"Obviously I don't own anything because it's on fanfiction and obviously I'm not getting paid because it's on fanfiction." Narroch06
The characters (excluding Geoffrey and the ponies) are property to whoever was the brilliant Welsh or Celtic poet to first recite them. Theoderic belongs to me, in a way to a ranch in Ohio, a horse rescue and a hunter barn in Pennsylvania. The inspiration comes from my own exploits with a certain POA gelding and a certain O.T.T.B (off the track Thoroughbred.) Oh I could you some stories...
Almost all is based on true events and the rest… let us call it author's right.
Without further to do . . .
Galahad's Obstacle
It was in the middle of a particularly cool and blustery autumn day, that Geoffrey, the horse master decided that his juvenile soon-to-be-knights needed braver mounts. In order to get to that result they were going to work on going over any and all obstacles that got in their way.
Now one must understand that by nature, most horses do not like going over anything that they can't see the other side of or see underneath. Many horses have this fear that underneath every single little pole laying on the ground or standing on end is a rabid raccoon bent on their demise. The mere sight of such vile poles and logs, brushes and boxes gives many horses with the wiles. God forbid that their rider wants them to go over it. This fear and the general obstinacy of horses leaves many a horse and rider separated, usually with the rider on the opposite side of the fence, or at least it leaves them both on the same side and no chance of going over. As many people know, very little can change the mind of a stubborn horse … or pony.
At the appointed time each "lesson regiment" of knights went to the training field. On the field was a pile of logs, a large imposing fallen tree, and various other mundane jumps that struck fear in the hearts of the young knights and hatred in minds of the equines.
"Isn't that tree rather high?" Robin looked with eyes wide at the large, imposing, wooden monstrosity. His new pony, a taller, stocky dun, bit the bit and tossed his head. Robin's previous pony was now a babysitter in some lush green pasture with young colts.
"Nah, didn't you hear Lamorak?" Lancelot sat back on his stallion, who at the moment was contemplating bucking him off, "Every horse in the first group cleared it."
"We won't make a fool of ourselves this time, will we, Theoderic?" Galahad see-sawed the reins to wake up his lazy palomino pony. Just that summer in an attempt to make him braver Galahad ended up being dragged along by his pony's tail. The pony distinctly remembered such an unhappy occurrence and the subsequent chasing-of-the-poor-defenseless-pony through the pond.
The young knights warmed up their mounts. Collectively and individually they put their horses through their paces. As to combat the almost inevitable refusals and run-outs they all popped over one of the small log jumps. Soon all the horses were getting their spirit and were carrying on.
Geoffrey rode up on his chestnut mare; since the summer his "fine roman steed" had taken lame, jumped a fence and lamed him-self again, and managed to take a sizable piece out of his near hind hoof by standing quite still in his relatively small paddock. The numerous accidents and every growing list of vices forced Geoffrey to take up yet another horse, this fine native mare, taller than the usual stock but still as hardy. This new mare was the cause of many fights between some of the larger (and one of the smaller) stallions.
"So who would like to go first?" Geoffrey paused waiting for volunteers, "Alright who would you all like to go first."
After a moments hesitation all but one knight pointed at Galahad. The one not pointing at Galahad was himself, who was indeed pointing at Arthur.
"Alright, Galahad, sine you did so well in the pond-"
"That was this summer!"
"-You can go through the course first."
Groaning Galahad looked a the course, on the field besides the logs, and the fallen tree was a pile of boxes that relatively resembled a chicken coup, a line of cut bracken that reached well over the tame seven and a half hands high that they were previously jumping. In fact all but the log they had warmed up over, all the fences were that high.
"The course is as follows-remember this-I am not repeating myself- Pick up a canter or gallop-your preference- five strides before the small pile, coming towards us. From there taken a broken line to the bracken pile. Circle around the fallen tree back over the pile. Take a straight line to the larger pile of logs, the one with a slant on the near side. From that pile..." Geoffrey went on for a few moments, detailing the course until he came to the final fence, "And when you clear the bank-and I'm sure you will, head in a straight approach to the fallen log. That's that, get moving, Galahad."
Glumly, Galahad nudged Theoderic forward. With a frustrated swishing of his tail and the tossing of his head, the palomino complied. When Galahad nudged the pony forward with more force, the pony grudgingly picked up a slow, almost walking speed lope. Growling, Galahad kicked the pony. Throwing in a small bunny hop, the pony sped up. After clearing the first few jumps, Theoderic perked up. With this added boost of interest, he added quite a bit more speed. Soon, the duo was powering through the course. A few more fences and all that remained of the course was one, large, imposing tree.
Remembering internally Geoffrey's mantra, Galahad prepared for the fence. 'Pick up your reins, sit back, close your hinge, big release, heels down, look and-"
"You idiot! If you don't pay attention you are going to miss the jump!" The yelling jerked Galahad out of his preparation. In his concentration he had let the pony wander to far to the left. Bringing the pony back to him, Galahad steered back toward the tree. Within three strides, Theoderic danced left. Thrown off balance, Galahad gripped the pony's neck. Straight ahead was a pile of old wine casks that were being used at standards. Galahad knew that the idiot pony would try to jump them. Steering right Galahad prepared for impact, or at least a sudden stop. None came; the pony had sailed, in good form, over the tree. Shocked Galahad stayed hugging the pony around the neck. Realizing that the pony had no intention of stopping he started yelling at him.
"Theoderic, you stupid git! Stop! Theo, Stop! Halt! Hooo!" Nothing would stop the pony, he continued to merrily gallop, at the fastest speed his little legs would go, towards the other knights. Afraid to see the aftermath, Galahad shut his eyes and held on tight to the ends of the reins and the pony's thick mane, all the while hugging the pony around the neck.
Galloping forward, Geoffrey raced at the pony. Leaning over he grabbed the now quite loose reins.
"Whoa lad. Sa-sa. You don't need to frighten poor Galahad; you've put him through enough." Pulling the pony and his own mare to a halt, the old man sat back in his saddle. "You alright, young sprout?" The young knight glared at the nickname.
"I'm fine," the teen kept nodding as he reiterated the remark over and over again. He trotted over to the rest of the group, not bothering to gather the reins. "Your turn, Robin."
The curly headed knight stared at the younger boy before protesting the dangers of the course. Despite protests he went through the course, followed by the rest of the knights. Not a one of the knights came off, though there were a few close calls and by the end no one was without banged knees from cutting the turn around fences too sharp.
Nightfall came and went as the junior calvary ended the lesson, "Alright lads, nice try, though next time I don't want to see any trick riding. You want to try jumping from around your horses' necks? You do it on your own time." With that Geoffrey dismissed them to their clean, straw filled stalls and relatively-clean, straw filled beds.
Well there it is, not nearly as funny as the horse swimming incident but this one was, well safer. In this case Theoderic and Galahad represent myself and my dear, dear, Dot-boy, my boy. Just so I can clarify since Ms Genius Five had a hissy fit about it. He's my guy because he was there before mi novio was there and unless we get married (scary thought) he'll be there after. And that my dear friends, is why Dot-boy is my boy.
