Dawn At The Stables

Amelia halted Mimic to watch. The girl kept a close eye on the mares back legs as she took off, looking for any signs of strain. Smiling she took both hands off the reins and clapped after they had cleared the jumps. "Good" She said as she asked Mimic for a canter off the right lead. She let the stallion extend into a brilliant canter but he remained on the bit. As the headed towards the jump Amelia asked Mimic to collect his stride but to keep moving. Mimic lifted his feet at the perfect time and cleared the jump with ease. She made sure he was collected and rose out of the saddle as he lifted off the ground again. Once finished the girl slowed Mimic to a trot, allowing him to stretch down.

Matt had allowed Tip Toe to walk on a looser rein as he watched, and he smiled cheerfully as she cleared the course. Raising a hand into the air, he put on a classy voice and called out, "Bravo!" He looked down to Tip Toe and tightened his reins slightly before asking her for canter. The mare went forward smoothly and politely on the right, cantering collected but forward as well. Matt gave the mare more of her head and added slight pressure to her sides, asking her to extend. Tip Toe understood and without stepping up she lengthened her strides to a huge, bold canter that quickly ate up the outside of the arena.

Amelia slid off Mimic’s back and ground-tied him, “Stay”. She headed over to the jump and raised it to a spread, it stood reasonably high too. Checking the poles were stable, she called Mimic over and mounted once again. “Trail ride after this?” The girl said as the trotted past Matt. Sliding her outside leg back, half halting with her hip and applying slight pressure on the reins Mimic moved into a steady canter. The pair circled around Matt and Tip Toe twice and then headed towards the jump. The stallion remained collected as they approached the jump before pushing off with great power from his hind legs. They cleared the jump easily and Mimic landed with a slightly heavy thud on the other side. “Good boy” She praised him, patting his now sweaty neck. Amelia

Slowing Tip Toe to a laid-back walked, Matt watched with awe as Amelia rode Mimic over the jump. Astonished, he shook his head and steered Tip Toe closer. "That was amazing!" he told her, beaming, "And a trail ride sounds like a great idea." Reaching forward to pat Tip Toe's neck, he glanced over at the spread and for a moment considered jumping it. But he eventually decided against it and asked Tip Toe to walk on, angling her towards the gate with his leg aids.

The girl flushed a light pink, “thanks” she said, sliding off Mimic’s back one more time and headed over to the jump. One by one the poles dropped to the ground, a small puff of dust stirring from the ground. She dusted her hands together and turned to Mimic. The girl worked quickly to undo the girth, sliding the saddle from the stallions now sweaty neck. She hummed to herself and placed the saddle on the fence before turning to Matt and clicking her tongue at the stallion. Mimic trotted over happily and with a swift movement she jumped up and swung her leg over his back. She looked up at Matt. “Ready to go?” She asked, moving Mimic into a walk towards the gate.

Watching as Amelia removed the saddle, Matt let out a soft laugh. "You have a thing with trail riding bareback, don't you?" he asked, an almost devious look in his eyes. Shaking his head to himself, he swiftly dismounted from Tip Toe and opened the gate, being careful to keep the mare out of the way. Tip Toe was quite a bit taller than Ballad, and he was still getting use to her much slimmer frame. Once the gate was opened far enough he remounted gracefully and allowed Tip Toe to walk on with a loose rein, looking over his shoulder at Amelia.

Amelia nodded, grinning. "Love it, I just feel so connected to the horse" She said softly. The girl moved Mimic into a trot and caught up to Matt. "The sun will set soon" She said, thinking. "I know the perfect place to watch it" Her cheeks flushed with excitment at the thought of travelling down through the valley. She lent forward to give Mimic a hasty pat before gathering her reins.

Matt was surprised for a moment, unable to believe how quickly time had passed. Now that he thought about it, though, it really wasn't so surprising. He smiled at Amelia, stroking Tip Toe's neck. "That sounds like an amazing idea." he replied, smiling brightly. What a perfect way to finish the day; horses, a beautiful sunset and Amelia. "Lead the way." he told her, bowing in the saddle. Tip Toe flicked her delicate ears towards, a little confused, but stood still.

Amelia paused, a small smile on her mouth. With a quick action, Mimic moved into a gentle collected canter towards the valley. Amelia closed her eyes a little, enjoying the wind that blew her hair out behind her. The girl half laughed and half sighed, releasing any previous tension.