SWNOVELS Chapter First Ride
Mr. Blair mounted Rejem while I walked around for a few laps, practicing halting Destiny. Sometimes she'd stop softly, and other times her hindquarters would step out to the side. I tried to memorize what those soft halts felt like, so I could replicate it again and again.
"Start turning her on a circle in each corner," called out Mr. Blair.
I nodded. When I reached the corner I began to turn her. Immediately Mr. Blair began calling out corrections. "Tilt your head to the outside. Your inside hand needs to go up and out."
I titled my head to outside as he said. But I was reluctant to raise my inside hand up and out as much as he wanted. I felt that if I did she'd fall in on the circle.
Mr. Blair seemed to sense my concern. "If you're worried about her falling in on the circle, deepen your inside leg and use you outside rein to tell her just how far you want her to bend. Match your shoulders to her shoulders and your hips to her hips."
By now it was time for another circle. It felt so wrong to lift that hand up and out. But I did, trusting that I could correct her if needed. And believe it or not, it worked. She did not fall in.
"Her hindquarters are beginning to stray out. Move your outside leg back a little," called out Mr. Blair.
I nodded. We went around the arena like this for two more laps, practicing circles. There always seemed to be something to improve. Destiny was good through all of it, doing all I asked when I needed her to.
Finally Mr. Blair said, "Change the rein and let her walk a lap on a loose rein, then try trotting her."
I turned Destiny and we walked across the diagonal. I let the reins out, letting her have her head. She walked along easily and I relaxed for a little bit. But not for long.
"So why do you think you struggled with the circles?" asked Mr. Blair. I turned to look at him at the sound of his voice and to my surprise, he was doing a leg yield on Rejem as he talked. I'd been so focused on Destiny I hadn't realized that he was working with Rejem the whole time.
I thought a moment. "I'm not sure. Maybe because..."
For a lap Mr. Blair and I talked about circles, then Mr. Blair reminded me that I was supposed to be trotting Destiny. I gathered up the reins.
"Ah, not so abruptly," he reprimanded. "Don't be hasty. See, you've surprised her. Don't make such a big deal out of it."
I felt a bit sheepish, but I did as he said.
When I had my reins in hand, I let her go through the corner before squeezing my legs and smooching to her. She took a few hasty walk steps than sprung into trot.
I posted with her, checking to make sure I was on the correct diagonal. She was fast.
"Slow your posting down. Sit longer in the saddle each beat," called Mr. Blair.
I did as he said and it helped a little. "That's better. Now ask for walk."
I did as he said. Destiny didn't come down to the walk as fast as I would have liked. But she did come down.
"Let's try a few walk to trot transitions," suggested Mr. Blair. "Alright," I replied.
I let her walk a few steps, then asked her to trot again. Once again she had to take a few hasty walk steps before springing into the trot. Her trot was fast and whizzy. I slowed my posting down, then asked for walk again.
We did this several times, before changing directions and doing it on the other rein. By the time Mr. Blair told me to give Destiny a walk break, both she and I had worked up a fair amount of sweat.
"We'll call that good for today," said Mr. Blair after I had walked several laps. "I want you to ride Rejem."
As I slid off he asked me what I thought of her.
I pondered for a moment. "I like her alright. She's level headed, not too spooky."
"Good." Mr. Blair dismounted from Rejem. "I'll take her."
I handed the reins to Mr. Blair and took Rejem's. I led him over the stump and mounted.
For the next half hour I worked on Rejem. I quickly found he was much more sensitive than Destiny. Every movement in my body mattered so much more. It was a challenge, but I did enjoy it in a odd, good way.