Jase's Tryout
I took a deep breath and rubbed my hands together. Today was the big day. Team tryouts.
I took a quick shower, and left my hair a sexy-messy look, before dressing in black full breeches, black field books, and a sky blue v-neck tucked into my riding belt.
I strapped on my thick brown leather wristband and headed out the door.
Once I was back at the beautiful stable, an hour or so earlier than my try outs time.
I quickly cleaned my all purpose English tack, before setting it on Blaze's stall door, deciding to tack him up in his stall today.
Blaze nickered when I walked by.
Grinning, I rubbed his nose, and let myself into his stall.
I grabbed his nicest halter, a dark oil leather halter with gold clips, and name plate that read
Crossfire in cursive.
Yes, the halter was beautiful. It was perfect for the liver chestnut gelding.
I took my time grooming the spotless, nearly 17 hand thoroughbred, talking to him.
"Today is a big day, so be on your best behavior." I told him, and reached down to pick his hoof.
But it was too late. Blaze reached over and nipped my but.
I stood up straight, and horse was looking out the window to go outside, as if
he didn't do it, or he was about to bolt out to his paddock.
"Don't you dare!" I told the gelding, and quickly reached for his halter; it was too late. The gelding turned and bolted outside.
I ran outside, and grabbed the gelding before he could roll.
"NO." I scolded, and flicked his lip. Blaze hated that, and threw his head.
I shook mine, and lead hm inside, where I finally put a black lead rope on his halter, and ground tied him. He was very good when it came to ground tying.
I picked his hooves, and checked my iPhone.
Twenty minutes to tack up, and warm up.
"Crap." I whispered, and set the iPhone inside my tack box.
I quickly tacked up, making sure everything was even (appearance is everything) and slid the snaffle bit into Blaze's mouth, after taking off his halter.
I set my stuff back where it belongs, and lead Blaze to the outdoor, sand arena.
Blaze halter, and I let down my stirrups, and unclasped my helmet from the saddle, strapping it on my head before mounted the tall gelding.
I let blaze walk, and after two rounds around the arena, I trotted the gelding, bouncing lightly in the saddle.
After that I let him into a nice, easy canter, and sate deep in my saddle to tell him whoa.
I patted Blaze's neck, told him to back, and cantered from halt.
The gelding threw his head, and I yanked a rein to tell him to stop.
Blaze understood the command, and we loped around the arena a few times, and I watched two grooms I didn't recognize set up three standards, a double oxer, with flower boxes on either sides, and then a ditch in the middle of the arena.
I took a deep breathe estimating the height to be around 3'3-3'6.
I took a deep breath when the grooms left, and Mr.Pete walked him.
I walked Blaze, and halted him in front of the riding instructor.
"Good morning Mr.Gold." Mr. Pete was writing something on a clipboard, and didn't look at me, until he realized I didn't respond.
"Good morning Mr.Pete." I said finally, and with confidence when he looked at me.
He made eye contact with me, putting the clipboard to the side.
"We will begin by doing two figure eights at the trot, Halt in the middle in front of me, so I may give you further instructions."
I nodded.
"You may begin," Mr. Pete said, and took a step backwards.
I decided to start with the left side, and Told Blaze to trot.
The gelding decided an extended trot was best, but I held him back, tucking his head.
My thoroughbred trotted more slowly, and I gave him more rein, but made sure Blaze still tucked his head.
I posted, but sat two beats in the middle when we passed Mr.Pete. I made sure to put right leg on Blaze, pushing him over so we didn't come too close to Mr.Pete.
I dropped my heels, and started posting again, turning him in a wide crescent, around all the jumps, and when I looked at Mr.Pete to direct Blaze, he was writing something on his clipboard.
I got a little nervous, though my body language was calm except my slightly sweaty hands.
I groaned in my head, i forgot my gloves! how could I forget my gloves!?
I focused back on my riding, and put left leg on Blaze when we passed Mr.Pete.
I sat two beats again, right in the middle.
I posted lightly, and when we came to the middle again, I halted my thoroughbred.
"Okay," Mr.Pete said.
Okay. That's all???
"Jumping is next-" Mr. Pete directed the course to me, telling me strides, and statistics to follow through with.
I waited, and nodded, wondering what team I would be placed on.
After he stopped talking, we made eye contact.
"You may begin at the starting line," Mr. Pete said.
I nodded, and walked Blaze to what Mr.Pete called the starting line.
Mr. Pete blew the whistle.
I cantered Blaze forward, and rose to two point. Blaze took off perfectly over the standard, and popped over second.
I loved jumping. It gave me a seance of freedom.
That same freedom rose with Blaze's hooves as we lifted over the last standard.
I turned blaze in a tight circle, and headed for the double oxer with guiding flower boxes.
Blaze eyed the flower boxes, but otherwise ignored them.
We soared over the jump, and I forgot to breathe. It was an amazing, death defying moment.
I grinned as we landed. A ditch was up ahead.
Blaze loved cross country, so the ditch didn't faze him, though we over jumped it by an inch maybe. I cantered Blaze two strides before transitioning down to a walk.
I halted in front of Mr.Pete.
Mr. Pete smiled.
"You may be dismissed," He walked out of the arena.
I grinned and hopped down from my gelding.
"Yes! Good boy, Blaze!" I said with a laugh.
Blaze sneezed, and I jumped back so that he wouldn't cover me with horse boogers.
Blaze was lathered with sweat, and I took his saddle off.
I put it on the rail and jumped back onto the horse.
I walked him around to cool him off.
