Chapter 2

Fifteen minutes later Sam though her instructor was crazy. Kelsi expected her to ride a 28yr. old Thoroughbred in a lesson. 28 was not normal for a horse, it was out right creepy to think any horse that old could even still stand. But Kelsi insisted that Bert, whose full name was Bold Burst, was in perfect health and the best jumper she had ever ridden. Bert was a giant at least 17 hands tall. Kelsi helped her saddle and bridle him, then told Sam to follow her to one of the arenas. When they got there Sam had no idea how she was supposed to get on this Giant Oldie who towered over her, half asleep.

"Okay, take your stirrups down, check your girth and then lead him up to the mounting block." Kelsi instructed Sam.

She did as she was told and when she got to the last part of what Kelsi said she stopped. What was a mounting block, and where was it? Sam looked around the arena. In one corner several poles were stacked against the wall, in another there were jump standards and in the middle there was an odd looking step stool. That had to be a mounting block right? How else would someone get on to a giant like Bert? So, Sam led him over and stopped. She took a deep breath, climbed to the top of the mounting block, put weight in her left stirrup, and swung onto Bert's back. The moment she had settled in the deep seat of the All-Purpose saddle, Bert strode off at an energetic walk.

"Okay, I want you to walk him around the entire arena at a walk for about 5 minutes, okay; you see how his head moves forward when he walks?"

Sam nodded.

"Good, every time his head moves forward you need to give him some rein, follow his head with your hands, and pick up the slack in your reins; you should be able to feel his mouth at the end of your reins."

It was a lot of information to take in at once but Sam tried her best to do what Kelsi said, when she collected her reins a little bit Bert lowered his head a little, giving into his bit. When she followed his head she didn't feel like she was jerking on his mouth.

"Good, now you are going to try a posting trot. Collect your reins more and squeeze with your inside leg."

She did as she was told and Bert took off at a bouncy trot. Sam was having trouble sitting to his gait but tried.

"Alright, look at his shoulders and watch for when his outside shoulder comes forward. When it does you need to come up out of your saddle."

Sam kept watching for it. But she always came up too late and came up when the inside shoulder was forward.

"Okay, keep going like that and when you get to the end of the arena sit two beats and continue posting."

In four strides Bert was at the end of the long side of the arena. Sam sat two beats and kept posting.

"Now, look and see if you are on the correct diagonal."

Sam looked at Bert's massive shoulders. When she came up, his outside shoulder came forward. She was on the right diagonal.

"Are you correct?" Kelsi asked, checking if she understood why she needed to look down.

"Yes, I'm on the right diagonal." Sam replied proud of herself for learning a new skill.

Sam had kept the right diagonal one whole circuit. When Kelsi called out, "Okay, when you get to E cross the arena and head to B then take a left, like you're cutting the arena in half."

Sam did as she was told, but as soon as Bert crossed the center of the arena, he slowed back to a walk.

"Keep him at a trot!, don't let him slack off," Kelsi said from the ground, "He knows that that's where you get off so hes gonna try to convince you its time for him to be done working."

Sam squeezed the big thoroughbreds sides with her legs and after a large sigh he moved back into a trot. Sam turned to the left and as she rounded the short end of the arena, Kelsi again told her what she was to do next.

"Now, when you reach E, take a right."

Sam did as she was told. By this time Bert was foaming lightly and his breathing had accelerated. It was then when Kelsi told her to slow to a walk to cool him out. As they slowly walked around the arena, Bert put his head down as far as Sam could allow him to without dropping the thin laced reins that she held. This first lesson had gone exceptionally well, she had pretty much understood everything and she though she had done quite well. While she was reflecting, Kelsi's voice snapped her out of it.

"Bring him into the middle and dismount. Take him back into the barn, cross tie him outside his stall then put hims away."

Okay, so again, review and let me know what you think.

~TizElfinMagic~