Riding air {OPEN}

[Jasper Greene]

The air cold and a distinct bite to it. Most horses were snug in their stalls with winter blankets on, but today a lone rider appeared in the outdoor arena. The gray stallion tossed his head, and danced sideways. Playing with the bit as he went. The rider dismounted to set up the jumps at the usual height, between 4 and 5ft.

The reason that Jasper decided to work in the outdoor arena today, was the just the fact that inside nature is blocked off from view, the air is musty and nothing disturbs you. Outside, he felt as if he could fly, soar with the migrating birds. And also he needed to think, think about his future, and remember his past. He had so much to atone for, so much that he still needed to explain, and so many needed to forgive him.

Jasper knew that he had to return home sometime. It was his first true training session at Pinewood and he was eager to get going. Jesse bumped his shoulder with his muzzle, and Jasper came back to reality with a hard bump. "Sorry boy, I know you are eager to expend all your extra energy," he told the horse. He checked the girth and made sure that his stirrups were the right length. He swung up in the saddle with an elegant grace, that few managed.

Even though winter was nearly at an end, and the signs of Spring were just bursting to come out and make their presence known, Jasper wanted winter to carry on. Jesse was ready to run, to just let rip. Jasper forced him into to trot on a long rein to just warm up. Instead of just warming up, jumping, slow gallop, like always, Jasper made Bob work on his transitions. Walk, trot, walk. Medium walk, extended trot, medium walk. And then the trot and canter transitions. Next came half passes, and lateral work. By the end of an hour, Jesse was huffing, his breath came out in steam clouds.

Jasper patted the horse and allowed him to walk a bit. Picking up a trot again, he did one circuit of the arena and then went into a collected canter. Jasper aimed for the first jump, and he felt so free as he felt how gravity left him. They were the perfect pair, Jasper and Jesse, and none changed that.

.

[Leila Rodriguez]

there's more to me

[/size][/color]
than meets the eye[/center]

Ahh, the fresh, crisp air that was the genuine characteristic of a classic winter morning. Sure, it was cold and bitter, and it nipped at any warm flesh that lay exposed and uncovered, but it was far better than being cooped up inside. Unfortunately, that's what Leila had found herself doing a lot of, lately. No doubt about it, she hated the cold by habit, having been raised in a city that was usually dry and hot, situated by the coast. She'd found it easier to snuggle up inside of her new home, rather than brave the outdoors that could only remind of how far from home she truly was.
Trees? Grass? Pfft, when did she sign up for a camping trip? Sure, she couldn't bring herself to hate it--the environment of this small little town had a quaint, close-knit feeling that was hardly impossible to come by in her old city. Its crime rate was probably far lower, too.
After spending days cooped up inside, talking and texting like a maniac and moping around, she'd come to the decision that enough was enough. If she saw the interior of another room she'd have to break from her usual stone-like expression to scream. The feeling of being outside felt so much better, so much freer, despite the fact that the bitter cold was still nipping, almost as if wishing to chase the upcoming spring away.
Leila slowly descended from the main stable building, a mitted hand firmly holding on to the reins that served as a lead for the golden-colored horse that followed closely behind her. His name was Lightning, mostly given due to the slight shimmer that could be seen from his coat--the characteristic of a present 'champagne' gene.
The quarter horse gave a flick of his tail, nudging her with slight attitude almost as if to tell her to pick up her pace. He was bored of walking, he wanted to get to the jumping--or the running. The stallion sure loved pulling tricks on anyone that came past him, whether it be stealing a glove or a sweater, or taking off at a random gallop.
"Alright, alright.." She said, speeding up slightly before finally reaching the gate. There was another rider already there--would she interfere? She could only hope not. She was pretty new to the customs here, was there a limit to how many riders and horses could be in an arena at one time? Not a single thought or clue related to her questions seemed to cross her mind, there wasn't a sign or anything that she'd passed by.. Hopefully, nothing would be wrong with her arrival there. If there was, she'd probably just end up going to the pasture instead.
Black-gloved hands opened the gate to the arena slowly, hardly having to give the stallion a sign before he shoved his way past her, coming to a stop and looking over his shoulder as if demanding her to get on with the show.
Leila gave a soft laugh, being somewhat entertained by how he seemed to be so eager to go about the jumps. She was partially concerned that if she didn't get on fast enough, he'd simply go on without her and jump on his own. However, that'd have to wait until she made sure that it was okay with the other rider. She wasn't sure of how he'd react to it, maybe his horse worked better when they were alone, without the possible interference of another?
She took the reigns of the stallion once again, holding on firmly so that the point got across that he'd have to wait a few more seconds--and he confirmed the aknowledgement by giving a reluctant snort.
"Don't worry, this won't take long.." she whispered, stroking the horse's neck softly before turning her attention to the other rider and his horse, following their movements with her gaze. It didn't take her a second look to realize that they were almost a perfect match, their movements were streamlined--like the sight of a bird taking off into the sky.
"Hey, mind if we join you?" She called out, giving a slight wave in hopes that he'd notice their presence without too much of a startle. Her voice was soft, yet solid enough to echo across the eerie silence of the otherwise empty arena.

[/color][/blockquote][/font][/size]

[Jasper Greene]

Jasper let the horse work long and low for a while. There were some issues that still needed to worked out at his walk. Like long, and didn't mean stick your nose into the air so that it touches the sky. "Down boy, down,"he kept repeating until Jesse realized that the pressure will be released if he kept his head down. "Good boy,"he praised, and patted the grey's shoulder. Jasper started collecting Jesse at a walk, bringing the horse's hindquarters underneath him and shortening Jesse's stride. Just then he heard someone call,"Hey, mind if we join you?" Jasper turned in the saddle to see who had called him. "Oh heya. No sure come on in." Just then Jesse decided to act all territorial and nearly unseated Jasper. "Easy boy, calm down,"he soothed the horse. Jasper just then noticed that the girl was leading in a stallion. It wasn't going to end well. "I think just for safety sake we should work at opposite ends of the arena, otherwise one of us is going to end up in the hospital,"he told the girl, "I'm Jasper, by the way."

Jasper moved away from the girl and restarted the whole process of getting Jesse long and low. This time the only difference was that Jesse was coated a sheen of sweat. The steel gray Warmblood was almost black. Again Jasper, started collecting the beautiful horse. Jesse responded instantly. "Well done boy,"rewarding the horse with a pat. Jasper pushed him into a trot. Jesse was collected and balanced, and moved with an easy grace. Jasper was very proud of his horse. He then asked Jesse to extend the trot. Jesse had some trouble with it, so Jasper did it in steps, first one or two strides at extended, then back to a medium trot. So it when on until Jesse could do an extended trot that lasted halfway down the arena.

Jasper allowed the horse a breather, and watched the girl and her stallion.