we don't bite ;; [mikey]

[poppies]

Softly grooming the mare carefully it wasn't gonna be that great getting her to calm down on their first riding day. After all she had started a sweat once she got off the trailer. Either way she was gonna have to settle and being ridden was a good way for excercise. Kept in her stall, Juniper ate from her hay net but was full alert of everything else. Shawna kept the curry comb moving in the small circles. Reaching over the mare's haunches she gave a small pat before moving swiftly to the other side. Working with ease and speed she finished step one.

Beginning with the stiff dandy brush she removed loose hair and dirt, after she was finished with that she moved to a more soft bristled brush. Moving over the mare and her legs with the brush, it just created a better shine and removed whatever wasn't caught by the other brush. Grabbing the blue hoof pick it was one of those less complicatied things. It had small, stiff, black bristles on the back and the silved pick on the other side. The handle was just fitted and has a gripped part that said 'Shawna' in it. Her father had gotten her custom grooming tools for her fourteenth birthday.

Finishing all four hooves she doubled checked to make sure none of them were falling off. All though the mare had been re-shod about a week ago they should be perfectly fine. And they were. Juniper turned when she realized that it wasn't just a pamper session but she was gonna be put to work. Stomping her front hooves she squealed and tossed her head. "Oh calm down. We aren't gonna do anything hard. After wards I'll give you a treat."

The bay mare loved the apple horse cookies that the Redwood family made and Shawna just happened to know the recipe. Just happened that she had made a sheet of them the night before. Pulling one out of her pocket the mare took her time eating it while Shawna tacked her up. First was a dark navy saddle pad that looked very professional and had Juniper's name stitched into it. With that followed some extra padding just because of her sensitive back. Lastly, on her back would be the saddle which was a gleaming chestnut color.

Putting on the girth was never a problem and the mare always stood very still. However, sometimes when she wasn't tied up she tried to bite but never did. This time was different and the mare just stood taking each hole as it was tightened. Patting her neck she gave the mare a kiss on the nose and grabbed her splint boots. They were navy as well to match the saddle pad. Black straps always pointed to the back of the horse on the outside. Once all four were put on she walked out of the stall to grab the bridle.

Her galloping martingale's rings hung as Shawna slipped the bit into the mare's mouth. A figure eight noseband also sat neatly there with teh straps undone. Slidding the metal rings of the martingale onto the reins she slid the blue stoppers on as well. Securing the noseband, the figure eight, and the cheek band they set off for the arena.

Dressed in a pair of jeans that had some patches on them they were just used for her light riding. When she jumped she always wore a pair of riding breeches. Her shirt was nothing more than a baby blue tee-shirt with two comic characters on it. Pon and Zi were no more than blobs sort of and they always had a cute saying on it. Matched with a black riding helmet and a pair of paddock boots with half chaps she was ready to ride.

Slipping into the arena the mare was already bunched up with energy and was ready to begin working. Pulling down the stirrups Shawna walked the bay mare over to the mounting block and hopped on. Sitting in the saddle she felt in control and held the reins firmly. Juniper had already set off at a quick and short strided walk, moving in steady circles and working from a walk to halt they were just warming up. After about five minutes Shawna asked the mare to trot.

Rising and falling carefully into the saddle she felt the mare continue to grow quicker. Steadying her posting she felt Juniper collect herself a little. Nose almost to her chest the mare had a bit of a loose rein but not by to much. Her stride was of a large pony but her height was almost seventeen hands and she moved with such choppy striding. Her canter was quick and her trot was about the speed of a normal horse's canter.

Again she moved into the circles, the figure eights before moving into a halt to trot transition. Finally the sweat began to come down on the mare's neck and her haunches. They had barely worked but Juniper was always uptight when it came to new places. "Good girl." Letting her reins fall loose she could feel the heat also taking its effect on her.