Dawn At The Stables

(rp with Lilly)

With his hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket, Matt made his way over to the stables. The sky was streaked with orange and red as the sun peered over the distant horizon. High in the sky, night still lingered and a few brave stars still glowed. It was ridiculously early, but Matt always got the stables at dawn. There were less people around and everything was so much quieter. He sighed to himself as he reached the stable doors and pulled them slightly open. As he stepped inside a choir of whinnies greeted him, heads of all different shapes, sizes and colours poking out from their stalls, eyes wide and ears pricked. But Matt walked straight past them all to a single horse, a beautiful dappled grey mare who nickered softly as he approached. Matt reached out and gently stroked her ears and the mare pushed her velvet muzzle agains him, her eyes half closed. "Hello Ballad." Matt murmured.

Amelia yawned as she scooped out feed for her horses. Bit of this She thought to herself as she mixed the feed. Placing the lids back onto the bins she headed back towards the stalls. Amelia was greeted by two excited whinnies as she approched her horses. Tip Toe stretched out towards the feed bucket, hungry. The girl laughed quietly. "Just wait a minute" She said softly as Tip Toe tried to eat as Amelia opened the large stable door. She watched her mare as she closed the door and moved down towards Mimic. He stood further back and waited for the girl to enter with the feed. With a quick kiss on the forehead she closed the door behind her and headed for the tack room. Amelia reached up to pull Mimic's jumping saddle off the rack then grabbed his bridle and a saddle blanket. As she placed the tack down on the bench she noticed that she wasn't alone.

Matt could hear the other rider as she fed her horses from inside Ballad's stall, and the mare lifted her head as she thought of food. Smiling, Matt stroked her forehead and rubbed a finger against her muzzle before turning and grabbing her feed bucket. He left her stall and wandered down to the feed room with almost silent footsteps, Ballad watching him from her stall door. He dissapeared into the feed room and hardly a minute later he reappered. Ballad nickered with excitement as Matt walked back to her, but was polite enough to step away from the door as he entered. He hung the bucket up on the wall and she stuck her nose inside it, munching happily. Matt smiled again and patted her dappled neck. He wondered who the other rider might be, and looked over his stall door to see who it was.

Amelia sighed quietly to herself as she began to tack up Mimic. The stallion stayed still as she did up the girth and slipped his bridle on. After a quick check of the tack she lead him out of the stall and ground tied him as she darted off to get her helmet. As she walked backed towards Mimic she looked towards the other rider.

Matt was looking at the other rider's horse. He was stunning and beautifully built, and looked like a very talented horse. He turned back to Ballad and began to brush her, sweeping the brush across her smooth, soft coat with long strokes. Ballad chewed happily, sighing with content every now and again. It didn't take long for Matt to brush her, as she was already clean. He picked out her fit and headed over to the tack room. As he walked between the stalls he stopped an glanced over his shoulder at the horse once again. Where had his rider gone? He frowned for a moment then continued walking, looking at the horse for a moment longer.

Amelia shook her head to herself and mounted Mimic swiftly. Checking her helmet and gathering her reins she headed up to the jumping arena where the jumps had already been set to the good height from the day before. Amelia began to warm Mimic up, getting him to do various circles and go through different gaits.

After gathering Ballad's dressage saddle, saddle blanket and her bridle, Matt left the tack room to find that the horse and the other were gone. He smiled to himself, glad that he was the only one in the stables again. Ballad had finished her breakfast and was now waiting for him with her head over the stall. She nickered to him and pricked her ears at the sight of the tack. Matt tacked her up gently but swiftly while Ballad stood calmly. She accepted the bit without hesitation and followed Matt out of the stall, even though he wasn't holding the reins. They walked out of the stables and up to the arenas, where Matt paused. He looked between the dressage arena where he always rode and to the jumping arena where the other rider was right next to it. He almost considered joining her, but shrugged and walked into the dressage arena and mounted agiley.

Amelia watched the other rider walk by and she smiled. Once she was sure that Mimic was warm enough she sat and asked for a canter, the stallion going straight into a swift canter on the correct lead. She watched the first jump as she turned him, using leg aids to help. Mimic remained on the bit and stayed collected as he approched the jump. Then at the right moment he lifted his front legs and pushed hard off the ground. At the same moment Amelia lifted out of the saddle and moved her hands further up Mimic's neck. He landed with a light thud on the other side and went straight to the correct lead again. From here she could see the other rider making his way to the Dressage arena.

After walking Ballad around for a short while, Matt squeezed her sides and she moved into a long, high kneed trot with her head held effortlessly on the bit. Her ears were directed towards Matt as he gently steered in a circle. His hands barely moved as he roder and his legs didn't either, it was as though Ballad knew exactly what he wanted to do without being told. They moved perfectly in time with eachother, her strides precise and balanced as she trotted a few more circles. Matt looked over and spotted the other rider jumping. He'd been right, her horse was a talented jumper and she rode him beautifully. He couldn't help but smile in admiration of her ability before sitting deep Ballad's saddle. His heels tapped her sides and she moved gracefully into a powerful canter, her neck arched and her muscles rippling beneath her dappled coat.

Amelia sat deeper in the saddle and slowed Mimic when they finished the jumping course. She gave small hand signals and Mimic responded instantly by slowly his gait and then moving into a fluid trot. Mimic remained on the bit and his hind legs collected underneath him. She watched the rider out in the dressage arena. The two worked so well together, each understanding what the other expects. She smiled to herself, pating Mimic's muscular neck she gave him his head and slowed to a walk. Amelia wanted to meet the other rider, she knew most of the riders who came here.

With the slightest shifting of weight in the saddle, Matt asked Ballad to slow into a trot. He tapped her behind the girth with his heels and tugged lightly on the reins, and the grey began an excellent, powerful piaffe, dancing with extreme grace. Matt smiled and, taking one hand from the reins, stroked her neck. Out of the many dressage moves, this was his favourite. Ballad sensed his happiness and raised her knees even higher, lefting them almost to her chin as her piaffe became even more spectacular. Matt laughed aloud and suddenly remembered the other rider. He let Ballad walk on a loose rein and steered her over to the fence next to the jumping arena. The other rider was watching him, and he wasn't sure whether to be curious or feel invaded. He shrugged the last thought away and decided that he'd find out who the other rider was. When they reached the fence Matt halted Ballad and nodded at the rider.

Amelia smiled shyly at him. She halted Mimic who had spotted the mare. He snorted and pawed the ground, stretching his nose out towards the mare. Amelia rubbed Mimic’s sweat slick neck then looked up to the other rider. “Hi, I’m Amelia and this is Mimic Me or Mimic” She paused and looked back towards the stables as a loud whinny rang out, echoing off the stable complex. She laughed to herself, she knew that whinny. “And my other horse is Tip Toe” she said sweetly. Mimic paced on the spot lightly and whinnied towards the mare. Amelia applied slight pressure on his mouth and Mimic stopped paces and stood square.

Matt smiled and laughed a little as Ballad streched her dark muzzle over the fence and nickered in reply to Mimic. He patted her shoulder and looked back at the other rider, Amelia. "I'm Matt," he said in a soft voice, "and this is Ballad." He nodded his head towards Mimic, "He's a lovely horse." Ballad raised a dainty hoof and pawed at the ground, her ears pricked. Matt tapped her sides and she stood still, bringing her head back onto the bit.

Amelia smiled sweetly and watched Ballad. "Thankyou and Ballad is gorgeous" The girl reached out towards the mare, "What breed is she?" She spoke softy and looked up at Matt. Mimic snorted and slowly tried to reach out towards the mare. Amelia laughed softly and gave a small signal through the reins and Mimic withdrew his head.

Matt gave Ballad her head and the mare stretched out to smell Amelia's hand. He stroked her neck, but didn't take his eyes off Amelia. "Andalusian." he said with a smile. Ballad was now trying to nibble playfully at Amelia's fingers, and Matt kept his eyes on her in case her playing turned rough, which was very unlikely. "I'm guessing Mimic is a warmblood? Which breed? He's a fantastic jumper." he said, remembering how good the horse had looked going through the course.

Amelia giggled and rubbed the mare's nose. The girl pulled her hand away slowly and then rubbed Mimic's forehead has he was looking over his shoulder at her. She smiled and glanced up at Matt. "Danish Warmblood, I mainly use him for jumping whilst Tip Toe" Amelia made a head motion towards the stables "Is my eventer"

Matt nodded slowly as she explained, remembering Amelia's other horse. Running a hand through Ballad's black mane he replied, "Ballad and I compete in dressage. She's not much of a jumper I'm afraid." He shrugged slightly and thought for a moment. He really should try to jump Ballad more, it would improve her balance and co-ordination. As if reading his thoughts, Ballad turned her head to look at the jumps and put her delicate ears back. Matt laughed quietly. "Ballad isn't really keen on it." he said, patting her well muscled shoulder.

Amelia listened and looked towards the jumps. Mimic nodded his head, he wanted to go again laughing lightly Amelia hushed him and looked back at Matt. "Mimic is a jumper" She shrugged. "He does do some dressage but not as much" Mimic gave a small rear, explaining to Amelia that he wanted to jump now.

Ballad quickly moved her head away from Mimic but Matt smiled. He stroked a hand along her neck to comfort her, and she soon relaxed. "Go on, let him jump. I'll bring Ballad over and try to get her over a fence or two." he said, looking back at Amelia. He steered Ballad out of the dressage arena and into the jumping arena, where he dismounted. He looked around and soon saw a few jumps at the back of the arena that didn't seem to fit in the course and walked over to them as Ballad followed behind him loyally. They were too high for her, so he'd have to put them down.

Amelia smiled then turned Mimic around. She clicked her tongue and he moved into a swift canter. She gathered her reins and asked Mimic onto the bit. He did so, collecting his stride as he approched the first fence. Amelia lifted out of the saddle, always looking towards the next jump, and lent forward. Mimic landed on the other side and she used her leg aids to help turn him.

Matt watched her for a moment, admiring how perfectly Amelia and Mimic moved together, before turning back to the jump he was setting up. It was no higher than 50cm, a pitiful and puny jump. But despite its lack of size Ballad flicked her ears back and snorted with annoyance. She was usually so gentle and placid, Matt had been bewildered when he first began jumping her. Now he knew she simply disliked it. Ballad pawed and nodded her head as Matt finished the jump and stood back to check that it was straight. He walked back to Ballad and mounted her lightly before kicking her into a trot. Careful to keep out of Amelia's way, he tapped his heels and Ballad cantered as they turned back towards the tiny jump.

Amelia gave Mimic his head as they approched the last 3 fences. They had enough room for 1 stride to be fit between though the rider needed to make sure they had the right speed and their horse was stretching or collecting its stride depending on the horse. Mimic made the first jump prefectly and Amelia rose then sat deep in the saddle waiting for the next fence. Amelia gave small signals with her hands and legs to ensure that Mimic was going at the right speed to make them. After they had finished she slowed Mimic slowly and looked back at the last 3 jumps. They were pretty big. At least 1.8m. She raised her eyebrows in surprise then looked towards Matt. She halted a few metres away. "Just make sure you keep your leg on if she isn't one for jumping" Amelia watched curiously.

Matt heard the comment and nodded, focusing on the jump. He sat deep and relaxed in the saddle and, taking Amelia's advice, he pressed his heels against Ballad's sides. She raised her head as the jump approached and tilted it slightly to the side so she could look at it. Matt nudged her sides firmly a stride before the jump. Ballad took an extended stride before pushing herself off the ground. Although she didn't like jumping, she had good form and was always very well balanced over a fence. She misjudged the distance however, the pole fell to the ground with a thud. As Matt cantered her away from the jump he shook his head, almost unable to believe how Ballad could excel at the most difficult dressage moves and still knock down such small jumps.

Amelia watched as Ballad jumped way too early. She nodded to herself and dismounted. "Stay" She spoke softly to Mimic as she headed over to the jump. She spoke as she put the pole back up and added another on the ground in front. "This pole will probably help, because she was jumping too early she knocked the rail but that is easily fixed. 1 by jumping often and 2 placing a pole in front. It means that Ballad will first have to go over the pole then jump, and when she jumps she will be in the right spot." She checked it one more time then stood back. Watching Ballad as she cantered.

Matt nodded gratefully and cantered up to the jump again. Ballad swished her tail and looked carefully at the pole as she approached. He felt her strides slow and tightened his leg on her, pushing her forward. She raised her head, took an elevated stride of the pole and sprang into the air. Matt went forward forward with her and the pair landed smoothly, with only the thud of Ballad's hooves. Glancing over his shoulder Matt saw that the jump hadn't been knocked down. He stroked her arched neck and praised her enthusiastically, and she nickered in response. They slowed to a trot as they came back to Amelia, then to a walk. "Thanks. It really worked!" he said brightly. Matt leant forward and patted Ballad again, extremely pleased with her.