After tightening the girth, I put my foot in the stirrup and swung my leg over the saddle. Firefly began walking as I repositioned myself in the saddle. I nudged him on with my lower leg, seeing as he was walking slower than a snail. Firefly was weird when it came to energy. He would be lazy in the begining of the ride but by the end of the ride, he would have enough energy to fuel a city. I decided to take him on a short trail ride to warm him up. Using my leg to gently steer him out of the arena, I walked him out to the trails that lay a short walk away from the barn. He reluctantly moved forward, stretching his head toward the ground as I followed his movements with my hips. Exhaling loudly, I noticed there was a moving truck in front of the house that had been a short walk through the woods since I was a child. I guess the Walkers were moving out. I would have to remember to tell my mom that we needed to bring them a goodbye gift. We weren't great friends with them, but they were nice people. They had a daughter a few years younger than me. She was nice, but a little annoying at times... I decided to nudge Firefly into a slow trot, just to warm him up a bit. I quietly observed the spring weather. Flowers were beginning to bloom, baby birds were chirping in the trees. As I glanced at the moving trucks again, I noticed that they were moving things in, not out. I guess the Walkers already left?
As I entered the ring, I did a few leg yields, shoulder ins, and lengthenings to loosen him up. I did a few canter serpentines, using half halts and leg support to keep him balanced in the counter canter. Before you ask, no, I can't do flying changes. I'm only on Training Level! The blazing red fur on Firefly's shoulders moved smoothly with his large trot. I gently nudged him into a canter. I gave a few strong half halts on the outside rein and used my inside leg and rein to get him to soften and give to the bridle. When I was done, I gave him the rein to stretch out his neck and walked him around the ring a few times, cooling him down.
I heard a commotion coming from in the field, so I steered Firefly towards it to make sure everything was okay. As soon as I got out there, I knew it was a good thing I came. Mom was having trouble transferring Facade into to the small blue stone paddock. She reared and snorted, pranced and whinnied. Eyes rolling fearfully, she reared up higher than she had before, ripping the lead rope from my mom's hands.
Suddenly I was extremely grateful that I was on my horse. Facade took off in the direction of the fields, and I took off after her on Firefly. Now, seeing as Facade was a Thoroughbred and Firefly was a Quarter Horse, it was going to be hard to catch up with her. I spurred Firefly on faster, going into a two point position to ease his gallop. Stretching my arm out, I nearly had the lead rope within my reach. It kept falling to the ground beneath her thundering hooves, though. There was no way I could get it. Still racing beside Facade, I gently brushed my hand over her neck. The movement seemed to calm her down. Her gallop eased into a canter. I stroked her neck again. Snorting, she transitioned into a trot. I could finally reach the lead rope, so I gently led her back to the bluestone paddock in an easy trot.
Sliding off of Firefly, I lead her into the paddock and unclipped the lead rope. Sighing, I leaned on Firefly as we walked back to the barn, both exhausted from our... interesting ride.
"Good boy." I mumbled breathlessly, smiling and patting his fiery neck.
