Endless Love

Dressage and Dresses

"Yes you can, but it takes practice." He says moving over beside me. "Let me show you, and then you can try again , and if you don't get it you can use the fence to help you mount."

"Alright." I say stepping aside, and I watch as he talks and shows me how he mounts. "Would you mind showing me one more time, please?"

"Not at all!" He says easily getting off Turin, and he again goes over what he just said and shows me. "Would you like to try once more?"

"Yes, please." I nod, and for a moment I stand there and study Turin. As I do I run calculations in my head about everything needed to be able to mount Turin perfectly. "Alright! I'm ready!" I say giving a determined nod.

"Whenever you are ready." He steps out of the way.

I grip the saddle firmly and place my foot in the stirrup. "Here goes!" I say and I begin to pull myself up. The next thing I know I am flat on my back on the ground with Jake beside me. "Are you alright Elphaba?"

"Just fine." I grumble as he helps me up. What did I do wrong?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all, my dear. Turin apparently wanted to have a bit of fun." Jake says and slides the saddle back to its proper position and tightens it.

"Well, I didn't find it very funny!" I glare at Turin, and he laughs as horses sometimes do.

"Apparently he decided to puff out his sides a bit and hold his breath when I saddled him." Jake says shaking his head. "He let it all out when you went to mount him causing the saddle to loosen and slide under him."

I give Turin a glare before brushing myself off. "I am glad he found it amusing, because I didn't!" I huff and grab his halter forcing the horse to look at me. "Now you listen to me, and listen to me good! I am not learning to ride out of any desire for myself, but for the sheer desire to want to do something to make my fiance, Glinda, happy! She loves to ride, and I know it would tickle her pink to know that I would take the time to learn to ride. I admit that I am not entirely thrilled with this, nor am I exactly comfortable, but I am willing to put that aside and try to learn." Turin gives a little whinny. "Please, Turin, behave so I can learn to ride. The sooner you stop, well, horsing around, the sooner we can be done with this. I don't want to force you to behave." I know he understands what I mean because just briefly I control him mentally and force him to move near the fence where I then use the fence to mount him. Leaning down once I'm on his back I whisper to him, "I really don't like forcing animals to do things they don't want to do, I hope you know that?" Turin nods his massive head, I sit up, and smile giving Turing a gentle pat on his neck.

Jake had watched everything quietly, and looked rather surprised. "Miss Elphaba, is everything okay? Are you okay?" He asks looking from Turin to me.

Giving Jake a smile and nod. "I am okay, and ready to proceed with the lesson."

"If you would like I can get one of the other horses. Perhaps I can get you a different horse? Maybe Starling or Bluebell?"

"Thank you, but that won't be necessary. Turin and I have come to an understanding, and I am sure we will have no more issues." I chuckle as Turin nods and gives a whinny.

"Alright, if you are sure," he says, still hesitant, and I chuckle. "Very sure."

"Okay, then. Let's get this lesson underway." Jake says taking the reigns and leading Turin to the round pen"

(Glinda's POV)

"Glinda, darling, we need to leave now!" Momsie says as she enters the room.

"I am just finishing up," I say as I finish blotting my lipstick. "There, perfect!" I say smiling at myself in the mirror one last time before turning and heading out. I grab my handbag and a light jacket. "Ready!" I say excitedly.