Jump the Moon

[falconx]

Outside the jumping arena Roxy led her horse in a circle then placed her boot in the stirrup. Springing up she landed with a soft thud in the english saddle. With her left hand she took part of the reins. Sticking her other boot in the other stirrup she gently nudged Dash into a slow walk. Her dark brown hair bounced in its pony-tail underneath her english riding hat. Hazel eyes gazed intently through Dash's harks. Putting pressure on her left leg and then moving the reins she signaled him to turn right. Pulling back slowly she looked at the arena. Just some warmups nothing to big she though decisively.

Dash moved smoothly around the ring in a collected trot. Just warming him up so he could practice over some small jumps. After a couple of minutes of trotting she cued him to canter. At the rocking gait they approached a small jump. Lifting herself into position she urged him forward. Keeping a firm contact with him mouth and putting pressure on him with her legs so he couldn't swerve away. There! Dash neatly tucked his legs under him and he lifted off the ground. Mane flying back into Roxy's face. A huge grin claimed her features and she let out a whoop of joy. Hooves touched the dirt and already he resumed his smooth canter.

Looking toward the next jump she pressed with her legs so he would slightly increase his speed. Light blue t-shirt billowed behind he as she sat upon the black stallion. His harks pricked forward with interest as if he just realized her intent was to jump the upcoming obstacle. Again the stallion lifted effortlessly into the air. Clearing the jump by a foot. His form was perfect as he went over and then landed. Slowing him down he settled into a springy trot. Circling the arena like a peathingy. Neck arched and tail flung out high to show his arabian bloodlines. Delicate legs lifting higher than was needed in a dignified prance. A laugh flowed out of Roxy's mouth at her mounts actions.

[mudfang]

BLAIR

i long for this mirrored perspective;

Blair smiled to herself and giggled a tiny pit, euphoric as she drove to Pinewood. She pulled into the parking lot of the stables and hopped out, her feet hitting the pavement and not slowing until she reached the barn door. She stepped inside, trying not to make too sharp movements so the horses wouldn't get spooked. Finally, she came to her pride and joy's stall. The plain stall door was decorated with the gorgeous mare's big black head. Indie nickered in greeting and Blair rubbed her nose before pulling a white halter onto her mare's head.

Indie walked willingly behind Blair, the teen not needing a lead rope and not bothering with cross ties. Blair brushed her horse off with a soft brush, rubbing her down with a cloth to make her coat shiny. She picked out her hooves and sprayed her legs lightly with fly spray, smiling at the nice work she had done in only a few seconds. In a low but firm voice, she said, "Stay." Indie shook herself, as if complying with her owner's commands. Blair walked to where her tack was stored, bringing out her shiny black English saddle and a white schooling saddle pad. Thrown over her shoulder was a black bridle with a simply snaffle bit. She got to work on tacking Indie, finishing up quickly and buckling her simple, black helmet. She pulled her stirrups down, and placed one ratty old boot in her dull silver stirrup.

She swung herself up onto Indie's back, easing softly into the saddle as to not irritate the old mare's already sore back. She easily slid her foot into the perfect place in the other stirrup, practiced for years. All this only took her a few seconds, and before you could think, Indie trotted out of the barn, Blair's black ponytail bobbing up and down with the mare's leggy stride. A grin lit up her face and she laughed at her mare's eager actions.

The horse and rider rode easily down to the jumping ring, and Blair pulled Indie up at the gate, seeing the other horse and rider. She smiled to herself, catching the girl and her horse right before they started trotting. She watched as the pretty Arabian-blooded stallion flowed easily into a gorgeous canter that she could tell her senior mare envied. She kept smiling as the stallion and his mount flew over the first jump and onto the next one, laughing at the horse with the girl. She raised her pale hands and clapped. The sound of her hands was lonely, nearly echoing in the empty space.

Blair opened the gate, not bothering to close it after Indie was all the way in. Her mount was eager to jump, seeing the stallion and wanting to show off. She found her mind thinking back to the last time her mare had been in heat. She wondered if the mare was in heat that very moment, but pushed the thought away. Blair smiled at the girl, calling to her politely. "Mind if I ride?" Remembering her manners, she added, "Oh, hi. I'm Blair Aldridge, and this is Industrial Sunshine. Or Indie, as I call her." She patted the mare's neck.

OOC:// Waited a week? Wow... I didn't even wait that long when I posted last time... Anyway, if you see it, reply. If you don't, then ya don't have to. Duh.

[falconx]

Roxy concentrated completely on trying to get Dash over the jumps in a presentable way. The hard headed stallion was finally showing his true colors. She was beginning to think he was either a bully or stubborn as a mule, pretty sure it was the latter. Her hair flew out behind her from under her riding helmet as Dash gained unexpected speed. A frown creased her face as she tried to keep him under control. So much for a good workout. Tugging on the reins she told him to stop and underlined the message with her seat and legs.

Finally when he slowed down she gave him and pat and whispered to him. "Good boy" she murmured softly. With a horse like him your mind couldn't wander. Urging him into a canter she took off toward the next jump. Dash fought for his head the entire way. You'd think you were a race horse she muttered to herself. With a few things she quickly reminded him who was in charge before they met the jump. Her neatly tucked his forelegs beneath him and jumped cleanly over it.

At the sound of human hands clapping she slowed Dash to a brisk walk. Still pressing lightly with her legs so he didn't get lazy. She smiled toward the other girl and nodded not risking to take a hand of the reins and wave. She felt slightly embarrassed someone had been watching but quickly overcame it.

"Sure" Roxy responded to the girls question with a friendly inviting smile. "I'm Roxy" She said nodding and then motioned to her ebony mount "and this devil is Dash" She said with a small smirk. Her eyes studied the other girls mount. It was a habit of hers to always look at someone else's horse. "She's pretty" She told the other girl.

[mudfang]

BLAIR

i long for this mirrored perspective;

Blair smiled at the girl, rubbing Indie's neck softly when she tossed her head at Roxy's comment. She took in the stallion, Dash, apparently, appreciatively. "Thanks. Your horse isn't too bad himself." She chuckled slightly at the high strung Arabian stallion.

Indie threw her head in the air, prancing delicately in place, sending Blair bouncing in her saddle. Too avoid confrontation, the still smiling teen eased her mare into a soft, collected canter. She had already warmed up on the ride down, the old mare not needing a long warm-up in the hot weather. Blair applied slight pressure with her right leg, turning Indie sharply to the left when she nearly missed her turn. She straightened up, bracing herself and automatically locking her heels down and forward. Indie got the nearly perfect spot on the low, gray wall and gathered her legs beneath her. The mare sprung into the air, clearing the jump by a near foot. Blair smiled in triumph as her horse's shiny black hooves hit the ground softly and approached the next jump in a smooth but quick canter.

Blair eased her hands forward as her horse approached the next jump, nearly the same as the first but an oxer. Indie gathered herself, quickening her stride and making the distance in her striding. The big black warmblood lept into the air, soaring over it. Blair hadn't completely thought about that jump, not being completely there. Indie grazed the top pole with her front hoof, barely knocking it down. Blair muttered under her breath, but patted Indie's neck nonetheless. Indie slowed to a trot and then a fast walk, shaking her head as if she knew that she had made a mistake somewhere. Blair dismounted, dropping Indie's reins to the ground so she could set the pole back up.

[falconx]

"Yeah" She agreed chuckling "But don't tell him that." Reaching down with a smirk she patted her arabian stallions elegant neck. Glancing back up she gave Blair a lopsided grin.

The stallion snorted as the scent of the other girls mare entered his nostrils. Tossing his head he pranced in place with his neck arched, showing off for the mare. Bouncing up and down uncomfortably she took a snug hold on the stallions reins. Her mouth in a firm straight line as she concentrated trying to keep the stallion from doing anything stupid. Softly she spoke to Dash trying to get him to calm down. There was no way she was letting him anywhere near that mare. Though it was a shame she would've liked to have talked to Blair. Finally easing up on the pressure of his reins as Dash stopped prancing and started chomping on the bit, out of boredom.

Turning a ways in her saddle she situated herself so she could watch Blair and her mount. Her chocolate colored eyes studied there movement as they cantered around. She watched as the mare approached the jump and took off at the perfect time. She smiled as the mare cleared the wall easily. It was a nice mare she admitted easily. Her smile disappeared as the horse and its rider knocked a pole down. Still watching as Blair still reached down and praised her mare. A small smile appeared on Roxy's face. The mare had tried her best so it was good that her rider had praised her.

Looking away she focused on the jump she directed Dash towards. His ebony body moved in a canter, his ears pricked alertly as he spotted the jump. Pressing her legs she urged him over the jump. Grimacing as she realized her mistake. She had asked him to go to late. Jumping as he was told to he hoof knocked a rail but surprisingly it didn't fall.

[mudfang]

BLAIR

i long for this mirrored perspective;

Blair smiled again, taking in the girl's form and the way she moved her hands and legs. Over the years, Blair had taught herself how to look for flaws in people. She had gotten used to the competition world, not even looking for the traits that made people's riding -- and them -- great. Her big brown eyes took in the exact spot where the stallion's hooves left the ground at the first jump, the way Roxy's legs moved when he landed. She noticed his quick recovery and advance to the next jump. All of these things she took in in the back of her mind, not even noticing that she noticed it.

But, the one thing she noticed her mind absorbed was when Roxy asked her horse to leap too late. Again, subconsciously, she noticed when the pole was easily, but slightly, avoided. She nodded, impressed. And, being Blair, she gathered her reins, determined to show off in front of the rider and her gorgeous Arabian.

Blair only had to think 'canter' and Indie was off. Her stride was near perfect, a rocking gait that was all her own. Blair rode that stride easily, still unsure that she would ever be able to ride another horse's canter as well. When it came to getting Indie off the ground and back on safely, the teen had the process welded inside of her. The team approached the a slightly larger line on the other side of the ring, Indie gathering speed as she raced toward it. Blair didn't bother to slow her down - speed was Indie's method of riding. The mare took off at the base, launching her strong ebon body into the air. Blair didn't flinch as the horse's front hooves hit the sandy ground.

Big black boots released their slight hold on the mare's sides and Blair's pale hands pulled on the reins, making Indie's stride shorten and grow more collected as she turned a tight turn. The two were headed toward the line she had taken before Roxy, both determined to get it right that time. Blair let her hands relax, but the mare kept her close stride. The girl squeezed slightly at the base, like she had done before, and again, the mare flew over the jump. Indie's ears perked forward as she noticed the next jump. Her stride grew in determination, Blair not moving a muscle, knowing the mare could take that one by herself. To give the mare more concentration, she did a two-point in her saddle, standing up and bringing her legs out so less weight was on the horse. Indie snorted and slowed her stride right before the jump. She collected herself and leapt, clearing the jump by at least a foot. She hit the ground bucking playfully, Blair's ponytail bobbing up and down with the mare's cute kicking. She laughed, pulling on her mount's reins slightly to remind her of the intermediate rider she was carrying. Indie calmed down, her ears still forward and her heart beat a bit quicker than when she began. Blair patted her neck again.