Jace and Pride's New Home

It was time to move again. Also time for new competitions. Excitement ran through Jace but he didn't want to loose his friends. He walked over to Pride's stall "Time to move again boy. Come on, let's get you in the float" He grabbed Pride's halter that was hanging near his stall and slipped it onto Pride's head. He clipped the lead rope on and walked Pride out of the stall. The float was waiting for them. It was ready for Pride. Jace gave his stallion a pat on the muzzle and led him into the float. "Be good boy, the trip won't be long" He closed the float and jumped in the forward drive. There was a truck following them. He closed his eyes as they drove to the new stables. What would they be like? Would the people at the new stables be kind? He knew one thing for sure, he would miss everyone at their old stables.

Post when I get home, Luffs you}}}

Leah was up early, checking the list in the office she remembered about the person coming, she pulled out the plaque she had made for the stable that would be used. It looked just like the rest, gold plaque with black writing on the front, it read 'Pride'. She smiled to herself and took it with her as she prepared the stall for the new arrival. She cleaned it then filled the water bucket, finally, she placed the plague on the front of the door. "Ok, time to ride" She said, dusting her heads together. In her tack room, various bridles, saddles, rugs, halters and lead ropes hung on the walls. Grabbing the tack she needed so headed back to find Sniper looking out the stable door, curious, his ears pointed straight at her. "He beautiful" She said rubbing his nose with the one free hand she had. Once she had checked over the tack she mounted and headed upto the jumping arena, from there, she could see the carpark and the south paddock

They had been driving for a few hours, when Jace noticed the horse riding stables up a head. A smile came across his face. Finally He thought. "We're nearly there Pride" He called out. He heard a small whinny come from the float and laughed. The stables looked huge. He could see people riding in the arenas and paddocks next to the stables. There was a car parking place too. They turned into the drive and headed up to the car park. As soon as the car pulled to a stop, Jace jumped out and stretched his legs. As he walked to the back off the float, he lightly tapped along the float to tell Pride that he was going to open it. When he got to the back, he unlatched the hooks and pulled the door down. Pride was watching him with loving eyes. Jace patted his rump and moved into the float to untie him. "Back out boy" Jace murmured softly and Pride backed out of the float. Once Pride got out he reared and looked at Jace. He grabbed the lead rope and walked Pride in a few circles. "You still look good boy" He mentioned.

Leah warmed up Sniper and started Jumping him. With a steady pace, on the correct canter lead she turned him towards the first jump, Sniper remained on the bit and collected. He lifted and placed his feet perfectly, and Leah rose out of the saddle and came down gently. The jumps weren't that big, but big ebough for now. She patted his neck and headed towards the next fence, all well and ready.

Jace noticed one person in the jumping arena. She was good. The jumps weren't that high though. He look at Pride and thought about the Olympics. They had competed in them and came first. Pride had an unbeaten record. They were the best of the best. He smiled at the thought of being in the Olympics again, the crowd cheering them on. Pride broke him out of his reverie. "Let's get you settled in boy" Jace told Pride and started walking him to the stables.

Leah slowed Sniper after the last jump and headed over to the fence, she smiled "I'll come down to show you everything in a minute" She said. Little pressure on his sides, Sniper moved into an active walk towards the gate. Leah leaned down unlatching it, Sniper gave it a little push with his nose and the gate swung open. "Good boy, too smart you are" She laughed softly and patted his neck. They walked down to the stables and waited for the new person to bring their horse around.

Jace nodded at the girl on the horse. Pride pricked his ears with curiosity at the other horse. He nickered softly and shook his head. Jace put his hand out to stroke Pride's neck "Be good boy" He muttered to the stallion. He led the stallion to the entrance of the stables and found the same girl waiting for them there. He waited to be shown where his horses stall was.

Leah turned to face him "Ok. Pride's stall" She paused to look at Jace "Er. . Is down the end, it has Pride's name on it" She looked away as she felt her face burning. She dismounted and ground-tied Sniper, "Stay" She told him then motioned for Jace to follow her. "I'm Leah, by the way" She smiled, then looked at Sniper, who had his neck stretched out as far as it would go without taking a step forward, trying to sniff Pride.

Pride tried to step closer to Sniper but Jace stopped him. Jace didn't like it when Pride was distracted. He followed Leah down the rows of stalls. "I'm Jace" He said simply and didn't ask anything else. He didn't normally get involved with anyone. People normally thought he was cold hearted, not letting anyone be in his life. The last stable was his true home. He didn't want to move. Pride looked back at Sniper and nickered out. Jace tugged on the lead rope to get him to look away "Stop it" He said in a rough voice.

Leah nodded "Nice to meet you" she said and walked on, down the row of double sided stable suntiol she came to the one for Pride. "Ok, here it is" She pointed at it quickly, "I've mucked it out and there is fresh water, also Pride's name on the plaque here" She thought for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "I'll show you where the tack room is and where the feed is stored, also Pride's paddock" She smiled and opened the stable door for Jace to lead Pride in.

Jace nodded at Leah. He led Pride into the stall and unclipped the lead rope. He patted the stallions neck and fed him an apple quarter. "Be good" He told the stallion and headed out of the stall. He closed the stall door and waited to follow Leah. He realised he hadn't said thanks "Thanks" He murmured to her.

Leah smiled and nodded, "That's ok, we want people to feel happy and well looked after here" She looked over at Pride, "His gorgeous" She said still looking at the stallion. Sniper let out a whinny and pawed the ground, Leah laughed, "Not you, Sniper, but your gorgeous too boy" Sniper snorted and shook his head, unimpressed, Leah laughed softly again then turned to Jace. "Ok, follow me, I'll show you the feed and tack room"

Jace smiled and looked at Pride "Yes he is" He gave Pride one last pet on the head and followed Leah. Looking back he saw Pride stick his head over the stall door and watch him. He didn't take his eyes off him.

Leah nodded and continued to walk around the huge stables until she was standing outside the tack and feed room. "Ok, here is where you can store tack and feed" she paused for a second. "Feed buckets are next to the grains and there is a cold and hot water source around there" She pointed around the side of the feed room. "There is also a wash bay" Pointing to her right "Just over there, warm and cold water" She looked at Jace and smiled then turned back to the feed room. "You can write up the feeds you need for Pride up on the white board and that will get ordered for you"

Jace listened to Leah and nodded when he had to. He looked back down the row to see Pride still looking at him. He smiled and Pride whinnied out. Jace chuckled under his breath so Leah couldn't hear. He smiled at Leah once she stopped talking "Oh, I get the food for Pride off a person we know. It's cheaper that way so it won't matter about writing up what I need" He told her in a kind voice. He didn't want to sound rude either.

Leah smiled, "That's fine then" She closed the feed room door and turned back to Jace, "Ok, I'll show you where Pride's paddock is" She started walking towards the door that lead out to the centre of the equestrian centre, she glanced at Jace, then Sniper, who still stood where she had told him to stay, ears pointed, stopping she called him over "Sniper" She said once and her stallion walked over to her, blinking.
{I won't be on HI for a while, sorry}

Jace nodded and followed her out. He saw Sniper standing there and smiled. He looked towards Leah still smiling to see her calling Sniper's name. After she called it he came walking over. Jace looked towards where he had put Pride. He couldn't wait until he could ride him. Get out to go around the jumps.

Leah smiled at patted Sniper's neck then lifted his reins over his head. She held them with one had and then looked at Jace, "Ok, just down there" She turned to her right and pointed, "down there and the second paddock is Pride's, it has a shelter and a water trough." She paused for a minute, thinking, "Also" She looked back at Jace,"The arena's are down there and over there is the spell paddock" She smiled "And that's about it, if you need anything don't hesitate to ask"

Jace nodded and walked back into the stables to get Pride ready. He realised Pride didn't have his head out the door. He whistled out to Pride like he normally did and Pride came trotting to the stable door and whinnied out. Jace grabbed his tack and unlatched the stall door, making it swing open. Pride stood there waiting for Jace to say he could come out. When Jace returned with the tack he moved his hand to command Pride to come out. Pride walked out to stop in front of Jace and lowered his head for the bridle. Jace patted his neck and gave the bit to the bridle to Pride. When Pride accepted he slid the bridle over his ears. Next he put the saddle on and tightened the girth. Pride was being very good today. He pulled the reins over Pride's head and tied them lose around his neck. Jace started to walk to the arena with pride following behind him.

Leah smiled to herself and patted Sniper, who nuzzled her gently. "Come on boy, lets go jump" She lead him over towards the indoor jumping arena. She pushed open the door and walked in, looking around. "Stay" She said, lifting the reins over Snipers head and patting his velvet like nose. She smiled and started to raise all the jump, now, they were high. Some spreads, some water and others straight. she looked over the course and walked in twice, checking everything. Leah dusted her hands and walked over to Sniper, "Hey pretty boy" she said grabbing hold of the reins. She mounted and applied slight pressure with her legs, Sniper responded by moving into a swift trot then steady canter. She circled him a few times to warm up, then truned towards the first jump.

Jace saw Leah in the jumping arena with Sniper. He gave a sign to Pride to halt. He untied the reins from around the stallions beautiful neck. Patting the stallion neck he murmured "We're going in there" Pointing to the jumping arena. Jace mounted Pride and put pressure on his side. Pride started the walk in a proper fashion with Jace on his back. The stallion wasn't being lazy anymore. With more pressure but on his sides, Pride moved into a graceful trot the was smooth. Jace loved how his horse responded. They entered the jumping arena to see the jumps were high but they could glide over them. The boy put more pressure on the stallions side to ask for a canter. Pride moved into a canter straight away. The stallion moved around the outside of the arena so they wouldn't be in the way of Leah. Jace watched her with curious eyes. He guessed that she hasn't been in the Olympics like he has. The boy waited for her to finnish.

Leah smiled at Jace then turned her attention back to the jumps. Sniper stayed collected and on the bit as Leah used her leg aid and reins to turn him towards the first jump. Sniper stayed relaxed and calm as he cantered towards the jump. Leah applied pressure just before the jump to help Sniper. She rose out of the saddle at the right moment and looked towards the next jump. Sniper cleared the jump and landed on the correct canter lead.

Pride was getting restless as they waited to jump. He jigged on the spot. Jace tightened his grip on the stallions reins. He didn't want Pride to gallop off over a jump and hurt himself. Pride settled down soon after the reins tightened. The boy watched as Leah jumped over the jumps. She wasn't perfect but she wasn't too bad either. He was smiling slightly. Jace loosened the reins on Pride.

Leah and Sniper completed the course with no rails down. She smiled and patted Sniper's neck, "Good boy" Appling light pressure on the reins Sniper slowed to a trot and then a fluid walk, picking his feet and placing them carefully. She praised him once again before halting him and dismounting next to the gate. She lent against it and walked Jace and Pride as they began the course.