stirrups. He stood still, unlike monqiur, and I arranged my reins and ensured that my stirrups felt correct. Which they did. I walked him forward,my body moving with his rythem. Forward and back. My legs went side to side shifting making him go into a forward medium walk. His walk was gracefully and I fell in love with it. My instructor asked my to trot him so I just barely squeezed my legs and he trotted. At the moment I had NO WHIP which was a shock that he responded so quickly. I posted up and down repeatedly. I looked down to make sure i was posting correctly which i was. A few rounds of trotting my instructor said, "try a canter. I know your ready!"she smiled and I pushed my outer leg back and squeezed my inner leg asking for a canter. Right away he stepped into a canter. His tail clicked my boot and i moved with his motion. A few rounds I trotted him some more. I felt like I was in sync. I have to say this guy impressed me. He is so good at responded its amazing. From a trot I halted him, he halted on a square. His back legs paired together and his front legs paired together. My instructor looked shocked and smiled. A wide smile came across my face and I walked him forward. "Ok nice. Now hop off and we can talk about him," my instructor said. I nodded my head halted him again and hopped off. I petted his neck and gave him a hug. I gathered his reins and lead him out of the arena. The smile never wiped my face. I knew my mom had questions but I think the ride changed her mind. Walking out I halted him at the criss ties and loosened his bridle. I reached for his halter putting the lead rope over his neck. The halter was on my right shoulder. I reached up between his ears and pulled up his bridle squeezing my hands under it. I gently took it off letting him take the bit out on his own time. He spit it out quickly and I attached his halter onto his face, his halter was orange and blue and was absolutely adorable. Did you know that orange and blue are the american warmblood society's colors? Its pretty cool. I mean, my two favorite colors are the AWS (American Warmblood Society) colors! My instructor took the bridle from me as I carried it in my hand. She took it to the wash area and washed the bit for me, "thank you" I nodded. I undid his girth pulling my hand upwards lifting the weight that I needed to undo the girth. The girth loosened and I completely undid it and dropped it underneath him to undo the other side. Shortly after the girth was removed and I threw it onto the girth rack. Moving onto the saddle, I went to his left and pulled off his saddle and saddle pad. His saddle pad was a gorgous orange and blue and it had highlights in it. I could see 'Raven' on both sides of it in black. It was a gorgous saddle pad. His saddle was a shiny black. I could see it glimmer in the sunlight. I carried his heavy saddle onto his saddle rack sliding his saddle pad into my other hand. I turned his saddle pad inside out having the sweaty side showing and put it on the metal wire holding other saddle pads next to it. I walked to him, reached into into my tack box, which only contained grooming tools, and pulled out my body brush. I gently went over his body, atleast where the saddle was, and removed the loose dirt. I put away the brush and walked over to my instructor who was walking towards me. We stopped infront of each other and before I could ask her anything she began to start talking, "Hey. Are you ready yet. I can put him away if you want." I nodded my head allowing some words to escape my mouth, "sure that works for me. The ride was great. He is a joy to ride!" I smiled.
Instructor: "Thats good. When I rode him before you his gaits were flawless. When you hopped on, I don't think I even saw your cues. And that's really unlike you. Infact I loved those subtle cues. I really enjoyed watching you too together. You seemed like you had a bond. Like you were some how, sharing the same heart and soul."
Me: "thanks. It was a great ride..definiality a perfect one. And....I actually am done."
My instructor nodded and went to go towards Raven, I followed and she handed me his lead rope once she attached it to his halter. I grasped my hand around and walked hum around. I gazed over to see my instructor talking with my parents and the owners of Raven. I looked at there faces. For a few moments I stared. Wanting to know there faces. All appeared with smiles,which lifted my heart literally. I just knew good news was on my way. A few more miments i walked Raven around,until my instructor came to me and put him up for me. Through out this all nerves filled me but a smile was still inside and out. I couldn't wait for the news! What ever it would be...I just knew something good was on my way.
I walked along my instructors side as we walked to my parents and Raven's owners. I smiled. Not wiping it from my face. I was proud. Proud to be here. Proud to have met Raven. We both reached my parents and we stopped in front. She pulled a chair for me and I sat, she sat beside me and I could feel the pressure of eyes. My mom. My dad. The owners. My instructor. They were all staring at me. "What? What are you are staring at?" I said teasing with them. A giggle came upon the crowd.
Owner: "Nice ride. Its like you too were meant for each other!"
Me: "thanks"
Owner: "your welcome. We have been talking with your parents...and...."
She hesitated and i shifted my body forward listening.
Me:"yes...."
The owner looked at me then at my parents and smiled. My mom put her arm around me. I couldn't wait for the news. My feet were tapping the ground at a fast pace and i was starting to be impatient.
Owner: "we are glad to say..that....that... Your parents are happy for you two to be together. You guys make a great pair..and..."
She just ended it there a decided to get to the point.
Owner: "He's yours."
I smiled wider than before.. I couldnt hold my excitement. My instructor just watched. I first hugged the owners repeating "thank you" over and over again. Moving onto my mom and dad who i gave a BIG bear hug to. I then turned to my instructor, and to be honest I felt like tears were running down my face and I wasnt sure if they were. All I could see was fog though so I was probably tearing up. My instructor spread her arms out inviting me in for a hug I burst into her arms hugging her tight. I couldnt thank her enough. She was the one who introduced me to him. My feelings couldnt be contained it was like I couldn't control myself.

Sorry for the long chapter. Anyways it was fun to write. I hope you enjoyed this chapter as i really enjoyed writing it. THANKS FOR READING!!!
A total of 2263 words.

Side note: from this moment forward i am pre-writing all my chapters and editing them.