River Ridge Riding Academy

Chapter 5(Belle's POV)

      I mounted Danger last of the other riders. When I got both feet in my stirrups, Danger began to walk fast and tossed his head just slightly. "Come on boy, don't do this." I tugged on his reins gently to settle his head and my bay draft gelding finally stopped tossing his head but didn't slow any.

      After walking a few laps everyone pushed their horses into a trot. I had to keep to the inside as Danger kept his fast pace and would pass the other horses.

      When we finished warming up, Becky called everyone to the middle, "Alright everyone, so today we wont do anything bigger then a cavaletti." At this, some of the students groaned and Becky added, "Don't worry, we will do a bit more on Friday. For now I have set up a small cross rail. I would like everyone to go over it one at a time three time, the first time turn right, then after going over the second time turn left, and finally right again."

      I waited and went behind Hope and Jazz who were second to last just incase Danger threw a fit. We all had to trot up and canter out so I carefully steered him over the jump but had to push him into a canter on my own as he basically stepped over the jump.

      On the final jump, I pushed Danger into a canter, two strides before the jump, hoping he would actually jump and thankfully it worked.

      "Great job everyone!" Becky smiled "Now I'll set up a course with some cavalettis and other small jumps"

      She set up the jumps and came back to the group to tell us the course. "Ok so the course is, blue and grey to the purple and yellow line then around to the oxer. And I want Zach to go first"

      I looked up at Zach's name being called as I hadn't noticed him yet. I saw him on a dappled palomino. I hadn't even realized he was here as I was too focused on Danger. Hope walked over to me on Jazz, "Is that Zach from your class?"

      I nodded "Ya, I guess he's in this class. Like I said, I didn't have a chance to ask him about his riding schedule."

      We watched as he went around the course. He and his horse seemed like a pretty good team, in the end they had hit one pole but it didn't fall.

      "Well done Zach and Bambi, now I would like Annabelle and Danger to go" Becky said, turning to me.

      I pushed Danger into a smooth canter. We headed to the blue and grey cavaletti and Danger cleared it with a very small buck after. I pushed him on to the line. At the first cross rail, Danger mostly just stepped over it but jumped the second.

      Finally we headed to the oxer and it was defiantly our best jump of the day. As I slowed him back to a walk, I pat his neck and smiled. "Good boy."

      "Good job Annabelle and Danger. Next...."

      "That was a pretty good lesson" Shay said as we walked back to the barn

      "Ya, you both did really well" Hope smiled "And of course, you did amazing too Jazz" she added and kissed her pony's muzzle

      I smiled back at my roommates "Thanks Hope, you did really good too." We reached the barn and each went into our horses respective stalls and began to untack.

      "Hey guys" Jayed said, walking Melody into her stall while we were all brushing down "How was your guys' lesson"

      "It was pretty good, what about yours?" Shay replied, walking out of Aztec's stall with his tack.

      "It wasn't bad, just long. We didn't do a whole lot though."

      "Same, just a few small jumps."

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I hope you guys are enjoying the story so far! I've really enjoyed writing it so far

(pic of Bambi, Zach's horse)