Briarwood Elite Riding Academy: Take the Reins

Chapter 5: First Ride and Feeling Fly

Chapter 5

After everyone in the ring was warm we formed a line near the front of the ring and we watched as Sebastian went around organizing a small course.

Sebastian finished up the course and went to stand in front of us. "The course is simple; start with the blue oxer then to the green vertical then to the orange oxer and follow that line to the triple bar then to the pink vertical, loop around and finish with your triple combination and your last oxer. I want a nice downward transition too"

My eyes followed Sebastian's finger as he pointed around the ring and I desperately attempted to remember it.

"My lessons are directed alphabetically by last name so expect as much" Sebastian explained; "With that being said Katharina Braun you'll start us off"

Katharina and Little Lucky Charm finished with a graceful and technical pleasing round that Sebastian praised yet offered the criticism that the round was done far too slowly. 

After Katharina her twin brother took to the ring. 

Leon Braun was definitely not a grace rider like his sister and excelled more in speed and gusto. Paired with the adeptly named Braveheart they soared through the whole round with record speed. 

"Alright. Next Brigdes" Sebastian gestured to the ring with a finger. 

Justin lifted his chin and he and Chrome detached from the line.

Justin started with a nice brisk trot then asked Chrome for a canter which the big gelding gave happily. Justin circled Chrome once to pick a nice pace and started down the first line.

He approached the blue oxer with a nice pace but when he landed it Chrome became forward and speedy. Justin and him went barreling toward the green vertical at a ridiculous speed in the corner though Justin half halted his mount and Chrome eased back into his steady, lopping canter. They jumped the orange oxer easily yet I could see Justin tensing as he neared the triple bar but they ended up jumping it with little problems. The pink vertical was another breeze and when the next triple combo appeared Justin seemed a little more confident and it showed in his ride; the last oxer was another easy jump and the pair finished with a nice downward transition.

"Nice ride" Sebastian commented while Justin cooled Chrome down; the watching riders clapped, all but me. "Just keep a steady feel on him; as you could tell Chrome is a fast forward horse and he likes speeding up after a jump

Alright next rider; Matthew Davies" Sebastian continued.

Matthew's ride was short and sweet. Constellation Equuleus was a steady and strong mount who flew through the course as if he'd done it a thousand times before. Yet Matt's balance was a little unsteady over the triple bar which Sebastian commented on. 

"Next Dubois" 

I looked over to my left at Zoé and offered her an encouraging smile; not that she needed it. Zoé was of course always cool. 

Zoé asked little Foreign Affair for a nice steady trot before squeezing his barrel and transitioning nicely into a forward canter. Foreign Affair seemed all spunk so Zoé circled him three times before finally getting her desired pace then they continued down the first line. 

Over the oxer they went, finishing nice and neatly; Alfie gave a little head swing after the jump to let everyone know how proud he was. The green vertical was nothing but a piece of cake for the pair and they jumped the orange oxer without flaw. But when the triple bar appeared Alfie tensed and doubted himself far down the line a few strides away from the jump; Zoé reassured him just in time though by applying pressure with her calf and they cleared the jump successfully. The last line was finished quickly and when they were done Alfie was breathing heavy and foaming at the bit.