Adrenaline -- editing

Chapter 13 [Allisa]

Holly looked out her window, holding the book of Black Beauty which was still on chapter one, page three. The broodmares outside the window grazed as their foals bucked and ran around like maniacs. She growled as McKenzie opened the door to her dorm room.

"Oops, my bad. Look, your roomie won't be back until his class is over but I'm offering you a lesson for free."

"But Vagabond isn't—"

"Allisa's been working with her for awhile when you and my mom been doing school work ever since she got back from her vacation. You guys can practice to tack her up, it can count as a lesson."

"Alriggght." She grunted and closed the book, throwing it on her bed.

A black haired girl with riding clothes on soon joined them, Kenzie walking away. "I'm Allisa Billwalker, I'm sorry we haven't been working a lot lately. I was on vacation when you came, and when we met it was right before I left. I've been working with VV a bit too, since I got back."

"VV?"

"It's her nickname for Vagabond," Allisa shrugged and Holly nodded.

They walked toward the barn and dragged Vagabond out of her stall. The filly neighed as a colt walked by, his part extending and squealing in response. "Gosh dang it love birds, it's not even close to that time!" Allisa swatted Vagabond's neck. "Should I tell her he's gonna be a gelding by the end of today?" She whispered to Holly.

She giggled, "It'll be a surprise."

The filly pounded her hoof as Allisa flicked the dirt off with the hard brush, Holly doing the same. After awhile she handed the saddle pad to Holly and took the saddle and bridal when they out the brushes back in the tack room.

"Put the saddle pad on first, put that," she pointed to the slightly curved part "right here," she pointed to the withers.

Holly bit her lip and threw the pad over the back, and lined it up with the withers.

"Good job! Now put the saddle on." Holly grunted and rested the saddle on Vagabond's back.

Vagabond grunted and shifted positions, making airplane ears. "She doesn't look happy," Holly commented.

"She's not mad, she's uncomfortable." Allisa let the girth hang and waited a minute until she pieced it together. She walked to the other side of the chestnut and pulled the girth over gently, rubbing where it would go.

Vagabond snorted and made her right-front hoof go up, whacking Allisa's hand. "Ow! Stupid horse," and she hit her neck.

"Was that needed?" Holly glared at her.

"You have to teach a horse who's boss otherwise they'll take control. We don't want that."

"Did you have to hit her that hard?"

"Just drop it, alright?" Allisa snapped.

Allisa let go of the girth and sighed forcefully. She continued to tighten the girth and Vagabond nipped at her. Allisa elbowed her hard in the face.

"Can I help with anything?"

"Pet her please, she needs to be calm. Tell me if her ears are flat in her skull."

"They kinda are..."

"She's just listening to me. If they're flatter then tell me to get back. Don't worry, she's just cinchy."

"Okay," Holly stroked Vagabond's nose, looking at her as calm as possible as Allisa took the girth. She hooked it together and let the stirrup hang. "Her ears are really flat!"

Allisa jumped back as Vagabond kicked. She grabbed the girth and pulled it off her coat, soothing extra hairs down. Vagabond stopped kicking and she tilted her head once again, but at the saddle. "Sometimes they do that because their hairs are getting pulled by the girth."

"Oh, so could I ride her?"

"Yes, but I'll lead you on a lunge line so go get a helmet and meet me in the round pen."

Holly nodded and went to the tack room to grab a helmet. She took a purple zebra striped one and walked to the round pen. Allisa was warming Vagabond up as she cracked the whip on her butt.

"Get up!" She yelled calmly at the horse.

Holly entered the pen and Allisa stopped the horse.

"You ready?" She asked with a smile on her face.

"Yeah," Holly clipped the helmet on and walked up the mounting block as Allisa lined Vagabond next to it.

Holly climbed on and Allisa instructed her on how to position herself. After awhile Allisa asked if she was ready to trot.

"Yes, I am. Will it hurt?"

"Nope, but you'll sit it the first time alright? We're just going to walk and trot. Now kick her and ask her to trot."

"Trot VV, trot!" Holly encouraged as she kicked Vagabond's sides.

VV tossed her head but quickened her pace, making her rider bounce around. Holly start giggling nonstop as they continued in circles.