Failing at Riding... (Garran, Spirit and Nikomas)

[Spirit Frostfawn]

Spirit nodded once, and began to work. She picked up the saddle pad and arranged it in the centre of Falla's back, making sure it was even on all sides. Satisfied with that, she heaved up the saddle and placed that on top to the pad. She checked the girth was hanging loose, and moved to the other side of the hose. The Vantha reached under the belly of the creature, and brought the end of the girth up to the saddle, and buckled it tightly. She checked that it was tight enough, and that Falla wasn't holding her breath before continuing.

The girl grabbed the bridle with one hand, and slipped it over the horse's face. She checked that it fit correctly, and inserted the bit into the creature's mouth. Her work done, she gazed expectantly at Garran.

Tacking up a horse was something she was decent at, and knew what to do. She knew the next step would to be to adjust the stirrups for a new rider, but didn't know the length it should be for her, and it generally wasn't something you did until on the horse. She held Falla's reins in one hand, musing about what was to come next. She should probably lead the animal outside first, before mounting, since she wasn't confident with her skills at maneuvering it through the stables. That would probably end with catastrophe.

"What now?" She asked politely, voicing her question.

[Garran Frostfawn]

Garran looked on approvingly. Spirit certainly seemed to know her way around tack, at least. When she was finished and asked him what next, he nodded. “Good job. Here I’ll show you how to adjust the stirrup leathers – at least for a preliminary measurement.” He moved to Falla’s side and pulled the stirrup down, from where it had been last stowed, tucked up under the flap of leather that covered the bar and buckle. Stepping back a bit and holding it out, he placed his fingertips on the buckle and stretched the leather to hold the stirrup as close to his armpit as possible. Of course, it reached perfectly, as this was his saddle. “See? A rough guesstimate of the best length is going to be the length of your arm, including hand and fingers.” He let the stirrup down gently, to dangle at that length, and reached to unbuckle the top, motioning Spirit to step over and take his place. “Hold your arm up, with your fingertips on the stirrup bar, then pull the iron out to your arm pit, and try to estimate how much you need to shorten it.” If she did that, she could fiddle with the leather and the buckle until she had it in a hole where the bottom of the stirrup stretched just to her arm pit. Then they could lead Falla out of the stall and on to a fenced in ring behind the barn, so that Spirit could try her hand – or leg – at mounting up. OOCfeel free to move them on along to being outside

[Spirit Frostfawn]

Spirit nodded, taking in the instructions on how to adjust the stirrups. She copied his instructions, measuring the distance between her hand and armpit, which was, of course, shorter than Garran's. She adjusted it accordingly, fixing the strap and buckle, till the length was much shorter. The Vantha felt satisfied with her work, and grabbed a hold of Falla's reins. She led the animal outside to a ring she knew was for practicing riding. Luckily, the horse didn't fight against the movement, so the transition was quick and easy. Spirit then stood in the center of the little paddock, wondering what she was to do next. Shortening the stirrups had made them much further away, and now the distance between the ground and them seemed so far away... she wasn't quite sure how she would get her foot up into it! So instead, she stood there, eyeing the section of metal, unsure of what to do. "What now?" She asked Garran without looking at him, keeping her gaze on the stirrups. She was slightly unsure of the whole event, and of the prospect of riding, but that was mostly over taken by her excitement of learning something new, especially this. She would finally be able to ride... and it would be so much fun!! It was hard to keep a smile from breaking out on her calm and solemn demeanor.

[Nikomas]

Work, work, work. As of late, that seemed to be all Nikomas did with his life, beyond sleeping and eating, and, even then, he usually dreamed of work. If he wasn't sitting behind his counter at the shop, he was out and about doing an off-site repair. Worse yet, he somehow had become Laria's delivery boy along the way. "Deliver this, then go pick up that. Fetch this, then go buy that," he muttered to himself as he rounded the corner of the barnyard, doing his best impersonation of his boss. "This, then that. This, then that. Day after day, it's always something!" he groaned as he kicked one of the posts in the fence next to him. "I mean, I guess I should be happy to have a..." Hey! Wait just a chime, he suddenly brightened as he caught sight of a familiar man, a somewhat-familiar girl, and a not-so-familiar horse, within the pen beyond the wooden structure. I think it's time for a break! he beamed. Grabbing the top of the fence, the young Vantha pulled himself up so that he could be easily seen by the duo. "Garran!" he called as he waved. Girl-whose-name-I-can't-remember, he thought as he waved to her, too. "How's it going?" he continued to call out. "What ya both up to?" he questioned as he pulled himself all the way up and over the fence, making every effort not to get his long coat caught on it. "Perfect day for a ride, huh?" he concluded as he positioned himself so that he was now sitting upon the top of the fence.

[Garran Frostfawn]

Garran followed the pair out into the soft light of the afternoon. The air was brisk but being Vantha, he paid it no heed. When Spirit brought the mare to a halt and looked at him, Garran crossed his arms over his chest and grinned, pausing a moment, before he said, “Well…I should think climbing on up there would be a good next step.” He waited a moment longer, just as a tease, before he stepped closer and said something a bit more helpful. “OK, here’s the drill.” He took the near stirrup in his hand and held it out a bit. “Falla is fine – she’s not going to skitter around on you. So you can drop the reins for now. Grab the stirrup…” He took Spirit’s hand and placed it on the metal, right where the stirrup leather threaded through the top of it. “Hold that steady and get your left foot up in there.” He tried to suppress a smirk by biting down on his lip. It was usually amusing to see a beginner hopping about like a bird trying to accomplish what he had just instructed the girl to do. Moreover, if she did get her foot up there, then she’d have to have the leg and upper body strength, and a fair bit of agility, to hop and push with her legs, while pulling with her arms, to clamber up into the saddle. Height made it easier, but it was still a coordination of muscles all over the body that took some practice. He’d help, of course – even to the point where he’d just give her a leg up and basically throw her up on Falla’s back. That was often what had to be done with beginners – or else have them hop on from a fence or mounting block. But he thought it worthwhile to at least let Spirit try to get on by herself. Maybe she’d surprise him. “Once you get your foot in, you kind of hop and pull yourself up,” he explained, showing her where to put her hands on pommel and cantle. “If you have a green horse, or a cantankerous one, you have to do all of that while holding onto the reins. But go ahead, give it a try.” Garran had just stepped to Falla’s head, to hold her and make sure she didn’t move, when he heard that familiar voice, hailing him. His head snapped up and away from the girl and he caught sight of Nikomas, scrambling up to sit on the fence. The trainer smiled and waved back. “Yes, it is! You should try it some time!” He’d already learned that Niko wasn’t much of a rider – and had joked with the younger Frostfawn that that was something he meant to remedy. But so far the opportunity hadn’t really presented itself. Therefore, the timing seemed quite fortuitous, and Garran added, “Like – right now! I have one student.” He nodded at Spirit. “Two would be just as easy.” Out of the corner of his eye, a shaggy blur appeared and Garran grinned and shook his head as Dog came streaking out from wherever he’d been snoozing in the barn to lollop towards the young man sat upon the fence. Dog certainly seemed to have taken a shine to Niko, and was always happy to see the Vantha who had ‘rescued’ him from his more pragmatic Syliran owner. Of course, technically, Dog was his now – but Garran wasn’t bothered that the canine had a great liking for Nikomas as well. Reaching the fence, the large dog reared up and planted both feet on the second to last rail, tongue lolling and then he gave a deep bark of hello. Falla was already well used to Dog and paid no attention to him, simply standing patiently as Garran was by her head. “Your child missed you,” Garran called out with a grin. “I swear, he’s looking more and more like you each day, Niko.” Turning his attention back to his pupil, he encouraged, “OK, show Nikomas how it’s done.”

[Spirit Frostfawn]

Spirit let go of the reins and eyed Falla's side wearily. Well... this was the start. Finally leaving her comfort zone and trying something new. Actually, that excited her, but she was careful enough to know the dangers of riding, especially to a newbie. Though... most of those were caused by frisky horses, and the dapple before her obviously wasn't one. Wordlessly, she carefully listened to Garran's instructions, listening intently the whole time. Put her foot in the stirrup... hop up... then pull herself up. Ok... that didn't sound too hard... Taking a deep breath, she lifted her foot high, sticking it into the metal loop. It was high enough, and at enough of an awkward angle to make it already hard to push up. But she had to try at least, didn't she? The Vantha pushed up with her right leg with all her might, attempting to stand up. Amazingly, she succeeded, and paused slightly. She was standing on one foot, on a stirrup without holding on to anything. Oops. Feeling herself falling backwards, Spirit hastily waved her hands in massive circles, in an attempt to move the other way. This jerked her forward, sending the girl collapsing onto the saddle ungracefully. "Oof" She exclaimed, landing hard. Well, at least she wasn't sitting in the mud! After regaining her breath for a few seconds, the young Frostfawn pushed her upper body up, ready to take a seat. But she'd made another mistake. Her right foot was stuck in the stirrup... on the left side of the horse. It should be the other way around. Great. Scrunching up her face, Spirit heaved more of her body weight onto the middle of the saddle, removed her right foot, and quickly replaced it with the left. She'd had to fumble for several moments to actually fit her boot into the hole correctly, but managed, barely. She pushed herself up again, and lifted her right leg again, this time up and over Falla's back. It was an awkward maneuver, but luckily she managed, and finished sitting, uncomfortably on the leather saddle. She mentally congratulated herself on getting up the first time without falling, then turned to Garran, and.... someone else. The whole time she'd been completely oblivious to the world, ignoring the arrival of another boy. He looked familiar, but she couldn't quite place his name... "Eh... he.... Hi.... that was harder than I expected"She said awkwardly, blushing. Man that whole scene must have looked funny... Spirit rubbed her hands awkwardly on the material of the saddle, wondering what to do. While she looked down at her rapidly moving fingers, a side part of her brain racked her memory for a... name... for this new person. She remembered a saddle, but not really much else. A slight sigh escaped her lips and the young groom squirmed awkwardly.

[Nikomas]

"I'm thinking I'll just sit back with my son here and learn a little something by watching for a wee bit longer," Nikomas informed the pair as he slipped off the fence and landed on the inside of the pen next to Dog. It was good to see both Garran and the pup. He had been meaning to visit, but work really had taken up a good deal of his time these last few days. "Actually, Gar, I think he's starting to look more and more like you," the Vantha joked as he ruffled Dog's fur, which only made the pup more excited. Soon enough there was good-natured licking and barking and nibbling going on. "Alright, alright. Calm down. You'll spook the horses!" Taking Dog by his collar, Nikomas walked him back toward the barn. He caught sight of a bench, so he lead the pup there. The girl upon the horse was having a challenging enough training session. She certainly didn't need Dog - or him, for that matter - getting in the way. "Okay! The coast is clear! Have at it!" he called out to the two as he sat, keeping a firm grip on the pup's leather collar as he did. "Do exactly as Garran tells you," he called out to the rider. "He comes from a long line of horsemen. Although, you probably already knew that, but still...yeah...he's a professional, he is. Isn't that right, Dog?" he asked his companion who let out a series of yips and yaps in return."You don't say? Well I'll be darned," Nikomas continued to converse with the pup as if he knew exactly what he was barking about.

[Garran Frostfawn]

Garran watched the pair – man and dog – with great fondness, and laughed at Nikomas’ retort. “Are you saying I need a hair cut?” he asked with a grin, as Niko and Dog crossed the paddock and had a seat on a bench. “Maybe he favors me in the looks department, but he has your gift of gab,” he shot back, then turned his attention back to Spirit and her first attempt at mounting. Garran had been more than a bit distracted by the new arrival, and so he had missed the fact that Spirit had stuck the wrong foot in the stirrup that hung down on the near side of the mare. He looked up in astonishment as her arms went windmilling, and he moved to catch the girl. But she regained her balance – or, to be more precise, she rather clumsily fell against the saddle, and thus did not fall. Still, she had now to figure out how to switch her feet about. Garran was smirking, and was going to give her some suggestions, but she seemed to have figured out she was in the wrong herself. So he hung back and let her puzzle it out herself. The groom righted herself pretty quickly, and when she sat upright in the saddle, Garran gave her an approving nod. “Good! I can see you aren’t afraid – and you can think – always good traits for a rider. Now,” he gathered up the reins at about the withers and handed them to Spirt. “Take these.” With his own hands he demonstrated as he spoke. “Hold the rein so it comes in under your pinky finger and then out between thumb and forefinger. Your hands should be about level with her withers, and an inch or so above them. Remember, they’re for guiding her, not for balancing yourself with. Try not to yank on them. When you want her to move in a direction, all you have to do is gently pull back a little on that rein – the one on the side where you want her to head.” When the girl’s hands seemed to be all set, he stepped back, eyeing her legs and feet. “OK, now keep your lower leg in contact with her sides. Heels down, toes pointing out a bit.” With his hands, Garran positioned her leg properly, pushing the stirrup up a bit so it lay under the widest part of her sole. “The stirrup goes here. When you’re ready, just give her a little squeeze. No need to kick her. Some horses may need a nudge, but she’ll go easily enough for you.” Garran stepped even further away from Falla. “Just give her a squeeze and get her moving – make a circle, around me.” He shot a glance over to Nikomas and Dog, and said with a grin, “Pay attention. You’re next.”

[Spirit Frostfawn]

Spirit nodded after hearing all the advice, still slightly embarrassed at her failure. Determined not to look silly again, she intently listened to Garran's instructions whilst attempting to ignore the other man, and the dog which had joined him. Grasp the rein... point her toes, and nudge. Ok... she could do this, right? It didn't sound that hard. Well, it had been the same with mounting, but somehow she felt that would always be her weak point.

She readied herself, gripping the reins lightly, just as her mentor had instructed. Though she knew not grab hard, or pull, it was sorely tempting from nervousness and excitement. She was going to ride! She angled her feet, and lightly poked the mare with her heels. Had she nudged too hard? Too soft? Only the horse would tell... anxiety clawed at her belly as the horse finally began moving forward.

Falla didn't move too quickly, which was a blessing for the young Vantha. She sat stiffly in her seat, though attempted to relax. All those skilled riders looked so comfortable in their saddles... she wanted to look like that, even if she wasn't no good. The Frostfawn wanted to look down, and check out how she was doing, and see the ground, but an innate feeling told her that that would possibly be a bad idea. Instead, she kept her eyes staring straight ahead, and readied herself for the first turn. Then she'd have to do some actual controlling... since at the moment, the mare was politely walking in a straight line.

Seeing that she finally had to change direction, Spirit took a deep breath and tugged on on side of the reins. Falla's head jerked slightly, probably because the girl had pulled too hard, and she winced visibly. Oops. Still, the horse continued on the turn, and moved straight when it's rider stopped tugging. That hadn't turned out tooo bad. She relaxed visibly and let out a gulp of air, not realizing she'd been holding her breath. For something so minor, she'd sure been worked up about it.

Now that she'd overcome most of the hurdles, something occured to her. "How am I going to get down?" She asked, accidentally letting a slight wine into her voice. The mare was still moving, and the Vantha had no clue how to stop in the first place. Why was riding so complicated?!

[Garran Frostfawn]

The lesson moved on apace, with Garran keeping things simple for the while. He felt a walk would suffice for a first lesson, and patiently explained how to guide the mare, with the reins and lower legs, how to bring her to a halt, and back up, how to turn in a circle and switch directions. Spirit seemed to listen carefully and essayed to do as he said, mostly with good success. He corrected her here and there, but with Falla as well trained as she was, and a giving, gentle mount, the groom did very well indeed, for a beginner. Finally Garran called to Spirit to turn and walk to him and then stop. She executed this move well, and when she was halted he moved to the side of the horse. “Now, getting down can be tricky. Listen carefully or you’ll likely end up on your backside. Lean forward, and rest your hands on the saddle. Lift up in your stirrups and keep your weight on your left foot. Gently and carefully swing your right leg over Falla’s back and bring it down beside your left leg. Do not try to swing right off. You can do that when you’ve been riding quite a long while but for now if you try to step down you’re going to end up hung up and then you’ll fall. Once you have both legs on her left side, rest your hips on the saddle, slide your left foot out of the stirrup and let yourself slide down.” He waited to see how carefully she had listened.