Post by ayla on Aug 29, 2011 17:17:10 GMT -5
Erika really hadn't ridden Ollie as much as she should have. He usually only got out to the pasture and sometimes, if he was lucky and she wasn't worn out from Kerry, Waff, Day, and sometimes Mary, she'd lunge him and school a few movements. Erika was sure he'd be ornery and cantankerous like Waff got when she ignored him for a day, but the bay pony was just happy to go to work. He tossed his head a few times, but other than that, Erika didn't notice any objections he had to their warmup.
It was odd to be riding a pony, let alone a pony in a dressage saddle, but Erika worked through it. She wanted to see exactly where he was in regards to training; she had been promised a solid fourth-level ride, and schooling for Prix St. George. Erika hadn't ridden a top dressage horse since she was eighteen and catch riding every weekend. That was a funny story; she ended up with a thousand dollars and a job offer.
Erika squeezed with her calves (her heels were just below Ollie's barrel and therefore mostly ineffective) and the stallion jumped forward into a collected trot. She was surprised at the degree of elevation she got simply from bumping the curb rein of the double bridle, and wondered if she could elicit a piaffe from her stallion.
It was odd to be riding a pony, let alone a pony in a dressage saddle, but Erika worked through it. She wanted to see exactly where he was in regards to training; she had been promised a solid fourth-level ride, and schooling for Prix St. George. Erika hadn't ridden a top dressage horse since she was eighteen and catch riding every weekend. That was a funny story; she ended up with a thousand dollars and a job offer.
Erika squeezed with her calves (her heels were just below Ollie's barrel and therefore mostly ineffective) and the stallion jumped forward into a collected trot. She was surprised at the degree of elevation she got simply from bumping the curb rein of the double bridle, and wondered if she could elicit a piaffe from her stallion.
