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 Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 12:57 pm
Ariel was pretty busy this morning. She received a call from the librarian she met before, he finally decided to try riding horse.
She was making preparation for everything.
Her mother left already with the second level groupe. So she went at the stables to prepare the horse, name Wabon, a full white horse. Pretty stong but really affective too.
She left a message at the equistrian entrance saying where customers could find her.
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Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 11:02 am
Sometimes Tony wondered why he put himself into potentially awkward and embarrassing situations on purpose, of his own free will. Perhaps it was in the way he was written, his DNA directing him to such situations, in some kind of cosmic joke for the stars to laugh at.
He didn't know, but he couldn't complain about it at the moment. Having stepped out of his car at a horse ranch, his mood had immediately improved. Horseback riding?
This was either going to be very fun, or very painful. Or a mix of both.
He was directed toward the stable when he entered the center, nodding his head and thanking the worker who had let him know. He poked his head into the stable, his chest tightening in boyish glee when he saw the horses. Animals he had always loved, but had never really seen in person, let along tried to ride. He spotted Ariel soon enough, grinning as he walked up.
"Hello!" He said, keeping his voice down because he didn't want to scare anything and get kicked in the face.
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Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 11:10 am
Ariel just finished to put the saddle to her own horse when she heard a voice.
"Oh mister Darrow, happy to see you there" she said smiling and walking toward the man to shake hands.
She was wearing a blue jean with a black pullover. The weather was not too cold but still winter.
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Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 11:20 am
Tony offered her a smile, shaking her hand, but was clearly distracted by the horses.
"They're rather big, aren't they?" he said, of the horses, shaking his head. "I mean, that makes sense, because, you know. They have to... carry people and things but... uh. Still. Intimidating." He cleared his throat, watching the nearest animal before he looked at Ariel and offered her a sheepish smile.
"Uhm, sorry. How are you doing? I'm a little... out of my element here." It was his explanation for not saying a proper hello to her when they shook hands, his mind wandering all over the place, or at least all over the stable. He couldn't help his excitement. It was very silly, he admitted to himself, but he knew his interest in riding a horse was tied to the old stories he read, or used to read, of Camelot and knights.
He was wearing his usual work clothes, hoping they would suffice for horseback riding. It wasn't like he had anything better in his closet, and since these did a good enough job for him at work, he imagined they would be fine now.
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Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 11:40 am
Ariel looked back at the horse amused. Majority of people had the same reaction when they saw horses closely for the first time. Something like it was bigger than they thought. For her it was normal, she grew up with majority of them so she didn't really mind.
"No problem.They are big but they are as nice as dogs. And I am fine thank you. And you ?" she said while walking back toward the two horses waiting at the stable. The white one for Mister Darrow, the cream colored mare for herself.
She planned to do horse riding from the start but she guessed it would be better to start with bases.
"Come here Mister Darrow, I will introduce you your patner for today".
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Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 11:53 am
"Oh, I'm doing well, thanks," he said, sounding distracted. He was watching the horses, not scared of them, per se, though he half expected one to turn into a demon or something. It wouldn't be unfitting, considering the city they lived in.
In fact, it would probably be strange if it didn't happen.
"Nice as dogs, huh? I have a little puppy, and she's... exuberant. I'd be rather surprised if a horse this size tried to lick my face, however." He chuckled, moving toward the horses that seemed to be waiting.Glancing at Ariel, he took a breath and cleared his throat before drawing nearer to the horse.
He stopped short of the white one, just looking at the beast in wonder.
"What's his name? Is he... ah... nice? I have a feeling I'm going to spend more time flying through the air after being thrown off him than actually riding..."
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Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 2:59 pm
Ariel laughed. "Oh they lick your face sometimes, and it is worse than dogs actually".
While Anthony was speaking she took all the material, like riding hat and put it aside.
They will start slowly. "His name is Wabon, and he is pretty nice. He never made anyone fly until now" she winked.
Then take Anthony's hand and took him near the horse.
"Ok let's start the lesson, first meeting. Introduce yourself and let him... well smell you by putting your hand in front of his nose. And don't worry he doesn't bite".
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Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 8:49 pm
"A horse will lick your face? It's bad enough with Dogby... and she's rather small. I can't imagine what a horse like that might do." He laughed, shaking his head at the idea. That was something he was going to have to avoid.
He did not want to be licked by a horse.
He laughed nervously when she said the horse had never thrown anyone, wondering if it would test fate to be so sure.
"Uhh..." he let her guide him, reaching his hand out and shaking a bit, "hello there, uhm... Wabon. You're a good horse, huh? I hope you are, anyway." He laughed, holding his hand out in front of the horse's nose and then glancing at Ariel nervously.
"He's a handsome horse," he commented, trying to look more at ease than he felt. She probably taught small children how to ride horses: he was just embarrassing himself.
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Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 9:46 am
The young girl smiled. "I know it look stupid to talk with them but actually I think it is really important because they are smart animals" she said while stroking the horse flank.
"And like you don't enter people house without introducing right ? Then it is the same, because you will go on their back, it is like entering their private space don't you think" she winked.
Then she took her horse saddles and put Wabon saddles on Anthony's hand.
"Let's start" Ariel said with a cheerful voice. Here was the best part.
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Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 7:13 pm
"No, no," Tony said, shaking his head quickly. "It's not stupid at all. I have a dog and I talk to her all the time. Mostly me mumbling, really, but she doesn't need to know that. Ah. Not that she would since... since she's a dog."
He frowned, realizing he was sounding silly now.
Shaking his head, he looked at the horse again, still holding his hand up carefully. "Anyway, I don't think it's stupid. They can tell when you're nervous or upset, and your voice is useful. I wouldn't want to be rude and not introduce myself to this horse properly. Particularly if I'm going to be climbing on its back and making it carry me around for a bit."
He laughed at that, shaking his head slowly.
When she gave him the saddle he looked at her helplessly, like she had handed him a thousand piece puzzle with no picture and told him to have get it together.
"You want me to put this on the horse?" Stupid question, of course, where else would it go? He moved to the horse, trying to make sure the saddle was facing the right way and figure out how to put it on. It didn't help that he was treating the horse like it was made out of glass.
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Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 10:59 am
Ariel was guiding Anthony to put the saddle on the horse, it was not difficult and he managed to do it really well. Lucky for him Wabon was patient and because she already put Fallon's one on her, he could take example.
When everything was done they were ready to start the ride.
"Let's go over there" she said point a little field, where horse will walked in cercle.
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Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 1:34 pm
Tony felt a strange sense of accomplishment after the saddle was secure. Though how hard was it really to put something built for a certain place onto that place and strap it down so it didn't fall off? At least the horse hadn't taken offense to it. He hadn't pinched any of the animal's fur, or anything like that. Or if he had, Wabon had the decency not to make him feel bad about it.
Tony looked at her, then toward where she was pointing.
"Ah, alright," he said, accomplishment slipping away once more. He felt uncomfortable, nervous. They had moved on to the next step in the process, the next chance for him to embarrass himself like a moron or get himself hurt. Despite feeling that way, though, he followed her. He always did. He was trying harder to not let his feelings of doubt in himself to get in the way any more.
Once they were out with the other horses, he looked around, imagining he knew what was coming next. Slow and steady.
"Ah, so... I should probably... get on the horse then..." he said, looking at the animal and swallowing hard.
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Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 5:29 am
Ariel guided them toward the field, looking back sometimes to see if Anthony was following with Wabon, but there was no problem, she even wondered who was leading. Because Wabon knew the way really well and she could see Anthony was a little stressed.
But it was the same for everyone on the first time. Nothing to worry about, it was just normal when you were side by side with big animals.
She attached the rope of Fallon's saddle at the fence and then went at Anthony' side.
She laughed at his reaction. "Not so fast mister Darrow" she said with a reassuring smile. "First you need to be use at the horse walking pace and more to be sure to be ok with Wabon." she paused.
"You will walked around this field twice with just him, Try to have confidence in him and if you can see how he walked, it may help you later when you will be on his back. So you can understand maybe why he is slow or why he walks faster".
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Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 11:14 am
Tony watched her, looking confused, then looked at Wabon. He sighed and nodded, patting the horse carefully.
"Let's go and walk, then."
He felt a bit silly, but he supposed everyone did. He took a breath and tried to seem calm. In control. Confident, as directed. As he and the horse walk, he began to think that it wasn't so bad. Wabon was a calm horse, or was while they walked, and didn't seem too put off by Tony.
"You must deal with this all the time, huh?" he asked the horse. By the time they completed the second circle, he looked at Ariel, smiling. He was relaxed now, and looking forward to things rather than being anxious.
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Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 11:37 pm
Ariel looked at them with teacher eyes. She knew probably somewhere else people just arrived and started riding right away, but she preferred this way, for her horses were really important too so was communication between the rider and the horse.
"Perfect" she said when they come back.
"Now Mister Darrow, let's go on ride" she offered him a riding hat, and touching Wabon noise while whispering on his ears to make him understand it was time too.
The horse strengthened his legs on the ground to be sure to be stable when the man will come on his back. It was quite amusing to see how he would understand.
Ariel will help Anthony to go on the horse's back first.
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