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Description

Stable: Lakewood Farm
Horse Number: 1
Horse Name: Kiwi
Entry: Mandatory

Storyline:
1. Mandatory: First Meeting
2. Optional: The First Steps
3. Optional: Interlude - Things for the Future
4. Optional: Breakthrough
5. Optional: Building Trust
6. Mandatory: Mishap - Halter Training
7. Optional: Progression
8. Optional: Mishap - Early Saddle Sessions
9. Mandatory: Backing
10. Optional: Mounting Up
11. Mandatory: Flat Training: You are Here
12. Optional: Jump training
13. Optional: Christmas Hack
14. Optional: Kaimanawa Hack
15. Optional: Beach/water riding
16. Optional: The Future

Woohoo! Finally, we made it Kiwi's in training

But because Kiwi's in higher demand than I'd ever have imagined when we got her back in September (?) another training image for her jumping will come

Title is from a Mary Anne Kennedy song of the same name ^^

Story should explain most of this image, but I just want to be clear about the training aids I've drawn. They're draw reins (also called running reins, I believe) and there's a lot of dispute over how they should be used and when. This way of rigging them is generally considered 'milder' because the fixed point isn't as low. The reins are attached to the girth between the forelegs or either side, under the saddle. They're run through the bit (which must be a plain snaffle) and held with the snaffle rein (the reins must be plain leather, too).

Over or incorrect use of them can easily result in wrong self carriage, charging through the bit, leaning on the hand, incorrect muscle development and long term or latent problems with movement. There's other factors, but these are the main ones.

But, used sparingly and correctly, the can offer support and guidance into the bridle. When the horse attempts to lean on the bit, it can find itself leaning on its own weight, rather than your hand, so they can be used to prevent that, and other bad habits, making them lighter on the forehand and encouraging freer movement.

In this picture, I hope it's clear that Kiwi's draw reins are actually loose - they're attached properly, but Alec only brings the rein into action when he feels Kiwi needs it for whatever reason. Otherwise, he works only with the snaffle rein. His useage of them is explained more in the story.

I personally wouldn't use draw reins. Not only because I don't feel I'd use them properly, but also because even if I could, I think the potential for disaster far outweighs the good they can do. This is another instance in which Alec and I differ .

As for the other schooling, some of it is what I would do and have done when schooling horses progressively, some is what my group was working towards with our college youngstock colt, Foxy, and some is just common sense (to me).

Lastly, the halfpad/sheepskin riser under the saddle is just a bit of a shock absorber while Kiwi really settles to the rider's weight. The wraps are also just extra support for the tendons now that Kiwi's in regular work and bearing a rider. Both are not necessary but just preferences of Alec's when training.

"Over-No, over - not stand on me!" Twitch hurried back a step as Kiwi stamped her hindquarters into the place she'd been standing. Alec, sitting on board, laughed into the cold air.

"Oh, hilarious," Twitch muttered, though she was smiling. "Getting ploughed down wasn't on my list of things to do today."

"Ploughed?" Alec scoffed. "She's fourteen three!"

Twitch shot a look at Kiwi's face - she was chomping happily on her bit, eyes glinting with playfulness and breath blowing out in clouds. "Wheelbarrowed, then."

"That is smaller than a plough," Alec shrugged. "Try again?"

"Not like that. Hang on." Twitch left the pair stood in the middle of the school and ran over to fetch the fallen lunge whip further down. She hurried back, flicking the tail out over the frost littered mix surface. Kiwi's ears flicked towards the movement in curiosity. They'd done enough work with carrot sticks and natural ground games by now that responding to strings was instinctive and fun for her.

"We'll try this," Twitch called to Alec, keeping more of a distance so the mare's hardy hooves were out of range. "Apply your aids and I'll put the pressure on. Ready?"

"Go," Alec nodded. Still smiling, he focused on how he held the cotton reins in his hands as he slowly slid his right leg back and pressed gently to Kiwi's side. He opened a leading hand to the left at the same time Twitch leaned in to the mare's quarters and raised the lunge whip, drawing small circles in the air.

Kiwi shuffled and then obligingly swung her quarters to the left in a small but smooth pivot.

Twitch took off the pressure and Alec moved his leg back into place as they both called out in praise. Kiwi arched her neck with pride.

"Good girl," Twitch called fifteen minutes later, when the Kaimanawa had gotten the exercise enough to just need Alec's touch to her side to start pivoting her quarters to the left. It didn't mean they weren't back at square one when they tried to get her to swing right.

...

"Why always so early?" Twitch asked through chattering teeth.

Alec smirked and threw an arm over her shoulders. Her skin was already flushed from the cold, but Alec thought she might be blushing less and less because of him. She looked up at him from the middle of a mass of fabric that was her scarf, hat, coat and riding face mask, only her grey eyes visible - silvery and glassy in the icy morning. She didn't duck out from under his arm.

Kiwi snorted next to them as they headed into the school.

"Because she's quite active at this time of day," Alec said. "Though she is getting better."

In the wild, she would have been most active at dawn and dusk, and it was slowly becoming clear to her that she didn't have to lie low during the day now. Still she was very keen in the early morning and seemed to learn best, so Alec still rode before the feeds went around.

"What's today, then?"

It was a week since their early attempts at a turn on the forehand, and Alec was doing something new with Kiwi each day so she could always look forward to being ridden whilst not overloading her with anything. After they'd gotten her used to the very basics and she could be ridden in a walk, trot and canter and back to halt with all the correct aids, Alec started working on refinement and getting her to work correctly, as she had been in their ground sessions. He believed a horse should be taught to work correctly from the start. But between those sessions, they did work on new school movements and lateral work as well as riding around the farm, so Kiwi didn't begin to rely on the security of the fence or lean on the rails.

"Basics."

"Gotcha," Twitch nodded. She now slid away from Alec, ducked under Kiwi's neck and stood her other side to pull down the stirrup and check the girth. Her usual cotton reins had been switched for leather ones so that the old set of draw reins could be used safely. They were already attached and resting loosely through the snaffle rings.

Alec buckled his hat, rested his weight in his stirrup and then gently swung up. He settled in the saddle, patted Kiwi's shoulder reassuringly and gathered up the snaffle rein. Twitch stood back and with a gentle touch to the mare's sides, Alec walked away with her.

They warmed up in the biting air, getting Kiwi's - and Alec's - muscles moving properly until the mare was moving freely and happily into the bridle. With all the ground schooling encouraging her to carry herself correctly, Kiwi hadn't taken long to realise a rider didn't prevent her moving the same as always. Often, it was just for transitions and changes of rein that the draw reins were brought into play to help her balance. Today she was going well and Alec only had to pick up the second reins when completing a demi volte and asking for a walk to canter direct transition.

"Thoughts?" Alec asked as he trotted over to Twitch on the fence and coaxed Kiwi to a stop.

Twitch was hidden in her folds of fabric, hood now pulled up, too, but she sounded alert when she replied, "Nice. Balanced, forward, nice and supple. She looks a bit more comfortable on the left than the right and a couple of times she's looked like she wanted to strike off on the wrong leg for canter, but her action's calmed down some and she doesn't step so high anymore."

"More comfortable, too," Alec smirked. "I was going to introduce a flying change."

Twitch's eyes clouded in consideration and they swept over the school. It was almost as though she were playing out the potential disasters like a movie in front of her, but Alec knew this was something she tended to do when recalling a memory. Kiwi had been in ridden work for weeks and they'd been doing simple changes which she coped well with.

"I think you should try," Twitch said after a moment. "I'll put a pole down and you can use it as a take off to help her change while she's in the air. Lets get the draw reins off, though - just to be safe because she may leap."

Twitch un hooked them from the girth, and Alec drew them back through the bit rings and tossed them over the fence.

"Get her moving again," Twitch told him.

Alec took Kiwi off around the track once more while she ran for the end of the arena were some spare jump wings and poles were stashed. The good ones were kept in the Temple, away from the elements, but the old ones were left closer for convenience. Twitch dragged one of the frozen poles over and laid it neatly on a diagonal across the centre of the school.

"When you're ready!" she yelled out.

Alec and Kiwi transitioned to canter, and they cornered the top of the school, came neatly away from the track and aimed for the centre of the pole. Kiwi's eyes levelled on it in an instant. Her head picked up, her ears pricked forward and her stride lengthened so she could place herself in the perfect spot for a take off.

She seemed almost disappointed when she realised it wasn't a fence, and then confused at the change of direction. When Alec asked for a canter lead change, she fumbled her legs and bucked in frustration.

Alec sat to her easily - though she could be a violent little thing in the field, her frustrated bucks were nothing like her territorial ones. He was laughing as he let her trot to help her fix her legs again. Twitch shook her head.

"I'm going to move it!" she called to them. "If I put it on the diagonal, right by the wall, it upsets her balance on the right lead and helps to push her onto the left. Ask as she's taking off."

Alec nodded without speaking, too focused on his task. The pole in place, they went in for attempt two. Kiwi's stride lengthened as she saw the pole again, but she appeared to realise they weren't show jumping, and didn't attempt to leap the moon this time. The sudden turn of hitting the track at the same time as going over the pole did tip her balance, though, and she struck out on her left lead.

But her hindlegs hadn't changed over with her front.

"Disunited!" Twitch called after them, watching Kiwi do a strange gambolling movement, her eyes wide with confusion over what had happened to her own legs. But Alec had realised, and was gently coaxing her through it.

Finally, with another frustrated buck, she fixed her legs - but she switched the front ones back, so they were on the wrong lead again.

"Take three," Alec said, smiling unfailingly as he went in again. Alec loved schooling, so this kind of thing was his idea of a good day (unlike Becca, who'd rather be hacking).

Kiwi went disunited again, but by placing her on a wide circle, she was convinced to fix her legs and canter away on the left lead. Alec patted her heartily and Twitch smiled at the pair from the middle of the school.

"Her back end is always behind," Alec said, slowing to a trot and putting her on the circle again so he could talk to Twitch.

"Chess is better with the problem solving than me," she said. "But Selly had some of this issue when we were first schooling him. If I follow up with the lunge whip again and put pressure from behind, just as she takes off, that might help kick her into gear."

"Go for it," Alec nodded.

Attempt four was underway, and the noises of the barn being opened for the day washed over to them. It was time to finish up.

Kiwi cantered cleanly for the pole. Even if her changes needed work, this mare never missed a stride. Twitch waited for the take off and lifted the whip into play, putting sudden pressure into the zone behind the little mare. Kiwi's ears flicked back to show acknowledgement, and she was already changing with her forelegs for the sharp turn. But the incentive had worked, and with only a slight stumble, she cantered away on the left lead.

There was plenty more to do - she had to perfect the change without the pole or stick, and be able to do it from left to right, too, but for a first session, it was a very good start.

...

"Over, over, over, over," Alec was muttering continuously to himself.

Kiwi couldn't understand, but was obeying the rhythmic pressure from his right leg and performing a wobbly but consistent leg yield over to the track. Across the school, Chess was sitting on Selly bareback, her reins light in her hands. The warmblood wasn't paying them the least bit of attention and had been doing pirouettes and fancy trotwork for the last twenty minutes. Aphie was still taking time after having her foal, and Mossy was still playing Mom to Poe, and Alec suspected Chess missed her two favourite mares. Selly was the only other one she really rode bareback - especially since anyone who got on Karma or Tessa bareback was asking for a trip to the emergency room.

It was nice to have the company whilst riding, and Selly was such a sweet horse that even with a mare a few yards away, he was happy to listen to his rider.

Kiwi wasn't all that distracted by him either, which was nice. The fact that she didn't have to compete with him for grazing outside of the school probably helped.

They hit the track and Alec asked for a canter. With a snort, the Kaimanawa leapt into it, only taking a stride to move back into the bridle and lower her head once more. They'd done some lateral work, and yesterday they'd been hacking around the boundary of the farm. The day before that, Alec had stuck to some of the basics again, and worked with trotting poles for pacing purposes, but Kiwi and striding was one thing she didn't need help with. She saw a take off a mile away and could put herself at it every time.

With that thought in his head, Alec finished up the session with some more leg yield and some work on accurate serpentines. The aim was to be capable of novice or possibly elementary dressage by New Year. He led Kiwi back to the circle, untacked and rubbed her down - though she still wasn't getting too warm, so had yet to need clipping. He checked that the trailer by the tree had water and hay inside and left the mare to graze until it was time to muck out and ran with the armful of tack back to the barn.

The feeds had been collected in and Austin was washing out the buckets one by one with the hose in the stable yard. He waved a hi as Alec dropped his things off in the tack room and then slipped into the Den.

Becca was, thankfully, in there. Kismet was sitting in the keyboard, and a huge line of 'dddddddddddddddddsssssssssssssssssssssssssssssddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddsssssssss' was on repeat on their feedlist word document. Becca was muttering to herself as she scrawled in the diary.

"Becks," Alec broached carefully.

The brunette looked up. "Hey, Alec. How's the wild one?"

He smirked. "Fine. Got something I want to run by you."

"Yes," she said promptly. "I think you'd be right at home in the circus; we'll hate to see you go but you have our full support."

There was a snort of laughter by the door, and they both looked up to see Twitch. She bit her lip, snatched a brush from the table against the wall and jabbed a thumb over her shoulder. "I'll just...go."

She left, laughter following her out, and Alec gave Becca a dry expression.

She smiled innocently. "What's up?"

"Do you think Kiwi's ready to start jumping?"

The playfulness fell from the room through the floor, and Becca adopted the serious expression she wore when visitors came that was the only thing that could convince someone she could be trusted with their horses. "You ride a lot without us watching, so I'd like to see you ride tomorrow and do some basic exercises, but from what I've seen and what I know, I think she'd really enjoy jumping and appreciate the challenge of it. Something tells me she'll really excell with technical courses, too, if you and Twitch are right about her knack for spotting a stride."

"Watch tomorrow, then," Alec nodded, standing.

"Hey, Alec?" Becca added. "She's yours; you don't need my permission or approval, you know."

He smiled genuinely and shrugged. "I know."

That was fun to write. I didn't know until...about now ish, that Kiwi's secret talent would be for striding That just happened, but I think it fits her.

As for the picture - there's bits I like and bits I don't. I've done better manes and tails before - and I've had to fix Alec's proportions a fair bit. The trees are bad and the hooves too big - but I like most of the rest. I think I'm getting the hang of drawing Kiwi's headshape (finally) and I love how the saddle came out.

Backstory: the pole exercise to prompt lead change is something I've done on a horse at my local stables. Dixie is a little superstar, and so honest and it took her two goes before she got it bang on every time. Teco was another pony - very cheeky - and he went disunited every time and no matter what you did, he just went right back on the wrong lead XD. And the habit of bucking out of frustration I got from this guy -> [link] Blue. I nearly bought him, and he had this habit where whenever you asked for a flying change, he'd get utterly confused about where his feet went, so he'd just buck as if that covered up that he didn't know what to do. It was so sweet and funny that you couldn't help laughing (though a lot of people who thought he was nuts assumed he was doing it maliciously).

Think that's it again

This has taken a number of hours. Done here and there over the last few days.
No refs
Art and characters copyright to *Tattered-Dreams
Character design copyright to *LeavingNeverland
Do not take, copy, edit, redistribute or manipulate.

Description

Stable: Lakewood Farm
Horse Number: 1
Horse Name: Kiwi
Entry: Mandatory

Storyline:
1. Mandatory: First Meeting
2. Optional: The First Steps
3. Optional: Interlude - Things for the Future
4. Optional: Breakthrough
5. Optional: Building Trust
6. Mandatory: Mishap - Halter Training
7. Optional: Progression
8. Optional: Mishap - Early Saddle Sessions
9. Mandatory: Backing
10. Optional: Mounting Up
11. Mandatory: Flat Training: You are Here
12. Optional: Jump training
13. Optional: Christmas Hack
14. Optional: Kaimanawa Hack
15. Optional: Beach/water riding
16. Optional: The Future

Woohoo! Finally, we made it Kiwi's in training

But because Kiwi's in higher demand than I'd ever have imagined when we got her back in September (?) another training image for her jumping will come

Title is from a Mary Anne Kennedy song of the same name ^^

Story should explain most of this image, but I just want to be clear about the training aids I've drawn. They're draw reins (also called running reins, I believe) and there's a lot of dispute over how they should be used and when. This way of rigging them is generally considered 'milder' because the fixed point isn't as low. The reins are attached to the girth between the forelegs or either side, under the saddle. They're run through the bit (which must be a plain snaffle) and held with the snaffle rein (the reins must be plain leather, too).

Over or incorrect use of them can easily result in wrong self carriage, charging through the bit, leaning on the hand, incorrect muscle development and long term or latent problems with movement. There's other factors, but these are the main ones.

But, used sparingly and correctly, the can offer support and guidance into the bridle. When the horse attempts to lean on the bit, it can find itself leaning on its own weight, rather than your hand, so they can be used to prevent that, and other bad habits, making them lighter on the forehand and encouraging freer movement.

In this picture, I hope it's clear that Kiwi's draw reins are actually loose - they're attached properly, but Alec only brings the rein into action when he feels Kiwi needs it for whatever reason. Otherwise, he works only with the snaffle rein. His useage of them is explained more in the story.

I personally wouldn't use draw reins. Not only because I don't feel I'd use them properly, but also because even if I could, I think the potential for disaster far outweighs the good they can do. This is another instance in which Alec and I differ .

As for the other schooling, some of it is what I would do and have done when schooling horses progressively, some is what my group was working towards with our college youngstock colt, Foxy, and some is just common sense (to me).

Lastly, the halfpad/sheepskin riser under the saddle is just a bit of a shock absorber while Kiwi really settles to the rider's weight. The wraps are also just extra support for the tendons now that Kiwi's in regular work and bearing a rider. Both are not necessary but just preferences of Alec's when training.

"Over-No, over - not stand on me!" Twitch hurried back a step as Kiwi stamped her hindquarters into the place she'd been standing. Alec, sitting on board, laughed into the cold air.

"Oh, hilarious," Twitch muttered, though she was smiling. "Getting ploughed down wasn't on my list of things to do today."

"Ploughed?" Alec scoffed. "She's fourteen three!"

Twitch shot a look at Kiwi's face - she was chomping happily on her bit, eyes glinting with playfulness and breath blowing out in clouds. "Wheelbarrowed, then."

"That is smaller than a plough," Alec shrugged. "Try again?"

"Not like that. Hang on." Twitch left the pair stood in the middle of the school and ran over to fetch the fallen lunge whip further down. She hurried back, flicking the tail out over the frost littered mix surface. Kiwi's ears flicked towards the movement in curiosity. They'd done enough work with carrot sticks and natural ground games by now that responding to strings was instinctive and fun for her.

"We'll try this," Twitch called to Alec, keeping more of a distance so the mare's hardy hooves were out of range. "Apply your aids and I'll put the pressure on. Ready?"

"Go," Alec nodded. Still smiling, he focused on how he held the cotton reins in his hands as he slowly slid his right leg back and pressed gently to Kiwi's side. He opened a leading hand to the left at the same time Twitch leaned in to the mare's quarters and raised the lunge whip, drawing small circles in the air.

Kiwi shuffled and then obligingly swung her quarters to the left in a small but smooth pivot.

Twitch took off the pressure and Alec moved his leg back into place as they both called out in praise. Kiwi arched her neck with pride.

"Good girl," Twitch called fifteen minutes later, when the Kaimanawa had gotten the exercise enough to just need Alec's touch to her side to start pivoting her quarters to the left. It didn't mean they weren't back at square one when they tried to get her to swing right.

...

"Why always so early?" Twitch asked through chattering teeth.

Alec smirked and threw an arm over her shoulders. Her skin was already flushed from the cold, but Alec thought she might be blushing less and less because of him. She looked up at him from the middle of a mass of fabric that was her scarf, hat, coat and riding face mask, only her grey eyes visible - silvery and glassy in the icy morning. She didn't duck out from under his arm.

Kiwi snorted next to them as they headed into the school.

"Because she's quite active at this time of day," Alec said. "Though she is getting better."

In the wild, she would have been most active at dawn and dusk, and it was slowly becoming clear to her that she didn't have to lie low during the day now. Still she was very keen in the early morning and seemed to learn best, so Alec still rode before the feeds went around.

"What's today, then?"

It was a week since their early attempts at a turn on the forehand, and Alec was doing something new with Kiwi each day so she could always look forward to being ridden whilst not overloading her with anything. After they'd gotten her used to the very basics and she could be ridden in a walk, trot and canter and back to halt with all the correct aids, Alec started working on refinement and getting her to work correctly, as she had been in their ground sessions. He believed a horse should be taught to work correctly from the start. But between those sessions, they did work on new school movements and lateral work as well as riding around the farm, so Kiwi didn't begin to rely on the security of the fence or lean on the rails.

"Basics."

"Gotcha," Twitch nodded. She now slid away from Alec, ducked under Kiwi's neck and stood her other side to pull down the stirrup and check the girth. Her usual cotton reins had been switched for leather ones so that the old set of draw reins could be used safely. They were already attached and resting loosely through the snaffle rings.

Alec buckled his hat, rested his weight in his stirrup and then gently swung up. He settled in the saddle, patted Kiwi's shoulder reassuringly and gathered up the snaffle rein. Twitch stood back and with a gentle touch to the mare's sides, Alec walked away with her.

They warmed up in the biting air, getting Kiwi's - and Alec's - muscles moving properly until the mare was moving freely and happily into the bridle. With all the ground schooling encouraging her to carry herself correctly, Kiwi hadn't taken long to realise a rider didn't prevent her moving the same as always. Often, it was just for transitions and changes of rein that the draw reins were brought into play to help her balance. Today she was going well and Alec only had to pick up the second reins when completing a demi volte and asking for a walk to canter direct transition.

"Thoughts?" Alec asked as he trotted over to Twitch on the fence and coaxed Kiwi to a stop.

Twitch was hidden in her folds of fabric, hood now pulled up, too, but she sounded alert when she replied, "Nice. Balanced, forward, nice and supple. She looks a bit more comfortable on the left than the right and a couple of times she's looked like she wanted to strike off on the wrong leg for canter, but her action's calmed down some and she doesn't step so high anymore."

"More comfortable, too," Alec smirked. "I was going to introduce a flying change."

Twitch's eyes clouded in consideration and they swept over the school. It was almost as though she were playing out the potential disasters like a movie in front of her, but Alec knew this was something she tended to do when recalling a memory. Kiwi had been in ridden work for weeks and they'd been doing simple changes which she coped well with.

"I think you should try," Twitch said after a moment. "I'll put a pole down and you can use it as a take off to help her change while she's in the air. Lets get the draw reins off, though - just to be safe because she may leap."

Twitch un hooked them from the girth, and Alec drew them back through the bit rings and tossed them over the fence.

"Get her moving again," Twitch told him.

Alec took Kiwi off around the track once more while she ran for the end of the arena were some spare jump wings and poles were stashed. The good ones were kept in the Temple, away from the elements, but the old ones were left closer for convenience. Twitch dragged one of the frozen poles over and laid it neatly on a diagonal across the centre of the school.

"When you're ready!" she yelled out.

Alec and Kiwi transitioned to canter, and they cornered the top of the school, came neatly away from the track and aimed for the centre of the pole. Kiwi's eyes levelled on it in an instant. Her head picked up, her ears pricked forward and her stride lengthened so she could place herself in the perfect spot for a take off.

She seemed almost disappointed when she realised it wasn't a fence, and then confused at the change of direction. When Alec asked for a canter lead change, she fumbled her legs and bucked in frustration.

Alec sat to her easily - though she could be a violent little thing in the field, her frustrated bucks were nothing like her territorial ones. He was laughing as he let her trot to help her fix her legs again. Twitch shook her head.

"I'm going to move it!" she called to them. "If I put it on the diagonal, right by the wall, it upsets her balance on the right lead and helps to push her onto the left. Ask as she's taking off."

Alec nodded without speaking, too focused on his task. The pole in place, they went in for attempt two. Kiwi's stride lengthened as she saw the pole again, but she appeared to realise they weren't show jumping, and didn't attempt to leap the moon this time. The sudden turn of hitting the track at the same time as going over the pole did tip her balance, though, and she struck out on her left lead.

But her hindlegs hadn't changed over with her front.

"Disunited!" Twitch called after them, watching Kiwi do a strange gambolling movement, her eyes wide with confusion over what had happened to her own legs. But Alec had realised, and was gently coaxing her through it.

Finally, with another frustrated buck, she fixed her legs - but she switched the front ones back, so they were on the wrong lead again.

"Take three," Alec said, smiling unfailingly as he went in again. Alec loved schooling, so this kind of thing was his idea of a good day (unlike Becca, who'd rather be hacking).

Kiwi went disunited again, but by placing her on a wide circle, she was convinced to fix her legs and canter away on the left lead. Alec patted her heartily and Twitch smiled at the pair from the middle of the school.

"Her back end is always behind," Alec said, slowing to a trot and putting her on the circle again so he could talk to Twitch.

"Chess is better with the problem solving than me," she said. "But Selly had some of this issue when we were first schooling him. If I follow up with the lunge whip again and put pressure from behind, just as she takes off, that might help kick her into gear."

"Go for it," Alec nodded.

Attempt four was underway, and the noises of the barn being opened for the day washed over to them. It was time to finish up.

Kiwi cantered cleanly for the pole. Even if her changes needed work, this mare never missed a stride. Twitch waited for the take off and lifted the whip into play, putting sudden pressure into the zone behind the little mare. Kiwi's ears flicked back to show acknowledgement, and she was already changing with her forelegs for the sharp turn. But the incentive had worked, and with only a slight stumble, she cantered away on the left lead.

There was plenty more to do - she had to perfect the change without the pole or stick, and be able to do it from left to right, too, but for a first session, it was a very good start.

...

"Over, over, over, over," Alec was muttering continuously to himself.

Kiwi couldn't understand, but was obeying the rhythmic pressure from his right leg and performing a wobbly but consistent leg yield over to the track. Across the school, Chess was sitting on Selly bareback, her reins light in her hands. The warmblood wasn't paying them the least bit of attention and had been doing pirouettes and fancy trotwork for the last twenty minutes. Aphie was still taking time after having her foal, and Mossy was still playing Mom to Poe, and Alec suspected Chess missed her two favourite mares. Selly was the only other one she really rode bareback - especially since anyone who got on Karma or Tessa bareback was asking for a trip to the emergency room.

It was nice to have the company whilst riding, and Selly was such a sweet horse that even with a mare a few yards away, he was happy to listen to his rider.

Kiwi wasn't all that distracted by him either, which was nice. The fact that she didn't have to compete with him for grazing outside of the school probably helped.

They hit the track and Alec asked for a canter. With a snort, the Kaimanawa leapt into it, only taking a stride to move back into the bridle and lower her head once more. They'd done some lateral work, and yesterday they'd been hacking around the boundary of the farm. The day before that, Alec had stuck to some of the basics again, and worked with trotting poles for pacing purposes, but Kiwi and striding was one thing she didn't need help with. She saw a take off a mile away and could put herself at it every time.

With that thought in his head, Alec finished up the session with some more leg yield and some work on accurate serpentines. The aim was to be capable of novice or possibly elementary dressage by New Year. He led Kiwi back to the circle, untacked and rubbed her down - though she still wasn't getting too warm, so had yet to need clipping. He checked that the trailer by the tree had water and hay inside and left the mare to graze until it was time to muck out and ran with the armful of tack back to the barn.

The feeds had been collected in and Austin was washing out the buckets one by one with the hose in the stable yard. He waved a hi as Alec dropped his things off in the tack room and then slipped into the Den.

Becca was, thankfully, in there. Kismet was sitting in the keyboard, and a huge line of 'dddddddddddddddddsssssssssssssssssssssssssssssddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddsssssssss' was on repeat on their feedlist word document. Becca was muttering to herself as she scrawled in the diary.

"Becks," Alec broached carefully.

The brunette looked up. "Hey, Alec. How's the wild one?"

He smirked. "Fine. Got something I want to run by you."

"Yes," she said promptly. "I think you'd be right at home in the circus; we'll hate to see you go but you have our full support."

There was a snort of laughter by the door, and they both looked up to see Twitch. She bit her lip, snatched a brush from the table against the wall and jabbed a thumb over her shoulder. "I'll just...go."

She left, laughter following her out, and Alec gave Becca a dry expression.

She smiled innocently. "What's up?"

"Do you think Kiwi's ready to start jumping?"

The playfulness fell from the room through the floor, and Becca adopted the serious expression she wore when visitors came that was the only thing that could convince someone she could be trusted with their horses. "You ride a lot without us watching, so I'd like to see you ride tomorrow and do some basic exercises, but from what I've seen and what I know, I think she'd really enjoy jumping and appreciate the challenge of it. Something tells me she'll really excell with technical courses, too, if you and Twitch are right about her knack for spotting a stride."

"Watch tomorrow, then," Alec nodded, standing.

"Hey, Alec?" Becca added. "She's yours; you don't need my permission or approval, you know."

He smiled genuinely and shrugged. "I know."

That was fun to write. I didn't know until...about now ish, that Kiwi's secret talent would be for striding That just happened, but I think it fits her.

As for the picture - there's bits I like and bits I don't. I've done better manes and tails before - and I've had to fix Alec's proportions a fair bit. The trees are bad and the hooves too big - but I like most of the rest. I think I'm getting the hang of drawing Kiwi's headshape (finally) and I love how the saddle came out.

Backstory: the pole exercise to prompt lead change is something I've done on a horse at my local stables. Dixie is a little superstar, and so honest and it took her two goes before she got it bang on every time. Teco was another pony - very cheeky - and he went disunited every time and no matter what you did, he just went right back on the wrong lead XD. And the habit of bucking out of frustration I got from this guy -> [link] Blue. I nearly bought him, and he had this habit where whenever you asked for a flying change, he'd get utterly confused about where his feet went, so he'd just buck as if that covered up that he didn't know what to do. It was so sweet and funny that you couldn't help laughing (though a lot of people who thought he was nuts assumed he was doing it maliciously).

Think that's it again

This has taken a number of hours. Done here and there over the last few days.
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Character design copyright to *LeavingNeverland
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