"Which one do you want to start with, honey?" Marion asked.
"Let's start with Pete." Amy said, "He's been the easier of the two."
Amy took Pete out and Marion watched while she groomed and tacked him up. Marion grabbed Pegasus and they led the two horses out to the round pen.
Marion swung up on Pegasus bareback in a halter and lead rope, while she watched Amy lunge Pete, then mount him and ride him around.
"He listens to you really well." Marion said, watching Amy lope around.
"Yeah. He's been super easy to work with," Amy said, pulling him up and walking him over to stand by her mom. "He was green, but he's always tried really hard."
"Yeah, he definitely seems willing." Marion agreed.
"And that's half the battle." Amy said, grinning.
"You've got that right." Marion agreed. "What level of rider are you thinking?"
Amy shrugged, "I actually think he'd be okay for a beginner working with a trainer."
"Me too." Marion agreed. "Let's take him out in the yard a bit and see how he does."
They left the round pen and trotted and cantered around the yard. Pete moved out nicely and listened to Amy well.
As they approached the barn, Marion pulled her daughter toward her on Pegasus and gave her a side hug, "You've done a heck of job with him, sweetie!"
"Thanks, mom!" Amy said, kissing her mom's cheek. "Can we take Fancy out next?"
"Absolutely!" Marion agreed. "I'm just going to swap Pegasus out for Marley, that little palomino mare I've been working with."
"How's she doing?" Amy asked as they untacked.
"She's alright." Marion said, "She's still a bit spooky. Needs a really calm rider. I actually like Gizmo, that little scrappy bay Arabian, quite a bit better, but he's a lot hotter than she is. He's going to need an advanced rider for sure. He's a really technical ride. Marley should be okay if she just has someone calm."
"It sounds like they're all doing pretty well." Amy said.
"Yeah," Marion agreed. "We just need to test them out with some different riders in a different situation to make sure they're ready to go, then find them good homes."
Amy nodded and they set about discussing the sort of homes they'd like for each horse as they groomed and tacked up their next mounts.
Marion and Amy led Marley and Fancy out to the round pen and both mounted and rode the horses around. They then took them out of the pen and into the yard. Fancy handled really well for Amy. She was a lot softer in the bridle than Pete. And she was a lot fancier with the way she carried her head and moved out under her rider's aids.
"She was harder to get to come around initially, right?" Marion said.
"Yeah." Amy agreed. "It took a bit to get her to trust me, but once she started to, she's been really easy and fun."
"What level of rider?" Marion asked.
"Intermediate, at least." Amy said.
Marion agreed, saying, "Let's swap."
And Marion and Amy hopped down and switched horses.
"Wow! She is fun!" Marion said, "Super light in the bridle."
"Yeah." Amy agreed. "And you're right. Marley is kind of laid back and lazy as long as you keep your breathing easy, but if you get nervous, she tenses up."
"Exactly," Marion agreed.
"So, intermediate too, but super calm above all else." Amy said.
"Definitely." Marion agreed.
After cooling out, they halted and stood chatting, "So, we need to get these guys out to make sure that they're ready for new homes." Amy said.
"I'm thinking a trail ride." Marion said. "We bring Mallory along. She can ride Copper, so we have a known quantity with us. You on Fancy. Me on Marley. Maybe Soraya on Pete?"
"That sounds perfect." Amy said, "But what about Gizmo?"
Marion grimaced. "I don't know many people who'd be comfortable on him, since he's so forward. But if we had someone else on Fancy or Marley, then one of us could take him…"
"But those two are a bit tricky." Amy bit her bottom lip. "And Jesse's not that great when he's not on a motorcycle."
Marion laughed. "I'm sure that annoys his mother to no end."
"Wait!" Amy said, "What about Mrs. Stillman? She's a great rider. Soft, quiet and super used to hot horses."
"Amy you're a genius!" Marion said with a smile. "That's perfect!"
Amy smiled, proud of herself.
"Plus," Marion continued, a diabolical glint in her eye, "if Lisa comes, then I bet your grandpa would come."
Amy grinned, "And then we'd have Paint with us too as a calming influence. Genius, mom! And sneaky" They both laughed.
Marion grinned. "I'll set it up! This is gonna be fun!"