Dawn At The Stables

Matt looked at the dog, somewhat surprised, wondering where he had come from. He shook his head, deciding to not worry about it. Bending down and clapping his hands against his knees he caught the dog's attention. The Collie dashed over and Matt began to rub its chin and stroke its back. He laughed and looked up at Amelia. "So, how exactly os he going to help with the work?" he asked her.

Amelia tried to keep a straight face but failed. “Well. Skip here is a coach” She smiled as the collie walked over to Matt. “You start slacking off he’ll bark at you to keep working” The girl picked up her plate. “Are you finished?” She asked Matt.

Matt gave Skip one final pat and straightened up, laughing. He glanced over at his empty bowl, still smiling, and nodded. He picked it up, carried it over to the sink and washed it before turning back to Amelia. "Alright, what should we start with?" he asked, clapping his hands together and putting on a serious expression.

Amelia thought for a moment, "Yards, ride, then stables?" She suggested, washing her plate and placing it on the rack to dry. Skip followed at her heels as she walked over towards the door. Looking over her shoulder back at Matt.

Matt nodded following her. "Sounds like a plan." he said. As he exited the room Ballad immediately turned towards him and she whinnied excitedly, bobbing her head. Matt smiled adoringly at her and walked over, unable to resist giving her a quick pat. As he stroked her ears he looked over at Amelia and shrugged apologetically.

Amelia smiled, raising her eyebrows she shook her head. "Come on, or we'll run out of time to ride" She headed round the corner and uncovered the squad bike. Grinning she climbed on and kicked in to life, the bike roared and then idled. Amelia sat and headed back towards Matt on the bike but waited outside the stables. "Come on, all the stuff is in the trailer" She called out, looking over her shoulder to double check.

Kissing Ballad on the nose in farewell, he dashed over to Amelia and climbed on behind her. Ballad whinnied as he left and he smiled, again reminded of the foal she would have. Turning his back to Amelia he nodded his head. "Alright, let's go." he said, tapping the side of the bike.

Amelia grinned and moved the bike. They headed round the corner and she cut the engine, getting off. The girl quickly scanned the yards to make sure everything was alright before starting. She glanced at Matt then back at her work.

A few minutes later, and after plenty of barking from Skip, they had finished cleaning up. Matt leant against one of the walls and sighed, looking over the work they had done with a sense of accomplishment. He looked up at Amelia smiling. "I was thinking about putting Ballad in a paddock for the night, give her a chance to run around. I'll have to put a bit of hay out, though. Do you want to lend a hand?" he asked her.

Amelia nodded and called Skip over. The Collie darted over to her side and sat, waiting. "Hay" She said and gave a motion with her hand. The collie bolted around to the feed room and dragged a large bale back by the string holding it together. The girl smiled and patted the Collie, loading the hay onto the back. It was plenty. She looked back at Matt as she hopped on the bike. "Go grab Ballad" She said, starting it up.

Matt shook his head with disbelief, laughing. He nodded at Amelia and headed back to the stables. Ballad nickered when she saw him walking over and bobbed her head. He smiled at her, stroking her neck as she entered the stall. He picked up Ballad's halter and slipped it on before leading her out of the stall and out to the paddocks. He caught sight of Amelia at one of the smaller paddocks and walked over to her, Ballad loyally at his side.

Amelia laughed as Skip ran along behind, slowing the dog leaped onto the back of the bike, panting. The girl spotted Matt and Ballad and she cut the engine. "This alright for her?" She asked, turning on the seat of the bike.

Matt nodded and walked over to the paddocks gate, opening it and letting Ballad loose. She glanced at him before galloping off across the grass, her black tail high in the air. Matt shook his head and walked back to the bike, looking for a knife or scissors to cut the twine that bound it. He found a rusty pair of scissors that had been left on the back of the bike, cut it, and pulled two biscuits of hay out before throwing them over the paddock fence. Ballad raced over, trotting as she appraoched the fence and lowered her head to sniff the hay. Matt turned back to Amelia and smiled. "Thanks." he said brightly.

Amelia nodded, smiling. "Ok, lets go" She said, raising out of the seat and kicking the bike to life she went and parked it in the shed, hanging the keys on the rack. "Ready to ride?" The girl asked Matt, her gaze flicked towards Tip Toe.

Matt smiled and nodded, turning to look at Tip Toe as well. Suddenly, he realised he hadn't such a slimly built horse in years. He thought about how wierd she would feel when compared to Ballad's bulky, muscular build and hoped it wouldn't hurt. He pushed away his worries and forced a smile before looking back to Amelia. "You bet." he said eagerly, already on his way to her stall.

Amelia nudged Matt with her elbow, "Don't worry, you'll be fine, she's just like Ballad, quite muscular and solid" She raised her eyebrows and turned to Mimic. "Hey boy" She said rubbing him on the forehead. "Lets go, mate" The girl whispered, slipping his bridle on, gently placing the saddle and doing up the girth.

After stroking Tip Toe's sleek neck, Matt gently placed the saddle on her back and did up her girth. She politely accepted the bit as he bridled her and he smiled, rubbing her cheek once the bridle was in place. He led Tip Toe out of her stall and waited for Amelia to emerge with Mimic, rubbing the mare's ears as he waited. He was looking forward to riding her and finding out what she could do.

Smiling the girl mounted Mimic once again and headed up to the jumping arena. The stallion snorted and pawed at the ground as Amelia swung the large gate open and entered. Clouds were forming in the sky. "It may rain" She said to Matt, halting Mimic. Skip followed Amelia and sat down next to Mimic when he stopped.

Matt had swiftly mounted Tip Toe and followed Amelia out to the arena, getting used to her gait. Looking up at the sky, Matt frowned as he noticed the looming dark clouds. He looked back at Amelia and shrugged casually. "We might as well have a quick ride before the rain starts and we'll call it a day when it gets too heavy. Is that alright?" he asked her, reaching down to pat Tip Toe's shoulder.

Amelia nodded, she applied pressure to Mimic's sides and the stallion moved into a fluid trot. "Want to jump first?" The girl asked, putting Mimic on a circle.

With the slightest tap of his heels, Tip Toe moved into a smooth, comfortable trot. It took Matt a few seconds to get used to the mare's timing, but once he had he smiled. He looked over at Amelia and nodded his head. "Sure." he called over to her. Sitting deep in the saddle, he pushed Tip Toe forward into a strong canter, lightly steering her towards the first jump of the course he had ridden Ballad through earlier that day. The jumps were still low, but he wasn't bothered by that. The mare jumped elegantly over the first jump with excellent precision, and Matt went with her easily. It felt strange but nice to ride a horse that he knew excelled at jumper.

Mimic snorted and collected as Amelia asked for a canter, the stallion moved off the correct lead into a strong gait headed down for the first jump. Mimic jumped it with ease, lifting his feet up at the right time and landing on the correct lead. Amelia and Mimic finished a smaller course quickly and the girl jumped off. Heading over to some jumps and being careful to stay out of Matt's way she raised the jumps to 1.15m, A grade. The next one she put lower but it was a spread. Nodding to herself after a once over of the jumps she mounted again.

As Tip Toe effortlessly cleared the last jump of the course, Matt reached down and rubbed her neck. Leaning back in the saddle, slightly shifting his weight, he allowed Tip Toe to slow to a relaxed trot and then a long, calm walk. He turned to watch as Amelia mounted and waited to see her go over the higher jumps. Matt had jumped that height before, but it was before he had bought Ballad, years ago.

Amelia nodded one more time to herself and moved Mimic into a swift canter again. Heading towards the 3 jumps in a row the girl checked that Mimic was working on the bit and keeping collected. She lifted out of the saddle as Mimic lifted off the ground, easily clearing the first. She quickly sat deep again and waited for the next, again lifting as Mimic did. She smiled and slowed him to a trot. "Try those" Amelia said, nodding towards the 3 jumps. "She'll jump them and clear."

Matt smiled at her and nodded as Tip Toe moved straight into a high, collected canter. He kept her steady as they appraoched the jumps, but made sure that she had plenty of impulsion. She took off for the first jump with exact timing, and Matt moved into a careful jumping position. They cleared the first jump and he kept her collected for the next one. They cleared the second jump just as easily and approached the third jump. He allowed her to take a slightly longer stride before the last jump, even though he didn't need the added momentum. They cleared it as well and cantered away from the jumps, Matt smiling happily.