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"Exactly. And nothing can kill a horse or a racing career faster than letting her run and riding like that. Dismount off." Getting down off of Jin he took hold of both sets of reins and lead the horses over to a pool of water nearby to let them drink. Digging back to Zykariel he pulled out a rectangle of something or other and sliced off a square, handing it to Zykariel. "Give that too her, it'll make her feel better faster." Regarding the boy for a moment. "It's not hard, it's all a matter of learning how to do it right. Most riders these days think that it doesnt work and that the position is too hard to hold, to unreliable...but that's because you all set your saddles wrong."

Pulling Jin away from the water as he finished, seeing as he didn't want to stress Zyakriel's mare with practice. Let her rest more. A pat at the saddle that spoke of old dreams and glory. "Hop on up. Slip your feet into the sturrips. It's going to feel uncomfortable at first so just lean back in the saddle some and we'll go from there. I may have to adjust the sturrips anyway." The boy was shorter than him after all.

"You're supposed to feel that way. That position isn't about riding, it's about racing. And trust me you won't fall." Adjusting stirrups for the boy's difference in height which forced his knees up some more to be in proper positioning. A little look over to Destyny though. "She angry?" Checking over the boy's positioning once more he stood back. "Your feet being so anchored you won't fall out. Now take hold of the rein and I want you to roll your weight forward to your knees and ankles as if you were crouching on the stirrups. Try to keep up off the saddle. Doesn't have to be very far."

The movements were always clumsy at first, that was just how it was...the body had to get used to how to handle the weight like that. Putting a hand on the boy's back he shifted him forward some more as his other hand pulled the boy's ankle backward, knowing he'd adjust the other foot the same way. "More weight into your knees and push your feet more. They'll naturally push backwards and line up with your knees. Thus the weight is carried down to be supported more on the saddle. Your chest is closer to the horse. I know it feel funny but you get used to it. This lets your horse move more feely...your weight is centered behind the forelegs and before the backlegs and thus all stressed there are freed up, your horse can move its legs faster, get more speed. Not sitting on them lets them breathe better. Also as the horse's body moves, you'll find that his motion is going to boost you up as well as you have help keeping that position."

Clearing his throat. "Now, reins. Pulling more through Zykariels' hands till Jin's reins were almost pulled taunt but there was enough slack to let him have his head at least halfway. "If you let them have their head all the way they forget they're in a race. To them it's about leading the pack...and leading the pack rather than being lead horse in a race are different. But you don't want to hold their head too much...this distance worked well for me. It let Jin know that I wasn't going to be a slave driver but that I'm right there with him to help him know if he needed to make slight adjustments." Whistling so Destyny would be intrigued to come over. "Think she'd handle that?"

“Exactly, which is why we have to watch them.” Watching Destyny come over and chuckling as how Jin was trying to process things. Ears twitching to the mare as she was seemingly messing with him…though the stallion’s ears flatted back and he gave a disgruntled noise and snap back at her when she got uppity for whatever reason. Don’t you get like that with me.

“Okay…let’s play nice horsies.” Walking up to Destyny in careful and clearly unthreatening manner he slowly adjusted her own tack so that Zykariel would be sitting properly and would be able to shift properly. “Okay Zykariel, come get on Destyny so she can feel what that shifting it like and how her movements are going to be different.

He was quick to take his hands off at her anger. "It's okay girl, I'm trying to help you look even better when you and Zykariel win races." Walking back over to Jin and mounting up on the horse with a scratch between his ears to calm him as well. "Once she relaxes and notes how your weight change makes it easier for her to move because you're not weighing down her legs anymore she'll snap right to knowing what it's all about. Let's give it a try. Keep seated for a bit and let her walk, let your knees adjust some...then I want you to trot her some in that same position. Shift your weight while doing that and she'll notice the ease of movement for her. She'll probably spook a little but just remember your reins. When you feel she's comforable, send her into a gallop." Clicking his tongue at Jin to get him going at a brisk pace. "Come along."

He pulled Jin to a stop and dismounted, walking over to Zykariel as Jin trotted in tow, flattening his ears again at the mare. What are you scared for?

Looking down at the boy he tilted his head. "Yeah...it is easier to get tossed off but that's a small price I think for the advantage." Reaching down and grabbing his hand, pulling him up off the ground and steadying him to make sure he had his balance. "There's really no other way to get her used to it other than training it into her. Sure you take your weight off of her but at the same time she thinks its you're falling too. I can let you practice your shifiting on Jin, but that won't help her."

Because you've been riding the heavy way. If you thought about it you'd learn to like it. Snorting and stamping a hoof, calming as Nadai came back to him as Zykariel tried to test his luck more.

Mounting up again, he followed along. "There you go, just make sure that she knows that you know what you're doing and you're not just being crazy. Once she gets a hang of all that you're going to have to learn jumping and such other things in that riding position." Though that was going to be a problem as he got a worried nicker from Jin, whom he just petted in reassurance. He wouldn't make him do jumps. "Get her into a gallop and keep your weight on her...then shift and let her see her pick up in speed."

He snickered and gave a laugh as the mare seemed to get it this time around and seemed quite happy about it as well. "You see how she understands that takes the weight off of her? Easier on her, easier on you...but maybe not so much on your knees and ankles but you get used to that. "Come on now, let's keep up the practice till we get down to the coast. They can get another drink and they'll I'll see what else you may fine valuable in my dusty old words."